Today we’d like to introduce you to The Rise & Grind Podcast.
Hi The Rise & Grind Podcast, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Roderick: Our Podcast started in 2018, stemming from a youtube show “Rise & Grind With Ron Taylor & The Crew” that began in 2017. I (Roderick) was working really hard as a Radio-TV undergrad, running my own weekly show/slots on the campus radio station, but still not receiving the recognition or looks I needed to cross-over to the school’s nationally syndicated radio station, due to my focus being Hip Hop/Rap Music. They wanted someone who played Top 40 Records… That’s not me. That’s where the idea for The Rise & Grind Podcast was birthed, in an effort to reach the masses, delivering the content that I felt passionate about.
Jacari: My story begins in 2018. Seeing Roderick create his new platform, I simply just asked him if I could be apart of it because I knew I shared the same passion as him in loving and truly understanding Hip-Hop. At first, it was just fun for me. I was getting to hang out with my best friend and talk music. It’s something we had been doing already since we were in middle school, so it felt natural even though we were now talking into a microphone. With each recording however, it became more than just fun. It became a serious matter. It became something I loved, studied, and worked to get better at. I started to understand the business model. I wanted to be great at this thing. I knew with our passion and talent, that we could separate ourselves from the pack. Fast forward to now almost 9 years later and 400+ episodes recorded and published, we are still embarking on this journey of making all of our dreams come true.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Roderick: It has not been a smooth road, I’ll tell you that. But that’s expected with any business. It’s not supposed to be easy, & that’s the beauty of it. In our 8th year now, we’ve undergone casting changes, marketing increases, rebranding, adding extra show’s to our weekly lineup, etc. Each of these things came with their own challenges & hurdles. But getting through those roadblocks & making it to the other side not only feels more satisfying, but it adds to your business knowledge.
Jacari: I personally don’t think the road to success is easy for any one. If you ask any successful person about their journey, I’m sure they will greatly tell you about all of the hardships that they have faced. It’s been no different with us if I’m being honest. We have had issues with our equipment such as our cameras and audio malfunctioning, server complications when uploading our episodes, and unfortunately (a few times) finishing a 2 hour episode only to realize we forgot to hit the record button. That last one is the worst. That will truly make you think “is this even worth it?” However, I think the challenges we have faced is what has pushed us to keep going. Knowing that again this road that we are traveling for success, is going to come with many tough days and just choosing to embrace it.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
We specialize in Music Commentary Podcasting, particularly in the Hip Hop/Rap space. We’re known for digging way past the surface of rap music, deep diving into the latest Hip Hop & R&B releases, as well as providing a nice perspective on all news surrounding the rap culture, from both a fan & music business angle.
Alright so before we go can you talk to us a bit about how people can work with you, collaborate with you or support you?
Subscribing to our content is the #1 way to support our movement. Our episodes are recorded semiweekly and uploaded every Monday and Thursday to all audio platforms. Video of our episodes are uploaded to YouTube every Wednesday and Saturday. We also upload short form content weekly on Instagram and Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter. This summer we will be releasing the first line of our official ‘The Rise & Grind Podcast’ merch, which will be able to be purchased directly using our linktree link. We are always looking to grow and collaborate with others as well, if it makes sense for both sides. The best way to reach us is by email or directly reaching out on our social media platforms.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://theriseandgrindpodcast.podbean.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/riseandgrindpod
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/riseandgrindpodcast
- Twitter: https://x.com/risegrindpod
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@riseandgrindpod
- Other: https://linktr.ee/RiseAndGrindPod
