From Podcasting to Extraordinary: A Journey of Unexpected Recognition

When I first started podcasting back in the early 2000s, I didn't have a clear goal in mind. I was thrilled to have a platform to interview people and discuss various topics, without a specific focus in sight.

During that time, I decided to create a series called "Examining Black Leadership: The Future of Black Organizations." Originally, my plan was to interview members of different organizations. However, serendipitously, my fraternity, Alpha Phi Alpha, was in the midst of its national presidential election, leading me to interview the candidates.

To my surprise, nearly all the candidates agreed to be interviewed, which made me feel honored and excited about my podcast's recognition. I hadn't realized that people outside my immediate circle were paying attention to my work.

One day, Brother Willard Hall, the Executive Director of our fraternity, reached out to me. Despite having been a member for almost 20 years, I had never interacted with the national leadership. It was quite intimidating to receive his call, as I couldn't fathom how he even knew about me.

Brother Hall offered me the chance to interview our national president, Brother Daryl Matthews. The opportunity was thrilling, considering that past national presidents of our fraternity had connections to the President of the United States. Brother Matthews was also deeply involved in the MLK Memorial.

Interviewing Brother Matthews was an incredible experience and a great learning opportunity. The interaction felt like two friends discussing how to become better men rather than a formal interview with a president.

In hindsight, that interview taught me a valuable lesson. It made me realize that my seemingly ordinary podcast had caught the attention of powerful individuals. This recognition opened doors to other opportunities that I might not have had otherwise.

Often, we underestimate the impact of our actions, assuming they are mundane. But when influential people take notice, it's a clear sign that we are more extraordinary than we believe.

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