How to Create Your Own Wave in Media with Host, Editor & Producer Kami Simmons – Podcast Transcript

 

SPEAKERS

Lexie Smith, Kami Simmons

 

Lexie Smith 

As you all just heard we have more than a Triple Threat guest with us today. Cami I’m so excited to welcome you to the show before we dive into all things media, I’d love to know where in the world is home base and what do you like to do outside of work for fun?

 

Kami Simmons 

Yes, well, thank you so much Lexie for having me on your show. And homebase was, for me currently is Atlanta, Georgia. So that’s where I currently reside. I’m originally from Washington, DC. So I grew up right on Capitol Hill, but I made the move to Atlanta officially a year ago. As of next month. So come September next month, there’ll be a year. So what I like to do for fun, I love roller skating. I love doing anything outdoors. I just like being around people. I’m an extrovert.

 

Lexie Smith 

Okay, good.  So is there places, you’re making me think of skate world, which was a West Coast place where we had birthday parties growing up. I had birthday parties. Is that a franchise or a concept you’re familiar with?

 

Kami Simmons 

I am we I don’t know if they have a here in Georgia. But I do know that they have unlike in the suburbs of like Maryland and Virginia. So more of an East Coast thing. And west coast.

 

Lexie Smith 

What a kids do these days. I have a four month old so we’re not at the point where she does activities yet. But I’m like, I know what I did. Growing up. I have no idea what kids do now. So

 

Kami Simmons 

that is a good question. I don’t know I I don’t have kids myself. I’ve seen kids in action. And I don’t know what we used to do. Even like in my like days of being gay. We used to play hopscotch. We used the rocks. I used to make like, yeah, we used to make perfumes out of like, leaves. Yeah, I was always a creative kid. Like even if we were just there now to the sky. These kids have cell phones, iPads.

 

Lexie Smith 

I know. It’s terrifying. During the parenting thing for four months, so I’m no pro yet either. So I guess I will. I will find out. For any moms listening who have kids who do things other than crying eat like mine does. Let me know curious what’s cool these days? Like what’s the thing? Anyways? Um, I digress. So let’s get into career. So we’ll talk a little bit about what you’re up to today. But I want to rewind time back talk us through let’s start at let’s say college college to now what what went down in your life? Yeah.

 

Kami Simmons 

So back all the way to my collegiate career. I was studying theater arts. I was a theater major. I was doing musical theater, contemporary theater, dance, singing all the things and actually went to a liberal arts school. called Kalamazoo College in Kalamazoo, Michigan. And so we actually didn’t have to declare a major until our sophomore year of college, which is crazy. Because typically when you go to college or university, you have to declare that major freshman year and you’re, you know, expected to pursue it for the next four or five years, or how, however long it takes to complete college. And so yeah, I was a theater arts major, major, economics minor. And then I was doing media studies as a concentration. But we didn’t have like theater, or we didn’t have radio classes. We had one television class that was that. And so television entertainment media kind of fell in my lap. I ended up doing my first internship, my sophomore year of college, I Heart Radio, with Elizabeth Bethany, who is a radio personality, she’s actually still on air. We’re hot 99.5. And so, hot night 9.5 was a pop station and the Washington DC, Maryland, Virginia area. And so the Kane show was a big morning show on the station Elizabethton. He she had the evenings. And then Ryan Seacrest, of course, syndicated on the station, as he does where a lot of different radio stations around the country. And so after that, I was like, Man, I could really use a lot of the skills that I use as a theater arts major, and apply it to the media, entertainment and journalism world. I love to express myself, I always ask questions. I’ve always been a nosy person, which I have no shame in my game. And so I was like, Wow, maybe journalism is it like I can be myself. I can ask all the questions. And I could just meet people. I’m an extrovert I love being out and about. And so after that, I did an internship with a local news station, and Kalamazoo, fast forward, I graduated, and say, Hey, I was fortunate not to have any student debt, because that’s how I ended up at Kalamazoo. They gave me and my twin sister who’s also in the business, they gave her both of us a full ride. And so we were fortunate not to have that. And so I said, You know what, either I’m gonna go right into the job world, or I’m gonna go get my masters. And I decided to get my masters. So I ended up going to Columbia University, obtained my master’s in social and digital journalism, spent a year in New York, it ended up paying two years because I’d loved it that much. And I became a producer with Viacom, CBS would be t. And then after that, because that was a contractor role. I said, Okay, what am I going to do next. And so, Viacom was merging with CBS at the time. And a lot of my mentors who I became really close with at the company, they were like, go to a local news station, you know, you want to continue getting your reps and you want to, you know, add some clips, especially since you want to be in front of the camera. So I became a morning television and Maathai journalists, as they call it. And so I was with a local NBC affiliate in Illinois, for two years. Then I went to Fox station in West Texas, near Dallas, Texas for another two years, and learned all of the things I mean, from working a camera to pitching stories to being in front of the camera to even do my makeup because you don’t get makeup artists. And these markets. I mean, you’re really like doing the grind. You’re learning how to be a producer, you’re learning how to work a camera, how to come up with questions, how to have a story, angle, all the things. And it’s what I call, like the bootcamp of like being in front of the camera, because it is not glitz and glam. Everybody sees the final product, but there’s a lot that goes into it. So after that, I decided to take a huge leap of faith because I knew local news, broadcast news was not going to be the end all be all. I’ve always wanted to be in digital media.

 

Kami Simmons 

And so during the pandemic, I took a leap of faith, which was a year ago around this time, and 2021 and I said, You know what, I’m gonna go back into entertainment. I don’t know where it’s gonna take me, but we’re doing it and so my mom, she drove up to Texas, I packed up my little stop convertible. And I mean, literally, I put my whole entire apartment and this thing. I mean, of course, I got rid of some, you know, dishes and seasonings or whatever and, and took a drive and literally drove the full 10 hours to Atlanta. We started at five o’clock in the morning, we get to Atlanta by 5pm. And I told her during that ride, I said mom, I had a job, by the way lined up at another local news station, because typically that’s how it goes. You try to you know, have jobs lined up so he could be able to pivot into something else. And it was to be a morning anchor, which I never had the opportunity to I filled in a couple of times at the local news markets but I was really the morning reported that was like out and about on the streets. And so I got offered morning and girl and I told my mom Am I saying, Hey, I’m not taking that job, I’m gonna jump and we’re gonna see what happens, or see what happens.

 

Kami Simmons 

And once I did that things started happening. It took about three months for things to start, you know, getting going. And so now I’m an official freelance entertainment correspondent, producer and digital content producer. And so that’s what I do. Yeah, that’s everything.

 

Lexie Smith 

So many things. And I actually really, really hard to the, to the car moment, mine was at a different point. I went to school up in Oregon and I packed everything I owned my like Linus in my oh three recalled Saturn Ion. And I drove from Oregon to LA to a apartment, I’d never seen a photo off, but it was the only one I could afford on Craigslist to start my PR career. So I just anyways, I had major visuals when you were saying that and I relate to that moment. And my mom came with me. So yay, mom’s okay. So today, because there’s a lot in your past that we could go into. But I want to know, your freelance now. Any active projects that you’re working on?

 

Kami Simmons 

Yeah, so currently, I work full time with Yahoo. I’m actually associate producer with them. And so I’m in charge of basically booking high profile, notable celebrity guests, which I’m really grateful for, because I actually, you don’t know how much you’ve learned until you’ve gotten to a certain place. And during the last couple years of my time at Entertainment journalism, I’ve gotten all these contacts, and I’m like, how am I gonna use them because I was in the local market. Well, now I’m at a company like Yahoo, where I could book guests like Snoop Dogg, son, killer, Mike, I mean all kinds of people to come in, basically talk about finance and business all day. But outside of that, I have my own radio show called the trendsetter Lounge, which is syndicated on his 92 three, which is an internet radio station. We’re also featured on first class TV on Roku. And we’re also on I Heart Radio. So it’s a women’s thinner radio show all things entertainment, all things lifestyle, and fashion inspiration. So I have that. And then, other than that, I tried to have a community of women specifically in entertainment and media and women who may be in broadcast television, who are trying to come into entertainment cyber community called First Class crew, which is essentially a community support group of people who want to pursue entertainment and media’s as on air whole host, or maybe they want to be a producer, or maybe they want to take on another role. Within this industry, we call entertainment and media. And so I have a lot of different things that are going on. But that’s the gist of it.

 

Lexie Smith 

That’s the gist of it. And then somewhere in there, you find time to sleep and feed yourself probably knows. Wow, okay, I have to take a quick detour. This was not a question I plan to ask you. But now I have to ask because I’m curious. How did you if this is a long answer, we can just do high level? How did you get your show syndicated? Like what was that process? Like? Did you just have contacts that you knew like your show? Did you develop the show first, like high level? What was that process? Like? Yeah, so

 

Kami Simmons 

I’ve always had the idea of the trips that allowed, I actually started it like unofficially, during the pandemic, when we were all like at home. And when I was still in my local markets, I would do these interviews and post them up, post them up on YouTube. But when I came to Atlanta, Georgia, I finally made that announcement on my social media. And a lot of my friends and colleagues or associates, who knew I was here, they will send me opportunities. And one of the opportunities that was that was to be a co host, on a show called combo with friends and combo with friends is was essentially and it’s still around, I’m just not a host on it. But it’s essentially a show that’s hosted by four different people who come from for different walks of life, different ages, different genders. And we basically have casual conversations, talk about everything, you know, that’s going on. And so long story short, this show was on our is on hits Friday to three, and I felt like it was time for me to move on to something else. And so the owner of hits 92 Three, she presented me opportunity to have my own show on the station. And so it started out on his 90 to three, and then I actually acquired a Roku chair at all, during the pandemic, my mom encouraged me to, like pursue that. So I’ve researched on how to get developers to help me create my own channel, Roku, which I’m still, you know, actively working on and getting up in the works. And then I are also came about throughout that process as well, because I learned when I was on convo with friends how to get a spot on I Heart Radio. So I wouldn’t say it happened by coincidence. But just like being on the ground in Atlanta, Georgia, just talking with folks, and learning how to, you know, maneuver, being a freelancer, essentially, and how I can make my own opportunities. That’s how I was able to start to syndicate. And so we’re still, I mean, we have folks who still reach out to us to syndicate the show. But we want to make sure that’s the right fit. And so I’m learning how to go through that process as well, because you want to be on every platform, but you want to make sure it aligns with your brand and what you’re trying to do. So

 

Lexie Smith 

yeah, definitely not fluke, definitely not by chance, I hear a lot of grit, I hear a lot of work, a lot of being open a lot of networking. And honestly, it’s a testament to you. Which segues well into a topic that we’re going to get into today that I can take absolutely zero credit for because either you or your team suggested it, and it is how to authentically Be yourself and create your own Wave and media. So I’d love to know, what advice do you broadly have, for those looking to stand out from the crowd in the world of media today?

 

Kami Simmons 

Yeah, one thing I will say. And I had to learn it throughout my journey of being a media is to not try to be like everybody else, which is like easier said than done. I tell people, a lot of what I am doing and continuing continue to do. And media is a self reflection journey. Like I a lot of people don’t see me like journaling behind the scenes, which I do a lot of, I reflect a lot, I say a lot of affirmations at the pump myself up. But what I will say about being authentic, it’s like finding What’s your why. And I always suggest people to get a journal and kind of figure that out, you’re always going to be evolving, we’re all going to be evolving as humans, I mean, that’s just human nature. But figuring out how do you want to be different in the industry. A lot of people don’t know which this might go on a tangent A little bit. But when I was in middle school, you know, a little kids love bullying and you know, little kids say all kinds of crazy stuff. But they will actually use the make fun of my voice because I have a very distinctive voice. And so through my media journey, I learned that that was something that I could bring different, just through like my voice. So rather is through like your style. Maybe it’s through your hair, I don’t know, you kind of just have to sit down and figure out what’s going to make the difference. Maybe it’s even like your point of view, because everybody doesn’t have a has the same view or same life experiences as you. So that would be my take on being authentic. And then what was the second half of the question?

 

Lexie Smith 

It was more just, you know, general advice on how to stand out and carve your own way. In media? You know, it is loud. And I think that was one you answered that partly right? Being authentic, figuring out what you are, or what’s different about you, I have a question because I think it can be really easy for me to look at someone else and say, Wow, this is what makes them unique or different. But then when you all of a sudden you stand in front of a mirror, it can be a lot harder to be objective. Journaling is something you brought up, which is great. Do you have any other advice for people who are like, oh, what makes me different, that’s hard.

 

Kami Simmons  

I would say go for a walk sometimes get active. I know for me, I could be in the thick of it all while I’m staring at a computer at my phone all the time. And as creatives you have to get out of doing like the origin or doing like your day to day. So for me, some of the things that I do that just tap into my creativity, because that’s really what it’s all about is tapping into your creativity and getting inspired is going for a walk. I don’t like working out but I do like dancing. So sometimes I’ll turn on like a dance workout on YouTube and waiting. Yes, and rollerblading. And so sometimes I’ll just dance it out for an hour and turn off my social media turn off my phone. Sometimes that’s cooking, I learned how to cook during the pandemic. I didn’t know how to cook before the pandemic so I’m always teaching myself like different recipes. What else do I do? Hang out with people like even this past weekend just hanging out and meeting different people and Walking around Atlanta. And just being inspired by art, I used to go to a lot of museums when I was in DC, a lot of Smithsonian’s which are free in DC, but like if you’re in your own town or your own city, maybe go check out art exhibit, sometimes I get inspired just by looking at a piece of art. Because the root of is that we’re creatives, rather you’re a producer or on camera talent or even a publicist. We’re all artists, at least that’s the way I see it. And so just getting out of that day to day like grind will help like Spark those authentic like ideas and creativity like So yeah, that’s some practical ways that I do it. And then talking to my other friends, conversation, helps me come up with like, questions, just real life stuff, even dating. Honestly, when I go on dates, I’m like, Oh, this will be a great topic to talk about. And I have a like a running list of questions on my phone. And I’ll jot it down real quick. Or say if I go through an experience that I think might be relatable to some of my audience, I’ll jot that down, right, there was a bad or good experience. I’m like, okay, maybe I’ll use this later. So I keep like a lot of notes in my phone from questions, common experiences, and I guess that’s where the journaling aspect comes into play. Because a lot of the work that I do is storytelling, whether it’s telling the story through a story package, or even just creating content on my tick tock or IG reels that I think a lot of people can relate to which I do a lot of data and content, because that’s currently what I’m doing right now is data. And just like, you know, my experience of just like, experiencing life, like I’m not afraid to show people what happens behind the scenes, I think it’s important because social media so curated, that it can make it look like that somebody’s life is a certain way. So when I went on social media, I intentionally want to show people Yeah, this is cute. This is a cute picture of me. But this is also what goes on behind the scenes, too. So that’s a really

 

Lexie Smith 

great point, you know, something that gets brought up a lot with my clients. And I think just in conversations, is I’m going to put air quotes around this almost this peer pressure, to share everything, the only way to be authentic is to share everything to wear your heart on a sleeve to show the ugly side. And that’s the only way that you can be authentic, when in a way some of the pushback I hear. And I don’t disagree, depending on who you are, is maybe it isn’t authentic for you to share everything. So the roundabout question I’m getting at is do you have to share the good, the bad, the ugly to be authentic? Or where’s that middle line today?

 

Kami Simmons 

I don’t think you have to share everything. And I don’t share everything. But I think it all goes back to what you’re comfortable with sharing. And then being okay with having it out there on a public forum, essentially, I think it’s also important to have a core group of network of like friends and family, or even a therapist, like I have a therapist, I’m an advocate of like mental health and all of that. Because when you put your life out there on the line, I mean, there’s gonna be a lot of people who have opinions and things to say about it. But going back to your point of like, was like the cut off point of being arcs sharing everything, and I think is different from person to person. I typically follow like my intuition. So maybe there’s like a part of my life that I want to share now. And then I’m like, okay, maybe I should share this at a different point in my life, or maybe once I get to this point. So I think just being familiar with like, was like guiding you to make that decision and also talking to families and friends to see like, what their thoughts are on it, getting a mentor to who’s in the business as well, so that you can have that person to talk to about like, the decisions that you’re about to make because social media, you know, even though you delete it is still out there forever. So you do have to be careful about that.

 

Lexie Smith 

Yeah, thank you, I think you highlighted a few very real and important sides of the coin. You know, the fact that the more you’re in the spotlight, the more people have opinions, and that can weigh on someone’s mental health and the flip side, it’s To each their own on what is and isn’t worth or someone feels comfortable sharing. So I think that should be she heard as well, I do think, you know, we have the curated side of social media, and then there’s almost like this peer pressure of you need to share it all. And so just even reminding people that you do you, right, that’s at the end of the day, what it feels authentic. So we’re going to pivot a little bit. And I’m going to ask a question first, because I don’t want to assume but because you are a member of the media, do you get pitched ever?

 

Kami Simmons 

Oh all the time I get pitched. To do like interviews, say if somebody has like a podcast or a show where they want to bring me on and talk about tips on like media. So especially, ever since I’ve pivoted from broadcast news to like, the entertainment world and being on camera talent and entertainment and media, a lot of people have been reaching out to me to get like my insight, like I’ve become this like thought leader. Yeah, this space because of the move that I’ve made. And not a lot of people from broadcast go into media. I mean, there’s a select few of us out here and entertainment who started out and local broadcasting. So I do you get pitched to come on shows sometimes to give that perspective, to talk about my own personal experiences as well, depending on what the show is. And I have a lot of publicists who even reach out to me and pitch ideas for stories that they want on Yahoo or other outlets that I’m fortunate to work with. So

 

Lexie Smith 

yeah, okay, perfect. I like I would assume, but again, I never want to assume which is why, which is why I asked. So on the lane of people pitching you their stories, whether it be publicists or business owners? Do you have any general feedback on what stands out in your inbox? Now this could be sending out in a bad way or sending out in a good way? Like, what are some tips or advice you have for people looking to successfully pitch you?

 

Kami Simmons 

Yeah, so I definitely always look for an angle of a story, whether it’s an event or Save As somebody who is looking to pitch their client who is selling a product, or has any project that they’re working on, I’m always looking at the angle, because I know that’s gonna make the difference. I’m always looking at that. The wide like, is it relevant? Is it something that’s timely? For example, is a women’s history month? Or is there something that’s going on, like in the news cycle that we can like connect, like, the great resignation, for example, was really big. So I had a lot of publicists who reached out to me who had clients who were doing really well with their businesses that started during the pandemic. So yes, that’s timely, that’s relevant. And something that’s going on right now in the news cycle. So I’m, I have that. And then, I mean, other little things that I look for is just like, what makes this person different? Is it somebody that’s relatable, it just all the print pins, and then also, obviously, for Yahoo, we’re looking for some like body who could talk on the business and finance of things. So that plays a part into the pitching of those guests who come to that platform. But it all depends on that some things that stick out to me. And a pitch that might not be so good is, you know, misspelling of names or grammar, stuff like that. But as long as I get the information, then you know, and I always love publicists who do their research on the type of stories that I do. So for me, my be my niche, niche is entertainment, lifestyle, and also tech. So I love a good publicist who could come at their angle, even if it is for Yahoo, because even though we’re dealing with business and finance, a lot of the guests that I’m booking for Yahoo, have an entertainment background, have a lifestyle background, a tech background, but they can talk on the perspective of business and finance. And so a publicist who kind of does their research, you know, and comes at me I think that also helps with approving a pitch or me like wanting to see a certain pitch.

 

Lexie Smith 

Perfect. Okay, so I like to play we’ll call it a little game. Anytime someone member of the media comes on the show. I like to do a really quick preferential rapid fire meaning there’s no right answer. There’s no wrong answer. This is just what you put refer, and you actually teed me up perfectly for the first question. So I’m curious, do you appreciate when people take the time in the pitch, so in the body of the pitch to prove that they’re familiar with your work, it could be perhaps I saw your latest episode, or I appreciated the segment you did on Y, or k. So that’s option one, or do you just want them to skip the flop and get straight to the point?

 

Kami Simmons 

Um, I mean, if you can say in a sentence or two about like, just what you’ve seen, like my work wise, but I liked publicists to get straight to the point because I get so many different emails. So many messages, even like DMS on Instagram and Twitter, so get her straight? Is

 

Lexie Smith 

there a place you prefer to be pitched such as Instagram, DMS or email? Okay?

 

Kami Simmons 

I don’t have a preference. Honestly, I’ve gotten great pitches on Instagram, DMS, and I’ve gotten great pitches on email. So either one I’m really active on Instagram, I got my first job on Instagram. So I’m not opposed.

 

Lexie Smith 

Okay, preference, time of day. Do you prefer to be pitched in the morning in the afternoon? Or do you not care? I don’t care.

 

Kami Simmons 

I do set a time limit when I do check my emails. But you know, if I get a text message from a publicist, I’m looking at it and then I’ll respond in the morning. Text message is probably the best honestly. So I have to go past the DMS and the emails. I always tell people to store my cell number like that is the best way to get to me. Because I have so much going on. But I typically check between nine and five. I try to keep that rule of thumb. I mean, there are times where I do you know, respond late at night, because I’m on call all the time. Yeah, news never stops. But I try to keep between the business hours.

 

Lexie Smith 

So last question. And this is more for cold pitching. So you don’t necessarily have an established relationship. They don’t yet have your number. How do you feel about follow ups? So a brand or publicist reached out they they haven’t heard from you? Is a cool follow up.

 

Kami Simmons 

I love follow ups. My thing is the squeaky wheel gets the attention. I don’t know this specific quote. But

 

Lexie Smith 

I know what you’re getting at. And I don’t know.

 

Kami Simmons 

But like, I think the good rule of thumb is say on Monday, you sent an email, right? And then maybe I get all of these emails that kind of get in my inbox. So I think the good rule of thumb, at least for me, is to wait like another three days. Monday comes around, maybe follow up on Wednesday. Okay, Thursday and Friday. We’re headed into the weekend. So follow up next Tuesday. That’s the rule of thumb, I think I think give it a good three to four days. I don’t think it’s too much follow up because sometimes, as journalists, we do have a lot going on. So sometimes we may forget. So getting that follow up is like oh, yes, I was. Yes. I meant to follow up on this person. I’m so happy reached back out. Let’s get the ball rolling on this. So I love Halloween apps. I don’t think you should follow up like a day after give like three days a good three to four days.

 

Lexie Smith 

Very solid advice. Now I’ve the most serious question of the show. We’ve talked a lot about pitching. But I have to ask what we can find you step in so what is your favorite beverage alcoholic or non alcoholic?

 

Kami Simmons 

Oh, okay. I love this. My favorite beverage? is I love me a good Margarita. Okay, I love a good Margarita. Oh my goodness with sugar on the rim. I don’t like salt on the room. I love a pinch sugar rim. And yeah, that’s what you could find me step in.

 

Lexie Smith 

I love it. I’m a spicy jalapeno cucumber Margarita with a teen teen rim like not as my order if not wine. So I’m in the market and you do like straight plain like regular catalog margaritas or do you have a flavor you like?

 

Kami Simmons 

I like a good passionfruit Margarita or lavender Margarita. I’ve been experimenting. I’ve been trying to get out of my comfort zone that the typical Margarita. So people love to party here in Atlanta, I’ve come to learn. And so I’m like, whatever the bartenders making. I’ll take it like if you have passionfruit today. Well, the well thought out in the margarita. We’ll try that today.

 

Lexie Smith 

You know, sometimes I do this show when we’re recording at 8am. And I bring up this question and I’m like, Well, I’m thirsty shit. It’s only eight but right now. Yes, it’s up for five or it’s almost after five over here. It is time except acceptable, quote unquote now to have one because you’re making me very thirsty, my friend.

 

Kami Simmons 

It’s five o’clock somewhere I know literally

 

Lexie Smith 

went to minus 10 minutes on my end. So last question is Where can people go to connect with you and learn more about all the different projects you have going on?

 

Kami Simmons 

Of course well you can follow me across all of our social medias at underscore kami underscore Semmens and that’s ka ma I underscore si mlns so you can follow me on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn. I also have my show on hits 93. So if you’re not based in Atlanta, because we are internet radio station, you can download hits 90 to three on your Apple or Android device. And also me on YouTube too, because I do show like behind the scenes so that’s kept me Semmens TV on YouTube and Tiktok I’ve been really on Tik Tok, but I can’t be Semmens across all social media platforms, I’d love to connect with you and I do talk back.

 

Lexie Smith 

Amazing and you guys if you I mean literally if you’re listening to me say this then yes, you heard her heard her on this show. Tell her Tell her how amazing she was. And I thought I just wanted to thank you so much for coming on the show today and pitching and sipping with us.