Meet Taylor Richards | MelaninTeenTherapy Podcast

We had the good fortune of connecting with Taylor Richards and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Taylor, what role has risk played in your life or career?
I suppose you could say that risk-taking has always been a part of the family. My father took many risks for himself to get to where he is now, and my mother has done the same for herself. Every day is a risk, whether you walk outside, get out of your car, or go to work.

I’ve learned that just because it’s a part of life doesn’t mean I have to avoid it. Fear is a barrier to energy, and energy is everything. I don’t want to put a halt to myself or my blessing because I’m afraid of taking risks. Learning to be self-sufficient and balance my platform was one of my biggest threats. I was in school and I just knew I was going to explode up and get noticed, but it took longer than I expected. That didn’t mean I had to stop; I just sought other methods to engage with people. I put up posters, and they took them down, but I immediately put them back up. I wanted people to feel heard from a art viewpoint. I took a chance by being a voice for other young adults like myself. Whether male or female, I took a risk by creating a platform for everyone. I even took a chance by building a platform for Melanin individuals. Those dangers do not deter me from speaking truthfully. My podcast is for the real and untouched.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
MelaninTeenTherapy has given me and others voices we didn’t even realize we had. Because of prior tragedies, it has been deeply buried inside us. With how deep I dug myself, I embarked on a quest of self-discovery over the years. So I brought my listeners along, and I had no idea how many other young adults felt the same way. Whether it was about personal development, sex, love, trauma, the past, present, or future, etc. I potentially use spirituality and my roots to dig deeper. The deeper i dig, the more fulfilling it is to heal that wound. Then i share with others, to let them know that they are not alone.

I grew up as the only child, thus my journal served as my release. I recorded all that I could accurately spell in my tiny diary and kept it hidden from the public sight. For the bulk of my life, I’ve been my own “therapist” as well as others’. Over time, I realized that when it comes to my personal business, I could only rely on myself. Then high school arrived, and the minor issues I had shoved to the side grew into major issues. I didn’t want to acknowledge to myself that I was depressed, so I remained up all night working out how to fix it. At the moment, I phoned my instructor and told her these same remarks. “I need help.” Those three words altered the course of my life.

Learning how to put up a podcast and discover the ins and outs of what a podcast is for in 2019 was hard. I entered as an amateur, but I was a determined amateur. It was not simple to start your own production at the age of 17. I was a baby learning how to mature and grow out of my childish habits. I didn’t finish episodes on time, and I wasn’t consistent enough, which showed in my work. To be honest, I’m still figuring out time management and how to prioritize myself. My podcast is a kind of self-care for me. I publish every Saturday at 5:11 p.m. My best buddy, Olani Jenkins, knew someone who created his own podcast as well, but on a platform that didn’t require any more equipment. That’s what I was searching for since I don’t think anyone anticipated a pandemic. My podcast came at the perfect time since I’m still growing and learning as I go, and I get to share it with other young adults like myself.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
First, I’d take them to get reading from Raw Reads. This is a psychic business that is black-owned. The owner is so nice and has amazing skills. Not to mention she’s very professional and on point. Next, I’d take them out to eat, and they’d have to taste vegan food. ‘Faux Real Burger Grill’ is one of the top vegan burger joints with a diverse menu. Then it’s over to Ponce City Market for some shopping and dinner. I’d take them to the rooftop at the end of the night to play games and socialize.

Cascade is one of my favorite places to visit in Atlanta since I enjoy skating. Sparkles in Smyrna is another nice option.

Kennesaw Mountain or Stone Mountain has a mountain summit. I enjoy the thought of calm spots where my buddies and I can have our own fun.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d want to thank my family for their support, my closest friends for their support of my business, my eleventh-grade literary instructor for assisting me in the beginning, and myself for having the confidence to use this platform as an outlet.

Website: https://anchor.fm/taylor-richards5

Instagram: @melaninteentherapy