Meet KaToya and Damon Sumner: Podcasters

We had the good fortune of connecting with KaToya and Damon Sumner and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi KaToya and Damon, what’s the most important think you’ve done for your children?
One thing that has been so important for us as parents has been for us to showcase to our kids what “chasing dreams” looks like. The old mantra that “your life is over when you have kids” doesn’t ring true in our home. So, we love that our kids see us pursuing our own goals and understanding that hard work is vital to attaining anything you want in life. We also aim to always celebrate our kids in all of their successes-big or small. Our hope is that we can be a daily motivator and encourager for our children, instilling in them that they accomplish anything they set their minds on. 

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Our podcast, Sum it Up with The Sumners is a fun podcast all about relationships, love, marriage. Our focus is to deliver fun, relatable content that is practical for the hopeless romantic, to the couple who’s trying to get their last teenager out the house. One thing that we are proud is just getting started and trying something. We talked about creating something together for a while and we finally took that leap. Was it a little scary? Sure. Do we know exactly what we are doing? Nope. Are we enjoying it as we go? Absolutely. And it hasn’t been easy. There’s been tech issues, timing issues. Shoot, 2020 alone was an issue. Plus, the constant shadow of perfectionism or constantly worrying about what others’ would think were dragons we had to slay. A lesson we’ve learned is that–if we just SHOW UP–we will figure it out. It might not be perfect. But it will be done and it have an opportunity to make someone’s day better, or spark a conversation that a couple needed to have, or give some much-needed laughs to someone commuting home. Another lesson we’ve learned is that consistency is key. We have already learned so much about equipment, branding, social media and everything in between, because we have consistently put out content. Therefore, we have continued to push ourselves to get better. If there was something we wanted the world to know about our story, it’s that we aren’t experts. We don’t know it all or claim to. But we’ve seen a lot, been through a ton and have made it through together.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If you’re hanging out with us for the week, there are definitely some places you’d need to visit. Food -If you want some of the best tacos in the city, you have to visit El Progreso on Boulevard. If you are in the mood for something a bit more healthy, Tassili’s is a raw vegan restaurant that never fails. Fitness -When you are in Atlanta and want to keep your workout routine, you have to checkout KaToya’s POUND class on Wednesdays at Vibe Ride-Grant Park. Or you can hit up Effect Fitness for another high-energy workout that is unlike any other. Outoors -If you want to get outside and enjoy some of that good Georgia weather, take a nice hike at Sweetwater Creek or love the beautiful scenery at Dunwoody’s Nature Reserve.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The list is endless. But we’d love to shoutout everyone who’s always been there for us. Everyone from the high-school hallways , to now-their love and support means the world to us!

Website: https://www.patreon.com/sumitupsumners
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sumitupsumners/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sumitupsumners
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmIS3XEX5V5A5XokfDZMdNw
Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sum-it-up-with-the-sumners/id1527027848

Image Credits
Photographer-Ashton Garner