Meet Gary “With Da Tea” Hayes: Media Personality / Influencer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gary “With Da Tea” Hayes and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gary “With Da Tea”, what role has risk played in your life or career?
When younger, I was not afraid to take risks, but as I got older upon observing other people, I noticed people like Russ Parr, who is who I started radio with. I saw the things that he was doing, and I felt like I could do the other things that other people did. I realized that I could do the things that I saw other people accomplish. I knew that I would have to take risks to get there. One challenge that shocked me was when I was working for the Dallas county health department, I felt it was a great job for me as an outreach worker. I would speak with people who needed their children to get their immunization shots. At the same time I dabbled in radio a bit. At this point, I never had the experience of quitting a job. But one day, I felt the need to quit that job and do something that I really had a passion to do. Keeping in mind that I just bought a new truck! Once I quit the job, I went to broadcasting school and got my license for broadcasting. I was very excited about radio and did not mind starting out as an unpaid intern. That is how much I enjoyed working in the radio field. I took a chance / risk and everything worked out. And here I am today!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
What sets me apart is that I stay true to myself. When it comes to celebrity interviews, I feel that it’s all about “how” you ask the question or present it to the person. It’s more to it than just the story when it comes to the interaction — which in turn produces the content that people see. You should first examine and look at the talent that you are speaking with and feel them out. How are they doing? What sort of mood are they in? I present my questions unlike any other. I push my personality through as I conduct interviews.

I don’t really think about my success too much. I’m just happy that I like what I do. I’ve educated myself so that I’m not limited to one type of opportunity. I didn’t face many challenges at first, because I didn’t even know what what was about to happen. I just called the radio station one day when I moved to Dallas from Houston… I made conversation with the DJ, Russ Parr. And whatever I said, he liked it! Growing up, I always would joke with friends saying, “we would be movie stars one day! Although I actually never thought that it would come to fruition — I always felt like it was “luck”.

I did have a challenge when I was diagnosed with cancer. Who would have thought that I could overcome and continue in my career? Usually people panic and “write you off” because they do not know what will happen. I went through chemo therapy and radiation and still worked everyday. I didn’t miss a day of work. I never looked for sympathy from anyone. I felt if I had the strength to keep moving, I did. The lesson I’ve learned is that you can compare this Industry as being like a game and you have to know how to play the game! You have to know when to hold, when to throw off, when to walk away and when to run! People think on the outside looking in that this is a wonderful job and you’re doing great and having fun!… Trust me, everything is not how it always looks. Looks can be deceiving. In radio, you can be “here today and gone this afternoon!” But while you are in it, make the best of it and have a great time, because when it’s over it’s over. I’ve seen many people leave and never come back. There is a difference between TV/radio friends and regular friends. Never get too comfortable. That is one thing I don’t do. I never get too comfortable!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I have friends to come and visit EVERY WEEK! Since the Pandemic, I haven’t been able to take my friends to see people, but I love to let my friends meet celebrities. My friends like to eat! I’m not a foodie, but recently I went to Ray’s on the River and enjoyed it. My friends like to go to places they’ve heard about on TV like, Ole Lady Gang. I always show them a great time!

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?
Russ Parr was the first person to give me a start in radio and put me in the spotlight. He is a syndicated radio personality and a movie producer now. He believed in me and saw something in me that I didn’t see in myself.

Website: https://garywithdatea.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/garywdtea/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/garywdtea

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GarywithDaTea

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/GaryWithDaTea/videos

Image Credits
FOX / Dish Nation