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

Hi Ayana, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
“I believe that without risk, there’s limited reward. I’ve learned that doing it afraid is better than not doing it at all—because you never know how amazing the outcome could be if fear holds you back. ‘It’—whatever your version of the dream is—deserves a shot.”

“A year ago, I made the decision to move far enough away from home to chase the life I envisioned for myself. I was stuck in Charlotte, North Carolina, in a place that no longer felt like home. I was desperate for growth, for change—but staying where I was simply wasn’t an option. As scared as I felt, I had a plan, and I was ready to embrace whatever the journey looked like. One morning, I woke up, packed up my two-door car, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia, with nothing but a hope and a dream. Ten months later, I’m living that dream daily.”

“Being featured here is something I can now check off my bucket list—but none of this would’ve happened if I hadn’t taken that risk. I truly believe everything I’m building started with one decision: to bet on myself.”

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Adult Supervision Needed (ASN) is one of many things that I do. I needed a space to express all of the things I love—whether it’s podcasting, creating my own merchandise, or inspiring others. ASN allows me to produce my own media through Another Lesbian Podcast, design and manufacture custom drops, and show up in my motivational space with Somebody Fine Ass Daughter. It also gives me the opportunity to embody Ayana, the amazing and strong woman behind my fitness brand, Gymbait.

What sets ASN apart is our mission to create spaces where people are celebrated for simply being who they are. No questions asked. You’re not too loud, too soft, too big, or too small to belong in the spaces I create. You’re already enough. Growing up, I wasn’t allowed to just exist. I was always “too something”—too loud, too big, too tall. I could never just be Ayana, and that was hard. That’s why I work effortlessly to create these spaces—so that others can just be and exist as they are, without feeling like they have to shrink.

Getting to where I am today in business wasn’t easy. I started my first business, Gymbait, during COVID. It was a flop. I was screen-printing shirts in my parents’ living room with no job, no money, and no plan. But I wasn’t going to quit. I learned how to make and sell custom Apple Watch wristbands for Pride, and that paid my bills for two months. That small win showed me that entrepreneurship equals freedom—and I wanted more of it. I went on to start Futuristic Vinyls, which took off overnight, but I wasn’t prepared for the scale or success. Then in 2022, I started Somebody Fine Ass Daughter, and again—it hit. But I realized I needed to build something sustainable, not just popular.

So, I took a step back to build smarter, to learn how to build businesses that last. I slowed down to focus on long-term strategies for growth, and that’s when Adult Supervision Needed became my focus. Now, we’re planning our third and fourth events after selling out our first two. It hasn’t been a straight path, but it’s been so worth it.

What I want the world to know is: it could be you, too. I’m living in a season where I’m watching everything I once dreamed about happen in real time—and it still gives me chills. But this kind of success starts with belief. If you’re going to sell a dream, you’ve got to believe in it more than anything. Convince just one other person to care about it as much as you do, and you’ve already won half the battle. It’s not impossible. You just haven’t done it—yet

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If my best friend was visiting Atlanta for a week, we’d have a packed itinerary! First stop: The BeltLine—there’s always something happening, from pop-ups to music to great food spots along the way. I’d make sure we hit up a Queers and Beers event because the vibes are always right and the community is unmatched.

We’d grab food at Ponce City Market, then head to The Battery for a game or drinks, and swing by Atlantic Station for some shopping and more eats. I’d also take them to Piedmont Park for a peaceful moment in nature—it’s such a beautiful place, especially when the weather is nice.

We’re definitely hitting Little Five Points—there’s an amazing pizza spot over there and a bunch of quirky shops and vintage stores that I love. Honestly, I feel like I’m just scratching the surface. I’ve only been in Atlanta for 10 months, but I’m constantly discovering new spots. I’m excited to keep exploring this city and all the dope people and places that make it special.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to my mama and my mom, my amazing friends (A.W. & T.W.), my team, and the incredible community that’s welcomed me with open arms since I moved to Atlanta. Every person who has shown up, supported, shared a kind word, or simply believed in what I’m building—you are part of this story. You are the reason I get to be Ayana every day. I don’t take that for granted, not for a second. Your support fuels everything I do.

Website: https://www.adultsupervisionneeded.com

Instagram: @adultsupervisionneeded

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@anotherlesbianpodcast?si=ZG58b_9JFJ4QjR8p

Image Credits
Joshua Smith

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutAtlanta is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.