Meet Nigel Ashford: Show Creator/Host

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

Hi Nigel, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Before I answered this question, I wanted to look up the word risk, and after reading a couple of definitions from Webster’s Dictionary, I saw that the word took on a negative connotation. Here are a couple of examples: Someone or something that creates or suggests a hazard or the degree of probability of such loss. When reading these definitions, you would think the act of taking a risk is a bad thing and will most likely result in failure or danger, but I disagree. I believe that risk is the part of you that draws you to some type of hope or faith in something and that no matter how big or small the probability of your success, you’re willing to take a chance on the thing you truly believe in.

I will tell anyone that I rarely have any regrets in my life, but the regrets I do have were due to my fear of taking risks. I wanted to be a talk show host, but I got discouraged when I had employers and co-workers tell me that I didn’t have the it-factor and I did not fit the look of a talk show host, so I let fear get in my way. By not taking the risk, I then began to be haunted by regrets, but I was afraid to bet on myself and take a risk in doing something that I loved to do.

After three years of running from my purpose, I finally got tired of fantasizing about the what-if and finally took a chance on myself by creating my talk show. No, I didn’t have the network, the team, or the equipment, but I had faith in God, divine intervention, my talent, and my work ethic. Thanks to the support of family, friends, fraternity brothers, and mentors I was able to create, OUTSPOKEN, a show that speaks on serious and light-heart relevant topics relating to culture, issues, changes, and achievements within the LGBTQ community. We have provided a unique and honest platform for an audience to seek access to commentary on politics, health, pop culture, and current
events within our rainbow culture.

Since starting OUTSPOKEN in June 2020, we have broadcasted approximately 40 episodes, interviewed over 100 guests, hired staff, gained viewership of over 20,000, made guest appearances on several major podcasts and live shows. OUTSPOKEN also performed a live show at the Freedom 2B Summit Los Angeles, hosted, produced, and directed Virtual Black Gay Pride and the Black History Program for Nashville Black Pride, and was featured in The Unleashed Voice Magazine for the (March 2021 Issue).

In less than a year, we have come a long way. It wasn’t easy, but I was willing to take a chance on something that I truly believed. That belief was and still is that in finding your purpose in life, no matter the circumstances, life always has a way of directing you towards your path. But, for that to happen, you have to be willing to take that first step and risk it all.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

The 28-Year-Old, born in Birmingham, AL, but now residing in Nashville, TN is the creator and host of OUTSPOKEN, a show that speaks on serious and light-hearted relevant topics as it relates to culture, issues, changes, and achievements within the LGBTQ community.

The show provides a platform for an audience that seeks access to commentary on politics, health, pop culture, and current events that takes place within our rainbow culture, becoming a voice that exudes positivity, diversity, and equality while captivating an audience through adversity.

Ashford first fell in love with media during his sophomore year at the University of South Alabama (USA). He had to interview a unique person and tell their story. He told the story of one of his college friends at the time, who found out at age of 15, that her cousin was her twin sister, and after reuniting, in less than a year, she lost her twin sister to breast cancer.
“In hearing her story, it opened up another world for me. Not only did I receive an A on the project, but I also received an internal confirmation from God that this is what I’m meant to do, so I did my research on interviewing and storytelling, and I knew then that I wanted to be a talk show host.”

The young host to be was on the right track during his junior and senior years of college. He had a talk show at USA’s Jaguar Production Television Network, a radio show on Jaguar Radio, a freelance hosting position for a talk show with the Mobile County Public School Education Network, and worked part-time as a production assistant for WPMI Local 15 News.

After college, he moved to Amarillo, TX where he worked seven days a week as a television and radio reporter for KFDA CBS News 10, and KGNC Radio. While in Amarillo, Ashford went through a battle within himself after being told by co-workers and supervisors that his dream to become a talk show is very slim, causing him to doubt his career path, his purpose, and even living his life.

“It was a hard pill to swallow because my peers and my bosses would tell me that talk shows were dying out, hosting jobs are extremely hard to get. I was told that most talk shows were looking for female attractive hosts and that my gender might hinder me in achieving my dream. After hearing this, I felt lost, hopeless, and defeated.”

At the time, Ashford was at a crossroads with himself and decided not to renew his contract with the station. In the following week, he was then fired from the radio station. Now unemployed, his bills began to fall behind, resulting in the repossession of his car. Ashford felt that he hit rock bottom resulting in his suicide attempt.

“I hit rock bottom for the first time in my life, and I didn’t know how to handle it. I was too embarrassed to tell my family and friends that I failed because I always presented a persona that I had everything together, so had no one to talk to. So I decided that I would kill myself. I knew I was going to do it because I didn’t tell anyone that I was going to do it, I wrote my goodbye letter and I purchased pills I found through research.”

Right before his attempt, Ashford said that God spoke through his best friend resulting in saving his life.

“Yes, right before I was about to take the pills, my phone ranged, and it was my best friend, so I ignored it, but it kept ringing, and she wouldn’t stop calling me so I picked up the phone, and she told me that God told her to call me, and not to stop calling until I answer, and all I could do was break into tears because I knew then that God had a purpose for my life.”

Ashford moved to Nashville a couple of years later, working as a Digital Manager for a company. During COVID, he had to work from home, and in doing so he said that he was still finding himself until his therapist suggested that he start his show. After prayer, a pep talk, and a leap of faith, Ashford started OUTSPOKEN in June 2020.

Since Ashford has finished his first season resulting in 20 episodes and is now working on season 2. The OUTSPOKEN Digital Live Show has been featured on shows, podcasts, and social media. OUTSPOKEN has been on the air for less than a year and has guest appeared on Promo Homo TV, Black Boy Joy, and the Straight Spouses Podcast. OUTSPOKEN was also asked to do a live show at the Freedom 2B Summit Los Angeles. OUTSPOKEN also hosted, produced, and directed Virtual Black Gay Pride and the Black History Program for Nashville Black Pride.

“I am so blessed to be where I am right now, and I thank God for not only saving my life but also providing purpose in my life, so I can continue to help our LGBTQ+ community.”

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?
I want to say thank you to God, friends, family, and mentors for believing in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself. Thank you for cheering me on and pushing me to be a person that will make a change in a community that has suffered in silence and want their stories and experiences told. Thank you also to our guests for coming on to our platform and allowing my show to be the space that gives you the freedom to be all of who you are, and last but not least, thank you to our viewers because, without your support, none of this would be possible.

Instagram: @theoutspokenman

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nigel-ashford-ba2944105/

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0HvJvJbX9fOjoWxH8AgljQ

Image Credits
Hollis Peguese