By Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer
Report for America Corps Member
msayles@afro.com

Shortly after joining the AFRO as the business writer in June, my supervisor and mentor, Dorothy Boulware, AFRO managing editor, asked me if I enjoyed listening to podcasts. I told her I loved them. Whether driving a long distance, studying for exams in college or cleaning, I relied on podcasts to keep me going. 

My preferred genres ranged from true crime to nonfiction narrative, and after finishing an episode, I often overwhelmed my friends and families with every detail. It was fascinating to me that I could be just as captivated by an audio file as I am when I watch a television show. 

A podcast, to me, feels like a conversation. It’s personal, and it allows you to reach people in a way that you can’t with written words. Boulware was pleased that I had a proclivity for podcasts, and she charged me with starting one at the AFRO. 

This would be the first podcast our media company would release, and I did not take that lightly. Fortunately for me, Boulware already knew what the subject matter should be: entrepreneurship.

Megan Sayles, AFRO Business Writer & Report for America Corps Member.

However, It came with a twist. We’ve seen how the COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged brick-and-mortar businesses. The word “pivot” has basically become a permanent part of our vocabulary. On the other hand, the pandemic caused a surge in startups. Many faced unemployment, and college graduates were expected to enter a severed workforce, so they turned to entrepreneurship. 

For these reasons, the podcast would cover businesses with young owners and e-commerce operations. All I had to do was come up with a title and start lining up guests. In a blink, summer became fall, and it was time to roll out the podcast. 

“Pleasure Doing Business With You” was finally born, and I am so excited to share with our AFRO subscribers. Last night, we had our release event on Facebook, so if you couldn’t tune in, go check it out now. We talked to one of my first guests, Evonne Opoku of AFROTHREADS, about her business and teased the first episode. 

When the media covers the Black community, they hardly ever tell stories of triumph and success. As the Black media authority, the AFRO knows those stories are out there and deserve to be told. 

“Pleasure Doing Business With You” is meant to celebrate the hard work Black entrepreneurs have put into their businesses. It allows news consumers to take a break from negative coverage and hear stories of success. 

Tune in every Tuesday on our Facebook to listen to “Pleasure Doing Business With You,” and please reach out if you are interested in being a part of the podcast. 

Help us Continue to tell OUR Story and join the AFRO family as a member – subscribers are now members!  Join here! 

The post Introducing ‘Pleasure Doing Business With You,’ the AFRO’s first podcast appeared first on AFRO American Newspapers .

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