Center Stage: Meet the Creators of the Free Gems Podcast LLC| A Media Outlet for the People

By Leslie Hudgins

1. What inspired you to start the "Free Gems Podcast," and how does your background influence the mission and direction of the show? 

The inspiration came from our shared love for music. We wanted to create a platform for artists to have a voice. As time went on we wanted to expand from music, so we incorporated business owners. Our mission is to give artists and entrepreneurs an opportunity to tell their stories and drop gems that they have picked up in their respective industries. 

2. Can you share a specific moment or experience that solidified your decision to launch the "Free Gems Podcast"? 

The specific moment we decided to launch our podcast was in late 2020, I [Ej Petty] texted Willmatic and asked him if he wanted to start a podcast. He asked what we were going to talk about and I responded, "Music." We recorded our pilot episode that never saw the light of day. Shortly after that, we contacted Gumbosa (the third member of the Free Gems Podcast) to shoot the visuals. Once that happened we recorded and shot our first official episode with artist, Big Rez and the rest was history. 

3. What experiences or background led you to create a podcast focusing on sharing valuable insights and stories?

We felt at the time nobody was telling these stories of the everyday entrepreneur/artist in our community, so we wanted to create that safe space and allow the entrepreneur/ artist to feel heard. 

4. What are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced in running "Free Gems Podcast," and how have you managed to overcome them? 

Our biggest challenge today is scaling our business. We have managed to overcome this challenge of growing our audience by incorporating live events, selling merch, and networking more. 

5. How have you seen the podcast evolve since its inception, and what are some key milestones you've achieved?

We have evolved by stepping outside of our box. When we first started we were interviewing a lot of our friends who were artists that mainly did hip hop and R&B. Then we added business owners, chefs, photographers, videographers, program directors, other podcasters, etc. A Key milestone we’ve achieved is collaborating with Blue Canary Records to host some of our most impactful live shows. 

6. What are your future goals for "Free Gems"?

One of our goals is to travel and cover more entrepreneurs and artists in other cities and states. We hope to also one day go on tour. Free Gems Podcast will be one of the biggest broadcasting networks the world will see. 

7. What impact has "Free Gems Podcast" had on your listeners and the broader community?

Free Gems has influenced the people in our community to do what they love to do and strive to be the greatest in their fields. 

8. How can the community and potential collaborators get involved and support the mission of "Free Gems Podcast"?

The community and potential collaborators can go to our website FreeGemsPodcast.com or follow us on YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to listen/ watch all episodes and keep up with all of the latest updates.