Today we’d like to introduce you to Ebony J Wynn.
Hi Ebony, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
Since I was five years old, I wanted to be a teacher, preacher, and on the radio, but I was told that I couldn’t do all that. I went to Northern Kentucky University and studied electronic media broadcasting, and within the first week of school, I started my own radio show. It was initially supposed to be a one-hour show, but after the managers heard about it, they bumped it up to two hours, five days a week. My brand really developed and evolved on campus- I was doing things that large radio personalities were doing on the radio at a small campus station that no one had heard about, and that’s how I got my name “The Host that Does the Most.” I was hosting events on and off campus, working multiple campus jobs, doing a radio show five days a week, and extracurricular activities on campus.
By the age of 23, I proved everyone wrong who said I couldn’t be a teacher, preacher, and on the radio. By then, I was teaching at an elementary school, I had a speaking tour, and I landed a job at my dream radio station, 101.1 The Wiz in Cincinnati. I essentially launched my career by making a local radio personality number one with his show, and my exceptional work awarded me the opportunity to produce the morning shows of radio legends Russ Parr, Rickey Smiley, and D.L. Hugley.
I’ve been at Radio One for over 10 years now, and during my time there, I’ve also had the opportunity to serve as an instructor at the Ohio Media School and at Dohn Community School and have been able to train and teach over 1,000 different brands how to build and market their companies/businesses. It’s been an honor to write the curriculum for those schools, and now that I’ve had the chance to see that it works, it’s inspired me to go out and build my own.
I’m currently operating the Ebony J Media Learning Center, where we are able to teach children, entrepreneurs, and companies how to navigate the media space. At the center, they learn podcasting, marketing, how to DJ, how to record, and how to build a profitable brand that they’re confident about.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road. I had to drop out of school for a brief time because of a domestic violence situation. Really trying to figure out who to be around, who to have in my circle, and what type of people to be connected to at a young age and early on in my career was a lot. Also, having people following me around all the time (even following me home) was a lesson that taught me how to be private even though I had a public-facing career.
I also had to deal with having a single mother who was also raising an autistic child in addition to me. Lots of the things I experienced early on in my life and career affected my self-esteem and confidence, and it took me a while to be able to get that back and really lean into who I am. The healing journey for me has been a long road, but it’s also caused me to keep pushing and striving towards the goals I have in life and in my career.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I’ve been talking and connecting with people since I was five years old, so I’m known for talking. When it comes to speaking and connecting with people, I really believe that my energy and skills are unmatched. Many people know me as a radio personality and host- I’m on air weekends, and I also do a weekly podcast called Community Conversations where I highlight nonprofits and those making an impact in the community.
I also just opened the Ebony J. Media Learning Center where we specialize in providing comprehensive media training and consulting services to individuals, businesses, and organizations. Our mission is to empower the people we serve with the skills, knowledge, and confidence needed to excel in the ever-evolving media landscape.
What do you think about happiness?
Being able to actually be working in a career and field that I love makes me happy. I get to not only do what I love every day, but I also get to serve my community and touch the lives of others while they are on their journey in the media industry. All of this makes me happy because I know that I’m fulfilling what I’m supposed to be doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ebonyjmedia.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebonyjmedia/
- Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/EbonyJSho
Image Credits
Seth Holston
Ebony J
Tony Winstead
