Rising Stars: Meet Khari Johnson of Ohio

Today we’d like to introduce you to Khari Johnson.

Hi Khari, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I’ve never been great at staying in one place. I was born in New Mexico, raised between North Carolina and the Washington, D.C. area, and as the middle child, I learned early how to adapt, negotiate, and occasionally stay out of trouble. I’ve always felt most at home wherever there’s good conversation, good music, and good people.

I’m a United States Air Force veteran with a degree in Audio Production, and storytelling has been a constant throughout my life. I created and hosted Kountry Fan Mail, where I interviewed more than 60 up and coming artists, musicians, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from around the world. Today, I co-host Freestyle Friday with my wife, Pisces, where we talk music, culture, current events, and whatever rabbit hole the conversation decides to take us down.

I’m naturally curious, which means I tend to ask a lot of questions and probably spend way too much time researching random topics. One minute I’m reading about hip-hop history. The next I’m learning about economics, education, geopolitics, or convincing myself that buying another ounce of silver is somehow a responsible financial decision.

At the end of the day, I love connecting with people. Whether it’s through music, conversation, or shared experiences, I believe everyone has a story worth telling. If you’ve got one, I’m probably going to ask about it.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has not always been a smooth road. Because I have lived in so many different places, I have had to repeatedly learn new environments, meet new people, and build new relationships from scratch. That can be difficult for me because I am naturally more of a loner. I enjoy connecting with people, but I do not always find it easy to put myself out there or constantly rebuild a sense of community.

In 2021, I left my job to pursue my podcast full time. I did not have investors, major sponsors, or much financial backing. I also tried a few other business ideas that were not successful, so there were plenty of moments when I questioned whether I was making the right decisions.

Another challenge was that my podcast focused heavily on new and up-and-coming artists. I believed in giving people a platform before everyone else knew their names, but that also made it harder to attract listeners. It is much easier to get people excited about someone they already recognize. Building support around unfamiliar talent required patience, consistency, and a lot of belief in the purpose behind the show.

Even when the results were not immediate, I kept going because the work still felt meaningful. The experience taught me how to stay committed without guaranteed recognition, money, or outside validation.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My artistic process is driven by curiosity and storytelling. I’m currently a freelance audio producer and mixer, working primarily with up-and-coming artists. My role can be as simple as providing creative feedback or as involved as editing vocals, mixing, and mastering an entire track. I enjoy helping artists bring their vision to life.

Outside of production, I’m naturally an analyst. I like to research the artists I interview because I’m just as interested in their story as I am in their music. My podcast actually started as a music review blog. As I spent more time learning about the people behind the albums, I realized their stories were just as compelling as the music itself. That realization led me to create Black Wall Music/Kountry Fan Mail, where the focus shifted from reviewing music to telling the stories of the people creating it.

What do you like best about our city? What do you like least?
What I like most about Cincinnati is its history. I enjoy learning about the city’s role in American history, especially its significance in Black history and its connection to the Ohio River. I’ve never lived in a city where the river played such a central role in shaping commerce, neighborhoods, and culture. The Midwest was definitely different from anywhere I’d lived before, but in many ways it reminded me of the South, which gave me a sense of familiarity.

What I like least is that it can be difficult to break into established social circles. As someone who has moved around a lot, I’m used to meeting new people, but Cincinnati can sometimes feel like a city where everyone already knows everyone. I also like to joke that I’m from the “real Queen City,” Charlotte, so I occasionally give Cincinnati a hard time about borrowing the nickname. It’s all in good fun, but it definitely starts some entertaining conversations.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Sidequestklue
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@kfmpodcast?si=4dyUdHhCOoVYPemd