Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandi Hunter.
Brandi Hunter
Hi Brandi, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got to where I am today by surprise. My life right now is not what I had planned, but I like it here! I’m a proud graduate of Memphis City Schools and the University of Memphis. When studying broadcast journalism at U of M, my professors told us we’d have to move to a smaller city to get started in the business and work our way up to larger markets. In other words, Memphis, a top 50 market, wasn’t a first career stop at the time for reporters. That information was news to my homebody, 22-year-old self. Still, it helped me create a short-term career goal — do whatever I needed to get a reporting job in Memphis, work here in the city for a while, and then re-evaluate to figure out what I wanted to do next.
When it was time to graduate, I attended graduate school for two years instead of applying for jobs. Not to be dramatic, but that decision was one of those canon events the TikTokers talk about. The U.S. was in a recession when I was ready to apply for reporter jobs. The 3-6 months my professors said it would take to find a job turned into three years. During those few years before I moved to Arkansas for a reporting job, I discovered freelancing, which unlocked a desire I didn’t know I had. One day, I could write an article for a local media outlet. On other days, I could be blogging for a nonprofit, working as a production assistant at a news station, or on local shoots for national shows like American Idol or My 600-lb Life. I enjoyed using different media skills with other companies. I still wanted to be a journalist but knew I wanted to return to freelancing later. Fast forward to now, I’ve been a reporter, anchor, nonprofit marketing content strategist, podcast producer, brand writer, and now a full-time freelancer, using the skills I’ve learned in all those roles. Twenty-two-year-old Brandi would be happy to know we did make it back to the Memphis media market and ask a million questions about how we got here.
Has it been a smooth road? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Nope. One of the main struggles was always work/life balance. I needed to work full-time to pay the bills while trying to figure out and build up my business. There were times of trying to force opportunities, being discouraged when one thing after another didn’t work out, and sometimes falling short of carrying out some responsibilities for the few clients I did have. Also, the majority of my 30s was significantly difficult. It wasn’t the personal and professional glow-up many say they experienced during that decade. Some of it was due to decisions I made, some due to external circumstances I couldn’t do anything about — but that combination was life-changing in many ways and a speed bump for me creatively and mentally. If I could go back in time, I would tell myself to chill out, keep praying, find a therapist, and grow where you’re planted because things will work out.
We’d love to learn more about your work. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc? What are you most proud of? What sets you apart from others?
I work with media companies, news organizations, nonprofits, small business owners, and entrepreneurs, using my skills in writing, producing videos and podcasts, and designing websites to help them tell the stories that matter to the people they serve. The projects and opportunities I pursue and create almost always fall under the umbrella topics of health and wellness, marketing tech, and faith. Also, I’m back in a newsroom, this time producing and hosting lifestyle segments for the ABC affiliate station in Memphis. The career paths I chose in journalism and nonprofit marketing created this blend of skillsets and interests that have led to some great opportunities in Memphis and across the U.S. The range of experience is a value-add for projects I work on. I’m grateful to have become an adult during a time when a multi-hyphenate career can be a realistic goal.
Contact Info:
Image Credits
Headshot by: Creation Studios
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