Today we’d like to introduce you to Chantel Richardson.
Hi Chantel, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey really started with humble beginnings at SUNY Oswego, where I began developing my voice, figuring out what I wanted my future to look like, and realizing how much I enjoyed connecting with people and hearing their stories. After college, I went into sales and spent time building professional experience, but deep down, I knew I was meant to be doing something more creative and connected to people.
Eventually, I made the decision to step away from the traditional career path and take a chance on myself. I quit my job and decided to pursue something I had always been passionate about: interviewing people, having meaningful conversations, and creating a space where people could share their stories, perspectives, and personalities.
That leap ultimately became TIZZYTLKS. What started from a genuine love of conversation has grown into a digital media platform focused on entertainment, culture, community, and storytelling. I’ve had the opportunity to interview creatives, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and everyday people, while covering events and creating conversations that I hope make people laugh, think, feel, and connect.
A lot of my inspiration comes from personalities and formats that made me fall in love with interviewing and entertainment in the first place, including Maury Povich, Jerry Springer, Billy Eichner, Mo’Nique, and others who understood the power of personality, authenticity, humor, and connecting with people.
I’m still building, still learning, and still dreaming, but that’s what makes the journey so meaningful. TIZZYTLKS is a reflection of taking a chance on yourself, trusting your voice, and creating your own lane.
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?
Absolutely not! It has definitely been a journey. One of the biggest challenges has been learning to trust myself and believe in my own dream, especially during the moments when other people didn’t necessarily see the vision yet.
Building something from the ground up means constantly having to remind yourself why you started. I’ve had to push myself to keep reaching out, pitching, asking for opportunities, and going after the interviews I wanted. And let’s be honest, not everyone wants to talk to you LOL! You hear “no,” get ignored, or have doors that simply don’t open. But you learn to keep knocking.
There have been plenty of moments where I’ve questioned myself, but I’ve also learned that sometimes you have to believe in the vision before anyone else can see it. Every interview, opportunity, event, and connection has helped me grow and become more confident in what I’m building.
The road hasn’t been smooth, but I think the bumps are part of what makes the journey worthwhile. I’m still here, still asking the questions, still chasing the conversations, and still creating the world I envisioned when I first decided to bet on myself.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
My journey into media actually started back in college at SUNY Oswego with the Chantizzy Podcast. The podcast is now defunct, but it was an important starting point for me because it gave me the opportunity to experiment with interviewing, storytelling, and creating conversations around the things I cared about.
As my vision evolved, so did the platform. I eventually shifted my focus toward TIZZYTLKS, which allowed me to expand beyond a traditional podcast format and explore entertainment, culture, community, events, red carpets, interviews, and creative storytelling in a much bigger way.
That evolution also helped lead to the creation and growth of NINETYDEGREE DIGITAL, my creative agency. Through the agency, I’ve been able to take the skills and experiences I developed through TIZZYTLKS and apply them to a wider range of projects, including branding and marketing strategy, content creation, nonprofit and philanthropic initiatives, event experiences, personal events, and creative campaigns.
I think this evolution is also one of the things that sets me apart. I’m not just a host or interviewer, and I’m not just a creative strategist. I understand what it means to be on both sides of the creative process. I can be in front of the camera conducting an interview or covering a red carpet, and I can also step behind the scenes to develop a brand strategy, create content, support an event, or help an organization communicate its story.
TIZZYTLKS gives me a platform to tell stories and connect with people, while NINETYDEGREE DIGITAL gives me the opportunity to help other people, brands, organizations, and causes bring their own visions to life. Having both perspectives allows me to approach projects differently because I understand the importance of both the story and the strategy behind it.
Ultimately, I’ve never wanted to fit into just one box. I’m constantly creating, interviewing, strategizing, learning, and finding new ways to connect with people. That willingness to evolve, take risks, and create my own lane is what I believe truly sets me apart.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Something that might surprise people is that I didn’t always see myself as someone who would build a media platform and a creative agency. A lot of what people see now, the interviews, red carpets, events, content, and business, came from me simply deciding to bet on myself and figure it out along the way.
I also think people might be surprised by how many different hats I wear. TIZZYTLKS may be what people see publicly, but behind the scenes I’m also thinking about branding, strategy, partnerships, event production, nonprofit work, creative direction, and how to turn an idea into something tangible through NINETYDEGREE DIGITAL.
At the heart of it, I’m actually a pretty curious person. I genuinely love meeting people and hearing how they got to where they are. That curiosity is a huge part of why I interview people. I’m always thinking, “There has to be a story here.”
And honestly, I think one of the most surprising things is that I’m still figuring it out too. LOL. I may walk into a room with a camera and confidence, but behind the scenes there’s always a lot of learning, risk-taking, rejection, and figuring things out in real time. I think that’s part of what makes the journey authentic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tizzytlks.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tizzytlks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Tizzy-Tlks/100085602266632/
- Twitter: https://www.facebook.com/people/Tizzy-Tlks/100085602266632/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoWC9-KFJ0szRSvKP-phYfQ
