Meet NikiMarie Rodriguez | Mental Health Advocate & Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with NikiMarie Rodriguez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi NikiMarie, maybe we can start at the very start – the idea – how did you come up with the idea for your business?
Starting a business was the easy part, coming up with the idea was the hard part. I have always found something intriguing about storytelling. Whether the story was fact or fiction there was a lesson in each story; the lessons came from the characters or the person narrating the story. I knew I wanted to be the person narrating the story, I didn’t want someone else telling my story, I wanted to be the creator of the storytelling experience – I am a mental health advocate, radio personality, founder of NikiMarie Productions, LLC and a mom of three amazingly talented children. I started NikiMarie Productions because I wanted to create a platform where individuals can share motivational stories. When I first started my radio show, NikiMarie Radio under the business brand, I never thought about the success, I just cared about making an impact through storytelling.

What should our readers know about your business?

I started NikiMarie Radio (podcast) back in 2018 and never thought about branding it until I began interviewing several entrepreneurs and financial advisors. We started getting into conversations about brand development, trademarks and generationally wealth. I knew I wanted to set up an opportunity for my children to own something that has longevity but something that can also leave a lasting mark on this world. I started NikiMarie Productions, LLC in July 2020 which fits into the entertainment/media category. The goal is to create motivating content for all ages, sizes, and color. At this current moment, we are working with a few publicists and entertainment managers to get client content promoted on all major platforms in tv, film, commercial, magazine and radio. As technology thrives so does the entertainment industry. Everyone wants access/information to a variety of content. Our current focus is entertainment, culture, technology and health and wellness. The NikiMarie brand thrives on word of mouth, social media content and networking events. We have obviously had to pivot because of the pandemic, however; virtual events are continuing to happen so we look forward to continued growth and cannot wait for things to get back to normal.

Every business goes through highs and lows, just like people. We have our ups, downs and circles but did you eventually come out on top, and what lessons did you learn to continue growing? When you have a moment to self-reflect and be your own therapist or your own champion you continue to give credit to yourself and having the ability to do that now makes me even more excited about all the chapters I still have left to write in my book. The lesson at the end of it all is bet on yourself, give yourself the opportunity to fail, to be successful, to try, to motivate others and share what you have learned with as many people as possible. My brand is all about, letting your voice be heard. On NikiMarie Radio, I interview individuals who are creatively effecting change in their communities and around the world. My motto is each one, teach one. I may not know everything, but I am sure there is a book I can read, a how-to guide, an article, an audiobook, or something that someone has figured out the answer (to a burning question) and has decided to share with the rest of us.

The biggest challenge for me was self-doubt and the fear of failure. I had to take a deeper dive and weigh my options of being too afraid to try or too afraid to fail. Going through the rollercoaster of depression and anxiety, this was a challenge to overcome my own negative thoughts about myself. I had to take a chance on me and know that I am worthy of at least the effort. So I started and continue to bet on myself with each chapter of business.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Great question because I know a lot of people are ready to get out of the house and visit some place fun and different. I would stay at The Moran CityCentre or Hotel ZaZa because of the fabulousness. I love exploring so anything kid friendly or educational is my thing, the space center, the museum of African American culture, Buffalo Bayou Park and a ton of other landmarks in Houston. I love to taste a variety of things so maybe we would eat at Taste of Texas, Houston This Is It Soul Food and Eunice.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Of course, there are several people I want to give credit and recognition to. I did not travel this road on my own. I first and foremost want to acknowledge my bible study group. Without spiritual guidance and a strong sense of faith, I would not be as far as I am without being spiritually grounded. I also have to give credit to one of my biggest supporters, my mother, Patricia J. Byrd. The amount of positivity and encouragement I get from my mother is at times beyond my comprehension. My mom is the person who feeds my soul with information and love; her wealth of knowledge gives me so much wisdom. My mom also tells the best stories and has been a guest host for our “Coffee Time” conversations. I must give credit and recognition to every person that comes on my show, each person shares a few chapters of their lives, what their passions and fears are. It takes a lot for some people to be vulnerable and transparent and my guests take deep dives into what makes them successful in their careers, but they also reveal some incredible challenges they faced getting to where they are now. They inspire and impact others who tune in on a weekly basis. And this all goes back to my first thought and why I started my business, “I have always found something intriguing about storytelling. Whether the story was fact or fiction there was a lesson in each story; the lessons came from the characters or the person narrating the story.” I am always looking for new guests to add value to the content that I publish. Anyone looking to be a guest speaker or a guest host, should reach out via social media or email.

Website: https://linktr.ee/nikimarieradio

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikimarie_radio/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nikimarie1/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/NikiMarieRadio/

Image Credits
Yaw Mfoni