Her Story
About Caryn
My career in media began with a personal mantra - Remove Logic - which I would say to myself whenever I was overthinking instead of stepping out in faith. I've been actively running my own show called Remove Logic for two years now, and I have 2 years of background experience helping others in radio. I'm also a minister who has been preaching and teaching for 25 years. When I started in ministry, there were no women preachers in the Baptist community where I grew up - it just was accepted. I've been this trailblazer type of person, though I don't think about it until somebody asks me. I never had a mentor when I started - I just jumped in. I felt inspired to start a podcast because I was always inspiring and pushing people, so I took a behind-the-mic masterclass with the Fishbowl Radio Network to learn how to sit in front of a screen and talk. One of my initial concerns was losing my anonymity, which felt unsettling. After I started hosting my podcast on a radio network, the owner of a television network saw one of my episodes and reached out to ask if I'd ever thought about putting Remove Logic on television. I hadn't, but now I do both. At 60 years old, I took a deferred resignation from my government job last year to fully step into this arena without a paycheck. I'm sitting in this new space of becoming all that I can be - this is my moment, my time. I raised two boys as a single mom, they're both degreed and wonderful young men, but now I'm putting myself at the forefront. I also coach every Saturday morning at 7 AM in a course called Cousins Call, where I teach people to be you-minded - to put themselves at the center of what they want to do and believe in what's on the inside of them.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Caryn
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to having a heart to serve others. The owner of the television network, who has become a mentor to me in broadcasting, told me that because of my service towards others, that's going to always keep me going and keep me successful. Most often we do what we do and never stop to see who we are, and when somebody comes along and shows you who you are, it helps you realize your strengths. He saw in me who I am - that I serve others. I also credit my no-fear attitude and my discipline. I'm very disciplined, especially in being okay with pivoting and becoming something different even when it goes against comfort. It's about overcoming who you are to become who you can be. My faith in God is my inspiration, and I have this attitude that freedom is my mandatory maximum - even if I have to fight myself to stay free. I fight my own self when I feel contained, pushing myself to jump in and step outside my comfort zone.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received was to know my value. If I don't know my value others will not respect or recognize it.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say be intentional about you. I coach every Saturday morning at 7 am in virtual meeting called Cousins Call, and the first step I teach is Be You Minded - Y-O-U in quotations. You've got to put yourself in the center of what you want to do, because if you forget about yourself and haven't even tapped into who you are, you're not going to be successful. You have to first become you-minded and believe in what's on the inside of you. You've got to believe in you first. It almost seems selfish, but it's not - it's necessary. Without being you-minded, you won't be able to give of yourself in service to others.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
In this industry, I would say it's very saturated. There are so many people out there that are podcasting, so many shows, and there's a lot of competition for people's attention. But that doesn't mean that you don't have a space. The challenge now is taking up my space - I call it taking up space. You actually have to walk in your space, and I'm just taking it up.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The most important values to me are freedom, service to others, authenticity, and vulnerability. Freedom is my mandatory maximum - even if I have to fight myself to stay free. I have a heart to serve others, and with Remove Logic, we're about sharing stories, inspiring stories, and giving people a space to come and share whatever it is they need to, because whatever you had to overcome can inspire somebody else to overcome. I believe in being unapologetically myself in this moment and walking in my truth. I've realized that vision creates vulnerability, and you have to be vulnerable and okay with revealing yourself to someone and being true to yourself. That's hard to do in these times, but it strengthens you in courage and helps you know that you matter. It all goes back to being you-minded.
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