Public Relations & Podcasting Pioneer: An Exclusive Look At Her Trailblazing Career
Photo Credit: Tricia Turpenoff (RIP: December 29, 1969 - December 4, 2023)
In the realm of remarkable women I've had the privilege to encounter, Angel Tuccy stands out without question. Witnessing her transformative journey and her profound influence on the entrepreneurial landscape has been nothing short of inspiring. The elation I felt when she agreed to an interview barely encapsulates my excitement. Despite her reserved and introverted nature, anyone meeting her for the first time would hardly believe it. Delving into her story, she revealed an unexpectedly remarkable tale. “I was a shy introvert in high school, and fully delighted to live "behind the scenes." I was hired to be an admin for a public speaker, and to expand his exposure, we started a podcast. Our podcast was discovered by our local radio station, and that began my 10-year career in broadcasting. On my very first day in the radio studio, after our first broadcast, I removed my headphones and thought to myself, I have found my dream career! I went all in on learning how to become a top radio broadcaster, earning awards and accolades for top talk show team, and top morning talk show, and pioneering the way for small businesses to leverage the power of media. I was awarded the Most Influential Woman of the Year by the local community. That career paved the way for traveling as a public speaker, teaching entrepreneurs and organizations how to do their own PR, and today, I help entrepreneurs and influencers get booked on top podcasts.”
What challenges did you face while getting started and how did you overcome them?
The first battle was to overcome my shyness and stage fright, which came from the repetition and encouragement of my team and peers. The second challenge I faced after leaving broadcasting was picking myself up from a 10-year career and starting something new. I had to learn to trust myself, even when all the well-meaning people around me had a different opinion. My intuition pulled me into a new direction, and I haven't always trusted it. I've often let the opinions and advice of others who care about me often sway me. When I left broadcasting, I had to make some very tough choices and walk away from a career that meant too much to me, but I felt God's urging on my life to spread my wings, not just for myself, but so I could provide a path for others to spread their wings, too. My first client was Zondra Evans. At the time, she was hosting a weekly live group call on her social site and looking for more media opportunities to speak and share her message. She is now a leading pioneer in digital media, producing her own streaming TV network across the globe. Together, we encouraged each other, even when we weren't exactly sure "how" to fulfill our dreams. We prayed. We cried. We never gave up. And today, we love to look at how far we've come in just a few short years.
Can you share some of the key strategies that have helped you to achieve success in your business?
At the time, I wouldn't have called them Key Strategies - but looking back, I can see a theme of consistency throughout. One strategy is, I have learned to trust my ideas and write them down. I'm still a pen-to-paper gal and always keep a notebook nearby. Two, I surround myself with a community of support. I started a Facebook group a few years ago to highlight all the podcasts and guests we had in our community. Today, that Facebook community has over 30,000 people connecting. Third, I created a business around things I love. I love to bring people together. I love PR and broadcasting. I love visiting Disney in the middle of the week with my family, so working as a digital entrepreneur was key. I've created a business that serves my passion, my lifestyle, and my gift of encouragement.
How do you stay motivated and inspired in your work, particularly during challenging times?
When my kids were little, I struggled with mom-guilt. When I was at work, I felt like I should be with my family. When I was with my family, I felt like I should be working, so now, I have two modes, on and off. There's no really in-between. I set a schedule for myself and I work during that schedule. I give myself time off, and I don't work when I'm off. I put my phone away so I'm not distracted, and when I'm working, I go to my home office, and I set myself up for a successful day. Having appointments and a schedule keeps me working, even if I'm having a bummer day. And I celebrate the small wins throughout the day, even if it's just a personal high five and quietly reminding myself, "good job, Angel".
What advice would you give to female entrepreneurs who are just starting out on their journey to success?
I love being an entrepreneur. I think it makes me a better mom, wife and friend. I'm pursuing things that I'm passionate and excited about, and I'm setting goals for myself that those around me can see, and we can share life together. If starting your own business is what you want, go for it. It doesn't have to be perfect to make an impact.
How do you balance your professional and personal life, and what are some of the strategies you use to maintain this balance? What advice can you provide for maintaining a healthy work-life balance, which is often a struggle for entrepreneurs?
Because I know I could let my work load pour into my personal time, I schedule my time off first. I plan for holidays and vacations and family time, and then my work schedule gets built around that. I plan for 150 days off throughout the year. Knowing that I have scheduled time away keeps me happy.
As you reflect on your journey, what are you most proud of and why?
I think I'm most proud that I didn't give up. Building a company is emotionally taxing. Managing finances, taxes and the legalities of it all can take all the fun out of it. But at the end of the day, I think about the ripple effect we have. There are probably thousands, if not millions of people, that our lives impact, and we'll never meet them or know their names. But they still matter. I'm proud of that.
How do you handle setbacks or moments of self-doubt in your entrepreneurial endeavors?
I'm fiercely aggressive about who I listen to, what I read and watch because I know that self-doubt can creep in. Prayer helps. Having a friend to talk to helps. Journaling helps. Putting some money aside also helps me. I love knowing I have a little reserve, "just in case". My friend, Dr. Wendy Labat, has one of the most positive outlooks in life, and part of her story is being prepared for financial setbacks. It's not just one thing, but a lifestyle that keeps me encouraged.
Can you describe the unique challenges and opportunities you've encountered as a female professional in your field?
Many careers started out as a male-dominated workplace, so we have some old stereo-types to overcome. Today, everyone is in media. We all have the ability to share news and stories through blogs, videos, websites, social site, podcasts and printing. I love being a woman. I love my nurturing side and my feminine approach. You find what you go looking for. If you're looking for reasons you can't succeed, you will find them. If you're looking for ways you can, you'll find that, too.
Can you offer tips on effective storytelling and content creation, which are crucial in both entrepreneurship and PR?
Stories are sticky. Stories get good airtime, so learn how to become a storyteller. I often use a 3-part answer: where you were, where you are, and where you're going. Tell people how you started, give them some of the back story. Then bring them to where you are today, and tell them what your vision is for the future.
Tell us a little about your family and what you do for fun?
My family is very close. I've been married to Jay for 30+ years, and we have three adult children. They all work at the same company and they all bought a house together. We get together a couple times a month for dinner or to visit the park. Jay and I are both close to our parents and siblings, and we're at the stage of life where we're getting together for the weddings of our nieces and nephews. It's fun to see the family growing.
Could you discuss a recent project or initiative that you're particularly excited about?
Yes, I've been head down for 6 months focused on building something new. I partnered with Jamie Atkinson, an expert in helping podcasters monetize their shows, to develop a new program to help entrepreneurs create more traffic, leads and customers. With my media & PR background combined with his sales and technology systems, we have launched a new program called Media Firestorm. I stopped traveling and cut almost all my activities off my calendar so we could create, develop and launch this service. Today, we have over 60,000 members in our network, and we help our clients create more leads and clients by building our their lead-generation system and we get them booked on 2 podcasts every week. It's one of the projects I'm most proud of. It's a system that can grow and scale, and we can help more entrepreneurs monetize their expertise than ever before.
How do you spend most of your time?
Most of my time is spent at my desk, growing my new company. I've learned to adopt "CEO time", 3 hours every morning without distractions, calls or emails. When I'm not working, I love hanging out with my family by our pool, going to the park. I love watching old movies, musicals and re-runs of Friends. My favorite time of day is sunset. I try to use it as my cut off time at the end of the work day, and sit and watch the last few minutes of daylight light up the sky with bright oranges, pinks and purples. It brings me happiness and joy.
To wrap up, what's the one piece of advice you wish someone had given you when you were just starting out as an entrepreneur?
Don't worry so much. It's going to work out. God doesn't give you an idea without having a plan in place. He's in the business of "all of a sudden". All of a sudden, you meet the right person because you were in the right place, doing the right thing. As my friend Deb Drummond says, "Show up, stand up and speak up."
What is your favorite quote?
I don't know who originally said it, but I heard the phrase, "Become obsessed with what you want. You get what you think about most of the time." I love this because it reminds me of 2 things. 1) my thoughts matter, and 2) that I'll get closer to the target if I stay focused.
Is there anything else you’d like to share that I missed?
There's so much potential inside of each of us. Lean on the belief that others have in you until you can believe it yourself.
To connect with Angel Tuccy, visit:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/angeltuccy/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/needaguest/
