Meet Latrice Sampson Richards | Mental & Emotional Wellness Creative and Podcast Producer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Latrice Sampson Richards and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Latrice, can you share a quote or affirmation with us?
My favorite quote is from Maya Angelou; “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you make them feel.” This quote personifies how I choose to live my life. My goal is to make sure that everyone whom I come into contact with is made better as a result, no matter how minute the interaction may be. For me, it is important that my work and really just my presence overall, has a positive impact on the world, one person at a time.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am a Therapist by trade but a creative by design. I often joke that I am a creative that just so happens to be a therapist.

I had a radio show on a local New Orleans station, WBOK, for a brief period in 2015. I kind of fell into that opportunity, but it hooked me on the art of recording and storytelling. In early 2017, a friend of mine sent me Amanda Seales’ podcast “Small Doses” and suggested that I do something like that myself. I fell in love with podcasting very quickly and knew it would be a significant part of my life. I soon realized that I am a talented podcast host and producer and decided to hone those skills and create more frequently. I’ve since branched out into providing freelance podcast production, consultation, and support services to creatives and organizations looking to use podcasting as a vessel for connection, engagement, and education.

The overarching goal of everything I create is to help people become the very best version of themselves. This intention shapes each creative choice I make. My creative perspective has been shaped by my training and experience as a licensed therapist in so many ways. In fact, all of the things that set me apart and have helped me to stand out derive from my clinical skills in some way, shape, form, or fashion. My ability to make my guests feel comfortable talking about uncomfortable topics directly reflects my work with clients. Being able to cut through the fat and get to the meat of the story is extremely important for a producer. This includes asking the right questions, knowing when to ask follow-up questions, and how to phrase those questions in a way that introduces an opportunity for authenticity and connection. This is the cornerstone of my production style. I want the audience to feel like they are sitting around the table chatting with an old friend, catching up on life, and learning from each other’s journey.

I am most proud of the feedback from listeners, supporters, students, clients, and followers about how something I created helped them progress or heal from something. That is the best feeling ever! Knowing that this thing I’ve made, intending to be of service, has accomplished its goal.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I moved to South Florida in December 2019, just three months before the quarantine. So, unfortunately, I haven’t had much time to get out and see things. I did visit the Historic Hampton House for an event, but I am open to suggestions on where I should go next once I feel safer to mingle.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A huge shoutout goes to Afros & Audio and Vanguard Podcast Network. When I got started in podcasting, it was quite difficult to piece together all of the knowledge I needed to be successful. There was a lot of trial and error.

In 2019, I was introduced to Afros & Audio and their annual podcast festival. Long story short, Afros & Audio completely changed the game for me. Not only was I able to find in-depth tutorials and courses to improve my podcasting skills, but also a community of Black podcasters and audio professionals that are just as dedicated to collaboration and excellence as I am.

Since joining the team as the Lead Event Consultant, I’ve been able to share the knowledge I gained at the beginning of my journey as well as what I’ve learned along the way to help aspiring and up-and-coming podcasters overcome the systemic hurdles of access to knowledge and opportunities for collaboration. And, I must say, being connected to the level of talent in the Afros & Audio Community has happily forced me to step up my creativity as well, which has been key in my role as a Podcast Producer with Vanguard Podcast Network, the creative arm of Afros & Audio.

My work with Afros & Audio as well as Vanguard Podcast Network has allowed me to catch the eye of some giants in the podcast industry, who have since offered to mentor and befriend me. It is such a blessing to be able to learn from those who participated in building this industry (OG’s as I call them), and every day I am working toward building my legacy in the space. Having this level of support for my work and deep interest in what I bring to the table has helped me to look at podcasting as a viable career choice; which gives me joy.

Website: latricesampsonrichards.com

Instagram: instagram.com/latricesampsonrichards

Facebook: facebook.com/latricesampsonrichards

Other: Afros & Audio – afrosandaudio.com A&A IG – instagram.com/afrosandaudio Vanguard Podcast Network – vanguardpn.com