Meet Chelsea Diamond & Nikki Robinson | Podcasters, Entreprenuers

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chelsea Diamond & Nikki Robinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chelsea Diamond & Nikki Robinson, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
Chelsea: I was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. My background and upbringing has impacted me in such profound ways. My parents believed and always affirmed that I could be whatever it is that I set my mind to. They laid the foundation for the strong faith that I have in God. My parents instilled in me the morals, values, work ethic and discipline that I carry with me today. They taught me the importance of family and community. Because of what they have instilled in me, I have a deep love of impacting others in the best way that I can. I want to pursue my purpose and use the gifts that God has given me to inspire others and be of service to my community.

Nikki: I too was born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas. I was brought up in a Christian home where love and support was plentiful, and freedom of expression and creativity was encouraged. I was taught the value of a strong work ethic and the importance of the pursuit of happiness. My parents instilled in me that there is no limit to the amount of success that hard work, determination, focus and grit can bring. But they also taught me that in that pursuit it’s imperative to practice humility and keep God and family first. I was always told I can be anything I want to be, and I have always believed that. In fact, I carry that sentiment with me every single day. My background is the reason I make it a point to affirm myself daily that pursuing my purpose not only means something, but is critical to my contribution to society. I live each day focusing on investing in myself so that I can effectively serve my community. I strive to live a life full of happiness and intention rather than contentment, and I hope to one day be an inspiration to others.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Chelsea: I have worked in the auto finance industry for 9 years and Nikki has worked in the tax industry as a consultant to major corporations for the last 10 years. Due to the pandemic, we are both currently still working from home and love it. It has allowed us more freedom and flexibility to focus on our creative and entrepreneurial endeavors. We enjoy connecting with other people and have a deep love for our culture and community. We are nearing the two year mark of when we first launched our podcast and we are just so proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish so far. To be able to share our stories, experiences and perspectives and know that it resonates with others is rewarding and fulfilling.

Balancing a corporate career and being an entrepreneur has not been easy. We have experienced setbacks just like anyone else. Building a brand can be challenging at times, but it is also rewarding knowing that we are walking in our purpose. The beauty of the journey is that we are learning, growing and evolving every step of the way. Between balancing our corporate careers and our personal lives, we have definitely faced challenges with time management and prioritizing the podcast. Additionally, rebranding and relaunching in the midst of a pandemic also created its own set of unique challenges.

Nikki: Starting a business in addition to balancing the expenses of our everyday responsibilities has also been difficult. Over time we have learned to keep things simple and work with what we have. Changing our mindset as it pertains to finances has allowed us to tap into our own creativity using the resources we already have and develop new skills. It’s also taught us how to spend money wisely and how to invest in ourselves in a way that allows us to get the most out of our budget. We have had to make many sacrifices personally and financially, but we know that the sacrifices will be worthwhile in the long run. Your brand or business does not have to be perfect to start and launch it. You just have to go for it, and allow yourself to be flexible and learn every step of the way.

We want to continue to spread awareness and messages of positivity by planning events and social hours for us to come together and get to know one another. We want to create safe spaces for our people to speak our minds freely and just be ourselves without being judged. In addition to increasing our reach socially, we will be working on launching our website and releasing merchandise later this year. Our hope is to continue to build and grow our brand. We want to be a positive force within the podcasting industry and within our communities.

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?
If there’s a concert happening, we’re going! We love music and so do our best friends. If we’re hanging out in Fort Worth- Sundance Square and West 7th Street has a plethora of options for restaurants, dessert shops, movie theaters, and bars. If we are heading to Dallas, Deep Ellum and Downtown are filled with many places to go and sight see. And we can’t forget sporting events! We’re always down for a good basketball game at the American Airlines Center.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Chelsea: There are a collective of individuals in my life that deserve credit and recognition. My parents- I couldn’t have asked for a better mom and dad. They are two of my biggest supporters. My brothers- I couldn’t imagine life without those two. My nieces and nephew whom I adore. (They keep me young and on my feet haha) And a host of other relatives and friends. I truly wish that I could name them all, but they know that I love and appreciate them. I am grateful to have such an amazing support system that not only believes in my capabilities, but also holds me accountable to be and do all that I am purposed to do.

Nikki: There are too many to name but I absolutely and positively cannot go without first recognizing my parents because they are the reason I am here. My mom is my best friend and has always been one of my biggest supporters and my late father taught me so much and believed in my vision. My husband and son are everything to me and I wouldn’t be able to do anything without their sacrifice and support. Knowing that I am providing a blueprint for my son to live out his dreams is my primary source of motivation. The list of people that deserve credit also extends to my brother, my nieces and beyond. My entire immediate and extended family as well as my friends have always supported me from day one. I may not be able to list all of their names now, but they know who they are. My appreciation and gratitude for them goes far beyond what I could ever mention here.

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AVibeCalledMelanin/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0oqQ0U51IEPPN-3iPvMXmg

Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/15HEW3JxTsXlAcBKJrILRj?si=BqSnUr5GS-OUsvBOGNNWJQ

Image Credits
Dame.Design and Nikki Robinson