Garvia Bailey is no longer apologizing for being who she wants to be.
Despite breaking barriers as one of only a few on-air Black journalists at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and host of the country’s top radio jazz show, the award-winning producer and host felt stuck.  Publicly, she was the picture of success as she interviewed famous writers, actors and musicians, and gained public recognition for her work.  At home, Bailey was down and lost.  

“When a perceived notion of your identity becomes your ‘beat,’ that can be pretty limiting,” she says, “and it can be pretty hard on your spirit.” 

Trapped by the public perception of how she should succeed, the stories she should cover, the persona she should have, Bailey had no choice but to release the pressure.  A brave venture – and some solid advice from her mother – led her to reexamine her goals and her relationships.

Bailey is now a co-founder of Media Girlfriends, a production company that aims to amplify underrepresented voices in media. She fully embodies all parts of herself and is working to create a legacy beyond what she felt pressured to be in the past.

In this episode, Bailey shares:

- How she navigated a role in media as one of only a handful of Black voices

- How a toxic work environment led her to pursue her truth

- Why it’s important to find what you want in a career, and not just want you don’t want

- How she became intentional about her goals and her purpose

- The advice her mom shared with her about releasing friendships that no longer serve her

- The ways she is working to give herself grace

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CREDITS
The song in this podcast is called Night Drive, by the amazing Singer-Songwriter Caroline Marie Brooks, part of the beloved Canadian music trio Good Lovelies.
Photo for the podcast cover art by Jennifer Squires.
Editing by Katie Jensen of Vocal Fry.