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Check Out Kariana “Kay-Tee” Taylor’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kariana “Kay-Tee” Taylor.

Kariana, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I was born and raised in Goldsboro, NC, so my story originates there. In elementary school, I knew I wanted to speak to people for a living. I was inspired by so many Black History figures. At that point, I thought I wanted to be a motivational speaker. Later, I wanted to go into psychology. Though I was into my books, grades, and extra curriculum activities, I became a mother at an early age. Lucky for me, I have the best mom in the world!

She helped me raise my daughter while I still attended school. In my senior year at Goldsboro High School, I took journalism. That’s when I fell for media, but before I did, I was accepted into North Carolina A&T State University’s psychology program. I quickly changed to the Journalism and Mass Communications program. For context, I grew up listening to 101.9 KISS FM… radio was my go-to. I still remember the feeling of leaving the skating rink and turning up the radio as soon as I got into the car. I would call the station so much and probably only get through once! Haha! While at A&T, I started my radio career by joining WNAA 90.1 FM’s Street Team.

A month later, I was chosen for the overnight syndicated “Sheryl Underwood Show.” The following year, I was given my own show the “Aggie Lounge.” At that time, I was also interning at WJMH 102 JAMZ. I had seen how radio was ‘theatre of the mind.’ I’m proud of who I am, but I could be ANYONE I wanted to be on air. I’ve always loved to talk to people, so those are some things that drove me to do radio. Today, I am currently the afternoon drive host for WSSG (92.7 JAMZ)/ Goldsboro, NC. I’m involved in programming the station as well. I work with a national consultant and the station’s manager to keep the station in tip-top shape.

I also have two other on-air shows. Middays on 97.7 Katie Country (Eastern NC) and the #1-weekend show on sister station, Top 40, 96.9 The New Pulse FM (Raleigh, NC). Recently, I was hired for a national Voice-Over company, JustSaySpots. They use my voice for commercials across the country. I also do independent Voice-Over and production work.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Not by any means! With great success comes great responsibility they say lol! I wear a lot of hats, which I’ve chosen to do, so it’s certainly been a bumpy road. So, I’m blessed to have a great support system. On days, when it’s not going so smooth, they uplift me with the help of God. Being a mother is a job in itself. I’m also a DANCE MOM, lol! So, I work six days a week with Sundays being my only day off, but in the early part of the year, she’s in a big production.

So, some Sundays are rehearsal days. We’re up and on the move 24/7. I wouldn’t trade it for the world though! I’m also my own worst critic, so there are days where I’m down because I feel like I’m not where I should be. If you’ve dealt with anxiety and depression, then you know how hard your own criticism could be. I’m the youngest person and only woman that works in programming at the Goldsboro stations, so a lot of times I try to overachieve to prove I’m knowledgeable. I had someone I admire to this day look me in the eye and tell me the truth, “Not only are you a woman but a black woman.

You have to work 10 times as hard.” I suck it up, work every single day, and give 110%! Luckily, I work with some great people who remind me that I’m doing a great job. The pandemic has also been a weird ride. Professionally, I’ve been blessed to keep my job. I could still tell the difference in the atmosphere though. Early into the pandemic, it could only be one of the DJs in the building at a time. I get a lot of my content just walking around the building talking to others. That was non-existent for us in 2020.

Last year, things got better but still couldn’t do certain events. I thrive off seeing our listeners and it hurt a bit that I couldn’t. Personally, it hit home. I’ve seen people I’ve known most of my life pass away from this. Or some who had it and has taken a while to recover.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
There have been SO MANY things and I’m grateful for that. I have three on-air shows that are all different formats, Urban, Top 40, and Country. So, I guess I would say I specialize in diversity. Going from Urban to Top 40 to Country and back to Urban, you have to find a median. That was hard at first because I was literally juggling all these personalities at once.

I wanted to do all of those, but I had to remember that I still needed to see MYSELF somewhere in there. I’m glad I finally got it! I think I’m most known for bringing the city I grew up in individuality when it comes to radio. Yes, we play the hits, but I’m also big on the independent artists. So, I’m kind of known for giving the good indie artists a chance to hear themselves on the radio. I love to see their dreams come true! They’ve been a huge reason why the station has grown.

I’m most proud of curating the City of Goldsboro’s first-ever Juneteenth Festival in 2019. That was big for me because it had been a dream of mine since college. With the help of the 92.7 JAMZ team, the City of Goldsboro, and our sponsors we were able to pull it off. We also accept small businesses as vendors, which is more important now since the pandemic happened.

After a two-year hiatus due to COVID-19, I’m proud we’re able to bring it back. I’m also proud to have hosted this year’s, ‘Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’ ceremony an annual Goldsboro event.

What matters most to you?
God, my family, and my community/listeners! I have huge faith. God has been the writer of my story. He’s important because when I forgot to have faith, he still showed me the impossible! He has brought me through ALL of my challenges.

He’s there on my bad AND good days. My family and I are close so on any good or bad day, they’re going to be there. I will forever cherish that. My community and listeners, have shown me so much, love. In Goldsboro and in Raleigh! Radio can become personal, so to a lot of people I’ve become their friend and they’ve become mine.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Parrish Barnes, Lauren Branch Photography, and Kendell Higgs

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