Today we’d like to introduce you to Michael Cooper.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
My journey started in 2013. I knew that God had given me the gift of gab, but I was trying to figure out how to use it. The podcast industry wasn’t as big as it is now in 2025. I just finished doing voice-over work for an independent movie, and that gave me the bug to do more. I grew a small interest in the media. The Big Scoop with Coop started as a small podcast on Blog Talk Radio with minimal equipment, just a Turtle Beach USB gaming headset plugged into my laptop, and I was trying to talk to anyone who wouldn’t mind talking with me. After I had a few people who agreed to be on my podcast for an interview, the love and passion for podcasting grew even more! Fast forward to the year 2025, and I have upgraded my equipment, my skills in interviewing, networked with all type of people telling them about my podcast, and the love for my podcast has even grown stronger. I am currently in season 12 of my podcast, and it has grown from just local talent to many well-known and up-and-coming names in the entertainment industry, music, business, sports, and more. The Big Scoop with Coop has become more than just a podcast; it is a growing, purpose-driven, cultural platform that focuses on empowerment, resilience, and real stories or conversations straight from the creatives, entrepreneurs, and public figures that many people around the world have grown to love. You will learn all about my guests’ journeys, challenges, and triumphs as multicultural creatives. Whether it’s a TV or movie star, a business mogul, or an emerging voice in the arts. The Big Scoop with Coop is becoming an emerging brand.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There were struggles! The first couple of years were a struggle, and I questioned myself. Will this podcast be successful, and how can I attract people to it? I was a 33-year-old out of Rocky Mount, North Carolina, who didn’t know anyone personally who was a big name in any industry at that time. In my mind, I wanted bigger names, and I wasn’t sure how a local kid could have bigger names on my show. IMDb Pro became one of my best friends, and I connected with a few publicists, who allowed me to interview some of their clients. It wasn’t easy trying to get recognizable names with an almost empty resume. I remember a certain person approached me and said I want to see who you are talking to, not just hear them. Then I was trying to figure out how to transition from audio to video. Many nights, I stayed up until 2:00am researching the best way to create a video platform and how to attract bigger names to appear on my show, and I had to be at work at 8:00am. Once again, I am doing this with no team and no guidance from another person, so “the struggle was real”
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Thank you for asking. Besides being a husband, father, and working a full-time job, I am pursuing a Business degree and currently have a 4.0 GPA. What everyone is interested in is that I am the creator and host of The Big Scoop with Coop. It is a purpose-driven interview podcast that amplifies the voices of creatives, changemakers, and culture shifters across entertainment, business, sports, and the arts. I am known for asking insightful questions and having uplifting energy, and letting my guests be themselves on my platform. I specialize in spotlighting journeys of resilience, breakthrough, and success that my guests have accomplished, from rising stars to celebrities to visionaries. I am very proud of creating a platform for my guests over the past 12 seasons, to give them a place to speak their truth. I treat all guests the same; it doesn’t matter if they are up-and-coming or a well-known name. What sets me apart from others is that I do this for a purpose and not for popularity. I focus on impact instead of clout. It’s the love I have for speaking to the masses because I am a people person, and my guests that appear on my show come with purpose, resilience, and real stories and real conversations. My podcast has evolved into a branded media platform, and I am super proud of that. I don’t try to copy anyone’s style. I am just me on every episode. My platform uplifts others, especially diverse creatives who don’t always receive mainstream attention. This isn’t just a hobby anymore. I am in this for the long haul.
What was your favorite childhood memory?
I love this question, especially how things are going daily in today’s time! I am a 1980’s baby and a teenager in the 1990’s, and it was all about family, friends, and having fun. There are many different memories that I remember about my childhood, but here is one that I would like to share with everyone. I was always an awesome skater. I spent many Friday and Saturday nights at the skating rink was once called SportsWorld (when I went regularly), and now it is called Star City. I was on the speed skating team, and I skated on inline skates. Skating was my getaway, my stress relief, and my go-to for a weekend of fun. If I were skating for competition or with family and friends, it would take me to a different world. The music blasting, friends laughing, and skating. That was a time that I think about a lot. Words can’t express the vibe that was in that building every week. If I had a time machine, I would go back at least one weekend to relive those moments of my life!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.thebigscoopwithcoop.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bigscoopwithcoop
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebigscoopwithcoop
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaeldcooper1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/thebigscoopwithcoop
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebigscoopwithcoop
