We’re looking forward to introducing you to PreShus Lee. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning PreShus, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Being one with nature brings me joy lately. Sitting in the sun, praying, and reflecting on how far I’ve come in my life feels powerful. It’s so easy to always want more, to hustle for that ultimate life we picture in our heads. But what about the life I have now—the life I fought life and death to create? I’m grateful for my health, my husband, my puppy, where I live, and how I live. The me from ten years ago would be in tears to know I made it…we made it.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Born in California, raised in Jersey, and now making a mark in Durham, North Carolina, meet PreShus Lee—a multi-hyphenate creator who lives to share the stories that make people feel seen, and isn’t afraid to challenge the status quo while doing it.
Storytelling isn’t just my job; it’s the way I move through the world, whether that’s as lead editor for five seasons of “Post in Black,” or making my documentary directorial debut with my personal story “Chapter 32: From Tragedy to Triumph.” These experiences not only helped to set the foundation for my career, but my life.
Living with Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) for 26 years while surviving two heart attacks and heart failure has deeply shaped who I am—not just as a creator, but as an advocate. It’s why community is the heart of my work—whether I’m serving as an ambassador for the Association of Hidradenitis Suppurativa and Inflammatory Diseases (AHSID), or with my role as patient research partner with International Dermatology Outcome Measures (IDEOM) to make sure patients’ real-world experiences drive research and innovation. That commitment is also reflected in my work through my current role co-producing the “My Gold Lining” documentary with AHSID founder Jasmine IVANNA Espy, where we’re honoring the journeys of Black women with HS, making space for their voices, sharing their truths, and giving their stories the love and spotlight they’ve always deserved.
I’m also a huge music lover, and on a good day, you can catch me geeking out over all things K-pop! But it isn’t just a hobby; it’s part of how I connect and uplift the global community. I wear my fangirl badge proudly as co-creator and co-host of #AllAboutThatKpopLife, a true “By The Fans, For The Fans” platform where we dive into K-pop’s best and wildest moments, and celebrate how music bridges cultures to bring us all together.
Whether I’m behind the camera, catching a concert of my fave boy band, or stepping onto a stage to raise awareness, I show up with full transparency and authenticity.
For me, storytelling is more than a profession; it’s my purpose.
My goal? To make sure everyone knows there’s space for their story too.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
Like most children, I believed that I could do anything, that I could be anything. As I became an adult, life challenges roughed up those soft shiny edges I once had. The truth about the world and the way we’re expected to live in it clouded my dreamy clear skies and changed my perspective. I still believe the impossible can be possible. I still believe that good will always win. I still believe that in a world consumed by greed, hate, and discourse, love is the answer. However, I no longer just want to do or be anything. I want to be me—the me who was meant to be here, in my best form, living my purpose and engaging in activities, relationships, and moments that fulfill that purpose. The me I was always meant to be.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
“The Comeback Kid” is probably the best title for the most recent chapter in my life. For the past 7 years, I’ve faced major health setbacks that could have very well taken me out of this world. Two heart attacks and heart failure—all before the age of 35—is staggering. Even though I lived it… am living it, saying it out loud feels surreal. The mental recovery was more intense than the physical. Cardiac rehab, doctor’s visits, exercise, medication—it has been and still is a journey. But reconciling that my life had forever changed, several times over, is something I’m still working on.
Life teaches you—sometimes whether you’re ready or not—how to grieve the loss of those you love, but it doesn’t teach you how to grieve yourself. What happens when the version of you that you carefully curated is no longer there? What happens when you’re only a shell of what everyone else knows and remembers you to be? There’s no mask big enough to hide that emptiness, and if you let it, it will eat you up. I almost did. I got tired of fighting. Tired of taking the blows life threw at me, and I considered for a moment what it would be like to surrender.
I paused. Took a moment to cry. Let it all out. Grieve. And in that grief, I said the hard things out loud. Hearing them— not just thinking them—made them take form in reality. That’s when I realized I didn’t want that. That’s when I surrendered to God. That’s when I decided to stand on the strength of my resilience and keep going. The intrusive thoughts still creep back in from time to time, but I don’t let them win. I keep going—for my loved ones. I keep going—for me.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Not really. I think the public version of me is a carefully curated version made up of familial rules, decorum, cultural norms, and restraint. But isn’t that true for all of us? It doesn’t mean it’s fake—just refined. To be honest, I’m still discovering the real me, and probably will be for the rest of my life. I don’t believe the “real” version of anyone is absolute. It evolves as we evolve. Time gives us chances to mold and shape our bodies, our minds, and our viewpoints, shifting the reality of who we are in totality.
So while the public version of me is relatable, polite, kind, and a true representation of who I am, there’s more that remains guarded—a side that, unless you really know me, you may never see.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: When have you had to bet the company?
When the world hit pause, we pressed play. Starting a business in 2020, while everything around us felt like it was in shambles was a bold move. But we knew stories still needed to be told, and creative voices still needed a platform. So, despite the chaos and uncertainty, we leaned into the challenge. It wasn’t easy, and it definitely felt like a gamble, but we believed in our purpose—and that faith carried us through. We stayed steady, adapted, and helped others keep going, too. That’s what SutchiLee Productions is all about: showing up, pressing play, and making sure the stories keep moving forward, no matter what.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://preshuslee.com
- Instagram: https://instagram.com/@preshusdlee
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/preshuslee
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@allaboutthatkpoplife
