Today we’d like to introduce you to Desiraye Mendoza and Maya Rosales.
Hi Desiraye and Maya, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Desiraye – I started the BeyHive Podcast because it included my two loves: being creative and Beyoncé. I reached a point in my life where I want to explore all my hobbies in hopes of finding what I’m truly passionate about. I had several podcasts in the past as a way to capture where I was at in my life. One day I realized it had been some time since I was in a creative space so instead of waiting for an opportunity I created one. So I thought “okay what am I going to talking about this time” and the first word that came to me was “Beyoncé”. Being a fan since birth I can talk a lot about Beyoncé and how she’s inspired me. However, I didn’t want to do this alone so I reached out to my friend Maya . We met each other in middle school and reconnected after college. Funny thing is our friendship grew stronger because of Beyoncé! We bonded over her album ‘Renaissance’ and been rockin ever since. We started recording on IG live once a week about topics related to Beyoncé back in late February then switched to posting on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcast as while as short clips on Instagram, Threads, and TikTok. We’ve been able to create a hub where other Beyoncé fans can come and discuss all things Bey. Things are just getting started for us so we can’t wait to see where things go!
Maya – Desiraye first reached out to me back in February about starting a podcast and I immediately loved the idea. I have always had a love for creating content, specifically short form like Tik Tok. At the time, I had just gotten into listening podcasts and the idea of starting my own podcast definitely crossed my mind, so when Desiraye asked me, I was extremely excited. I loved the idea of creating long form content that can evoke conversation from a community of people. On top of loving podcasts, I was a new Beyoncé fan and a long time passionate music fan, so getting to express my love for music and Beyoncé has been a great creative experience. Today we are recording and posting weekly content across social media platforms and streaming services. Our current goal is to be as consistent as possible through everything life throws at us.
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?
Desiraye – I would say at first things were smooth because we were only posting on IG live. Now we’ve run into a lot of technical difficulties since posting 30 minute video/audio, plus short clips. There’s a lot more editing and it’s just the two of us running this podcast so we are wearing multiple hats. Then there’s juggling everything else we do outside of the podcast and personal challenges. Life happens and you have to adjust and adapt. It hasn’t been easy but I’ve loved every minute of it. Its really pushed me to be vulnerable and honest with myself when I need help so I couldn’t have asked for a better person to do this with. Maya has been very understanding and it’s comforting to know I’m not in this alone. It feels good to be in a creative space with someone who shares similar passions. This makes the struggles worth it.
Maya – Starting and maintaining the podcast has not been the smoothest journey. It’s definitely a hobby that comes with a lot of learning and adjusting. We very frequently run into technical issues that we have learn to be patient with and figure out as we record each episode. Another ongoing struggle has been collaborating with different schedules. Desiraye and I record, edit, post content, plan, and create ideas on our own and when sometimes when life gets busy, it can be hard to do. However through all the struggles, I do appreciate working with someone who is a friend that I can depend on, but also is very understanding with my own personal needs as well.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Desiraye – I am one of the fabulous podcast host of The BeyHive Podcast based in Los Angeles, CA. Also, I love creating content and modeling. My specialty is talking about all things Beyoncé with my friend Maya. Each week we sit down and have a conversation about a related Beyoncé topic like her impact on the culture. Then dive a bit deeper and connect it to where we are in life. I think that’s what sets us apart from others. Instead of gossiping about someone’s life we choose to talk about how they’ve inspired us to be better. I am proud of us for valuing dignity and authenticity.
Maya – On top of being a podcast host of the Beyhive Podcast, I work in digital marketing. I love everything about social media, following online trends, and creating content. As a podcast host, I have been able to combine my love for marketing and content creation. I’d say i’m most proud of not being afraid of creating and putting our work on the forefront of our social media. It can be very scary to be perceived by others, so I love the confidence we have adopted in order to create our platform. What sets us apart from others is our willingness to work and grow. We are doing the podcast because we love to do it and we are fine if it may take time for others follow us or tune in.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Desiraye- So I’m still developing my views on risk taking. There’s a difference between taking a big risk vs being reckless and sometimes it can be hard to tell the difference. From my experience having a plan before taking a risk seemed to help in the long run. Like with starting this podcast was somewhat a risk because I’ve had about 3 others that low key flopped. But I made amazing memories and gained so much experience that I can apply now. So I’m not going to quit my job when I still have bills to pay but instead stick to a plan! Yes I’ll take risks but I’m also very realistic. Meaning I know the bigger the goal the more work you have to put in and take bigger risks. It’s all about betting and believing in yourself. If you’re thinking, is she a Capricorn? Yes, yes I am.
Maya – I truly believe you have to take risks in life in order to grow and elevate. Risks are necessary whether it’s leaving a job, starting a business, or establishing a relationship. Risks are what separate those who are passionate and determined from others. Do you truly love something if you’re not willing to take a risk for it? I’d consider myself a risk taker because i’m always curious to see what the outcome may be. You never know how things will turn out until you try and you can always choose when something is not for you. Having a great relationship with risks has definitely encouraged me to start the podcast.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeyhivepodcast?igsh=OGQ5ZDc2ODk2ZA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Twitter: https://x.com/beyhivepodcast?s=21
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thebeyhivepodcast?si=jVpD4Nj-YHkwxZfK
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebeyhivepodcast?_t=8nb7PZFQb4Y&_r=1
