Recently, Evie and I sat down and talked to the amazing founder of Hey Girl, Hey and fellow Furman student, Savannah Turner. Savannah recently started this podcast and already she has interviewed some incredible women. She was kind enough to host Evie and me to discuss our Her Campus work (so go give that episode a listen) and we had an absolute blast. There are so many forms of great work being done by women our age so check out her show and her instagram (all listed below) and enjoy getting to know it a little bit more through this interview!
1. Tell me a little about the content and purpose of this new podcast.
Being in college—or just living through your twenties—can be fun but comes with lots of uncertainty. Too often I find myself clinging tightly and wanting to control what my future looks like. “Hey Girl, Hey” is a podcast seeking to provide comfort and a few words of wisdom from the women who have been in our shoes before. Each episode features a different woman sharing her story, the lessons learned, and what “success” means to her.
The main goal of the show is to offer advice and comfort to young women. Success is allowed to take on a variety of different meanings, but each definition should be unique for every individual. I hope that through the show, girls learn that success is something they define for themselves, and that the path to success is never a linear one.
2. What have you learned from making Hey Girl Hey so far?
The show originally started as way for me to (selfishly) reach out and hear the stories of female entrepreneurs and successful women. I was slightly oblivious, and in the early production stages, I didn’t give much thought to the fact that I would be producing and publishing something that would be public. When the morning came for me to release the first episode—which was ironically about imposter syndrome—my stomach was in knots. I had worked on the show for months, so the thought of sharing it was really nerve-wracking. Within a few short minutes, I had convinced myself that I wasn’t good enough. I could never be considered a podcaster, I told myself I had embarrassingly little know-how and that no one would want to tune in. What right did I have to pursue this project? I was suffering from an intense case of imposter syndrome.
The morning of the show’s launch, I published and posted with fingers crossed that no one would realize that I don’t know what I’m doing. The outpouring of love and support that I received in the days and weeks to follow proved my feelings imposter syndrome grossly untrue. Nothing I produced needed to be perfect, it needed to be shared. No one was interested in listening because I had the most pristine audio or perfectly blended music. People wanted to listen because the stories being shared were real, and real isn’t perfect. I’ve learned so much over the last six months, but the lesson that continues to be a common thread is one that authenticity is better than perfection. It is better to try and risk failing, than let fear leave you with lingering “what-ifs.”
3. Who would be a dream subject to interview?
After I finish each interview, I ask my interviewees who they think I should invite to be on the show next. It has been amazing to see the domino effect of incredibly talented women taking place. If that domino effect led to Selena Gomez, I wouldn’t be disappointed. Bringing it back to reality, however, it really has been cool to see how these women aren’t intimidated by the successes of their peers, but instead want to brag about and encourage them. Watching women supporting women is inspiring and should I get the chance, I hope to pay it forward.
4. Podcasts have been exploding and opened up a completely new industry. Do you see this popularity as beneficial or overwhelming?
Stories connect us. They are what we learn from—whether it’s what to do or what not to do—and they establish a sense community. I’m a big fan of sharing stories in any capacity, and podcasting seems to be the latest and greatest way to make that happen. I think there is a lot to be gained from podcasts. Their accessibility and their capacity for authenticity are what make them so appealing, and while there are definite pros and cons to any form of media, I think overall the nature of podcasts is a beneficial one.
5. What do you hope that people get out of listening?
Each woman I talk with has her own unique perspective and useful piece of advice, but the common thread tying it all together is that not one of the guests’ paths to success was linear. Each woman at some point in their story experienced an obstacle. A door closed, and maybe there was an open window, or maybe they had to reroute their plan entirely. Whatever their case might have been, I want listeners to leave each episode with the knowledge that planning does not equate to a potential desired level of success. Sure, planning helps, but if you cling so tightly to what you think you want, you will miss out on, or not fully appreciate, what you really need.
Some of my guests’ greatest experiences came, not from something they predicted and planned for five years in advance, but in the moments of uncertainty. There were lows but they magnified the gratitude and joy experienced in the highs. It is a lesson I am stilllearning—and there will always be room to improve—but facing uncertainty with anticipation and letting go of my checklist leaves margin for something beautifully unexpected.
6. Where can people listen?
You can tune into “Hey Girl, Hey” on Spotify or Apple Podcasts by searching “Savannah Turner’s Hey Girl, Hey Podcast.” New episodes are released weekly every Tuesday, and news and updates are shared through the show’s Instagram, @heygirlhey_sav. I am always looking for the next amazing woman to chat with, so if you want to brag about the amazing women in your life or just want to say, “hey girl, hey,” don’t hesitate to reach out!