We’re looking forward to introducing you to Taylor Mays. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Taylor, 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 do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are really important to me because they set the tone for everything else. The very first thing I do when I wake up is spend time with God. I read my Bible and pray. After that, I head to the gym to move my body and clear my mind. I like to give myself some quiet time in the morning too, just to check in with myself and map out my day. A big part of that is planning content for my podcast, No One Asked For This, which I launched in November 2024.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi, I’m Taylor Mays. Some of your readers may remember me from my candle business a few years ago, which was such a special chapter in my journey. While I still have things in the works on that end (very soon), I’ve recently shifted more into the media space, which feels like the lane I was always meant to be in. I launched my podcast, No One Asked For This, in November 2024, and it’s been such a creative outlet for me. The show is all about navigating life in your 20s: love, relationships, friendships, culture with a mix of humor, honesty, and storytelling. What makes my work unique is that I really try to create a space where people feel seen, whether it’s through a funny story or a deeper conversation about growth. Right now, I’m focused on growing the podcast, building my presence in the media world, and continuing to explore creative projects that allow me to connect with people in authentic ways.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a child, I believed that my feelings weren’t meant to be seen or heard. I went through a lot of bullying growing up, which made me really shy at first and then rebellious later on. For a long time, I thought I had to keep everything in or that expressing my emotions made me ‘too much.’ Now, I know that’s not true at all—our feelings are valid, and sharing them is part of what makes us human. That’s actually one of the reasons I started my podcast. I have a younger sister, and I want her, and anyone listening, to know that it’s okay to feel deeply, to express yourself, and even to be what some people might call ‘dramatic.’ You’re not dramatic, you’re just navigating life, and that’s perfectly normal.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
Honestly, for a long time I used to hide the parts of myself that felt messy or ‘too much.’ Growing up I dealt with bullying, went through my little rebellious phases, and convinced myself my feelings didn’t really matter. Even in my early adulthood, I caught myself shrinking-saying the wrong thing, trying too hard to fit in when i was meant to be different, softening who I was just to make other people comfortable. I was so focused on pleasing everybody else that I lost sight of myself. But at some point I realized that all of that every mistake, every wound—was shaping me. Once I stopped burying it and started speaking on it, that’s when my pain turned into power. I’m not everyone’s cup of tea and that’s fine. That’s also why I started my podcast, to turn my experiences into something that not only heals me but lets other people know they’re not alone. And I always think about my little sister. I want her to grow up knowing it’s okay to feel, to speak up, and to take up space. That’s the real power.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d say yes, but it wasn’t always that way. For years, I hid myself, worried about people-pleasing and trying to do things that dimmed my light because I was afraid to be seen. Now, I show up fully as me, very unapologetically.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
Nothing I’m doing now is waiting 7–10 years to pay off. Every project, every episode, every idea. It’s already moving me forward.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://open.spotify.com/show/2kXQM4RkfZQj4YpIuTrucb?si=pDm_qEPPRGy2-uKPgXUfLw
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ilekamays?igsh=MWhleGRxMmlzNGZzaA%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
