Today we’d like to introduce you to Alaisha Sells
Hi Alaisha, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I have over 8 years of training and experience in creating original captivating content for both digital & print platforms. I gained my love for storytelling at such a young age, constantly losing myself in whatever book I was reading or movie that I was watching at the time. I just loved being able to soak up the knowledge and imagining myself in another place.
I realized that this was not just a phase, but a passion, when I covered a story over a University of North Texas student who was given a soiled campaign shirt from another student on campus. The story stood out to me because what happened to the young lady did not coincide with what the university considers to be their values. It left the student feeling targeted, unwelcome, and disappointed. The university’s cooperation with my investigation was little to none, as expected, while they completed their investigation. Still, I did not let up. I was able to find out that the student had been charged with assault by contact but they would not release anymore information because he was a minor and they were still investigating. While doing this story, my peers recognized my drive and urgency to get the story out. I stayed on this story for a while trying to connect all of the pieces and get all of the important questions answered. It was my duty to inform the university’s community about the issue and call for action to be taken. After my poking and prodding, the University was forced to release a public statement and wasn’t able to just kick this matter under the rug.
It was at that moment that I truly understood the importance of having people that look like me telling the stories that accurately depicts our culture on the big screens. So often we are negatively portrayed in the media and it has led to high amounts of prejudice. I want to use my platform to amplify the voices in my community. My goal is to use my access to the camera to discuss issues that may not receive the limelight because they are either undervalued or too controversial. I want to help lead the new wave of creatives and give them the foundation to create their own opportunities! This is what led me to create the “Off The Rip” platform. On “Off The Rip”, we have REAL, RAW and UNAPOLOGETIC conversations about life, music and the journey. I want to bridge the gap between the lack of representation I see in mainstream media and the excellence of our culture, our beauty and our upcoming icons.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The fear of not being good enough has been one of the hardest obstacles to get over. I catch my self second guessing every move that I make. “Will the people like it?”. “Will they even show up?”. “What if people laugh at me?”. “What if I turn out a failure?”. Those are all of the questions that go through my head and cause me to freeze. But fear is “what if” and faith is “even if”. So I remind myself that I have to go for it EVEN if im scared and let it all work it. Experiences are what shape who you are. Through experiences, I’ve learned lessons about life that has helped me navigate my personal journey. We’re still working on trusting the process, though 🙃
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am the creator and host of the “Off The Rip” podcast. “OTR” highlights the hottest talent coming out of the city of Houston. We have real, raw and unapologetic conversations about the music, what goes on behind the scenes and allows the fans to get to know the talent better. I’ve been able to meet so many great people through this platform and I’m always excited to hear their different stories. I am super proud of how much the platform has evolved. What was once a simple podcast that only conducted interview segments has grown into a platform that hosts live music showcases for independent artists. In July 2025, we will be putting on our 3rd annual “Off The Rip: Unplugged” concert and I am looking forward to seeing how everything falls into place. I’m proud of the growth that we see because it’s ALL ORGANIC! We are buying subscribers or followers. We aren’t charging for interviews, We aren’t manipulating the numbers. Everything comes naturally. Our numbers may not look like the influencers just yet, but slow and steady wins the race. I know that God promised me an abundance of success so I’ll just wait for it to all works out for my good.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
I love everything about HOUSTON! This is the city that raised me, that made me. The food is IMMACULATE. The Rodeo comes every year. The men are FIIIOOOONNNEEEE. Once you get connected, it’s very rare that you’ll meet a stranger. What more do I need? If I could get rid of anything, it would definitely be the $20 parking! Something about paying $20 to park in a gravel, unfinished lot that just doesn’t sit right in my spirit. We also don’t have to have sections and dim lights everywhere that we go. Bring back the regular restaurants that have regular lights and menus. Auntie is too old to be squinting during every excursion.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laaayyy___
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/alaishas1
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@layb.official8039
