Black Journalists on Journalism

Zuri Berry: This is the Black Journalists on Journalism podcast, a ZMC Podcasts production.

Donnell Suggs: Here we are with another episode of Black Journalists on Journalism, Zuri Berry Donnell Suggs, and today we have Vashti Hurt, founder and editor-in-Chief of Carolina. Blitz one of my favorite websites to keep up with the Carolina Sports cuz otherwise I would have any idea what's going on. Vashti, welcome.

Welcome.

Vashti Hurt: Thanks for having me.

Zuri Berry: Yeah. Uh, I'm super interested in chatting with you, Vashti because, uh, you've taken, I think, a very interesting route going from banking to sports.

writing,

Vashti Hurt: You guys have done your research.

Zuri Berry: I, don't know. I mean, you put it on LinkedIn, but let me,

Vashti Hurt: Oh yeah. I forgot about

Zuri Berry: Let me say. There are folks in sports writing who would like to go the other way.

So I want to, I want to get your sense of that journey that you went on. I mean, coming outta n c uh uh, and that's University of North Carolina, Charlotte. And then getting into banking, I mean, like what was going on? What, what were you thinking? What was, what was happening when you were start just starting out?

Vashti Hurt: Well, you know, you never expect to be, life will take you on a path that you never really expected, right? So when I went to college, I originally wanted to be a sports psychologist kind of ahead of the curve, cuz now they're more popular. But this was like in the early two thousands where there weren't a lot of, you know, sports psychologists.

But I love psychology and I love sports. So I went to college as a psychology. Minor in communications, uh, was on the track team at UNC Charlotte. Uh, always very active in sports. Played sports in high school, and you know, when you graduate from college, you just want a job. Honestly, and, uh, Charlotte is the number two banking ca, uh, banking center in the United States behind New York.

So a vast majority of the people who live here worked at, at the time, uh, one of the major banks. They're still here, but at the time, bank of America and Wacovia, which is now Wells Fargo, were both headquartered here in Charlotte. So we had a lot of banking. Banking industry folks, and I just kind of got a job in banking and, uh, paid the bills.

Uh, I enjoyed it and, uh, but I always, you know, it was an entry level job and I always thought that, you know, there was more. And I applied for a financial advisor and training program and, uh, you know, it was the first year for a while. Over here, they. Testing it out. And at the time, uh, banks saw the value in brokerage.

And so instead of kind of outsourcing their brokerage to maybe a Merrill Lynch, or a Goldman Sachs, they were creating and building up their own brokerage units. So Wacovia had Wacovia securities, but they were trying to, trying to build that up. So I applied, got the job, and honestly, I think at the time, I don't know if there were any other licensed black women stock brokers in Charlotte for that bank.

And this is a major bank, right? they didn't expect me to pass the series seven. So basically they give you books. They say, study for your series seven, we'll give you a week long crash course if you pass good. If you fail, then you know, pretty, pretty tough on.

Zuri Berry: tell folks what the what the series

seven?

Vashti Hurt: Uh, the series seven is the, uh, exam that you have to take in order to be a licensed stock broker.

So to trade, options, stocks, mutual funds. everybody who works on Wall Street has a series seven license. Uh,

Zuri Berry: And immediately, immediately I'm thinking to myself, why are you in sports writing still? What, what is going on here? Like, this is crazy, but, but, but I, I want to hear the story. Break it down for me. How you go from this moment of, of having this accomplishment. Again, being the only black woman doing it.

And then, uh, obviously to this

Donnell Suggs: And look, I'm thinking to myself, there's no way someone thought they was gonna hear about a series seven on this podcast, but here we are.

Zuri Berry: Yeah.

Vashti Hurt: Well, you know, it's interesting because. The parallels between banking and sports journalism as a Black person, and as a Black woman are crazy. Uh, so nobody expected me to pass the test. And once I passed the test, it was like, okay, what are we doing with the, what are we gonna do with this 20 some year old Black girl cause, you know, we didn't expect her to pass the test on her first try anyway. So the, I'm gonna try to condense it. Basically the, the program where you were supposed to pair up with a senior advisor and then they would allow you to work the bottom of their book and, then you would then grow your own book of business.

Well, nobody wanted to work with me, so I was kind of thrust into this world of financial advising, uh, with a license with all the tools and backing of a bank, but really no knowledge. Uh, if that's, if that sounds right, you know, I passed a test, but we all know, you know, you can read a book. But on how to work a camera, but that doesn't mean you're gonna be able to take good pictures.

So that's kind of, you know, that's kind of how it was, uh, self-taught. I had to basically learn everything on my own, and it was just a really rough road. I was very isolated. Nobody really talked to me. and, uh, you know, I ended up leaving that situation. But a black woman with a Series seven is highly coveted, so I would, I, I quickly learned.

I would leave one job and I would get another job within two weeks. So I would say, okay, y'all try me, I'm gonna leave. And so I left there. I worked at Bank of America, I worked at Hewitt, I worked at t I A Craft, and I made my rounds. And the breaking point probably was when. My favorite job, I worked on the trading floor, which I actually liked.

Uh, for Wells Fargo. I enjoyed placing trades, doing options, uh, you know, just the basic raw stockbroker thing. You know, you call me, you wanna buy this at this strip price, you wanna, you wanna, you wanna hedge it with an option. Like that kind of stuff I enjoyed, didn't involve selling, it didn't involve trying to, you know, any, you know, sheisty type of tactics.

Zuri Berry: But I left that job for more money and a better title, uh, to be a private banker. They lured me. From the brokerage side to the bank side because, well, Wells Fargo's model is the way that it is. And everything that they say about Wells Fargo's banking practices are true. Okay? get into it.

Vashti Hurt: everything that they say about their banking practices are true.

And I was asked to do some pretty unethical things and, and at that point I was like, I was getting up. Now mind you, I was in a very stable situation financially. But I hated what I was doing and when I reached a certain age, I'm not gonna tell you the age, but when I reached a certain age, I was like, I'm, this is not what I'm gonna do with the rest of my life.

So, you know, that summer I prayed about it. I was like, God, please reveal to me what I'm supposed to do. And I honestly, I was always tweeting about not tweeting at the time I was posting on Facebook about sports. I really wasn't a MySpace kind of girl, so it was more Facebook, some Twitter, and then, and it's, you know, people don't really.

I don't know his reputation now, but at the time I started writing for Black Sports Online. And I wrote for Rob for years. which now looking back at the situation, I was providing a lot of free labor and free help, because I just really just wanted to get my foot in the door. And it probably, looking back, I probably shouldn't have, but I was literally on the, on the trading floor placing trades and writing sports articles.

And it got to the point where I was like, I covered, I'll never forget this. I posted about this several weeks ago. I covered my first basketball game. I grew up a huge college basketball fan. I'm gonna tell you guys which team, but I grew up a huge college basketball fan. And I covered that team. In the NCAA tournament and I was like, this is it. Like this is what I wanna do. And at that point, you know, I was still had a full-time job in banking and was still kind of doing sports on the side.

And you know how sometimes you, it's, it's hard to leave the comforts of a, of a check. So, you know, During the, the, the banking collapse, they started laying off people left or right in banking. Especially in banking. And they were like, well, you guys are making too much money. Uh, so they, so I got laid off and I was like, this is my sign to move.

And I haven't worked a full-time job outside of what I do now since then. And it's been. You know, it's been a labor of love. Uh, I spent my time browning, grinding the pavement, putting in a bunch of applications, you know, just wanting somebody to see me and say, okay, well, you know, she may bring something different to the business, and it just didn't happen.

And so, Like my true entrepreneurial self, shout out to my dad, RIP. I was like, you know what? If they don't see value in me, I see it in myself. And I'm just gonna create a platform where I am their competitor. and, uh, did my research on, uh, which, how, digital sports platforms were going and they were going more toward niche, niche sites.

Uh, so, you know, not necessarily a site that covers the entire sports realm, but maybe like Carolinas, you know, in Charlotte we have Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, and a lot of those fans are cross fans, right? UNC, Duke. I didn't necessarily want to do a specific team cuz I had already established connections within the college basketball community.

So I created Carolina Blitz as kind of a niche site for Carolina sports and yeah, it's been a blessing. I mean, we grinding, we're working and so that's kind of, Kind of how I got to where I am. And my mom was a journalist and it's crazy how we kind of follow in the footsteps of our parents. Uh, and, you know, she was, she went to Columbia School of Journalism, so she is like one of those true, you know, refined journalists.

And I, and I grew up having her correct my papers. Can you imagine that? So, so yeah, that's kind of how I got to where I am now. And, uh, got from being a stock broker to being a sports writer.

Donnell Suggs: I bet you a lot of stuff you learned on the floor trading stocks, you use today and those scrums in them locker rooms and whatnot.

Vashti Hurt: Absolutely. Not just that. Also in business, you know, being a business owner, you learn how to navigate people, navigate contracts, uh, create a marketing material. This is all stuff that I literally had to do for myself when I was out there by myself. And so it kind of, you know, it, it, it, it afforded me a lot of the tools that I use now, uh, in as a business owner and in the sports industry.

Okay.

Zuri Berry: You know, I put you in a, that category of entrepreneurs and, and you are an early onset entrepreneur. For, for folks that are just now doing the, let me start my own website. Let me start my own news. Whatever it may be. And so I think it's really cool to hear about this journey and really just, you know, finding the passion, doing it basically for free while you're doing your day job.

And then, you know, obviously getting a kick in the butt there with a layoff and then going out on your own, especially if you're not getting opportunities elsewhere. I want to ask you about that time period there where there was that, I'm not really getting opportunities, let me start it myself. Like, what was that?

What were, what was going through your mind? What was, what, what were you doing in order to sort of put yourself out there, put your sight out there and, and really make a name for yourself?

Vashti Hurt: Uh, you know, I, I bought the domain and I knew I wanted to do something with it, and I remember a specific story that really kind of catapulted me. So there's a guy named Cam Newton, who was a very central figure here in Charlotte. And there was a controversy, there was a huge controversy that was covered nationally where he talked about, where he said it was funny to hear a woman reporter talk about routes.

I don't know if you guys remembered

Donnell Suggs: Yeah, I remember.

Zuri Berry: I remember.

Vashti Hurt: okay. so that also the coverage of Cam, that Cam was getting when he was dabbing, I just didn't feel like it was Fair. Uh, I didn't think that it, uh, had a. I don't, I didn't think that it came from a place of cultural understanding. Uh, and I just, I just did not like there, to me, there wasn't a voice, for the people, honestly, uh, in Cam Newton coverage specifically.

And so, I was getting inside information about what transpired, uh, between him and, and the reporter who, whom I'm cool with now, we've discussed it. Uh, but you know, I put it out there, you know, the, the Observer at the time was writing editorials about, you know, championing women. And these are the same people who see me and don't speak. And I'm like, y'all are so fake. You know, this is not the energy that y'all have out in public. uh, you know.

So, they would write something and I would write something to counter it. And you know, they would, they, they would kind of paint Cam as this, you know, chauvinistic pig. And I would say, this is not the experience that I've had with Cam and you know, all of the, all of the celebration and you know, so that's kind of what led me to really, you know, that's when people kind of, I said, oh, okay, this girl, this young woman, she, she has something to say and sh and I at the time, you know, I'm working for myself, so I didn't care who I was writing about.

You know, I had no desire at the, when I decided I wanted to start my own business. I was gonna go full throttle with that. It wasn't, I'm gonna start my own business, so eventually the Charlotte Observer could hire me. I don't wanna work for the Observer. So to have that autonomy allowed me to speak about issues that other people may not speak about, and then also take on colleagues in a way that other people might not do that and that, and it's, and it's crazy.

The same people who don't, who used to not speak to me and acknowledge my presence, now are coming to me for. for, you know, you know, insight. And, you know, and it's crazy how things have kind of changed. But that, that Cam Newton coverage was really what did it for me. And, I said, okay, I, I, there needs to be another voice in Charlotte period.

regarding, regarding Cam Newton and why not me.

Donnell Suggs: I'm saying talk some more about the fact that you didn't have corporate sponsors, that you had to kind of make sure you didn't upset. Or you didn't have a managing editor and an editor-in-chief and a publisher that you might have upset. There's a certain freedom in that in a way. Please talk some more about that.

Cause I think it's really important people to know that.

Vashti Hurt: it means a lot. And you know, I talk, I have a colleagues who I speak with and you know, I'm amazed at some of their experiences when it comes to maybe, uh, proposing a story that may push the envelope. Or proposing a story that might address racial issues specifically, or even covering something that might be lighthearted like, you know, Cam Newton was a character for, and I'm, and I'm going back to him because it's kind of how things got rolling, but people weren't talking about his outfits a long time ago.

He was always dressed kind. But I started doing that and now it's like you have whole sites dedicated. You have weathermen who used to copy off uniform, uh, copy off of, off of his outfits and now, you know, get a million followers off of it. So, you know, it's having the freedom to really talk about what I wanna talk about, but more importantly, getting the posts from the fans and my, and the people who I know come to Carolina Blitz for information and being able to get that and run and not have to run it through a channel. It's, it's important. So if I see something that I feel like needs to be addressed, that's why I'm here.

And I, and it's always in a professional manner and yeah, I don't, you know, I might not have a managing editor to, to report to. I am the managing editor. and, and my writers, you know, I allow them, you know, I have them come to me with story ideas, but I, I give them the freedom to really write about what they're passionate about. Cause that's when you get good stuff. And so it, that's why I said, when I told, when I said out. People will say, oh, I'll see you on ESPN one day. I mean, only if I'm representing Carolina Blitz. I don't need, I don't need Big Brother telling me what I can and cannot do. That's, that really is the rawness, and the fun of being, of working for yourself.

And, you know, I I, I try to encourage, I don't ever encourage anybody to go the independent route cause it's not easy, but, even, you know, if I have a colleague who said, man, I, I, I promoted, I went to my managing editor about this story and I wrote a thousand words in. They cut it down to 500 and they cut out the meat of the, of the article.

And I'm so discouraged and I wanna bring something new and fresh, but they wanna do this old school journalism. You know, I don't, I don't do the, uh, what was it? Uh, if you wanna, if you don't want the, uh, producer dancing all in your videos, you know, uh, I, I don't tell, I don't tell 'em to come to death row, but, you know, I do encourage, I do encourage people to you.

To try to find other outlets. Like you don't necessarily have to write, you can find other outlets to channel your creativity. and, but you know, the, as you mentioned, that's important that I don't have to, I don't have a channel that I have to run up to. And, and, and I don't know. I, I really like that. I appreciate that.

Zuri Berry: So you, you mentioned, uh, about the dynamic at that time and, and specifically with the, Cam Newton coverage, which I remember, and I, I actually remember your reporting, uh, from that time period and.

Uh, I, I just wonder about the, the press corps that was covering the team then. And I, I, I had questions. I wasn't in that locker room. I was in the New England Patriots locker room at that time, and there's, you know, a handful of us in that locker room there. I think it was me, Shalise Manza Young, Monique Walker now Monique Jones.

And we were all Boston Globe people. And like there was like one other and, and Chris Gasper. but tell me about the press corps situation then, and, and how has that changed over time?

Vashti Hurt: Uh, back then, and, and, and honestly, at the time, I was not credentialed to cover the Panthers. I was really covering from the outside in. I knew people who would give me information, but at the time I wasn't credentialed to cover them. But from, from what I know of the, the press corps, then it was basically, Joe Person who's been there a while, David Newton at the time Jordan Rodrigue was there, Jonathan Jones, uh, and a couple of other people. So that, that's basically it when it came to the core Panthers coverage. Of course you had TV. And now when I go to other stadiums, the Panthers really have a, they really have a diverse core group and it, and it's really good to see. so I'm there, Sheena Quick, who's another black woman?

She covers the Panthers. Ellis Williams covers the Panthers for the, uh, Observer. you have, uh, I'm drawing a, but a person in Newton, they're still there. you have, uh, diversity among the TV people who, who. Who covered the team on a regular basis there. Shadow Deshaun, Deshaun Brown, she covered, she worked for the CBS affiliate.

That's another black woman. It's crazy cuz when we, when, when, so for example, when Thomas Brown came in and you, and you sit down and you see three black women front row, you're kind of like, whoa, I wasn't expecting this. you know,

And you know, It's different. Like understand it's different and we're gonna give you a different flow.

We're gonna be true to ourselves. You're not gonna get. You know, you're not gonna get one thing in one space and one thing in another space. It's gonna be consistent. And so, so yeah, we have, we have a, I think that they have a more diverse group of coverage and, and that's something that I would commend the Panthers PR team on is having, you know, having now at this point, and I don't know, you know, I emailed the Panthers every day. I know the guy and I didn't email the PR people. I emailed one of the top people every day until I got a response, and I know they were like, man, please respond to this lady, so she'll stop emailing me. Please. But I don't, I don't accept no like, like what we doing? Wouldn't we gonna do it? Because you could tell you could.

Eventually you're gonna say, man, so you know, there's a vetting process, you know, oh, come to an open locker room, you know, see how you work, how you interact. We're gonna monitor what you do. We're gonna read your articles, we're gonna listen to what you say on the radio. And then finally, you know, you have more access and more access, and then you're part of the, you know, the beat per se.

But

yeah. Yeah.

Zuri Berry: Well, I just, I'm just thinking about the Charlotte itself. I mean, this is a black city in a lot of respects. And, and no,

I, I would say there was a black mayor, black

fire department, chair

fi black,

Vashti Hurt: but it's more

Zuri Berry: everywhere.

Vashti Hurt: Are

you

Zuri Berry: Yeah, no, no. I'm in DC now, which is chocolate city.

Or at least it, it's

Donnell Suggs: e. Everything is more black. Everything's more black than

Boston.

Zuri Berry: milk chocolate,

Vashti Hurt: yeah, it used to be Chocolate City, but yeah, it, it, we we're, it's a black. It's not a black city, but yeah, they're, they're a good amount of

Zuri Berry: So many black people in leadership across the city. I mean, I'm just, I'm thinking Mayor Vi Lyles off the top of my head just right now, but, but just this, this transition that we're seeing, which you're seeing that increase in diversity covering the team, it's reflected in maybe how players like a Cam Newton might be covered.

but that's a, that's a good thing. That's a positive thing to see over time, and it, it's remarkable that we're talking about this because this is only what, eight years ago? Six, seven years ago. However, it was when you started Carolina Blitz, like it's not that long ago that this was problematic. You know what I'm saying?

Vashti Hurt: Yeah. And, and, and you know, it's the times now too. Listen, we have always set the culture. Now it's just. Being put on main screen. I mean, we have Kim Malarkey and I, whom I don't agree with her politics. But she's up there gritting, and I'm like, okay, now it's officially time to retire this. But what I'm saying is we set the trends right?

We make the culture, and if you want your team to be cool, right? If you want your coverage to be cool, then you have to have people who have a certain, you know, coolness to them to help your coverage. And listen, I see some of my stuff all the time. I said, I look at panthers.com. I'm like, I know y'all got that from me.

I'm gonna let y'all, I'm gonna let y'all cook. But I know y'all got that from me. Everybody's always watching. And so it's important because honestly, those guys, and I'll give you an example. So last year, Laviska Shenault wore Black Air Forces to the game. We know what it means when somebody wears Black Air Forces.

So, and he had a monster game, like his first catch went for like an 80 yard touchdown. So in the locker room after the game, you know, Sheena and I, we were looking like, oh, you wore black forces, so we should have known what was up. And so all the other reporters were like, what does that mean? And, but they're picking up on it.

But that's something culturally that, that, you know, I then see on panthers.com or I have a reporter pull me to the side and ask me what it means to wear black forces. Like, It's just a different. a way to more colorfully cover the players that you have on your team, and then also develop a rapport other than, oh, well, tell me about this play and how did this go?

You know,

Donnell Suggs: When you and Sheena host Twitter spaces during the football season, those spaces are full of folks, and I hear over and over again how folks say this is the source. Y'all two are the source for them, for Carolina Panthers football, for example. And I wanna know for you, how does that make you feel when you know you come full? I won't say full circle. You come a long way from trying to get a credential to being the source for so many people to get information about who y'all gonna draft or whatever?

Vashti Hurt: It's crazy. The other day I was in the airport and I was, I was on the phone and I said my name and this guy turned around. He was like, you're Vashti. And I was like, yeah. He was like, I listen to you on the radio all the time, and I'm blown like, wow. Like, you know, to, to have a, uh, a group of people who will come to Carolina Blitz for their, for our coverage or look to us for breaking news.

Uh, I haven't, I don't do a. I don't do a ton of breaking news, but once it's broken, I also, I, I like to give a voice to the fans. and, and that's another big component of Carolina Blitz, and I think that they appreciate that. But it always blows me when like, people find out and they're like, oh, I follow you.

I'm like, you know, it's, it's, it's, it's definitely, definitely reassuring because I think we all have our moments. Is this, am I doing the right thing? Am I on the right path? and when stuff gets hard, when stuff gets tough, something like that always seems to happen. And it's so to just tell you, keep going.

You know, keep, keep, keep moving. you're, you're on the right path here. It may not pop off like, like, But you're moving forward. You have continued progression and, and you know, you're able not only to, you're able to now, uh, I have four writers who write for me and you know, that was always important to me.

To have others who I was able to give an opportunity that, you know, I wasn't afforded, and not just that, but also be able to pay them. I did not want anybody who wrote for Carolina Blitz to write for free. It's just, you know, we're it, it, you know, so yeah, it's,

Zuri Berry: that

experience.

Vashti Hurt: I've had that experience for years and yeah, so it's just, it's, it's dope.

It, it really is.

Zuri Berry: Now you just said a couple of things that were really cool to hear and, and, and just going back to just the launching of the, the, the site. I mean, you, you walked us through a little bit about how you differentiate, how you were, you know, looking at the landscape there in Charlotte, whether it's the Observer or TV, whatever, and saying, this is how we going to be different so that way we gain an audience. We build an audience. I mean, you gotta cultivate that. And I, I would say that there was nothing there like that. Was that in the plan or was that just came about organically? I mean, tell us about that.

Vashti Hurt: I wanted something, I wanted to create something that I could relate to and I would enjoy. Uh, it had gotten to the point where I wasn't getting my news from the Observer. I was getting my news from social media, and that's honestly where it's going now. Right? People are getting their news from Twitter. God forbid Facebook, but they're getting it from there too. and other social media platforms. And I wanted to be able to get hardcore sports updates and stats, but also be able to, you know, get, see what, how people are reacting or laugh at memes that people are, are, are putting out.

So, honestly, if I think it's cool and interesting, I post about it and other people kind of think it's cool and interesting too.

And so, you know, I'm kind of, I'm, I'm feeding the people what I think is, is good content and thankfully they're enjoying it as well. And, and I think for me it's important to have a good mix of analysis. Just, just basic news and then also fun type stories. and, and just to have that, have that mix where, you know, you're able to, to, to get everything from, from one source.

Donnell Suggs: I think what makes Carolina Blitz, uh, really special from the many of the websites. Not saying better, just saying it's special. You are gonna travel with the team and you don't get a lot of that. I'll say you in New York, uh, with Duke, or I'll say UNC, across the country somewhere, and I'm like, wow.

That's why that's a go-to source for the sport because a lot of us have been in, all three of us have been in locker rooms, dot, dot, dot. Everyone doesn't get that experience. But if you follow a Carolina Blitz, for example, you can roll with North Carolina the whole season basically through your website.

I think that's really special. You talk about the fact that you thought, hey, I gotta get this thing past just some, a couple of home games.

Vashti Hurt: Yeah, and that was important to me because you never know what's gonna pop off on the road. at home. You know, I'm gonna go when UNC plays Johnson C. Smith. And I'm gonna go when UNC plays Duke. It's just what it is. It's, we're equal opportunity here because you just don't know what you're gonna get. And if by chance, I'm able and, and the, I feel guilty if I miss if I'm, if I miss a game for whatever reason.

but yeah, I travel, I, I go to, to these games. It's a different feel. And then people who aren't able to travel, I try to give them the experience. Of what you might not see TV gives you a view of what's going on, but you know, you can get stuff outside of the TV as well to give you more of an experience of, of that game.

And that's what I try to do. And also, you know, the players appreciate it, then you get to know them, they see you, oh, she's going to the games, you know? You know, I have players who will follow me. After the fact, uh, college players, you know, cuz they appreciated what I brought, to that press, uh, group.

And so yeah, it, that's always been important. Not only does it add credibility, but it also allows. Me to to, to give a, a different perspective and, and to let you know, people know, oh, she's really riding with us as a, as a reporter. because honestly, with cutbacks, like I see, I see budget cuts everywhere, right?

I know The Athletic wasn't sending their writer to some of the games, and I'm like, oh, well I'll be there. Carolina Blitz will be there. We'll be there with the coverage. So, you know,

Zuri Berry: Mm mm. Ano another differentiating

factor.

Vashti Hurt: You know, we, we we're not, we are not, we don't have to go to, I go to the budget department, but the budget department has already said, okay, this is what you're gonna go to make, go to these things, because, you know, when you're front and center, then they look at Carolina Blitz as a credible source, right?

If I'm never anywhere, they're gonna be like, oh, okay. She's just home chilling, watching the games. No, I'm there.

Zuri Berry: So let me just understand what you just said. Go to the budget center. Are are, aren't you the budget center? What, how

does this

work? Uh,

Vashti Hurt: I don't have to go. I go to the budget center, which is the business banking account.

Zuri Berry: Yeah, exactly. It, It works.

Vashti Hurt: It works. It works. And, you know, I, I have, I have, you know, as, as, as a business woman, we find ways to make it work. And I have found ways to make it work and it is working. And so, uh, we get where we need to be.

Zuri Berry: Let me ask you this cuz I, I, I find this interesting because not all startups are alike, right? Some are more successful than others and a sign of success, I think is being able to travel, particularly covering sports team. Because that, that's humongous right there. When did you guys get to the point where you were, uh, making enough revenue to be able to go out and do all of these trips and, and, and cover the

team in this way?

Vashti Hurt: I always travel You.

Zuri Berry: So, from the very beginning?

Vashti Hurt: From the very beginning, that's something that I wanted to do, like going to the games I really and thoroughly enjoy, right? and so that's always something that if I'm gonna do this, I'm gonna be, I'm gonna travel to these games and I'm gonna figure out how I can make it work. Now, I was spending a lot of personal money on traveling.

You know, sometimes you hit up somebody, I'm gonna be in your city. What's up? Can I stay with? You know, just certain, certain, you know, you may, you may drive. I don't drive anymore. We, we on flights now, but, so, you know, you may, you may hit up somebody and you may stay on that sofa. Like, I remember I have a cousin in New York, ACC tournament was in Brooklyn for like a couple of years.

I'm like, New York for seven days is expensive. you know, so. Because can I stay at her place for seven days? Like, you know, one year I, I, I bunked on her sofa. The next year I was able to get a hotel room. So, you know, you see the growth and you do what you have to do to make it work. I mean, this is, this is the story of my people.

And, this is, you know, this is the, I I come from a lineage of business owners who make it work and you figure it out. And, and, and you know, sometimes you, you, you go for it and you worry about, you worry about the chips, how they fall later on. And it always seems to work itself out. So that's, that's, that's how I moved.

But covering and traveling, I always knew would be a part of Carolina Blitz because, and probably because the first game that I ever covered, I was on the road and I covered that game for the road and my mom was like, man, Vash, how you really gave me a a a And she's not a huge sports fan. through, through.

But she was like, man, you really gave me, I really felt like I was at the game with your coverage. And I want others to feel that way. Casual fans, hardcore fans. so yeah, being able to travel, that's always been, that's always been on the list of must haves.

Donnell Suggs: So knowing what we know about Carolina Blitz right now, somebody calls you from whatever particular staff, quote unquote mainstream, uh, media company and says, hey, look, we love what you're doing. You have a unique way of doing it. Can we partner with you? What, what do they have to do to get with you or can they even get with you?

Vashti Hurt: Well, partner is fine. Absolutely. I, I, we will partner as long as I maintain ownership of Carolina Blitz and what we have going on with Carolina Blitz. you know, I, we can come on, just give Carolina Blitz that credit. I can give you, you know, my opinion about things as a representative of Carolina Blitz.

Uh, you know, that's just how it would be. Uh, I think at this point it would be very difficult for me to be an employee. Uh, for someone. Uh, but yeah, like even, like my next thing, and I'm speaking this into existence guys, I'm gonna have a radio show in Charlotte when they're on their top radio station for sports.

Well, I'm, I'm, I'm, this is, I'm manifesting this, right? But I will do that and I will still have Carolina Blitz. Like this is everything Carolina Blitz is mine. And, and it's my baby and I'm not gonna give it up for adoption.

Zuri Berry: Absolutely. Absolutely. There's so many things that you just said that were just kind of inspirational. You talking about risk taking, you talk about making it work. I mean, I'm loving it. And I'm wondering,

You've got college hoops, you've got football. For you professionally, what's more satisfying? Covering hoops, covering the Panthers? What do you, what do you like?

Vashti Hurt: So, there are levels to this, right? The NFL is granddaddy. So whenever I walk in the NFL stadium, as on founder and editor in chief of Carolina Blitz, and a member of the Carolina Panthers press corps, there's a sense of pride that comes with that, right? Like my shoulders get a little high when I, when I, when I walk in, like head is a little higher.

not that it isn't when I cover college basketball, but I am, I love college basketball. So it's a different joy that I get. So there's more, there's a lot of pride that I get with covering the NFL because I know how the NFL is. but I get a lot of joy from covering college basketball. There's just, you know, you know, I grew up watching UNC and Duke, those programs crazy.

Julius Peppers. I didn't know he played football cuz I didn't watch football back then. I thought he was a basketball player cuz I was a, you know, I watched hoops. So when I found out he was a better football player than he was a basketball player, I was like, I thought he was just a big, big player for UNC.

So that, that college hoops is, is, I love college hoops. That's, that's, you know, I will not miss a ACC tournament. Like that's, that's kind of like my spring vacation. Just, you know, just a all day college basketball good competition. I love that. But I get, there's a, there's a definite sense of pride when, when I cover the

Donnell Suggs: Now, I heard you on a radio show, uh, and you were talking about how you're, you're still working with the Hornets, trying to figure out, you guys don't figure each other out. How's that looking so far? I mean, they're not playing that well, so ain't it is not a priority, but.

Vashti Hurt: You know, I haven't applied my full court press to the Hornets because, like I did the Panthers because I know. Once I did, I have to be present, right? So I can't, and listen, be because I'm a Black woman, right? Because I am independent. I always know that my leash is a lot shorter than a lot of other people, right?

I know that I have to do things differently. I have to move differently. I have to carry myself differently. You know, I have to, the eyes are different on me. So one, I have to make sure when they say yes, the Hornets say yes, I'm there and I'm making a name for myself. Time-wise, that's difficult because, you know, I covered three teams and, that's one of the things I have to get better at is delegating stuff to, to my staff.

and to my writers, uh, but I'm gonna apply the press to the Hornets and I'm, we're gonna get in at the Hornets. Uh, I just have to make sure I have the time to establish Carolina Blitz like I was able to with the Panthers so that they put some more respect on my name.

Zuri Berry: That actually leads me to the other question I wanted to ask you, which is like, uh, is there any love for any of these other teams? Because Charlotte is now becoming a sports hub. I mean, they got, uh, soccer club, they got all these different things. Do you see expansion at all in the works in that respect?

Vashti Hurt: You know, we covered the first soccer game, and I know my wheelhouse. This is one thing that I have learned. If I don't know about something, I am not going to pretend that I know about it, right? I think that that's where some people get caught up. You know, they'll speak on a topic they don't know. Then somebody calls 'em out and then they look stupid.

You're not gonna catch me out here looking stupid. I would have to find somebody who knows soccer and get them to cover the soccer team. That is something that I do plan on doing the summer. I have the access, vis-a-vis, you know, the Panthers and, and them knowing and being able to, being able to vouch for me.

I just am not you. I, I'm not well-versed enough to cover it myself. Uh, and I do wanna do more high school hoops. High school hoops and high school football. Those young kids do not get enough coverage in my eyes. Charlotte is the hoop state. There's a lot of talent that comes outta North Carolina. I'm sorry.

North Carolina is the hoop state. There's a lot of talent that comes out of North Carolina. I have parents who reach out to me all the time and you know, the kids want the exposure. They need the exposure, especially with the transfer portal kind of changing everything when it comes to, to, uh, prep basketball.

So I'm gonna definitely, I may do that before I do the Hornets, but that's another thing, that I want to do as far as growth. And listen, when I started Carolina Blitz, you know, we still a, we still a business, so I started Carolina Blitz with the anticipation that there could be a DMV Blitz. Or a Georgia Blitz. Or New York blitz.

So that is also, you know, a way that I have, when I structure this, this company, that is something that, you know, I always thought about, you know, expanding in that way to to cover, to, uh, to, to encompass other states to bring that freshness to their coverage as well. So that's all like, you know, when we, when we put together the plan, You know, I, I, I kind of thought all of that stuff

Donnell Suggs: That's Friday night high school basketball thing. That's a cool lane right there, the way you do

cows and

Vashti Hurt: I, they need it. I know, I, I just gotta, I gotta figure time wise, I gotta figure it out. I, I need to hire an assistant. But, you know, the way my travel budget is set up, we, we gotta figure, we,

We, we gotta be our own assistant right now. So I, once

Zuri Berry: Priorities, priorities.

Vashti Hurt: you know, maybe I, maybe I'll start with a game of the week, but there's a lot, there's a lot of talent in the hoop state and, I wanna, I wanna give some shine to some of those, some of those kids who are, who are out here balling.

Zuri Berry: So my, my question for you, and I know we're running up on our time here, what advice do you have for, uh, journalists, sports journalists out there, or anybody for that matter that are thinking about starting or launching their own site? What made what? What would you would've wanted to know when you was getting.

Vashti Hurt: Stay true to yourself. Uh, I think for me that was, that was the key. I approached sports journalism like I did stockbrokers and there are a lot of parallels when it comes to lack of diversity. uh, you know, chauvinism, that kind of stuff. But I also know when I started, and it's crazy because when I, when I covered that first NCAA tournament game, everybody was, and I dressed in a way that I felt was professional, but was true to me, right.

And at the time I'm in my, and I'm in my twenties, so you know, I wasn't out here looking crazy, but I had on a cardigan and some jeans I think, and some, some boots or whatever, and they would triple check my credential everywhere I would go. It was like, You don't look like you belong here. Let me see your credential, turn your credential around, turn your credential around.

So I switched up how I dress. So then it became cardigans and skirts and you know, little, little flats. And while that was cute, it wasn't me. You know, I'm kind of like a girly tomboy, and. I wish I would've known to continue to be true to myself. Whether they gonna double a trick your, they gonna double a trickle, check your credentials regardless.

Right? That's just going to happen because a lot of people don't believe that you belong in this space or you, you don't look like the norm in this space. This is why when you see people who sneak into games, they never look like us,

right?

Because they not checking their credentials like they're check you so busy checking my

Donnell Suggs: Five people just walked over.

Vashti Hurt: that brought, that brought, just snuck into the Patriots locker room during the Super Bowl.

And you over here looking at me cause I'm trying to get a hotdog. So, you know, but stay true to yourself. don't ever feel like, and I think I, I don't know if it's called imposter syndrome, but you know, when you. Sometimes you question whether you belong. Right? And, and it's crazy because before I had a fan base, it was players kind of speaking, liking to me, oh, I see you sister, I see you doing your thing.

You know, keep, keep going. And, always understand that you belong in that space. don't feel like you gotta compete with your other people, cuz the table is big enough. And plus enough for us all to eat. So look at your, look at your, don't look at the sister who is next to you as somebody you feel like you gotta be thanked to and compete with.

Because you can work together and everybody can all eat. And, uh, finally don't take no as an answer. It's just not now, you know. Okay. That you, we gonna swing back around? You can tell me no. All right. That's. I'll see you next, next week, or I'll see you next year. so those are the things that I had to kind of learn.

you know, oh, no. Okay. No. Let me send this follow up email. Okay, well, you still know who's above you. Let me send this email, see what we can get going on. So, so those are the things. Stay true to yourself. Don't feel like you gotta compete with your, with your brothers and sisters in the business. And, don't take no for answer and keep going.

Keep blitzing, you know, it, it, it, it doesn't have to pop off immediate. Like, I think people think that my, the best example is Monica mcn. Right? She's everywhere. Right. When I, when I was in Washington DC covering, that was a Zion year. Monica was volunteering for the NCAA tournament. She came up to me and was like, you know, sis, what you doing?

What you got going on? I'm just networking with people. And she was like, I've been trying to get this thing going for so long. I'm just about to, you know, she was teaching classes like workout. And then all of a sudden I see her everywhere and people think, oh, she just popped off. No, she did her work. She kept going.

She didn't take no for an answer. And so, you know, even if it doesn't pop off, people are so used to instant gratification because of going viral and that going viral. It it, it flashes in the pan and it sizzles out. You know, keep going. Don't, don't expect for that instant gratification as long as you see progress.

That should be enough.

Zuri Berry: Wonderful, wonderful. Where can people hear you, see you, uh, and follow you?

Vashti Hurt: Uh, you can follow me. Well, the business is Ag Carolina Blitz carolina blitz.com. Keep blitzing on Twitter and uh, Carolina Blitz on. If you look up Carolina Blitz, we're pretty much everywhere and if you search my name, Vashti Hurt, I do have personal accounts that aren't business related, but they kind of do blend sports and a little bit of my personality.

Donnell, you follow my personal account.

Donnell Suggs: The IG account is a must. The post game fit account is a must. All day. I'm a check that every Sunday about six, seven o'clock.

Vashti Hurt: So yeah, it's, it, you get a different, you get a different vibe with each one, but I'm social, so.

Zuri Berry: Gotcha. Gotcha. Well, Vashti, uh, thank you so much for your time. I mean, this has been a wonderful conversation. and as usual, you know, you, you've dropped so many jewels and gems for, for folks that are gonna listen to this. So we appreciate it and we

Donnell Suggs: as says, don't take no for an answer right now. It's just not right now. That's perfect. It's not. No, it's just not right now.

Vashti Hurt: now.

Donnell Suggs: I love it.

Vashti Hurt: Exactly.

Donnell Suggs: That's a lot for me to put on a t-shirt, but I'm gonna try.