Tanisha Blakely

I’m a full-time independent podcast producer with a background in journalism and media product leadership, building community-focused platforms.

Before going independent, I worked as an online editor at Vibe magazine and Black Voices, and later as a product manager at Essence, New York Magazine, Nickelodeon, Travel & Leisure, and Food & Wine, where I focused on growing digital audiences and shaping editorial strategy. That experience gave me a deep understanding of storytelling, audience behavior, and how content ecosystems scale.

In 2022, I transitioned to producing podcasts full-time. I currently produce Notes from Chicago, an independent show hosted by Ashley Phillips that spotlights Chicago entrepreneurs, organizers, and creators and explores their relationship to the city. The podcast is both a cultural archive and a love letter to Chicago, documenting local leadership, community-building, and creative innovation that often go underrepresented in mainstream media.

As the sole producer, I lead end-to-end production: research and guest development, editorial framing, audio and video editing, show art and branding, publishing, and social promotion.