Today we’d like to introduce you to Justin Reynolds.
Hi Justin, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My journey into media and music really started before I even realized it could become a career. Growing up, I was introduced to radio through my mother, who worked in radio. Being around that environment early gave me a firsthand look at the personalities, music, energy, and influence that came with being on the air.
As I got older, I developed my own love for music and started making music myself. I wasn’t just listening to it, I was writing, recording, and learning what it felt like to actually be an artist and create something from scratch. That passion pushed me to take music more seriously and eventually go to school for music production.
While in school, I began learning more about the technical and creative sides of the business. I started producing music, writing, and developing a better understanding of how a song comes together from an idea to a finished record. That experience gave me a perspective I still carry today because I understand what it’s like to be the artist, the writer, the producer, and the person behind the scenes trying to bring a vision to life.
Eventually, my journey brought me to iHeartRadio, where I’ve been able to grow as both a producer and media personality. I started working behind the scenes in radio, but over time I began stepping more in front of the microphone and camera, interviewing artists and creatives, covering events, creating social content, and becoming more involved in the culture of the city.
It’s crazy to look at the full-circle moment of growing up watching my mother in radio and now building my own career in that same world. Everything I’ve done, from making my own music, writing and producing, to working in radio and becoming a media personality, has helped shape who I am today.
I’m still writing the story. My ultimate goal is to continue growing in media and music, build platforms that give other creatives opportunities, and become someone known for connecting people, music, culture, and opportunities together.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. There have been moments where I questioned whether I was even on the right path.
One of the biggest setbacks was being fired. When you’re trying to build a career in an industry you genuinely love, losing an opportunity can make you question your talent, your purpose, and what’s next. But looking back, that experience taught me a lot about myself. I eventually found my way back into the industry with a different mindset and an even bigger hunger to grow.
Behind the career struggles, I was also dealing with things people couldn’t necessarily see. I went through some really difficult periods with depression and anxiety while still trying to show up for work, be creative, be a father, and keep pursuing my goals. There were days when simply believing in myself felt harder than anything I had to do professionally.
Those experiences changed the way I look at success. I’ve learned that progress isn’t always a straight line. Sometimes you lose opportunities, sometimes you have to rebuild, and sometimes the biggest battle is getting yourself mentally back to a place where you can keep going.
I’m still a work in progress, but I’m proud that I kept going. The setbacks didn’t end my story. In a lot of ways, they gave me a deeper reason for why I want to succeed and why I want my journey to eventually help somebody else who may be going through their own difficult season.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
My work lives at the intersection of music, media, and culture. I’m a music producer and A&R with a passion for discovering talent, developing artists, and helping creatives turn their ideas into something bigger. Because I’ve made music myself, written records, and produced, I understand the creative process from the artist’s perspective, not just the business side.
On the media side, I’m a producer with iHeartRadio, where I produce a morning sports radio show on Fox Sports Radio Jacksonville. My role has allowed me to learn the behind-the-scenes side of broadcasting while also growing as an on-air and media personality. Beyond radio, I’ve produced and been involved with multiple podcasts, interviews, live events, promotions, and digital content.
I think what I’m becoming most known for is being a connector. I have a natural ability to bring artists, media, businesses, personalities, and opportunities together. I don’t like limiting myself to one title because everything I do connects. Music led me to production, production led me deeper into media, and media has given me a platform to spotlight other people.
What I’m most proud of is the fact that I’ve been able to build relationships and create opportunities while still building my own career. Whether I’m behind the board producing a morning radio show, helping develop an artist, interviewing someone, creating content, or working an event, I’m always thinking about how I can make the moment bigger and connect the right people.
What sets me apart is that I understand both sides of the microphone. I know what it’s like to be the artist trying to get heard, and I know what it’s like to be on the media side deciding what deserves attention. That perspective allows me to bridge those worlds, and ultimately, that’s the lane I’m building for myself: becoming a true connector between music, media, culture, and opportunity.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
I consume a lot of motivational and self-development content. I’m big on podcasts and interviews because sometimes hearing someone else’s story, especially what they had to overcome, can completely change your perspective on your own situation.
I listen to people like Gary Vee, Mel Robbins, and Wallo because they all bring something different. Gary Vee talks a lot about patience, self-awareness, and putting in the work. Mel Robbins has helped me think differently about discipline, mindset, and getting out of my own way. Wallo is probably one of the people I connect with most because of how raw his story is and how he turned his past into purpose.
I also enjoy books and conversations from Charlamagne Tha God, especially around mental health, anxiety, growth, and becoming comfortable with who you are. That resonates with me because of some of the things I’ve experienced personally.
Outside of specific people, I’m constantly consuming motivational content, interviews with successful creatives and entrepreneurs, music industry conversations, and anything that can teach me something about becoming better at media, business, fatherhood, and life.
I’ve learned that sometimes the right message can find you at exactly the right time. I try to take pieces from everything I consume and apply them to my own journey rather than trying to become somebody else.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: iamjreynolds
