We had the good fortune of connecting with Marissa McGarry and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marissa, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I’ve been a storyteller from a young age.
It started with poetry recitation and community theatre as a young child, memorizing other’s stories and portraying them through narrative. As I grew older I grew a passion for music – telling stories through song and instruments. I studied music through High School and college. I grew curious about documentation and started journaling and capturing the world through my camera lens. Eventually – others started to see me documenting and asked my to help preserve THEIR stories.
My business was born in 2017 and I have documented hundreds of stories since then.
My husband and I now run Maypop Media together – where we capture all sorts of stories and content through video, podcasting and photography.

What should our readers know about your business?
My husband Mitch and I run Maypop Media together and have a lot of dreams for our business. It wasn’t easy getting to where we are today and one of the biggest challenges has been work/life balance, especially when you work with your spouse – It can become difficult to feel you have a life and relationship outside of your business.
We are still working on this- but have made a lot of progress in having some work boundaries especially as we have started hiring a team and not doing everything on our own!

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Johnson City is the perfect mix of small town surrounded by rural, but still have everything you need and more when it comes to amazing food and entertainment. We love supporting local shops and restaurants as well as spending time outdoors.
My itinerary would be to start the morning kayaking on Watuaga Lake, head to Downtown Elizabethton for some shopping at antique malls, and then head to Johnson City for dinner at Zaap Lai or Project BBQ and catch an evening show at the Down Home or the Martin Center.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A book that really impacted me when I read it in college was “Steal Like an Artist” by Austin Kleon. This book really affirmed the fact although there may be other people doing the thing you want to do – no one will do it the way that YOU will do it.
Every person is so different and unique, no creative will ever be exactly the same.
I know many people hold themselves back because they see someone already doing the thing they want to do. I really took it to heart from day 1 to not let that fear keep me from trying and that there is room for everyone!

Website: https://www.maypopmedia.com

Instagram: @maypopmedia

Linkedin: Maypop Media, Marissa Jenell McGarry

Facebook: @maypopmedia

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