Rising Stars: Meet Nicole Colley of Westland, Michigan

Today we’d like to introduce you to Nicole Colley

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’ve always been a true crime junkie, and in Fall 2023, a friend from the Army invited me to be a guest on her podcast. I enjoyed it so much that once I heard the finished product, I thought, “Hey, I can do this! This looks fun!” That sparked my journey into podcasting. I immediately started looking for platforms and episode ideas, and even hopped on Fiverr to find someone to create our theme song and logo.

I recorded my first episode on New Year’s Eve, but I wasn’t satisfied with it—I felt it wasn’t long enough. So, I went back to the drawing board, did more research, and decided to bring my friend Amber on board. Amber also loves true crime and is pursuing a criminal justice degree, so it felt like the perfect fit. Our first episode was about Private First Class LaVena Johnson, whose case remains unsolved to this day. As a Black woman and Army veteran, her story resonated deeply with me, and I felt it deserved more attention.

A few months ago, I brought on my friend and sorority sister, LaChelle Walker. LaChelle is also an Army veteran, and she’s funny, intelligent, and a true crime junkie like me—we vibe well and have great chemistry. It’s funny because we’ve never actually met in person; LaChelle lives in Arkansas, and I’m here, in Michigan, but that hasn’t stopped us from building a connection. Our husbands, Bobby and Kevin, have been incredibly supportive of our journey, which means a lot to us. Kevin even likes to send us episode ideas from time to time!

We’re still a baby podcast, having only started about nine months ago, but we’re having a blast and hope to turn our podcast into a full-fledged brand. It’s been an exciting journey so far, and we’re eager to see where it takes us next!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It hasn’t been a completely smooth road, but that’s part of the journey. One of the toughest decisions I had to make was parting ways with Amber, who was one of my very good friends. She just wasn’t the right fit for the podcast, and while there were no hard feelings, it was still a difficult choice because of our close friendship.

As a new podcast, there’s always room for growth, and that comes with its own set of challenges. One of the biggest struggles has been getting sponsors to take us on. Since we’re so new, it’s been tough to convince potential sponsors to invest in us, but we’re committed to pushing through and growing our audience. We know that with time and persistence, things will get easier.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
We’re a Black, Woman, and Veteran-owned podcast, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of. What sets us apart is our unique perspective and the way we blend our love for true crime with a bit of fun—we feature a cocktail in every episode, which adds a little extra flavor to our discussions.

I’m particularly proud to share that we’ve made it to 22 episodes; it’s a significant milestone, especially considering how many podcasts don’t make it that far. Reaching this point has taken dedication and passion, and we’re excited to keep growing and sharing stories that matter to us and our audience.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
In the next 5-10 years, the podcasting industry will continue to grow and evolve with significant shifts and trends. We will see more diverse voices, niche podcasts, multimedia integration, and innovative monetization models. It’s an exciting time to be in podcasting!

Overall, it’s an exciting time to be in podcasting, and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.truecrimemeetsmixology.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecrimemeetsmixology/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/truecrimemeetsmixology
• Twitter: https://x.com/murdernmixology
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@truecrimemeetsmixology
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/show/6SnwsjH7dN9DIYvJDQKu5N?si=ddc6f7309bef4fd9