UP & VANISHED PODCAST //

I first met Payne Lindsey in 2015, essentially both of us were fans of each others work from afar and equally had the desire to collaborate with one another. We worked on a short promo video for a hip hop/rap clothing company in Atlanta, GA but that was just a one off. Payne was filming documentaries at that time and also doing high end rap industry music videos for many different professional rap/hip hop artists.

In our affinity for each others expertise in our field and industry, we also developed a friendship. There are few times that work colleagues connect as true friends, but that was the case with Payne and myself. We struck up a friendship and trust.

Up and Vanished began with Payne & his business partner Donald reaching out to me and his brother Mason, to be involved with something he himself didn't even know would be as in depth as it has been. It started with us being available and open to a story with its twists and turns, and it begged Payne to bring justice to a woman and her family, Tara Grinstead. Justice to a situation and environment that seemed hopeless. Up and Vanished has now created a format that has never been implemented before. A comfortable and safe place for people to come forward with knowledge of true crimes; and above all it has shown that the podcast industry is more than just easy listening, but an industry that can solve cases that have gone cold or been misrepresented/misinterpreted.  

As time goes on Payne has allowed me the privilege of becoming more involved with the Tenderfoot Tv team in the overall investigation and journalism of the cases on Season 2. Since then I have had the honor of lending my voice to their ongoing creations of seasons. Even up until this most recent season of season 4; Payne has allowed me the privilege to be a small part.

If you are not familiar with Up and Vanished, Payne Lindsey or our Tenderfoot Tv Team please have a read below: 

Atlanta filmmaker Payne Lindsey of Tenderfoot TV & Team originally envisioned Up and Vanished as a true-crime documentary. Lindsey selected a missing-person case from his home state, Georgia, and embarked on a journey as an amateur investigator. After starting his research and initial interviews, he decided to present the project in audio form as a podcast. Season 1 of Up and Vanished explored the 2005 disappearance of beauty queen and high school teacher Tara Grinstead from her home in Ocilla, Georgia. The cold case was the largest case file in the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s history, with no arrests in 11 years. The podcast quickly drew attention, both in South Georgia and nationwide. Reviewing old leads and uncovering new ones, Up and Vanished quickly expanded from a planned six-episode season to a final count of 24 episodes with numerous bonus episodes. As the people of Ocilla began talking about the case again, new leads and stories emerged. In February 2017, the GBI arrested two suspects for Grinstead’s murder. Up and Vanished will continue to provide updates on this no-longer-cold case as the criminal trial proceeds in 2018. A second season of Up and Vanished, covering a completely different true crime story, will debut in early 2018.

You can find Up & Vanished Podcast anywhere podcasts can be found. https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/up-and-vanished/id1140596919?mt=2

INTERVIEW

What’s the best story from your life that has an underlying, valuable message?

Firstly, throughout school I was a very poor math student and hated testing, quizzing and hours of plaguing numbers, formulas and rules. All that to say I thrived and was intrigued by english / literature and history. *Now, I have to say something to teachers out there who are in private or public education (you truly do help to shape and formulate our minds and world-views our likes and dislikes throughout the short time we are young") Shoutout and Thank you to Ms. Miller and Mrs. Boyer out there! Thanks for allowing a strange kid and his buddies to cut up over and over again in class. Thank you for taking a very big problem in a classroom and turning that into an opportunity for my friends and I to take turns crafting the characters we read of and shape their voices and narrate for the class; or act and dress up as characters in history. Mrs. Boyer brought her husband in to help calm our minds and hushed the classroom with his low booming and authoritative tone in reading to our class. It was voiceover, without knowing exactly what voiceover was at the time. The underlying valuable message from this would be that maybe whats been a joke to you or others all your life, maybe what has been your quirk (but this thing that you have an aptitude for) could be the thing that brings the most joy to you or the thing that you should pursue most in your life and future. Who knows it could be your brand and business and your own way of getting your unique art out into the world.  

What’s the most valuable piece of information we should know that’s within your expertise/industry?

* Your craft is your own personal responsibility. There is nothing specific you can go study or go to school for; nor is there any method to the madness in this industry. Don't necessarily seek out originality, but stay true to your true tone and your voicing.You may be surprised in the digging of this WELL how your voice can become a brand in and of itself and a landscape for your art to be heard or seen. Be aware and explore your own quirks and individuality. ALSO Don't give into a breed of impressionism; its flattering to those you impersonate and its good to take away elements of other peoples quirks or unique characteristics, but be you and create your own recipe. 

What’s your best piece of overall business advice?

If you must take losses for the sake of quality in your business when starting out; then sometimes you must and should. Quality over Quantity. It speaks so vibrantly and EVIDENTLY to people and they cannot help but notice and be aware of YOU consistently producing quality and consistency in your brand or product. 

If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Move to a place where you aren't the best at what you do; there is something so very important about healthy environments that breed creativity and also a place where others are hustling and working their tales off in their craft. They are Moonlighting and spending their time, energy, resource etc. on gettting better and scheming. So it begs you and presses you to be better and not to settle for mediocrity.  

In your opinion, what's the key to happiness?

Happiness is when you have a peace that surpasses all understanding. 

What's the best book you've read and what was the #1 thing you learned from it?

I will give you an answer of an industry book, because I believe that is what might be of most assistance or help to people. 

" Freeing the Natural Voice" - by Kristin Linklater 

One thing I had learned is that the exploration of your own tone is of paramount importance and use in finding your very own unique tone and individuality. 

What’s your favorite quote and why?

One is, Every man dies, not every man really lives- William Wallace 

Why? 

Cause it’s true and death is final. Life is a choice I believe .