Meet Shels L Pixi Honeysuckle

We recently connected with Shels L Pixi Honeysuckle and have shared our conversation below.

Shels L Pixi, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?

My resilience is rooted in three key things: my mom’s quiet strength, my own determination to prove people wrong, and the unwavering support from two incredible women—Sanci and Lynn. I watched my mother work tirelessly to better herself through writing—she had big dreams and poured everything into her books, even when the world didn’t quite catch on. Her perseverance left a deep mark on me.

Sanci has been my best friend through it all, reminding me of my strength and encouraging me to never give up. Her support was crucial during my toughest moments, especially when I took a six-year break from Let’s Talk About The Music. It wasn’t because I gave up—it was because I needed time to grow and rebuild, both for myself and for my future.

Then there’s Lynn. When I was homeless, she took me in. We didn’t know each other at all—I had hired her to watch my cats before I decided to become a full-time student. But she saw something in me that I couldn’t see in myself. Her belief in me gave me the push I needed to get serious about Let’s Talk About The Music and move forward. If it weren’t for these three incredible women—my mom, Sanci, and Lynn—I truly don’t know where I’d be today.

Sadly, my mom passed away in December 2020, and she won’t be here to see me graduate on June 18th. But I know her strength and the lessons she taught me live on in everything I do.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m the creator of Let’s Talk About The Music (LTATM), a platform where I connect with independent musicians, artists, and music lovers. I started LTATM as a way to elevate the voices of those who might not have the mainstream recognition they deserve but offer incredible talent. My work spans across podcasts, blogs, and multimedia content that highlights the journeys of musicians and the stories behind their craft.

What excites me the most is the ability to give artists a space to share their stories and experiences, not just their music. It’s rewarding to know that I’m helping to build a community where creative minds can support each other and grow. For me, it’s all about community connections and creating an inclusive platform that thrives on collaboration.

Currently, I’m working on expanding LTATM’s reach with new podcast episodes, featuring even more diverse voices from the music world. I’m also excited about upcoming projects, including live events and exclusive content for our members, which will bring fans and artists closer together. I’ve got big plans for the future, including a deeper focus on developing a multimedia experience for LTATM that will include both podcasts and live-streamed events.

Overall, LTATM is more than just a podcast; it’s a movement to bring independent music to the forefront, giving those who are often overlooked a chance to shine.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Looking back, the three qualities that had the most impact on my journey are resilience, adaptability, and continuous learning.

Resilience was crucial because there were many moments when things didn’t go as planned—whether it was setbacks in my personal life or challenges in building LTATM. I learned that setbacks are a part of the process, not a reason to give up. Resilience helped me push through the tough times and keep moving forward.

Adaptability has been key to navigating the ever-evolving world of music and media. The industry changes constantly, and being flexible with my approach and willing to learn new technologies, platforms, or methods has kept LTATM relevant and growing.

Lastly, continuous learning has been my foundation. Whether it’s improving my knowledge of SEO to grow the website or learning new ways to engage with my audience, I always look for opportunities to grow and evolve. This commitment to learning, whether through formal education or self-teaching, has shaped my business and allowed me to stay ahead in a competitive space.

For those early in their journey, my advice is to focus on these three areas. Resilience will help you weather the storm, adaptability will help you stay relevant, and a commitment to learning will fuel your growth. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, seek advice, and be open to new experiences—those are the building blocks of long-term success.

What would you advise – going all in on your strengths or investing on areas where you aren’t as strong to be more well-rounded?

I believe it’s important to strike a balance between focusing on your strengths and developing areas where you’re not as strong. I’ve always been a firm believer in doing what you’re passionate about, so naturally, my strength has always been my love for music and storytelling. However, early on in my journey, I realized that being too focused on one area can leave gaps in your growth.

When I was working on building Let’s Talk About The Music, I had to learn so many things outside my comfort zone—SEO, social media strategy, even understanding how to build a multimedia experience for my audience. These were areas I wasn’t naturally strong in, but they were essential for the success of my brand. I had to go out of my way to learn and adapt, and doing so made me a more well-rounded entrepreneur.

At the same time, I’ve also leaned heavily into my strengths—whether it’s the connection I have with independent musicians or my passion for sharing music stories. When I build upon what I’m naturally good at, I find that I’m more motivated and energized. That’s why I believe it’s important to have that balance: use your strengths to drive your passion and goals while being open to learning and improving where needed.

I can’t stress enough how my college education played a huge role in shaping this perspective. Without it, I wouldn’t have had the knowledge or the tools to improve my weaknesses and push my strengths to new heights. It taught me not only the technical skills I needed but also the mental discipline and resilience to keep going even when things felt overwhelming. I’m heading toward earning my BA Degree, and I can’t wait to continue learning—because education doesn’t stop once you graduate. It’s a lifelong journey that helps you grow in both personal and professional ways.

For example, my resilience, which I’ve developed over the years, helped me stay grounded during times of self-doubt. But when it came to learning about my mental health and how to manage anxiety, I had to improve my understanding and tools in that area to thrive both personally and professionally. These areas of growth ultimately played a key role in making me who I am today.

So, I think the key is knowing where you shine and using that as a foundation, but never stop learning, growing, and improving other areas that will help you become the best version of yourself.

Contact Info:

Image Credits

Personal: when I won a leadership award from Green River College for building my radio station with the education of old KGRG.

1,)thumbnails from episode 20, 2,) logo, 3,) my bestie, Sanci, 4,) myself in KGRG old studio. 5, just a selfie, 6, my mom you passed away December 2020, and my award wall.

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