Award-Winning Syndicated Radio Host Dede McGuire is a Visionary on a Mission

Now in her 15th year as a media personality, Award-winning Radio Host, and Philanthropist DeDe McGuire is a woman with a vision for global impact. Along with her passion for vision boards, her faith in God, and her exceptional interview skills, DeDe is a pioneer and activist on a mission to empower younger generations and women across the country to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams.

As a nationally-syndicated radio host, DeDe has been gifted with the opportunity to interview many of the world’s most influential celebrity figures such as President Barack Obama, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Diddy, and Oprah. The Hype Magazine had the chance to sit down and turn the tables to ask DeDe a few questions:

Hi DeDe, tell us a little bit about your background and upbringing!

I’m an Army brat, born in Seattle, and my mom remarried when I was 10 years old. It was crazy, my Mom remarried within six months and we ended up in Germany! I spent about three years there before moving back to the States. We ended up at Texas Killeen Fort Hood, so I grew up in Texas from the time I was in Junior High School.

You’ve been at K104 for over 13 years, and you’ve had a show with your name on it for 10 years! What was that process like becoming a media personality and building DeDe In The Morning to what it’s become?

Can I tell you something that’s crazy… It was on my vision board for years. So, I used to work on another syndicated show as the co-host, and we were on in New York, and Houston, Chicago, Milwaukee… really on all these stations. I remember saying to myself, ‘I want my own show after this.’ My mother always told me, once you set a goal, and you achieve it, it’s time to set another goal. Then, set another goal and another goal. So, I knew I wanted to be a co-host like Robin Quivers, from Howard Stern. Plus, I heard she made all this money on this national show. So I was like, I want to do the same thing. So, I went out and I got my own show. I put it on my vision board and it came true.

So, you study universal laws, the law of attraction and practice vision boards?

Yes, I’ve been doing vision boards for 15 years. My girlfriends and I have been doing them for years, and I want to go to the next level. I said, let’s really, really get clarity and pinpoint why we want these things. What do we want? How can we make it happen? We’ll be getting together in March Women’s History Month, and really map out even more.

You’ve interviewed some incredible people. What would you say is the interview that stands out to you and that you cherish the most?

Well, number one was being in the Oval Office in the presence of President Barack Obama at the White House. It was one of the most amazing things ever in life. Of course, Oprah was one of those, you know, where you’re like, Wow, this is Oprah. Mariah Carey and Beyoncé… yeah they’re all iconic. I just reflect and say, wow, what a great life. I’ve had an opportunity to interview the best of the best. It’s such a great blessing.

When it comes to interviewing, what do you feel like is one of the toughest questions you’ve had to ask someone?

Let’s see, Diddy was a tough one. Actually, it was one of my toughest interviews at that time. He came in and hung out with us, and was very…let me put it this way: I can see why he’s a billionaire. He’s very focused. When we were on the air and we were interviewing him, he was so cool, charismatic, and personable, but as soon as the mics went off, he was down to business. He’s talking to his assistant ‘do this, do this, do this.’ I’m thinking we were gonna laugh, but he was all business once the mics turned off. I get it. I see why he’s a billionaire.

So you received many accolades and a lot of recognition. In thinking forward to your vision, what are you are striving for?

I certainly want the number one morning show across the country, and the number one woman-led show in the country you know. Delilah is known as one of the best in radio right and syndicated radio. As a woman of color to get this far and be the host of a syndicated morning show, I want to crack 120 cities. Lastly, I just want to be known for giving back. That’s the true reward. I want people to understand that I care about my listeners, and our community. I want the people’s award. I’m in the community, a part of the community, and that matters to me more than anything anybody can give me.

Yes, I can see that community impact is something you prioritize. Yep. The nonprofit organizations you work with and scholarships that you’ve created. So what is what are you working on this year that you’re most excited about?

We just came into our third year of giving out scholarships to HBCU students. I’m excited about the scholarships we give out to deserving mothers who want to finish their education, get a certificate, and we help them with head of households things. I’m looking forward to doing a lot for kids going back to school and really dealing with mental health, especially for moms. People don’t realize how tough that is mentally when you’re a single mom, and you’re trying to hold it down for your family and everything else. I’m grateful now things are in full swing after the pandemic.

Yes, May is coming up. Why is mental health awareness so important to you?

I don’t talk about it much, because I really tried to protect my brother who actually suffers from a mental illness. There’s a difference between people saying “oh, mental health,” and somebody who’s really dealing with a mental illness. I’ve always been quiet about it, and because he was doing radio for a while (really my whole family does), I never wanted to tell his business. But this year I’m really focusing on mental health, taking care of my brother and we’re dealing with it as a family. In the years to come, I just want to talk more about mental health and how to get help. It’s really tough because it seems like no help out there (hospitals and resources.) I’m going to become more vocal because we’ve got to change this.

Tell us more about your foundation:

At our foundation, we really focus on women. During the pandemic, we had to pivot like everyone did. It became challenging to ask people to donate and we were seeing food shortages in this country. We were seeing kids who couldn’t go back to school. So we pivoted and renamed the organization the DeDe McGuire Family Foundation, and the woman is still the main focus. We started extending it to students to children. So, that’s why we created the HBCU scholarships, and gave money to Black Men of America in New Orleans after the hurricane. We do local work here in Texas, when we have community issues with storms. From food pantries to voting help, we do it because we’re all family and to help everybody you know, from hurricane victims to when you need water.

Okay, and what else do you have coming, maybe a book deal?

You know, that’s funny, because I had a book deal and right, and I got so busy. Someone else just said that to me, now you! But, we’ll be celebrating our five-year anniversary in August, so we’re focusing on a big anniversary party, continuing the work in the community and expanding the show to 100 cities by next year. I’m preparing to launch a podcast studio and expand the podcast media company.

Awesome! Lastly, if speaking to younger women who look up to you, what’s some advice that you would have given yourself as a black woman desiring a career in media, you know, 10 to 15 years ago?

I would have probably said to myself, don’t give up. It will be frustrating, but keep grinding because you have a voice and people need to hear it. Take your time, but definitely still plot and plan. You’ve got to have a direction of where you’re going and set those goals. Just like my mom said, then set another one and another one.

Connect with DeDe McGuire @dedeinthemorning or www.DeDeMcGuire.com

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Tags: black entrepreneurs, black women in media, Dallas, DeDe In The Morning, DeDe McGuire, K104, media personality, Mental Health Awareness, non-profit

About the Author

Crystal Willis Crystal Willis is an Entrepreneur, Author, Speaker, Entertainment Publicist and CEO of The Omni Firm. She is also a Transformational Life Coach and Founder of The Crysalis. Her personal story has been seen by millions of people on media outlets like Marie Claire Magazine, PBS, Blaze TV, Daily Signal and more.