Media Maven Pierce Simpson Speaks on The Highs, Lows, and Memorable moments of his Journalism career.
On-Air Journalist Pierce Simpson Speaks on His Inspirations, Shifting His Career from Sports to Media, Some of His Hurdles While Working In Early Media, Rebounding From a Poor Interview Experience, Bucket List Interviews, and Where He’s Looking To Transition His Skills for 2021.
Pierce Simpson
As a journalist/interviewer, I’m always looking to engage with other people’s work. That can be anything from a written piece to a visual interview, but there are so many moments where I find myself in a Youtube rabbit hole watching interviews from established and newer on-air talents. Today, so many of my counterparts are thriving in the media space. A lot of them have written outstanding pieces for reputable publications or conducted interviews with entertainments biggest stars. Pierce Simpson falls in that category.
The Texas-born journalist took his skills from the gridiron and hardwood to the front of the camera where he has had conversations with some of the world’s most recognizable names such as Kevin Hart, Pharrell, Lil Wayne, Nas, the late great Nipsey Hussle, YG, and so on. Pierce started his career as an on-air talent with Nice Kicks before making his way to Complex where he continued to be a force. That is where the Texas-native was able to really spread his wings and turn himself into a household name while simultaneously learning from one of the best in the industry in Sean Evans, host of the popular show Hot Ones. “Sean Evans was instrumental in helping me shape questions for my career and understanding what an actual journalistic question is,” Pierce says as he describes one of his first on-air interview moments with Complex. Now, the creative journalist is the host of a show called More Explanation Needed on Boardroom, a media platform created by Kevin Durant and Rich Kleiman.
I had the chance to catch up with Pierce to talk about his true inspiration, some of his highs and lows in media, overcoming an obstacle faced with Complex, understanding pressure as an on-air talent, his bucket list interview, and where he plans to take his skills next in 2021. Read the full interview below.
1 - First and foremost, how are you? We know what we’ve been dealing with for the last 12 months, so this is a perfect time to do a mental check-in.
Considering all of the things endured this past year and some change... I’m well, man; super thankful. The pandemic really provided me with some added perspective and re-emphasized the important things to me. But I’m super eager to get back to some normalcy… I truly miss social interactions and just experiencing new things with great people.
2 - Paint me a quick picture of your upbringing. You’re a Texas native, so how was it growing up as a kid in the south who not only played sports but had a particular fondness for media?
Texas will forever be in my DNA. I joke all the time with friends out West and friends back home: “Texas people love them some damn Texas,” but I think a lot of that is rooted in our upbringing. I wouldn’t change the way I grew up for anything and I really value being able to look back at those moments. It always revolved around football, basketball, family, and friends. Ironically enough, I never ever envisioned myself getting into media - it happened organically and through the grace of God; which I’m so thankful for. Thankful for people being able to recognize my talent when I couldn’t see it for myself.
But funny enough, when I was super young, I used to play weatherman with my aunt. So, she tells me she laid the groundwork. LOL
Pierce interviewing Benny The Butcher after the release of ‘Burden of Proof’
3 - At this particular time, who would you say were some of your biggest influences in the media space?
This is a great question... and it’s probably the first time I’ve been asked this. Honestly, my only influence is myself, and not in any way saying that from an arrogant standpoint. I’m just so focused on always improving each day – I put that energy into myself.
Outside of the media space. It’s my father, for sure.
4 - You attended the University of North Texas, where you studied Business Administration. Did your college experience have a profound effect on your career path to be in media? If so, how and what was that experience like for you?
Absolutely. I think college prepared me tremendously for the ‘adult’ aspect of life and trying your best to balance ‘business’; which during this time was schoolwork, and also balancing the personal relationships away from it. It’s all a teaching lesson for the real world. I think it gave me a great perspective on things outside of the media space.
But at the same time, college isn’t the only answer, option, or pathway. Everyone’s journey is different.
Pierce interviewing the late Nispey Hussle
5 - Shortly after you graduated from UNT, you ended with an internship at Nice Kicks in Austin as an on-air talent as well as a staff writer. At this time, you’d never done anything on-air before, so how was that transition for you?
Funny enough, becoming on-air talent at Nice Kicks was definitely something I envisioned for myself down the line; but my initial start was just dedicated towards being a staff writer. I interned for three months without pay, post-college graduation. And the thing that I remember the most is that pressure from my parents to ‘find a real job’ during that time.
One day, in the late Summer of 2014, Matt Halfhill asked if I had ever thought about pursuing some on-camera opportunities because he really thought I had a great voice. I had no prior experience whatsoever, but I stepped out there and tried it, and the rest is history. I’m thankful for him seeing the potential in me.
6 - After spending two years at Nice Kicks, you made a transition to Complex in 2016. But, in 2015, you initially didn’t get a role at Complex. You mentioned you applied to work there a handful of times. Talk about that particular moment and how it made you feel as far as your push to keep going?
Man, Complex told me ‘NO’ several times. But the one in 2015 stung the most because I thought that I was ready. I had been making my name at Nice Kicks, which at the time was under the ‘Complex Media Umbrella’ for a bit. Nice Kicks was ranked No. 1 by Complex for the best sneaker video team and I was just certain that it was my time to elevate… but it wasn’t.
I’ll never forget getting that rejection e-mail just moments before I was supposed to shoot some content for Nice Kicks and I was pretty disappointed. But my brother, Norris Groves, lifted me up and told me to just keep grinding. Almost a year to that date, I was on a plane to Los Angeles to work for Complex. It’s not your timing, it’s God’s timing.
Pierce w/ Rick Ross and Dwayne Wade
7 - During your first few weeks at Complex, you interviewed Rob Gronkowski, Common, and Pharrell - 3 significant figures thrown at you within a few short weeks. How were you able to prepare for these moments?
They threw me right into the damn fire! LOL. Prior to that experience, my biggest interview was Big Sean during his press run for Dark Sky Paradise and that was over the phone… so to get those three was pretty surreal. The more I unpack this question, Nas was in that mix too... it was a lot going on for my first couple of weeks; but in hindsight, I’m so thankful for that.
Sean Evans was instrumental in helping me shape questions for my career and understanding what an actual journalistic question is. I sent my original questions to him for Gronk via e-mail and he sent back a revised version and it changed my whole career, to be honest. Just that small assistance. Always appreciative of that guy.
Pierce w/ Nas
8 - One of your favorite interviews is the second interview you did with Pharrell because you felt like you bombed the first time you interviewed him. As a fellow interviewer, I know the feeling of self-doubt when it comes to doing an interview. Why do you feel like you failed the first time, and how were you able to rebound the second time around?
The only reason I felt that I failed the first time was due to some internal fallout that happened post-interview. I was new, trying to figure things out, and some of the things said to me by a staffer at the time really wilted my confidence to some degree. Hey, you’re new and want to be liked by your new co-workers… and sometimes things don’t shake out how you imagined.
But I vowed that if the opportunity ever arose again, I wouldn’t have that feeling again of disappointment or embarrassment. You learn more from the losses than the wins… and the L’s set you up for bigger wins down the road.
Pierce w/ Pharrell
9 - You’ve mentioned some of your favorite talks were with Kevin Hart, the late Nipsey Hussle, Kevin Durant, and the aforementioned Pharrell. But, as an interviewer, we all have those bucket list names of people we want to interview or wish we could’ve interviewed them before they transitioned. Who are some of your bucket list names and why?
Jay-Z is definitely the one on my bucket list. Hov has always been my favorite artist since High School. I’ve always felt this proximity to Jay-Z and sort of feel like kindred spirits in a sense. I really admire the depth of his art - because I feel the same about mine, respectively.
10 - You’re currently over at Boardroom, where you host a weekly series called ‘More Explanation Needed,’ where you dive into topics that, again, need more explaining. I enjoyed watching the episode where you talk about marijuana in sports. How do you come with these topics, and why do you feel they’re essential to speak about?
Whatever speaks to my spirit, I try to then convey that message in the show. As basic as that may sound, it’s the truth. Growing up, all of my friends were athletes because I was an athlete myself. My father was an athlete. So, when I see these professional athletes endure so much criticism, negative public perception, and just overall misinformation… I knew that my role in the media space was to be a voice for them. A conduit for them.
Because at the end of the day, they remind me of the people closest to me.
11 - As someone who has done more than a few things in the media space, what is one piece of advice you would give to the aspiring journalist?
Never cheat the game, so to speak. Build on your work and rely on your work. That’ll open doors for you. People gravitate towards great work; no matter the industry. Work on your craft.
12 - What is your true definition of success?
Happiness. Freedom. Love.
13 - What’s next for Pierce Simpson as we continue to move through 2021?
Constantly in elevation with my work and myself. My sights are set on movies & films, too. Both in front of the camera and behind it. That’s been the blessing of the pandemic - discovering my love for film.
Your journey is winding - enjoy every curve – enjoy every moment.
To stay updated on what Pierce Simpson is doing in media, you can follow his personal Instagram @Pierce.Simpson and also follow @BoardRoom to check out his show More Explanation Needed.
