Today we’d like to introduce you to Leena Kollar.
Hi Leena, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
After being a freelance writer for eight years, I reached a point where all of my writing contracts had ended. This was also the time when my marriage was falling apart, so it was a very low point for me. I wanted to keep writing and creating and felt a strong desire to start my own project. I had become increasingly frustrated with my freelance assignments because they were all very generic and really didn’t have a storytelling element.
And so, in 2018, I launched Behind Nashville as a passion project. I wanted to tell people’s stories beyond surface-level content. I wanted to really dig deep and go “behind the scenes,” showing the everyday, authentic moments and struggles that people face. My focus was, and continues to be, on “underdogs.” Whether it’s a small business, an independent musician, a non-profit, or anyone else making waves in the Nashville community, I want to feature it.
I have been able to interview some incredible people, including Johnny Cash’s niece, an American Idol contestant, and a food truck that was featured on The Kelly Clarkson show. It’s an amazing feeling to be part of someone’s story and know that I had a hand in helping them grow their business or achieve their dreams.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Getting started and staying on top of things has been the biggest challenge. But luckily, there is so much talent and determination in Nashville that I’ve been able to find great people to interview and I have grown my audience more each year. As a single mom (I have two kids) it’s hard to find time to keep Behind Nashville up and running since I’m 100% a one-woman operation. I do everything from writing & publishing the articles on the website, curating & taking photos, recording the interviews, posting on social media, everything.
We’ve been impressed with Behind Nashville, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Behind Nashville is a hyperlocal digital community that features people and businesses from the greater Nashville area. The name has a double meaning: behind, as in “behind the scenes,” and behind, as in, “I’m behind Nashville. I support this great city.”
The goal is to give people a deeper look at what’s happening in Nashville. The community is built on storytelling, not just cookie-cutter content that you can find anywhere. All of the interviews are recorded on my iPhone and are not edited because Behind Nashville is all about capturing real moments.
One of the fun things I do is feature local singles for “Nashville’s Most Eligible.” Any single (aged 21+) who wants to be featured can reach out on the website. Really, anyone who falls into any of my featured categories is welcome to contact me about being featured. I’m also building a local business directory that people can buy a listing for. It will feature photographers, realtors, doctors, etc.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
You can witness just about anything that’s happening live now, thanks to technological advances and social media. Literally, anyone can pull out a phone and record anything they want to. I think it’s this very voyeuristic nature that has drawn people to Behind Nashville. We’re all so invested in other people’s lives and have this obsession with knowing everybody’s dirty laundry.
I don’t see much changing in the next few years, other than possible platform updates on social media that might alter the way we create and consume content. But I don’t think society will lose its interest in being nosy and we will all continue to integrate ourselves very intimately with strangers on apps and the internet.
Pricing:
- $20 – Directory Listing
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.behindnashville.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/behindnashville/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/behindnashville
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbpRADezKgPsYtuoj6KvrLQ
