The second season of “On the Spot,” an interview-based show by Rudy’s Girl Media, premiered in late November.
Rudy’s Girl Media owner Natalie Hodge said the series was first created when the studio first opened as they wanted to invite the community in to not only share the new space but to hear from them in a really creative way.
“It started, we were just posting reel-style videos on social media, and we’d ask one question, and they’d provide an answer in under a minute,” she said. “They didn’t know the questions beforehand, so it was literally on the spot that they had to respond which creates lots of interesting tension and excitement as far as the production.”
Once RGMTV was launched, Hodge said the studio wanted to have full interview segments for “On The Spot.”
‘So, it still starts with one question, and they have to provide that answer in under a one minute, but then it rolls into a full 20-minute interview where we talk about all sorts of things,” she said.
The interview is also completely unscripted and organic as Communications and Content Development Director Dana Wilson makes the questions in secret and puts them inside a box for Hodge to draw out.
“So, we’re experiencing the question for the first time together, like the guest and I. Then we just, after we do that first question, we roll into what they do and we might touch on other things related to that question, but it’s very organic,” she said.
Hodge said some of the season’s guests reached out to her after season one aired asking how they could participate in the new season.
“Then we posted on our social media pages that we were filming a new season and asked for people to submit to be on the show. Then we rolled from there,” she said.
Hodge’s favorite guest this season was, of course, her mother Judy Hodge, a retired music teacher.
“My mother is a character; ok she is a character. Well first off, she kept saying, ‘Well, I didn’t know I wasn’t prepared that I could have gotten questions.’ I said ‘Well, that’s what unscripted is. That’s what it means to be on the spot,’” she said.
At one point, Hodge said her mother was told what the end process was, and she claimed that she didn’t know what she was supposed to say.
“So really, she’s like a really sweet diva. She’s really funny, she throws a lot of shade toward me in that episode, so I highly recommend it,” she said. “It’s probably the funniest episode of the season, just watching us together.”
Another of Hodge’s favorite guests is Shakeva Frazier, who does “powerful community development work” in Danville.
When Frazier came on, Hodge said there was not a dry eye in the studio.
“She has a life story that is so gripping, and she has turned some pretty significant challenges into a way of being that is phenomenal. She’s giving back in some incredible ways in Danville, and she’s doing all of this with this extremely kind heart. When you hear her story, it will bring you to tears,” she said.
When she talks about “Hometown Hustle” or anything Rudy’s Girl Media does that’s connected to talking to community members, Hodge said the area has a wealth of knowledge and expertise.
“We have people who are doing amazing things right in our midst, people who we can touch, and call, and bump into at the coffee shop or the grocery store, and sometimes we take that for granted,” she said.
Every interview she’s done this season for “On The Spot” has left Hodge feeling uplifted in a new way and inspired in a new way.
“I’m excited to continue to tell those positive, high-impact stories on our new platform and our existing platforms,” she said.
Hodge is also currently preparing for season three of the show.
“So many people have reached out even as we’ve only rolled out two episodes so far about how they can be on the show. We’re really excited to put together the next season of it, which will happen at some point in the early part of 2024,” she said.
Those interested in appearing on the show can reach out to Hodge at info@rudysgirl.com. They will then be emailed a form to fill out with basic questions to answer.
Season one came out in May 2023. Filming for the 14-episode season two started in August.
Hodge said the series can be viewed on RGMTV, which is Xfinity Channel 16. New episodes are aired every Thursday at 6 p.m. The show can also be watched on the Rudy’s Girl Media YouTube channel.
