Pivoting became a life renewed for Cleveland’s Portia Booker
PART II of TWO PARTS
By JOHN KEREZY, eyeoncleveland.com founder
CLEVELAND, Jan. 21, 2026 – When Portia Booker was in her senior year as a broadcast journalism major at Kent State University, just 10 years ago, journalism schools were taking a dim view of podcasting.
“Podcasting was not mentioned as a career when I was in J-School.” she recalls. “The classes I took had the focus of you being employed by a television station, radio station, or another major media outlet. If you didn’t have a position in any of these avenues, you were looked at differently. The standard is still the same now, even with the influx of podcasts everywhere.”
But Booker’s experience producing news at a television station in Tulsa, Okla., had both scarred and scared her. As she recovered from the depression and suicidal thoughts, she knew she’d eventually have to develop a Plan B for her career and life.
“My only plan (at first) was to get another job to sustain myself. I stopped doing photography and writing. I did start a blog after my Bipolar Disorder diagnosis. It focused on meeting with my therapist at the time, medication adjustments, and finding myself. I wanted to give people an up-close look at what it was like to have this diagnosis and how I was working with it,” Portia says.
An offer to begin producing a radio program at WOVU got her thinking about podcasting. The offer also opened the door for Portia to get back into media through producing the radio program. She ended up launching “Groove with Portia,” both a program at the radio station and a podcast, in 2019.
“Podcasting as a career was frowned upon,” she recalls. “It was considered a weak alternative for people who couldn’t land a position with a television station, a network, or a radio station upon graduation.”
Grief, Podcasts, and Grief Groups
Grief was a central, important theme for Portia. She was grieving over setbacks in her own life, and at the same time, coming to grips with the downward health spirals in the people she loved so much.
“My grandmother (Freddie Stewart, known as Nanny) had always been my biggest cheerleader. She passed away right before we got the news about my mom’s health,” Portia recalls. “At the same time, my mother Sharonne’s cancer situation worsened, and eventually I became her primary caregiver.”
And as she was dealing with all this, Portia pressed on with the podcasts.
“When Covid struck in 2020 and WOVU stopped allowing its talent to come into the station, I bought a remote podcasting kit and started recording my show from home,” she recalls. “By then I was already putting the podcast on Apple, YouTube, Spotify and iHeart.”
Portia points out that many “hobby” podcasters get excited about all the “hype” of starting a podcast (potential sponsors, making lots of money, etc.), but they give up before putting effort into building on their shows. “Many plan to do podcasts, but stop after doing just four or five episodes,” she notes. “I share a birthday with Mark Twain and — like him – I believe success in life takes effort, persistence, and a lot of can-do spirit.”
As she honed her podcasting skills and strove to overcome her own depression, members of Portia family passed away. Or, to use the words Portia chooses, transitioned from life.
“My grandmother transitioned in 2018, and my mother and father both transitioned within nine months of each other, in 2022 and 2023,” she recalls. “I knew that I wanted to support others who were grieving. My family couldn’t hold space for my grief. I extend lots of gratitude to my video mentor, Gail Flowers, who introduced me to a therapist who held online support groups.
Here is the link to Part 1 of this series of stories:
https://eyeoncleveland.com/2026/01/06/grief-transitions-support-and-growth/
“I attended every week for about two months. The topics covered were not grief-focused, but they brought comfort and community. Once I concluded my time with the group, I was introduced to an online community called Diamond Beauties Forever,” Portia adds. “The founder, Sanet Van Breda, designed this for women who are heart-centered and are driven to be of service to others. When I had a coffee chat with her, she invited me to host one of her Mrs. Potts Rooms (named after the Disney Character in Beauty and the Beast), weekly.
“My room was called the Fun House, with a focus on giving people a laugh or a moment to catch their breath,” Portia continues. “Many women who came to my Saturday room shared things they wouldn’t share with anyone. I felt honored to hold space for them.”
This online group would eventually pivot to becoming a regular, in-person meeting. Another connection in Cleveland opened a door for Portia to host local grief groups. “I currently run the Parent Loss and Suicide loss group at an agency. Because grief is sacred and people know who I am, I need to keep these details confidential.”
Portia also dealt with her own grief in another way, by publishing a book about it, titled “Finding Grace within Grief: Her Transition…My Transformation.” Here is a link to the audiobook: https://mysoundwise.com/soundcasts/1665929514723s
PODCASTING: Pamphleteering of the 21st century, and Portia is in the Top 10%
January 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of Thomas Paine’s publication of the pamphlet “Common Sense,” a massively-read, 47-page document which galvanized American colonists towards independence from Great Britain.
Podcasts today have emerged as the modern equivalent of 18th-century political pamphlets, serving as a primary medium for cultural, ideological, cultural, political and social discourse. And while newspapers go out of business, television networks lose share of audience, and social media channels become increasingly fragmented, just the opposite is true of podcasts.
The amount of time listeners spend on podcasts has increased 355% in the last 10 years, according to Edison Research. What’s more telling is that 83% of those listening to podcasts describe themselves as fans, and fans spend an average of nearly 9.5 hours a week on podcasts, a number that far exceeds the average time a person spends watching television news or reading on news websites.
“Unlike traditional media formats like radio or television, podcasts provide a flexible, on-demand experience that caters to the busy lifestyles of modern listeners,” writes Laura Minnoka of the University of Maryland. “From educational content to entertainment and investigative journalism, podcasts have become a crucial part of the media ecosystem, enabling diverse voices and niche topics to thrive.”
And, right at the advent of this trend, is “Groove with Portia” and Portia Booker. Without thinking about it, she had pivoted into one of mass communication’s hottest mediums, podcasting.
According to the podcast mega search engine Listen Notes, “Groove with Portia” has score of LS 24 and is in the Top 10 percent in Global Rank. This means that Portia is probably the highest-ranking Black female podcaster around who’s not a singer, movie star, or some other type of celebrity.
“Your audience sees. They listen, watch, subscribe, and recommend your show to others. I’ve had people message me on social media about an episode they listened to. When I receive a message from someone, I take the time to respond. It warms my heart to know that I am making a difference in the world and helping others through this space,” Portia says. “Some people out there ‘buy’ audiences. I’ve never done that. My audience is organic.
“Currently, I’m booked through June 2026, and I’m also responding to 75 or more pitches each day from people who want to be featured on the podcast,” Portia adds. “I also pride myself on making ‘Groove With Portia’ a collaborative effort, researching, and also building connections with some of my guests before we hit record. Some of my greatest lessons or ‘food to fill my empty cup’ happen behind the scenes. Groove with Portia is a conversation. Not a soundbite or news segment. This is what helps me to create a quality show each week.”
Portia uses a simple “What if” approach to her show. “How can people in my audience walk in the shoes of the person and/or situation I’m featuring in the podcast?” she asks. “That is what I want to address with each episode of ‘Groove With Portia.’”
Here are some links to hear/see Portia’s podcasts and to follow:
Apple podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/groove-with-portia/id1548194021
iHeart podcasts: https://www.iheart.com/podcast/269-groove-with-portia-94812342/On
On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/portiabkr/
On Instagram: portiathegriefgrantor
Praise from Clients
Dr. Dawn Airhart Witte is one of the podcasters who employs Portia’s abilities, skills, and insight to improve their own podcast activities. Dr. Witte is founder and director of the Desire to Inspire Foundation, which connects with communities around the world to help break the cycle of extreme poverty. She is also a prominent humanitarian, author, speaker and certified life coach.
“Portia has supported me in countless ways, and makes having a podcast virtually effortless,” Dr. Witte says. “She seamlessly handles everything that follows: editing, show notes, uploading, and creating shorts. Her care, consistency, and excellence allows me to stay fully in my zone of creativity and connection.
“Portia consistently goes the extra mile for me and for all of her clients,” Dr. Witte adds. “She truly knows me and understands the purpose behind my podcast. Everything she does reflects that purpose with care, intention and heart.”
Another client is Lisa Council. A survivor of domestic violence, Council is the founder of S.H.I.F.T or Self Healing Ignites Flourishing Transformation, a non-profit which empowers domestic violence survivors through resources, advocacy and community building
“Portia helped revamp my podcast with her expertise…,” Council says. “She’s also made countless connections for me through introducing me to others in the industry, as well as by sharing SHIFT on her social media channels.”
Council also credits Portia by coaching her through the loss of her sister to domestic violence.
“What sets Portia apart is that she is very authentic, empathetic, caring and very personable. She listens intently, asks questions regarding what’s shared on the show, and she offers hope, inspiration and is encouraging to everyone she meets. Portia is a blessing in my life.”
Links:
eyeoncleveland 