allan's mom...
I met Allan's mom 16 years ago when she was a high school sophomore in my Mass Media class at Franklin Central High School in Indianapolis, Indiana.
The following semester, Allan's mom would become a staff member of the school's educational broadcast facility, WRFT-FM , as well as FCTV, the school's in-house television connection. By the end of her senior year in college, she would be talented enough to be seated at the news anchor desk of many commercial television stations.
Allan's mom is also known as Kayla Marie Sullivan.
HUH? What's up with that?
Lights, camera, action! are part of Kayla's DNA. Her high school stage career included the part of, Reno Sweeney, in the musical, Anything Goes, and, Mrs. Peacock in Clue.
Awards that speak of her talent and ability have followed Kayla throughout her high school, college, and, professional career. Her senior year, she was judged to be the Best High School Television News Anchor in the state by the Indiana Association of School Broadcasters.
She went on to receive numerous awards in college throughout her four years at the University of Indianapolis.
Kayla said her proudest college moment came when she won the Society for Professional Journalists (SPJ) award in 2015.
Last May, Miss Sullivan was awarded the 2023 Distinguished Young UIndy Alumni Award.
Today, Kayla is Social Media Content Provider for WISH-TV in Indianapolis and she also serves as a host.
In addition to her three day-a-week work demands, Kayla has become a star in the world of social media.
Kayla Sullivan is what is known as a social media influencer.
According to Influencer Marketing Hub.com, the definition of social media influencer is: a person who has the power to affect the purchasing decisions of others because of his or her authority, knowledge, position, or relationship with his or her audience.
That is pretty heady stuff.
Even more thrilling than going live on the scene of breaking news, Kayla confided. I never thought I'd find something I love more and I'm very honored to be trusted with this role.
Kayla and I met last February for lunch in Indianapolis and caught up with each other's comings and goings over the past few years.
I left college and went to West Lafayette. I had signed a contract with the CBS television affiliate, she explained. I started out as a reporter and worked up to their main 5 and 6 o'clock anchor. I spent four years there and loved every minute.
You weren't exactly handed the keys to the palace when you were first hired.
No, I started at the bottom and earned my promotion, she exclaimed. I am glad it worked out that way and I never want to lose the feeling of joy I had when I was promoted.
I have always thought starting a broadcast career in a small town as a lot of fun and a great experience. People know who you are and they watch their local TV station and listen to local radio.
They do, she agreed. The first time I was noticed by a viewer was in the community, so, that was special. It happened at a grocery store. I was always buying something embarrassing when someone would come up to me . I think that time, I was buying wine or something. Someone came up to me and said, Oh, rough day at work, huh?
What is a memorable news story that has stayed with you from those days?
One of the most impactful stories that will never leave me is the double murder of Libby and Abby in Delphi, Indiana, she said somberly. I talked to the parents and grandparents involved. I did everything I was trained to do, but, it was tough. You feel the impact of two little girls murdered.
(On February 14, 2017, the bodies of Abigail Williams, 13, and Liberty German, 14, were discovered near the Monon High Bridge Trail, part of the Delphi Historic Trails in Delphi, Indiana, after the girls had disappeared from that trail the previous day. The case has not been solved.)
Your personal status changed dramatically just two short years later.
It did. I became a mom in 2019, she smiled. My son, Allan, was born.
And, he is the subject of your successful videos. We will get back to that in a minute, but, first, you knew for a long time that you wanted a television career didn't you.
I had always dreamed of being a TV news reporter in Indianapolis, she admitted. I applied at Fox 59 and became their political reporter. I was at the state house and worked really hard, It was tough as a single mom because when I was being a good mom, I didn't feel I was being a good reporter and vice versa.
Did you hang out with the governor and other politicos?
I didn't hang out with them, she laughed. But, I did go to his press conferences every day. This was during the pandemic and a magazine interviewed me about covering events during the pandemic.
But, you left your dream and went west.
It was because I felt the way I did about my son I left Fox and took a PR job in Oklahoma working for the Oklahoma State House, she offered.
Tell me about your videos with Allan. What is the focus?
I report on my son, parenting, everyday experiences, she beamed. With my background, I know how to write news reports on just about anything. I've even written a story about pizza!
Were you in Oklahoma when you started posting videos?
Yes, Kayla said. I was bored and started posting satirical news reports on Tik Tok, Instagram, and, Facebook.
How many people follow Allan's exploits?
I have over 1.2 million followers on Tik Tok and over 700,000 on Instagram. Facebook is less, she estimated.
And, that has translated to big money.
This brand I've created has allowed me to make more money than I ever imagined, she allowed, and, it has enabled me to really explore my creativity.
So, you moved back to Indy. Did your online videos open Door Number One, the one labeled, Television?
It did, she acknowledged. I started a kid segment for WISH-TV called, Kid-ing with Kayla. I recreate the content on social media. I missed being on TV and I'm glad WISH gave me the opportunity. Television has been a dream since fourth grade.
Do you have a feeling that you have done something special?
Absolutely, she proclaimed. I have created some kind of digital baby book since he was two years old. When you go over my stories, you see every stage Allan has gone through. I have it on camera when he fought me about brushing his teeth and when he wanted to be Spiderman. Every parent can relate. I wanted to raise my son with a sense of community and we have that.
Your videos are going full steam and then brands started contacting you? Is that what happened?
Yes, she confirmed. I got comments from followers and they were so supportive. That was important because brands started reaching out to me once I got a certain number of followers. Then, I started writing creative scripts for brands and that was a cool opportunity for someone who loves creative writing.
So, you are writing and producing videos and writing creative commercials for top brands. Who are some of the brands?
Oh, let's see, DiGiorno Pizza, Amazon, Tonka Trucks, Nuggets, she ticked off. Just so many brands have reached out and it has been so exciting. They contact me and ask me to write and produce a creative video with their product and send it to them. I do that and if they like my work, they pay me to include the video. I love creative writing. I want people to feel like they do when they watch a Super Bowl commercial and that is that they have been entertained.
What is in your future five or 10 years from now?
I am interested in writing a book or sitcom, she said thoughtfully. Challenging myself creatively, those avenues make sense for me. I'd like to tell a story, but, in a different way. I never saw this coming. I wanted TV from an early age, but, I never knew this would happen.
You have to have some sense of gratification.
I feel like I am living my dream. I wake up every day and I am so grateful, she declared.
Any advice for the next generation?
I think people understand they can take risks if something is not working for them, she expressed. When I left news, I never expected great things to happen, but, it did. I didn't expect to have a child or some of the situations in my life, but, I feel I made the best of every situation. I hope anyone reading this can make the most of the unexpected and positives can be gained from the unknown. You can accomplish what you want to do as long as you have faith and put in the work. Do that and you could end up living the dream.
Kayla, I hope you have continued success.
Thank you, Mr. George, and thanks for lunch.
Coming up: a conversation with a motorcycle outlaw turned evangelist; another oddities, observations, & ?'s; a dinner with the George Brothers, and; the second of a three-part series on legacies.
And, finally. I have often thought of writing a book about the outstanding students I encountered in my 17 year teaching career. It was a short period of time compared to others, but, the experience of being surrounded by smart, creative and talented teenagers on a daily basis was exhilarating.
The Radio/TV program was uncommon in its place within the school culture and possessed its own attitude. Almost all of the students who entertained on Flash FM were motivated leaders and, exemplary role models.
Kayla Sullivan was one of them.
I am forever indebted to each student who passed through my doorway for the memories that mean so much to me today.
HUH? What's up with that?
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