Senior entertainment writer Kelley L. Carter originally joined Andscape to work on an “exact project” like The Trade documentary conversation series.
After more than 25 years of red-carpet interviews, writing articles, and hosting a digital series, Carter adds executive producer to her award-winning portfolio. The Trade with Kelley L. Carter was also produced by Samir Hernandez, of GTG Studios, and former NFL linebacker Spencer Paysinger.
The 10-part eponymous series, available on the ESPN App for ESPN Unlimited subscribers and ESPN on Disney+ for bundle subscribers, debuted on July 29 with Flau’jae Johnson revealing how she manages a WNBA and music career. The following week, actor and WWE Superstar John Cena described a fluency and passion for freestyle rap lyrics before retiring from wrestling.
Carter answered some questions before Episode 6’s debut Wednesday, Sept. 23, featuring an interview with former WNBA star and current team co-owner Renee Montgomery.
What pushes you in this industry?
I think what keeps me hungry is just the fact that I’m still such a sponge. I said I’m going to stop doing this when it stops being fun, and it never stopped being fun. I mean, there have been trials and tribulations, but the fun for me is in the discovery of how to tell stories and how to be better at doing that.
How did this show come about?
We started to see more athletes in Hollywood. They were figuring out what their next chapter was while they were still superior athletes, and that is where this idea was born. I’m just so happy that I’m able to tell these stories now.
Did you have a favorite conversation in the series?
I think one that really stands out to me was with Flau’jae Johnson because I didn’t know a lot about her before the show and I was so inspired by her.
Collaborating with Spencer Paysinger and Kelley L. Carter on The Trade has been an incredible experience from Day 1. Kelley is a master interviewer operating at the peak of her craft, while Spencer brings a sharp, visual directorial eye that elevates every single conversation.
— Samir Hernandez, co-producer
What are you excited for people to see going forward?
It’s great that the conversations are connecting and it’s doing the thing that I was hoping it was going to do, which was opening up both athletes and entertainers into talking about things they have normally never been asked questions about before. That was pretty good to me because it makes me feel like my voice is needed, but also my vision is welcomed.
Morgan Traylor is a junior mass communication/general broadcast major at Norfolk State University and a Rhoden Fellow
