My name is Johana and I am thrilled to be sharing this labor of love with you. 

The idea for this blog did not come about instantaneously. I spent years unsure what my career path should be. I’ve worked in almost every industry there is and I have never been able to say I was passionate about any singular job I’ve held. One thing that always lingered was my interest in human experiences and my love for writing.

I’ve always loathed small talk, which I will say is not helpful when you’re trying to make friends as an adult. I can’t help it! I long for meaningful, soul searching conversation. This, combined with my passion for storytelling through the art of writing is ultimately what made me start this journey. I want to share stories of successful individuals who have paved a path for themselves in their communities and own the space they are in whether that’s as a musician, a politician, an investor, teacher, business owner, etc.

The story of triumph is always fascinating to me, but what I find even more riveting is the story behind the story; how the success came after years wrought with ups and downs and self discovery. A skill is not taught overnight, Rome wasn’t made in a day; it’s painstaking perseverance and it’s a long and winding road. It’s these stories that inspire me, encourage me, and remind me I’m not alone.

Why “Off The Record”? The stories I want to tell aren’t what you will find in your typical interview. It goes behind the curtain; behind the facades. I want to get to the deeper parts of my guests lives and really talk about where they came from, and what made them into the person they are today. It’s the content you’d usually ask about when you stop recording. Hence, the name.

I’m not a trained journalist, just a twenty something with a dream and access to the internet. With all good stories you have to go back to the beginning and luckily for you, mine is just getting started. So, come along with me as I sit down with people from all walks of life and dive into what it means to be successful, to be human, and how to overcome the trials and tribulations of this messy, beautiful thing we call life.