The Power of Passion: C.J. Harvey’s Journey to Promoting West Virginia

During this podcast interview, I asked C.J. about his hustle, and he explained that his main goal is to shine a positive light on West Virginia as much as possible. He has been doing this through his professional career and day-to-day life, as well as through his work with Mountaineer Media, a podcast and media production company that he co-founded with Cooper Simmerman and Mason Jack.

C.J. and I have a similar background in TV production, with him previously working as a sports reporter at WCHS-TV in Charleston. However, back in September 2022, he decided to make a change and take a role in state government as the press secretary to Governor Jim Justice. This was a significant transformation for C.J., and it was interesting to hear him talk about the differences between being in front of the camera as a reporter and behind the scenes in politics.

Despite the challenges of working in politics, C.J. has continued to focus on his passion for promoting West Virginia through his work with Mountaineer Media. The company is approaching its third anniversary, and C.J. is proud of what they have accomplished so far. They launched their social media pages in mid-May 2020, and their first podcast episode was released on June 20th of that year.

Throughout the years, I have collaborated with C.J. and Mountaineer Media, and I have seen the company grow and evolve. C.J., Cooper and Mason have done an excellent job of providing a platform for West Virginians to share their stories and highlight the beauty of the state. I am grateful for the opportunity to work with them and support their mission.

C.J. Harvey’s transformation (and continuing evolution) is an inspiring story of taking risks and pursuing your passions. He has shown that it is possible to make significant changes in your career while staying true to your values and goals. I look forward to seeing what C.J. and Mountaineer Media will accomplish in the future and will continue to support their efforts to promote West Virginia.