Holley Snaith

So nice to meet you! To start, could you please share your name and tell our readers a little about yourself, including where you’re originally from and where you’re based now?

Thank you so much. It is nice to speak with you! My name is Holley Snaith, and I am originally from the Florida Panhandle. I am a proud graduate of the University of Florida, where I earned my degree in History. Over the years, I have been fortunate to work at the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library, Eleanor Roosevelt’s home at Val-Kill, and the Richard Nixon Foundation. Each of those experiences helped shape my work and perspective as a historian.

Today, I am based in the Coachella Valley in Southern California and work as a historian, writer, editor, and podcast host. I previously lived in Nashville and continue to return there for research, including work on a book I am currently writing. At the heart of everything I do is a love of researching the past and finding engaging and meaningful ways to share those stories with others.

Tell us one thing you love about where you live now.

Almost every day is filled with sunshine, with palm trees and mountains creating a picture-perfect backdrop. It is a beautiful place to live and a wonderful environment for creativity. As a historian, I also love being surrounded by the Coachella Valley’s remarkable history. From Sunnylands to the stories of people such as Frank Sinatra, Lucille Ball, Ginger Rogers, Dean Martin, Gerald Ford, and Bob Hope, there is history everywhere you look. I love knowing that so many fascinating people and stories have been connected to this area.

I also have to admit that the traffic is much easier than it was in Nashville, although that city will always be special to me in its own way. In many respects, the Coachella Valley truly does feel like paradise.

Tell us a little more about what you do and how it started. How does it help the people you reach?

My path has been a little different from that of a traditional business owner. I became fascinated with Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt while I was in high school, and that interest eventually led to an internship at FDR’s Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia. From there, I went to Hyde Park, New York, where I had the opportunity to work in archives, museums, and public history, including on a major restoration project.

Over time, I branched out into nonprofit and historical organizations, including the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at Val-Kill and later the Richard Nixon Foundation. Those experiences gave me a strong foundation in research, preservation, and communicating history to the public. As my career developed, my work expanded into several areas of particular interest, including twentieth-century political history, Hollywood history, and country music history.

Eventually, I began working independently as a writer and editor, contributing historical articles, editing books and manuscripts, and creating and hosting my podcast, Say It With History. Each of those projects has allowed me to approach historical storytelling from a different perspective and reach audiences in different ways.

For me, the purpose behind all of this work is sharing history in a way that people can connect with. I hope readers and listeners come away having learned something they did not know before, but I also hope they find some inspiration in the people and stories I explore. History has certainly inspired me throughout my life, and I hope my work can pass some of that along to others.

Most recently, that path has led to one of my longtime goals: I am now under contract to write a book. In many ways, my career has grown organically from the fascination with history I first developed as a teenager, while continuing to evolve in directions I never could have anticipated when I started.

If someone wants to start a business, what advice would you give them?

I am not a traditional business owner, but I have learned a great deal from carving my own path. Some of the best opportunities I have had came from being willing to take a chance, step outside my comfort zone, and simply ask. Reach out to someone whose work you admire, introduce yourself, ask for advice, or pursue an opportunity even if you are not sure where it will lead.

I have also learned not to be afraid to ask for help. Very few people build a career entirely on their own, and there is tremendous value in learning from people who have more experience than you do. Be willing to listen, keep learning, and take the occasional risk. Sometimes one conversation or one email can open a door you never expected.

What is one piece of feedback from a happy customer or client that you won't forget?

It is difficult to choose just one. I have had the great fortune of receiving kind words about my work from members of the Roosevelt family, as well as family members and friends of figures such as Loretta Lynn, Pat and Richard Nixon, director George Stevens, and so many others.

For me, the most meaningful feedback comes when I write about someone from history and a family member or friend tells me that I captured something important about that person, helped keep their legacy alive, or brought greater understanding to a story that may have been misunderstood over the years. As a historian and writer, I cannot think of a greater compliment.

Where do you see your company in the future?

I hope my career continues to grow while still allowing me to do the work I love. One of my longtime dreams has been to write a book, so I am especially excited to now be under contract and working on a project related to country music history.

Beyond the book, I hope to continue exploring history through podcasting and would love to someday contribute to a documentary on a subject I have researched. I would also like to write a children’s book. I previously served on the board of a Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library affiliate in Middle Tennessee, so childhood literacy is especially meaningful to me. I loved reading as a child, and I would love to help inspire that same curiosity and imagination in young readers.

Closer to home, I also hope to explore and share more of the history of the Coachella Valley. There are so many stories here waiting to be told, and I would love for that to become another part of my work in the years ahead.

What is the biggest misconception about your industry?

One of the biggest misconceptions is that if you study history, your career choices are limited to becoming a professor or working in education. In reality, there are so many different ways to build a career around history. You can work in museums and archives, preservation, nonprofits, writing, media, publishing, research, and many other fields.

Ultimately, you can create a path that fits your interests and strengths, but sometimes that requires having the courage to branch out, take chances, and pursue opportunities that may go against the traditional path.

What has been one of your biggest struggles building your business, and how did you deal with it?

One of the biggest challenges of building an independent career is learning to accept the natural ebb and flow of opportunities. There are times when I feel overwhelmed with projects and possibilities, and then there are quieter periods when it seems like very little is happening. I have learned that neither one lasts forever.

It also teaches you to keep your ego in check. You cannot let a particularly exciting opportunity make you feel as though you have arrived, just as you cannot let a rejection or a quiet period make you question everything you have accomplished. I try to stay focused on the work, remain open to what comes next, and remember that building a meaningful, lasting career takes time.

What was your favorite music artist and athlete growing up?

My first favorite music artist was, hands down, Tammy Wynette, and she is still at the top of my list. There was such power and emotion in her voice, much of it informed by a life that had its share of both triumphs and hardships. I have always been an old soul, and I am proud of that.

I honestly do not remember having a favorite athlete growing up, but I come from a baseball family and have long admired Hank Aaron. I had the great fortune of seeing him in person before he passed away when he was honored by the Barbara Sinatra Children’s Center. What struck me was what a class act he was. He endured so much during his career and life, yet he spoke with tremendous gratitude and used his success to make a difference for future generations through his philanthropic work. That left a lasting impression on me.

Any shoutouts you want to make?

There are honestly too many people to name. I have been incredibly fortunate to have mentors, colleagues, friends, and others who have encouraged me, shared their knowledge, opened doors, or simply believed in what I was doing. I have tried my best to thank those people personally and let them know how much their support has meant to me.

I feel very blessed by the generosity I have received throughout my career, and I hope I can continue to pay that forward by encouraging and helping others along their own paths.

Where can our readers learn more about you and your company?

You can learn more about my writing, research, and podcast Say It With History at www.holleysnaith.com, and you can also connect with me, Holley Snaith, on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Bluesky.