This post is part of a series focused on the unique stories of independent workers. We spoke with Stride member Amber Huyghe to learn more about her journey from a full-time radio talkshow host to being her own boss.

Amber, can you start off by telling us a bit about yourself and where you’re from?

I’m originally from St. Clair Shores, Michigan. I’ve always been this free-spirited soul who wanted to get out of my home city and explore the world around me. I’ve lived everywhere from Las Vegas to Vermont to Fort Wayne, Indiana. I ended up finding my way to radio, and I quickly realized that I was actually pretty good at it. I started as an intern and promotions assistant, and then I worked my way up to part-time on air overnight. It’s pretty difficult to become a full-time radio host in Detroit, but I ended up landing a full-time opportunity in Rutland, Vermont. The only thing I knew about Vermont at the time was that they’re known for maple syrup, but I was really excited to explore the East Coast.

It was truly one of the happiest chapters of my life. In addition to being a radio host in Vermont, I was also doing part-time radio in Boston. The hustle has always been in me, but when you’re doing something you’re truly passionate about, it’s like you’re unstoppable.

What type of content were you covering on your show?

It was mostly Top 40, so a lot of it was pop culture. My favorite memory was meeting Snoop Dogg, who was in town for a small impromptu concert. He’s the coolest guy I’ve ever met in my life, and it was one of my favorite memories from my time in Vermont.

I was looking to grow and expand in the radio industry, so I ended up landing a job in Fort Wayne, Indiana. I had the first female-led morning show in the city of Fort Wayne, and I also hosted the midday Top 40 station. I would have major community leaders come on the show, and I’d share positive quotes and advice on how to get your day going. I really wanted to be that best friend that helped you get your day going. After a while though, I started to feel this disconnect from what I was doing, and I was more focused on what was happening in the world, so my career in radio came to an end. 

After my radio career came to an end, I finally made the decision to fulfill a dream I had of moving to Detroit. I made the leap back to Michigan and soon realized how difficult this next chapter would be. Thankfully, there were a lot of opportunities that came my way that allowed me to keep my head above water. 

I was a brand ambassador for a sparkling water company at one point, a bartender, an event planner for festivals, and I worked in the fundraising department for a foster care agency. I also worked for a Detroit female business owner. In the meantime, I launched my own podcast, A Walk Back to Self-Love, to share my journey and the last 10 years of inner-healing work I’ve been doing through all of this. 

As the world started to reopen from the pandemic, I moved back to Fort Wayne to accept an opportunity to work for a civil rights and discrimination agency in the city to fulfill a desire to work for the government. Then I accepted a great opportunity working at a health clinic for Medicare patients. Unfortunately, I only stayed for three months, since the actual job was nothing like what I expected it to be from the interview process.

What happened after you left the health clinic?

I just remember there was a day I looked at my co-workers and said “That’s it, I’m done. I can’t keep doing this to myself, to my resume. I’ve gotta figure out how I can be my own boss and live the life that I really want to live.”  Around that time, I had a friend who suggested DoorDash to me. I looked into it, and the next day I signed up, my background check got approved, and boom—I’m out in the city Dashing. I have never had more joy doing what I do, being my own boss, creating my schedule, and truly helping people by providing a service with delivering for DoorDash.

I remember one delivery, I was in Detroit proper at a funeral home bringing someone dinner because she just lost a loved one. I was able to share that special moment with her and offer my condolences. Another time in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I dropped off an order to someone. As I got back into my car and looked out the window, I saw an old gentleman on a walker walk out of his house to retrieve the bag I left on his doorstep from Walgreens. 

It’s the little things that make me love DoorDash. Yes, it’s so cool that I get to be my own boss and create my own schedule, but I’m also providing a service for people to help accommodate their situation. Whether it’s the older generation, college kids with no car, delivering gifts for loved ones, or moms at home with their kids. I’ve been delivering with DoorDash since April, and I love it. I really, really love it.  

Wow, that is so amazing, thank you for sharing that with me. In addition to helping people in your community, what would you say are some of your other favorite parts about being an independent worker with DoorDash?

I just love being able to create my own schedule. I go back and forth between Michigan and Indiana, and it’s so nice that I don’t have to request time off from someone else. It’s also a great way to explore cities and see different areas. I’ve dashed in Detroit and Metro Detroit, Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, and even Burlington, Vermont when I was there visiting for a week.

What advice do you have for others who are interested in working for themselves?

You have to be your own motivator and you have to love what you do. If you love what you do, the motivation will come naturally and you’ll be committed. 

Do you have any advice for a new Dasher?

I definitely pay attention to what areas are busy. A lot of times, DoorDash will build in incentives, so pay attention to the peak hours and try to maximize your time! 

That’s a great tip! Let’s shift gears here—can you tell us about how you found out about Stride?

It was actually really funny timing. I was having a conversation with my friends about DoorDash, and I told them, “You know, I really love this. I really do. I have freedom, I’m doing well with money, and I’m my own boss...but I don’t have health care.” People can be pretty crazy on the road, and, God forbid something were to happen to me, I’d like to know that I have a safety net with my health care. I was really going back and forth—do I stay with DoorDash, or do I go back to searching for a nine-to-five job on Indeed just so I can have health insurance?

I’m a very spiritual person, and the universe provided me with an answer. Literally around that time, I received an email from DoorDash telling me that I’d be able to sign up for a health insurance plan through Stride. I went to Stride’s site, and it literally took me not even 20 minutes to go through the entire process from start to finish. I plugged in all of my information, and next thing you know, I was paying under $50 a month for health insurance instead of $400 a month. 

Right after I enrolled, I called my cousin and said, “I’ve hit a goldmine—I have healthcare now, and it only took me 20 minutes.” This in itself gave me the validation that I was on the right path and that I could keep delivering with DoorDash. I felt like it was my saving grace moment, and I remember thinking, “Thank you, Stride.” I was also able to get affordable dental insurance through Stride, and now I’m getting emails about other benefits Stride offers, like life insurance, roadside assistance, and savings on gas. Stride is ahead of the game and is really helping independent workers through these offerings. 

Amber, thank you so much for sharing your story and experience with us and for your time. Is there anything else you’d like to share with us?

If you whole-heartedly believe in what you do—if it fulfills your own personal goals, and it brings you peace—then keep doing it. Keep striving for more and follow what makes you happy. As long as you can support yourself financially, trust in yourself and not what others may say you should do. We are here for a limited time in this experience, so create your life in a way that feels good to you.

Thanks for sharing your story with the Stride community, Amber! You can follow Amber on her Instagram, and you can listen to her podcast on Apple and Spotify.