Jasmine Sanders is more than the woman who works down the hallway from Wendy Williams. She is a popular midday host for WBLS radio in New York City and a woman with a plan. The New York media market should be called a meat market, because competition is fierce and only the strongest can rise to the top. Sanders has proven that her move from down South was worth it, as she has earned herself a spot among the most prominent radio show hosts in the city and in the nation.

AOL Black Voices had a chance to catch up with Jasmine.

You started off in the South and made a transition to become a prominent midday radio show host in the number-one market in the country. What was that transition like for you and how did you end up in New York?

People always ask about my transition from Nashville, Tenn., to New York. I have to be honest, it was easy for me. In many ways, I felt as though I had come home. Although I did have to adjust my speed of doing things, whether walking, talking or just my movements in general, my heartbeat was in sync with the city. Now don't get me wrong, I am a true Southern girl at heart, and there are many times I long for my country life. But my journey to New York was destiny. I gave up everything I worked so hard for in Tennessee to travel here to reunite with my birth mother. I had spent many years searching for her and never would have guessed she was living in the Big Apple. All my life, I knew there was something a bit different about me -- my sense of adventure, my brashness at times and my way of thinking. But when I met my birth mother, things couldn't have been more clear. Unfortunately, she passed away within my first year here. It was a bitter-sweet reunion.

What is the most difficult part of surviving in radio? What is the most rewarding part of being successful in radio?

Surviving the many changes that radio is going through right now is the most difficult part of being an on-air personality. People have more options now for entertainment than ever before. My competition is no longer just the radio station across the street, it is ever-changing technology. Add to that the fact that people have the ability to choose another form of entertainment very quickly, making it difficult for a personality to really be a personality. Gone are the days when you could share your life and funny stories and those of others on the air. Today, radio is all about supershort breaks and more music. I love to talk! So I've had to learn to cut back on the chatter and keep it simple and sweet. It's hard for me, but I add a little of my Southern charm with a smile in the mix, and it seems to work out fine for me.

The most rewarding part of what I do is being able to meet so many people from all walks of life. I absolutely love it. The only thing I love more is the platform my position gives me to help others. There is no greater reward for me than being able to share my gift to bless others. It truly is what life is all about.

You also have some experience in the music industry. If you could change some things for people of color in the music business, what would that be?

I don't like the affect the industry has on today's youth. Everyone wants to run from the truth for the sake of making money. But the fact of the matter is some of today's music has a negative impact on our youth. I'm not saying that the fault totally lies on the back of the industry, but I am saying they have the power to make some positive changes. Take a look at the industry and the standards that artists were held to back in the day and compare them to practices in the industry today. I would love to take the industry back to being respectable and a positive force.

You happen to work down the hall from the famous, or infamous, depending on how you see it, Wendy Williams. What is that like?

I love it, and I love Wendy's spirit. Every day brings something new and exciting with her. I think that's the way life was meant to be lived. She has accomplished so much in this business, probably much more than people thought, and I am inspired by her courage, her tenacity and her business savvy.

You worked with the Country Music Channel for a while, which reflects the diversity in your background. What was that like? Are you a big fan of country music?

A little known secret about me is that I am a country music fanatic. I always have been. I was raised on country music, so when I had the opportunity to work at CMT, I was elated. My experience there was amazing. I was one of only a handful, maybe three, African Americans who worked there. I met many of the legends of country music, and I will never forget it or my experiences there.

You do a lot of work in the community. What inspires you? Tell us more about some of the things you do.

I have several projects in which I participate, including mentoring programs, youth outreach and motivational speaking to kids. But my work with young adults in shelters and the foster care system are most important to me. Although I grew up with both parents in the home of a middle-class family, I experienced many hardships. Having overcome so much and being blessed beyond measure, I feel it is a must that I reach back and help young adults who are experiencing the tough side of life. It gives me the greatest joy to turn the life around of someone who was hopeless or to see the light of happiness reignited in the eyes of a young girl or boy.

What projects are you working on now?

I am currently working on a project called JasmineCares. This program is very simple, yet life changing. I go into shelters to give kids ages 17 to 23 a second chance at success. I work with them to map out a plan to bring to life the dreams they once had for their lives. I use every resource I have from my years of experience and contacts to help out, and the kids must put in hard work. What I have found is that the people I contact want to lend a helping hand but don't always have the time to do so. So I make the connection, and the young people do all the work. The results have been nothing short of amazing. Now my goal is to get others in my position to see the power they possess. You don't have to move mountains to change a life -- sometimes all it takes is a phone call. And the reward you get is priceless.

What advice would you give a young person who wants to follow in your footsteps?

This is a tough business and you must keep your wits about you at all times. Keep your eyes on your goal and your mind on what must be done to accomplish it. Never buy into your own hype or the hype of others. We are all the same -- flawed, insecure beings. Everyone is not a friend, but never take it personally. Believe in and support the truth at all costs. Remain strong and positive despite the negativity that will sometimes surround you. Happiness and peace of mind truly is a choice. And above all, always believe, believe, believe in yourself.