Scott Hays has taken on various roles throughout his lifetime and garnered invaluable knowledge in numerous fields. He has been at times, a writer, an editor, a college professor, a media consultant, and an executive producer. Taking advantage of this varied experience, Scott, a lifelong Southern Californian, continues to leave his mark on the world, bringing sincerity and intelligence to all he does.
At the moment, Scott is co-producer for PBS SoCal’s public affairs show, “Inside OC” with Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Rick Reiff. Through interviews with Orange County leaders and panels featuring some of the county’s influential journalists and politicians, “Inside OC” gives an in-depth look at the fabric of Orange County. It also serves as a showcase for Scott’s unique ability to bring interesting content to the public. Guests have included Chapman University President Jim Doti, State Senator John Moorlach, U.S. Representative Loretta Sanchez, former Allergan CEO David Pyott, “Real Housewives” creator Scott Dunlop, OC United Way CEO Max Gardner, UCI Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky, and Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Gary Johnson.
Scott’s two Master’s degrees — in English Literature from the University of California, Irvine, and in Communication from Cal State Fullerton — are emblematic of his longtime dedication to expanding his own knowledge of the world around him and increasing his ability to contribute to it in a meaningful way. Consistently looking forward, always ready for the next opportunity, and willing to take chances, Scott continues to produce ideas and bring them successfully to life.
A freelance writer since the age of 21, Hays’ body of work spans a veritable cornucopia of writing genres from children’s books to magazine articles on men’s health and travel, to business-to-business features. His most recent publications include Wheelchair Training (2012) with Steve Ramsbottom, owner of Performance Institute in Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada; Pure Hard Workout, Gotham Books (2008), and Built for Sex, Rodale Press (2006), which recently was translated and released in Jakarta, Indonesia. He has also contributed numerous feature articles and cover stories for TV Guide, The Los Angeles Times, Men’s Health, Vista Magazine, Men’s Fitness, and Ad Age.
Making use of his own experiences, Scott has spent more than a dozen years influencing the next generation of writers and editors in California’s colleges. An engaging and knowledgeable professor, Scott has taught a variety of classes, including Composition, Critical Thinking, Feature Writing, Digital Writing & E-publication, and Literary Journalism. He has been an instructor at Santiago Canyon College, UC Irvine, Saddleback College, Orange Coast College, and Irvine Valley College.
Combining his love of music with a genuine concern for the people around him, Scott has been involved in numerous non-profit endeavors and continues to do work that benefits others. In 2007, Scott founded WeedPatch Productions as a way to merge music and charity. The company’s name is a reference to Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath, specifically, the government-run camp where the novel’s characters find fellowship. Weedpatch’s first project, a CD titled Shelter Me, was produced in 2008. It featured 13 songs, written by local musicians, and benefitted the Friendship Shelter in Laguna Beach and San Clemente, California, and raised awareness for the homeless.
In 2010, Scott was the executive producer for a WeedPatch music-documentary called Home Again, which benefitted HomeAid, a nationwide charity that builds homes for women and children transitioning out of homelessness. With Scott in the role of executive producer again, WeedPatch released a short documentary celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Friendship Shelter in 2013. Most recently, Scott played a central part in organizing “A Song for Alzheimer’s,” a song-writing contest, to raise awareness for Alzheimer’s and support for the families impacted by the disease.
Beginning in 2013 with The Friendship Show, which aired on Laguna Beach, California’s KX 93.5 FM, Scott has worked as a host and a producer for both radio and television. In 2014, Scott began his work co-hosting and co-producing Radio Caravan, which aired as a radio show as well as a cable TV show. In 2015, the show’s name was changed to OC Caravan. Although OC Caravan no longer airs on the radio, Scott continues to co-host the TV show. In this format, Scott has conducted interviews with such noteworthy persons as Dateline NBC correspondent Keith Morrison, New York Times Bestseller T. Jefferson Parker, and Grammy Award-winner Macy Gray.
Over a span of more than 20 years, Scott has also worked extensively as a media consultant, contributing his insight to brands like GNC and Samsung. In the roles of editor and media consultant, Scott worked for Digitrends Magazine, an award-winning quarterly magazine on interactive marketing, and iMedia Communications, which coordinates publications and conferences for the interactive media and marketing industries. Scott has experience launching websites, managing marketing strategies and advertising, and developing online content, as well as moderating panel discussions and developing content for industry conferences.
