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10 Questions with ... Evelyn Erives
November 18, 2014
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I got my start in broadcasting at 16 years old on a Southern Cali cable access show called Campus Days, then made my way over to the Academy of Radio & Television in Huntington Beach, right after high school. I was the overnight producer for Doug McIntyre's "Red Eye Radio" at KABC while, by day, working for Radio Disney in the promotions department. From there, I transferred to the Radio Disney-Riverside affiliate, closer to home for me and also in the same building as 99.1 KGGI! A few months later I was brought on as the morning show producer and just a few months later named co-host of "Jeff & Evelyn in the Morning" and was lucky to have a great 11-year run. In the summer of 2013 I began new chapter in my morning show career at 99.1 as the co-host of the morning show with John Magic and Diana Wehbe, the "IE's Morning Show".
1. What got you into radio?
My love for not wearing make-up! Ok, not really. I had always been told I had a unique speaking voice growing up and that I really ought to be on the radio. After I was asked to take part in the cable show "Campus Daze" I found that I really did love hosting and interacting with the community. So... how could I host a show without make-up?? Radio!
2. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a Dolphin Trainer at Sea World. I love the ocean, animals and Sea World, of course. But when I was 18, I got a part-time job at a veterinarian's office and quickly found out that working with animals and Evelyn don't mix. Plan B, it is!
3. You've gone from intern to morning show co-host at KGGI. When you were an intern, was the morning show something you saw yourself doing?
My intern time was so short-lived I never had the chance to really think about that. As I became the producer of the show, I quickly understood and had a tremendous amount of respect for what it took to be apart of a morning show team. With growing respect came passion for wanting to be more valuable to the show and on the show.
4. A good chunk of your adult life has been played out on the air at KGGI. I'm thinking...dating...marriage...kids, etc. What secrets don't we know?
Honestly, nothing. I am an open book. When you spend your entire 20's on a show, everything (like it or not) gets brought up and is 'used' as a topic or phone starter. Our family of listeners have been my free therapists! It's as if I've been on this sort of radio reality show for a very long time... AND before it was cool to have one!
5. You and your husband are deeply involved in area charities. What brought that about?
Family. My parents had my little brother and I involved with a few charities growing up and that stuff sticks with you. Learning about the bigger world that doesn't revolve around only you is so very important. So, in 2010 when my husband and I were approached by a friend, who had lost her father to Leukemia, to take part in a fundraising competition for The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society called "Man & Woman of the Year", we couldn't say "no." We had two kiddos by then and thought it was a good time to start showing our older daughter (6 years-old at the time) how we could help make a difference in the lives of others. By the way, we won and the very next day I found out I was pregnant with baby number 3. Just another way my husband and I could help create more volunteers for LLS. (If I may boast... My husband and I were the 2012 Volunteers of the Year and I currently serve on the Board of Trustees for the LLS Orange County/Inland Empire chapter. We just can't get enough.)
6. Who is your secret, celebrity crush? What about your morning co-host, John Magic? You haven't worked together that long but who is his celebrity crush?
Secret crush? No such thing. I'm very open about my love for Channing Tatum, Adam Levine and Robin Thicke. Although, Robin and I have to have a serious talk about what happened between he and Miley Cyrus at the MTV VMAs. Tisk, Tisk.
John Magic has "a thing" for Alicia Keys. Although, I suspect there are others I will learn about as time goes by...
7. You're young but is there anything that stands out on your bucket list?
YES! Traveling the world! Maybe it's because Pinterest reminds me daily, but Bali is a place I feel like I must see before I kick the bucket.
8. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Did I mention I have 3 kids? Ok, occasionally I do get a moment to myself and when that happens I really enjoy painting and crafting, reading and catching up on my DVR.
9. If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?
You know, I'm really loving that new show "Hollywood Game Night" right now. I would love to be on that game show. It looks like so much fun!
10. We're quickly approaching the holidays and the end of the year. Looking ahead to 2015, would what you like to be better at as a morning co-host and what would you like to be better at as a wife and mom?
I'm always working on ways to improve as an on-air talent as a whole, which obviously plays into my co-hosting skills. So, I would say some of the things I'm constantly working on are effectively editing my thoughts (Madonna said it best, "we are living in a PPM world, and I am a PPM girl." That was it, right?), writing compelling teases (you know, the kind that force people to stay in their cars. Then, paying them off with the story so they aren't mad at me for receiving the evil eye from their boss when they walk in to the office late), and finally, being the best listener I can be. Half my job is being quick with wit and reaction and I can't do that if I'm not listening to my partners first.
As for the whole wife and mom thing, BALANCE. Juggling isn't easy, but motherhood has taught me a lot about what is most important. That's why I hope that 2015 will bring us even more family time. This includes, but is not limited to snuggle time, mommy/daughter time, mommy/son time, mommy/daddy time (wink, wink), campouts, exploring, jumping on hotel beds, cleaning up messes made by acting silly, and 5 people squeezing onto ONE CROWDED COUCH. Family first, all day, everyday.
Bonus Questions
Beer and pizza or sushi and sake?
Sushi and Sake! (less filling)
Best thing about living and working in the I.E.?
The people. We really have every type of person here in the I.E. Culturally diverse, family-minded, GOOD people. A close second would be the location. I live in Corona, CA right now and on any given day I'm 30 minutes to the beach, 45 minutes to the mountains for snow boarding, an hour to LA and 3 hours to Vegas! How cool is that?!
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