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Charese Fruge’ (@MCMediaonline) Talks To Sam Given
June 28, 2022
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Sam Given is the new Technical Producer for The Roula and Ryan Show on 104.1 KRBE/Houston. She also hosts 10a to 12 noon on the station. She’s originally from Harrisburg, PA and moved to Houston in 2016. It’s been a short, but impressive run so far for Sam to have gotten where she is today. “I got into promotions and then worked my way up to learning how to board op on sports stations,” she says. “I was even able to do traffic reports for a 6-station cluster which allowed me to meet the on-air talent. To keep my foot in the door I worked as a sales assistant, and then I finally got to co-host afternoons. Within a few months I finally got my first full-time on-air position in 2019 at KRBE on The Roula and Ryan Show.”
She’s the “Technical Producer” for Roula and Ryan, but according to Sam, she wears many hats. “I do a lot more than just run the board,” she explains. “Behind the scenes I do things like editing content for podcasts and bringing ideas to the show. I am also a voice on the show and contribute a young fresh carefree vibe. As the newest member of the show, and to Houston, there are lots of things for me to explore that help me connect with our listeners. And starting at the beginning of this year (2022) I began hosting my own show, from 10a to noon. I love being able to work with a team and then being able to connect with our listeners one on one.”
“I always wanted to be in radio or television and took any opportunity to get my foot in the door,” says Sam. “Growing up my Pop Pop always joked that my mouth went as fast as a duck's behind. I loved doing the morning announcements growing up in school and being the center of attention, so this career seemed like a no brainer to me.”
While Sam is still new to the business, she has seen her share of challenges. “I know it might sound silly because I'm done with work around 12:30pm, but work/life balance is something I have had challenges with,” she says. “I was working every weekend for 2 years and having your family live out of town makes it really hard and can be quite lonely. Also waking up so early was a big adjustment for me. The best way I handled it was just keeping in mind, I'm finally working a job that I love.”
“I started working at KRBE on The Roula and Ryan Show only 5 months before Covid required them to broadcast from home,” Sam explains. “I was the only jock allowed in the building and that was a huge adjustment! It was a lot of pressure to make sure our station ran smoothly, but in the end, I think this taught me I can handle anything. The best part of the Covid restrictions being lifted was being in the studio with everyone again and feeding off their energy.”
“I am so thankful for my show for teaching me so much,” says Sam. “I have learned so much from Roula, Ryan, Producer Eric, and Special K. We all have different backgrounds and personalities, but we click. We laugh every single day and it's the best feeling to have such a tight radio family. I am also so blessed to have a Program Director like Leslie Whittle, who is a ‘Boss Babe’ and amazing mentor to help me navigate my career. The whole team at KRBE really makes you feel like family.”
“Before moving to Houston, I lived in Miami for two years and was a personal assistant for a celebrity and worked as a nanny for a golden retriever. Yes, a dog,” says Sam. “I am a crazy dog mom. I joke that I won't go anywhere if it's not dog friendly, but my real friends know I'm being serious. I love exploring Houston with my husband and dog and trying out all the local craft beer. And with all that craft beer, I have to work it off, so the gym is my therapy. I also love DYI projects. They do not always turn out good but it's one of my favorite hobbies.”
What keeps Sam up at night? “Not being good enough. Getting stuck in a position where I have already reached the top. I want to make sure that I can provide for my family and that I'm constantly growing as a person,” she says. “Right now, I'm just trying to learn as much as I can in this industry to grow my brand. This year I am really excited about developing my midday show. And I am working on a new segment ‘Sam's Spotlight,’ highlighting what's going on in the world: what is important to me or fun news that's trending.”
“My Instagram name is ‘Slamgiven,’ and I joked I was a crazy dog mom, but I have an Instagram for my dog. She used to have over thousands of followers before Instagram deleted her account. Go give her follow @Mistypantsaussie."
Sam Given will also be participating in the “Talent to Watch” panel at this year’s Morning Show Boot Camp in Chicago on Friday August 19th. Click here for all the details: morningshowbootcamp.com
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