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10 Questions with ... Alyssa Rose Haberman
April 16, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. My show is a really good mix of lifestyle content, San Diego happenings and music news. It's honestly just me talking the same way that I talk to my friends, and that's how I hope people feel when they listen to me -- like they're just having a conversation with a friend. I'm definitely able to be more authentically myself in the alternative format. I'm a really sarcastic person and my humor tends to lean toward snarky
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Black Squirrel Radio (college) 2011-2015, WDJQ (Top 40) 2015-2016, and KBZT 2016-Present
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
I went to school for broadcast news at Kent State University and I chose that major with the intent to do TV. But then, I got my nose pierced the summer before college and didn't want to take out my hoop. So I came to the very quick realization that radio was more my vibe by the third week of college, and it's been love ever since.
2. Your passion is alternative music. In 2016 you made a big move from nights at Top 40 WDJQ/Canton, OH to middays at Alternative KBZT/San Diego. How did that happen?
Honestly, I found the job posting on All Access! I remember so specifically that the posting said something about, "do you like drinking craft beer and being tan?" and I was like, "...well yeah, duh" and applied! I've always loved alternative music, so this was literally my dream job posting. I applied blindly, kind of assuming I wouldn't hear back...but then I did! I screamed out of excitement a LOT when I got the job.
3. How would you describe your midday show and how much has your on-air style changed moving from Top 40 to ALT 94.9?
My show is a really good mix of lifestyle content, San Diego happenings and music news. It's honestly just me talking the same way that I talk to my friends, and that's how I hope people feel when they listen to me -- like they're just having a conversation with a friend. I'm definitely able to be more authentically myself in the alternative format. I'm a really sarcastic person and my humor tends to lean toward snarky. In Top 40, I was still myself...but in a more bubblegum kind of way. But in alternative, I don't try to be anything or anyone except me, which makes things way more fun.
4. You recently added Music Director duties at ALT 94.9. Tell us about your new responsibilities and your new music discovery.
I did! In addition to my show, I'm now scheduling music daily, compiling info to send out in weekly New Music Discovery newsletters and of course...listening to LOTS of new music. I put together a New Music Discovery show every Sunday night that is just an hour of nothing but new music! It's super fun and perfect for finding new jams to put on repeat and discovering new bands before your friends do.
5. Tell us about Alyssa Explains It All Podcasts.
This is actually a daily segment I run and it's one of my favorites. It just gives me a second to sound-off and give my hot-take on something. From the fact that I think mercury being in retrograde means literally nothing, to why women are better wingmen than men and why pineapple is actually the best pizza topping (don't @ me).
6. How do you use social media?
I've grown up with social media being such a huge part of my everyday life that I still use it pretty normally. I've had a phone glued to my hand since I was 9 and I'm scrolling on social media constantly. Twitter is probably my favorite because it's just so entertaining and a MESS all the time. But I love it.
7. What is a typical workday like for you?
Well, I'm on the air from 9am-3pm, Monday thru Friday. Most of that time is spent contesting and lurking on the internet to see what's going on in the world. I usually start show prep the day before and then spend my first 30 minutes doing more show prep and incorporating what happened since yesterday into the show. After I'm off the air, I usually will hang out and schedule some music or go through some of the heaps of new music we get sent daily just to make sure nothing is falling under my radar.
8. What is your favorite part of your job?
I LOVE getting to talk to people. Whether it's listeners on the phone or out at events -- I just love hearing people's stories and learning more about them. I'm also a big fan of our Coachella broadcasts too. We set up shop in the desert every year and I do a ton of artist interviews. We always work our butts off, but we have a blast and the content we create always ends up being something I'm really, really proud of.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Snacks. I snack literally all day -- its borderline problematic. Snack queen over here.
10. What would surprise people most about you?
I just started eating avocados this year. I know, I'm a trash millennial. Everyone has been on the avocado train for like...forever...but I just generally don't like green foods. It's super weird, but it's been a thing since I was seriously like an infant. Not to worry though -- I'm on the avocado and guac train now. Better late than never. I just wish it was a different color.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
I'm either SUPER busy going to shows or Gulls games or Padres games or entertaining visitors or traveling somewhere myself...or doing absolutely nothing at all. There's literally no in between haha.
What are your hobbies?
Does hanging out with my cat count? She has one nostril and wheezes a lot. Her name is Pancake and I'm obsessed with her.
Favorite new band from this past year?
I know they've been around longer than this past year, but I got super into BROCKHAMPTON a few months ago after they put out Iridescence. Crazy good album.
First record ever purchased?
Oh, this is a good one. The first album I ever bought for myself, with my own money, was A Fever You Can't Sweat Out by Panic! At The Disco, circa 2005. I was 12 years old and it had a ~*parental advisory*~ label. So I scraped up like $10 and an insane amount of guts and had my mom drop me off at the mall and wait outside in the car while I went in and bought this CD. Also worth noting -- I had a bowl cut and 1000% did not look like an adult, but for some reason, whoever was working register was like, "whatever" and sold it to me anyways. I went back outside and got in my mom's car and she asked what I bought. I told her a CD and she got all excited and was like, "Oh! Put it in right now and we can listen to it!" and I quickly snapped back with a, "NO, thanks, I'm good" and proceeded to enter my emo phase and listened to it on repeat in my Walkman (LOL) for the next 5 months straight.
First concert?
*NSYNC. I was 6 and the security company working the concert was one of my mom's clients. They offered to take me backstage to meet the guys in the band, but I was too scared, so I didn't go. And honestly, that's a choice that still haunts me to this day.
Favorite band of all-time?
I gotta keep with my emo roots and say Panic! At The Disco. They were the first band that I ever really fell in love with back in 2005, and now here I am, over 13 years later, still screaming and crying at his shows.
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