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10 Questions with ... Jessie Sabella
April 5, 2022
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. As far as connecting with strangers, that’s what keeps me alive. It’s like an immediate dopamine rush knowing that we can all look to find something in common with anyone in this world, which can make us all better and happier people in the grand scheme of life. I live for those moments because I feel like it keeps the mind positive and brighter, so I try to keep that thought with me every time I crack open the mic.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
It all started by just constantly going to shows, every weekend, and sometimes on weeknights. Concerts, concerts, concerts. And then I thought WHOAH...I COULD DO THIS FOREVER! So, as I got older, my love for music grew deeper and deeper. My radio life pretty much started at Radio1045 which is now ALT104.5. I came into the station when it was only 2 years old, I was one of the first interns we ever had, and I've learned everything I know from the people I started working here with. Starting from intern, then working on the street team, and then moving up as a board op, to overnights, to taking over The New Music Discovery Show on Sunday nights! It all started from that to basically covering on-air shifts and finally getting a full-time spot and now officially on at middays.
1. Congrats on moving from nights to middays on ALT 104.5. When you were promoted, your boss, Amber Miller said, “Jessie is a Philly icon, and we’re glad to spotlight her energy and enthusiasm in the daylight hours to connect with and entertain a larger audience.” How does it feel to moving to the daytime?
It feels weird because I’ve worked on conditioning my mind and body for the whole nighttime routine, so I’m trying to undo 12 years of that routine, BUT FINALLY I feel like I’m on the same page as the rest of the world in the daylight hours now and that’s a really beautiful feeling that I’m trying to embrace!
2. How different is your show doing middays from 10a-3p on ALT 104.5?
It’s really not much different, but I think my energy level is much brighter and (hopefully) able to resonate more with a listener.
3. Let’s get to know a little more about Jammin’ Jessie. Your bio says: “I love my dog, I love music, I love going on road trips and most of all I love talking to strangers! I hope I can try to combine all of those elements into 5 hours of fun.” Tell us about your dog, music, road trips, connecting with strangers, and having fun on-air.
I’ll try not to ramble too much here, but my dog is my entire life and pretty much all I have. I got him when he was 6 weeks old. He has been my faithful companion for 14 years. I got him in college by exchanging concert tickets for him. Super cosmic moment. He’s pretty much been my sidekick throughout this entire radio journey. We’ve spent years together just traveling, always throwing him the car to get on the next road trip, whether that’s for a music festival, or sight-seeing. As far as connecting with strangers, that’s what keeps me alive. It’s like an immediate dopamine rush knowing that we can all look to find something in common with anyone in this world, which can make us all better and happier people in the grand scheme of life. I live for those moments because I feel like it keeps the mind positive and brighter, so I try to keep that thought with me every time I crack open the mic.
4. What is your show prep routine?
My whole existence is show prep, so I don’t do one big, focused chunk at a time every day!
5. How do you use social media to connect with listeners?
I use it as a tool to give listeners what I want. We live in a world now where someone’s not gonna follow you unless there’s something for THEM to gain out of it. So, I use it to help them win concert tickets, music announcements and radio station events. I really only use it to benefit them, unless there’s something super cool in my life that’s happening that I want to share (examples: awesome fun times with friends at concerts, beautiful live music moments, great moments with my boyfriend, dog and family). I just try to remember keep it positive, because we have all seen social media backfire in this new era, and that’s because a lot of people use it in a negative way.
6. Tell us about your New Music Discovery Show on Sunday nights?
I am actually no longer the host; our girl Palmer is the new host of the show. But I help to schedule a lot of the local music to make sure some of those songs are highlighted during the show when Palmer’s hosting!
7. What do you love most about working at iHeartMedia?
I love the crew that we have here. These people working here are my family, and we have all been through the ups and downs of this business together, and it has made us all stronger together as a unit. We’ve worked hard at this company, and we’ve all been there for each other, and that’s what makes it way easier, especially on stressful days.
8. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Talking about music and reminding people that without music, it would be a tough world to live in! I am constantly grateful for what musicians and bands go through to give us their art. They sacrifice a lot, so being on the receiving end, I have nothing but love and gratitude.
9. You’ve been at WRFF now since 2009, What are you most proud of?
I’m most proud of growing as an emotionally evolved human and being able to keep the same job for this long. I have grown up inside of this place, so I almost feel like the child that WRFF birthed out LOL. I’m just happy to be here.
10. How did you get the nickname Jammin’ Jessie?
I’m just always jamming. It’s just truly the jams that I live for. I know I sound like a weirdo hippie, but it’s true. And I’m always finding new things to love about music each and every single day.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you when you’re not in work mode?
Lots of sleep, exercise, hydration, nature walks, bothering my boyfriend while he’s running his deli in NJ, and lots of binge-watching Fraggle Rock. And trying to stay connected with my family so I don’t become one of those weird successful people that don’t talk to their families HA!
What are your favorite places to eat in the area?
Kibitz Room in Cherry Hill (shout out to my boyfriend’s deli- it’s a true authentic deli and he has the best food.
Best Philly Cheesesteak?
Not a cheesesteak obsessed person, but I’d definitely say Pat’s cheesteaks, but Geno’s cheese fries.
Rank your sports teams in order of passion.
Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens (sorry yall, boyfriend’s from Baltimore), Sixers, Phillies, Flyers.
Favorite new band over the past year?
MANESKIN BABY. What a combination of absolutely everything I could have ever asked for in a band.
Anything else you would like to add?
I would like to add that Amber Miller has been the reason I’ve been able to stay sane during the pandemic. She has a gift for communicating and understanding people’s personalities and energy and sometimes I feel like I must have done something really good in my past life to have her as a boss. Someone upstairs in the sky is looking out for me to give me a boss like her.
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