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10 Questions with ... Ashley O
May 2, 2023
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. I'll carry over topics or publish my bits, but I don't force social media. I think when it's forced it comes off as disingenuous and spam like. I could push myself to be better in that space for sure by trying to create and upload more original audio.
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SOCIALS:
@AshleyO2Go on IG, Twitter and TikTok & @arboradio on FB
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started in 2009 on WHDR then bounced around Cox from nights on WFLC to nights on WFEZ, then back to WFLC to help with mornings. Finally in 2015 John O'Connell hired me to host the mornings on WSFS and I've been forever grateful to him for that opportunity.
1. How did you first become interested in radio?
I was at a party on a Sunday when I met a man (shout out Mike B) who did production for Cox. He said, "I had a voice for radio, and I needed an internship." We got to chatting and it turned out their rock station was doing interviews for an intern the next day. Kevin Vargas and Brandon Coates somehow decided to give me the internship and then I quickly fell in love with the whole creative process behind radio.
2. What led to your recent move back to mornings on 104.3 The Shark in Miami and adding mornings on FM 101.9 in Orlando?
I started mornings on The Shark in 2015 when the station debuted, then the pandemic hit and Audacy re-structured. For me that meant moving to afternoon drive and the station getting a syndicated morning show. When that show's syndication ended, all music mornings took over for WSFS (and WQMP not too long after). In late 2022, the powers that be were ready to have a morning show again in both markets and the inspiring Christine Malovetz started talking to me about it. Personally, I think I was in the right place at the right time. Plus, looked good on paper ... born and raised in South Florida, went to UCF and am one of the founding fathers of The Shark.
3. You're a native South Floridian. How do you stay connected to your community in both Miami and Orlando?
I was born and raised in Fort Lauderdale and there's no other place in the world for me, so being connected is kinda second nature. Whether it's getting to indulge in concerts and all the amazing cuisines we have, or people watching on spring break (which is a time honored tradition) .... even a good day at the theme park is just part of life because that's how I grew up. I also volunteer at my kids' schools (my daughter is in the same middle school I went to so that's kinda trippy) and am a board member for Neighbors4Neighbors a non-profit that serves Florida by connecting people who have needs with people who can help provide a solution. Whether it's after a hurricane, during a local tragedy like we had with Surfside or with "Ashley O's Food Fight" this organization enables me to serve my community in a meaningful way.
4. How would you describe your on-air style?
You know that meme where the cartoon dog is in the middle of a room on fire sipping coffee? That.
5. What is a typical workday like for you and tell us about your show prep routine?
Prep is an all-day thing. There's a lot of screenshots and random written thoughts…but I'm up at 3:30am to be in the studio by 4:20am. First thing to tackle is a segment I write and produce daily called "The Feed" which is real news, just told my way. So, I start with combing through my favorite local news sources. There is also a bi-weekly/weekly satirical spin on Public Service Announcements about holidays or trends which are written throughout the week, but I wait till the last minute to put them together because why not? So, if I have one planned, that's normally next on the agenda. After those are done there is typically a game to set up - sometimes it's pulling Florida Man headlines for "Fiction or Flor-idoit" or producing a mashup of songs that has to be deciphered to win that day's prize. I like to think of what I do as a variety show on-air - there's news, games, prizes, hopefully some laughs and of course music. Once my shift is over, I'm just a mom running errands, sitting in pick up lines yelling at the skippers and trying to get to baseball or swimming practice on time.
6. What do you love most about being on-air?
The idea of being a safe place for people to wake up, hear music they like and start the day off feeling good and unbothered is the best. We basically set vibes and I love that.
7. What makes your morning show unique?
It's very sarcastic and walks the line, but in a child friendly way. I like to think kids can listen; they just won't get all the jokes.
8. How are you using social media to augment what you're doing on-air?
I am so bad at this! I'll carry over topics or publish my bits, but I don't force social media. I think when it's forced it comes off as disingenuous and spam like. I could push myself to be better in that space for sure by trying to create and upload more original audio.
9. You have two kids and are super proud of Ashley O's Food Fight. Tell us more.
I have two kids that are the best. Literally. One day my oldest got a note from the school. She'd left her lunch at home (again) and tried to get school lunch but was denied the regular food and given a "secondary lunch" which was a cheese sandwich and water. I learned that students who had already received one free lunch from school were not able to get another hot lunch until they paid their student lunch debt, and every school in the county I was raised in had this debt. Some schools don't even have the secondary lunch therefore kids go hungry, and that shit broke my tiny cold heart. Kids not eating is unacceptable.
So, working with Neighbors4Neighbors, Audacy, The Shark family and the Broward County Food and Nutrition Services I started Ashley O's Food Fight paying off one school's debt at a time, leaving a Shark fund at each place so any kid needing a meal can get one. In September 2020 we paid off all debt in Broward County and started working with the Mobile School Pantry. They work with elementary schools in Broward County to set up mock grocery stores with fresh fruit and veggies so kids can shop without shame and get fresh ingredients along with canned and dry goods to take home. We fundraise to fill one truck at a time and take it to a school in Broward for distribution.
Now that I get to be in Orlando, I am bringing the Food Fight with me. If you want to donate to the Food Fight hit up neighbors4neighbors.org/foodfight. There are links to contribute to Orlando's fund or to Broward County. The Food Fight is my way of trying to make a difference and use this microphone for good and not just puns because I think that we may not be able to change the world, but I want to believe you can change the small corner of it you live in.
10. What else would surprise people most about you?
I'm painfully shy.
Bonus Questions
What are weekends like for you?
Quick
Favorite food?
French fries
Favorite drink?
Nonalcoholic-Arnold Palmer
Alcoholic- JamesonWhat are your favorite places to eat in South Florida?
Laspadas, Katana, Las Vegas, La Santa Taqueria, Bubbles and Pearls, Southport Raw Bar
First record ever purchased?
It was at Peaches music store, Alanis Morissette- Jagged Little Pill
First concert?
No Doubt Coral Sky Amphitheater
Favorite band of all-time?
oooohhhhh baby jesus my musical taste is a jukebox. My most-likely-unpopular-answer is none. I don't have a deep emotional attachment to any band or artist despite appreciating so many of them and having so much of their music affect me at various times in my life. Sublime, No Doubt, Panic!, Green Day, Rihanna, My Chem, Taylor Swift, Pearl Jam, Twenty One Pilots, Jay Z, Paramore, Fall Out Boy, Adele, Weezer, Tom Petty, Selina Gomez, Jack Antonoff in all forms…. I can't pick, so I pick none.
Favorite new band over the past year?
Pink Elefants and Boygenius
Favorite live show in the last year?
My Chemical Romance with my daughter.
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