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10 Questions with ... Tyler McKenzie
March 25, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Sadly, I have way too many stories that would fit into this category! There is one that still haunts me to this day. Early 2000s. I was the new girl on the Z Morning Show. It was my first Share-A-Thon ever. The theme was: A New Year of Stories and Songs. With confidence and power, I welcomed listeners to Share-A-Thon: A New Year of Stories and THONGS! Working with Scott Smith at the time made the moment 1,000 times worse. And just like that, I'm blushing again!
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1. Could you walk us through your career path that's brought you to where are you are at Z88.3?
I grew up in central Florida. I still live in the same five-mile radius of the house I was raised in. My first radio job was at an AC station in St. Augustine, Middays and then Mornings. I drove two hours to work and two hours back for a couple of years. I finally landed a part-time turned to full-time job with Cox Communications in Orlando. I did Classic Rock, Party, Country, Smooth R&B, and Hot AC. I was also doing traffic on one of our local TV stations. (I had different names for most stations! It was crazy!)
Throughout these years, the Z was my station! It's what God used to encourage me. I remember calling the PD of Z88.3, Dean O'Neal, one day and leaving my testimony on his voicemail. I never heard back. Months later I did not get a position at the country station that I was in the running for. I was heartbroken. My Operations Manager at Cox said, "I think you would be great at the Z. I'm gonna call my friend, Dean!" Within days, I had an interview. I quit three stations and the TV station to take a job working weekends on the Z! My first Christian station! Months later, I was moved to mornings. That was 12 years ago.
Dean eventually heard my voicemail, and thankfully decided to keep me anyway. :)
2. When did you realize you were meant to be in radio? Did anyone help influence you in that direction?
I had my first show in 3rd grade. The living room floor was my studio. My Winnie the Pooh record player made me legit! I had stacks of records from my sister who worked at Camelot Music. My favorite and not-so-favorite stuffed animals were my listeners. I wanted to make them all smile! Years later, I wanted to get into television sportscasting. I loved my internship at the local TV station. I ended up at a radio school and never turned back.
3. What do suspect you might be doing with your career/adult life if radio hadn't factored in?
Even though I have always dreamed of being a dolphin trainer, I think I would be working with kids with special needs. Their joy inspires me. I would also be so happy being at home with my girls, homeschooling and writing!
4. They say we are the average of the five people we spend time with the most. Tough question: If you had to choose just five people who have helped make you into the radio personality that you've become over the years, who would they be?
Wow! Only five? In no particular order...
- Vance Tyler
- Steve Holbrook
- Dean O'Neal
- Tommy Kramer
- My husband and kids
(Play the wrap up music...I can't stop!)
- Jim Hoge
- Alan Mason
- John Frost
- And the many personalities I have learned from...Scott Smith, Lisa Williams, Carrie Christopher, Ellis Feaster, Beth Bacall, Producer Sierra, etc.
(FYI, this question gave me hives.)
5. Off the top of your head, what are the most memorable on-air moments you've experienced throughout your career?
- Being on air as the eye of a hurricane makes its way on land. Being there for those families sitting in their closets, in the dark, waiting to hear something. Knowing I have the sweet opportunity to encourage and love them.
- Calling into my show to talk to Scott Smith and our guest, Mandisa, while my husband was racing me to the hospital to give birth to our first daughter. (Two and a half years later, Mandisa called me in the hospital after giving birth to our second daughter. I should have made her godmother.)
- Being with my co-host, Ellis Feaster, live on air while he was having a seizure. It was terrifying. I witnessed his courage and recovery with strong medications over the next year. That season forced me to grow in so many areas...I had to be strong for both of us.
- Being on the radio when the Pulse Tragedy happened. It was devastating and yet through the confusion and hurt, God's light shined so brightly through Z88.3. Our community came together in prayer and tears. Every song was a cry out! The community needed those songs and so did I. I was so scared. I thank God often for choosing me that day.
6. Ever on-air personality has moments when they say something on-air that leaves them wanting to crawl into a hole. Can you remember your first experience saying or doing the wrong thing? What was it? Also, what was your latest episode of this?
Sadly, I have way too many stories that would fit into this category! There is one that still haunts me to this day. Early 2000s. I was the new girl on the Z Morning Show. It was my first Share-A-Thon ever. The theme was: A New Year of Stories and Songs. With confidence and power, I welcomed listeners to Share-A-Thon: A New Year of Stories and THONGS! Working with Scott Smith at the time made the moment 1,000 times worse. And just like that, I'm blushing again!
7. When you walk into the studio each day, what do you decide you're going to do-and who do you decide you're going to be-for your listeners? How do you prepare yourself for that time on-air?
I decide I'm going to be encouraging and real. Sometimes those worlds don't mesh. Most of the time they don't. It's in the real that God always provides the encouragement. I pray each day that He would move me out of the way to work through us!
Prayer and devotion is important to me. I try to start and end each day with both. I have an amazing co-host (that loves to make me crazy) and an incredible producer. We desire to honor God and have a blast while pointing people to His love. We genuinely like each other and feel grateful that we get to do what we do.
8. Which artists give the best interviews?
It's like asking me what kid is my favorite!!! We have talked to so many friends over the years! First thoughts...
Matthew West - He is a great storyteller who really gets the concept of speaking to the listener. We can throw anything at Matthew. He can sing the weather and has for us! He does a great job of connecting with us and ministering to the heart of every person listening! We love his heart to show Jesus in every song and to invite others into the hope we have. Plus, he is hilarious!
Tim Timmons - Tim's humility is beautiful! We love his humor and ability to catch the attention of someone listening who needs encouragement. He shares his cancer journey with a sweet perspective that others are inspired by. He has a way of asking questions that challenge my heart and those who are listening. He maximizes God's Kingdom just by being Tim. We are grateful for his friendship.
Mandisa - She brings joy with her wherever she goes. We love being around her! Her laugh is contagious and her love for Jesus is so beautiful. She has an ability to be vulnerable with her struggles and remind us of hope! Plus, that girl can sing!
Mike Weaver - Mike makes us belly laugh in one moment and then brings us to tears the next! He is so bold in his faith and his desire to share the gospel with others is clear. It's fun to hear other artists talk about how he helped them! We are grateful for the love, energy, friendship, and faith he brings to each interview.
9. In your opinion, what are some of the most important songs to hit Christian radio during your career?
Most songs impact me on the daily. (I'm riding on a tour bus in NYC with my kids so my mind isn't completely clear. These were my first thoughts...)
"I Can Only Imagine" by Mercy Me - It's a song that brings your heart right to heaven. An anthem that gave me a glimmer of hope and comfort after losing my daddy. I heard it on the Z before I started serving at the station. The first time I heard it, I had to pull the car over. I could no longer see through my tears. I will never get tired of hearing the story of someone who is freshly impacted by the song. I pray God continues to use the song and movie for His glory!
"He is With You" by Mandisa - When the song was first released, it took me hearing it several times to hear all of the goodness! Loneliness hurts. Many times, it can be the lie of the enemy. The song reaches people right where they are with the reminder that you are not alone...God is with you...even through this!
"He Knows My Name" by Francesca Battistelli -This sweet song has a special place in my heart. As a momma of young girls and as a woman who has a ton of insecurities, this song is one we blast in the car! We are deeply loved by our Creator. Not because of our performance but because we are His! My oldest sang this song at a performance when she was 8. A woman we didn't know came up to her crying afterwards. It's a message we all need. I'm forever grateful for Franny and songs that help me raise young girls in truth and grace.
"How Great is Our God" by Chris Tomlin - When my nine and 11-year-old girls were babies, I would sing them two songs every night. "Hold Onto Jesus" by Erin O'Donnell and "How Great is Our God." This song, many times, was my cry out when I had disbelief or fear. It was the one I sang when having an anxiety attack in an MRI. Or an anxiety attack anywhere else. Singing about how great God is can help my heart switch from self to praising Him. There are still some nights my growing girls will ask me to sing to them. Grateful.
"Praise You in This Storm" by Casting Crowns - Aren't all of their songs powerful?! This one has ministered to so many! We all go through storms in life. Having joy through them, thanking God for them, is the tough part. I have heard from countless families over the years whose lives were turned upside down from a literal storm to a personal one. God has used this song time and time again to bring hope. I will never forget meeting a sweet friend at an event who shared that this is her theme song during chemo as she battles breast cancer. I cried with her! It's now pretty common to hear that same story from someone else in the battle. Thank you God for using songs in such a significant way!
10. What do you look forward to most as it pertains to what Z88.3 is doing?
God continues to wow us with His plans for the ministry! We have just recently launched the only Spanish Christian Music station in Orlando: La Zeta! The Spanish-speaking community is loving it! Z Rewind was born last month, playing Z songs from back in the day! It has been such a special time capsule!
Those two stations join Z88.3, G Praise, Hot 959, and The Rock. We are also getting ready to launch a new worship station! God is opening doors and we are saying "yes sir" and walking through!
He is using different formats to light up the darkest places in central Florida and around the world. I thank God daily for the leadership of Jim Hoge, Dean O'Neal, Jen Winborn, and Carol Ellingson. Most will never see all they do. Programming, engineering, promotions, office staff...we are family. I'm grateful to serve with such an amazing family, in a special community of friends, for our Almighty God!
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