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10 Questions with ... Careth Beard
July 19, 2021
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1. Please tell us about your career journey?
Started my first big-girl radio job right out of college… and quit after a year to become a starving actress. Which means I spent years waitressing, substitute teaching, temping, occasionallyperforming, and living at my mom’s house. Finally, I realized how much I missed radio (and dental insurance) and got my foot back in the door as the receptionist at my hometown iHeart. 2 years later I was co-hosting mornings, 5 years after that I was fired, and last year I landed in a dream at EMF!
2. Share the most challenging part of your career.
Probably the entire talking part in general. Growing up I had selective mutism, making me the weird, quiet kid. I still struggle with that stopper-in-my-throat anxiety sometimes. The fact that God called me to do the thing that is the most difficult thing for me to do is an invigorating frustration
3. The best coaching advice you've ever received was…
“Don’t be so polished.” Having freedom to mess up, act goofy, and just be the same me on air that I am off air has not only helped connect with the audience… it also makes the job waaay more fun.
4. How do you continue learning and growing?
By scaring myself. Professionally, and personally. And if it doesn’t work out, at least it’s a good story for air.
5. What’s one thing you wish you’d known about radio when you first started?
Radio is painfully competitive, but the community is incredibly supportive.
6. Tell us about someone in our industry who you really respect and why?
My boss, Mandy Young! She is the kind of person who speaks into people who they can be.
7. What would surprise people most about you?
I may be a crazy dog lady now (hi Drake!), but as a kid I was crazy for cats. Cat posters, cat earrings, cat sweaters… cats, cats, cats.
8. What’s on your nightstand?
An overdue library book. Which feels like a metaphor for who I am at my core on so many levels.
9. What are you most excited about this year?
Having a boring year. Please, can we have a boring year?
10. What do you do for fun?
Buy plants that I immediately forget to water and have to become adopted by my husband to survive.
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