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10 Questions with ... Erin O’Malley
March 15, 2021
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
I started in radio at WKWK, K97fm in Wheeling, WV, while also being part time at WXDX, 105.9 The X in Pittsburgh. Then, I was the first midday host at 107.5, XTreme Radio in Las Vegas for a year and a half before getting nights at WDRV, 96.1 The River in Pittsburgh. A year later, I was brought on to do middays in Portland, OR at KKRZ, Z100 for 2 years. I’ve been middays at Mix 104.1, formerly 98.5, in Boston since January 2001.
1. Congrats on 20+ years at Mix in Boston! If you had to pick a highlight or two or three over the course of those two decades, what comes to mind?
P!nk did a “Mix Lounge” for us just after her dog, Elvis, died and she was obviously upset about it. I gave her the angel dog ornament my mom gave me after my childhood dog passed. It brought me comfort and I hoped it would do the same for her. I wrote “Elvis” on the bottom and she seemed truly touched. Years later, she came to the studio for an interview and I mentioned off air about the ornament and she cut me off and said ‘OMG-of course I remember! Willow plays with it all the time! You wrote his name on the bottom and it has a halo and wings. We love it!!’ The other amazing memory is more recent. I came onstage for ‘Mixfest’ in 2018, bald as can be, dressed as Wonder Woman with a shield that said ‘Last Chemo Monday!’ Our listeners gave me a standing ovation before I even could say a word and it just took my breath away.
2. Your midday show is smack in the middle of both a high profile morning and afternoon show. What’s the mission of the midday show these days?
To spread positivity and remind listeners of the good in the world. I have always loved getting people through their days. Some of them are in jobs they don’t really like and it’s an honor to be the one who gets to spend time with them. For years, I’ve told ‘Feel Good Stories,’ and when the pandemic hit we were all desperate for positivity. I didn’t have to change the core of what my show is about because that’s always how I’ve connected with listeners.
3. What were the early days of pandemic broadcasting like for you?
Hectic and stressful with an incredible sense of camaraderie. I remember talking on the air about starting #sharearoll, where people donate toilet paper to others in their community who couldn’t find any. I spent twice as long looking for ‘Feel Good Stories,’ because the bad were much easier to find. The helpers were everywhere, though. I highlighted them often.
4. What’s something that you’ll take away from the pandemic that’s made you a better performer?
It reinforced that what we do matters. I’ve always loved, and been so grateful for my career, but I felt the gravity of lifting spirits while watching people lose their jobs, and even beloved family members. It validated the importance of sharing heartwarming stories about things that tie us all together, even when we’re apart.
5. What led you to a career in radio?
When I was 12, I’d listen to B94 in Pittsburgh. John Cline was on late nights then, and I called at some ungodly hour and requested a song. He played it right away, was really cool, and said the magic words: ‘Call back anytime. For someone your age, you’re actually not annoying.’ Best. Compliment. Ever. Haha. Soon after, he put me on the air when he did their request & dedication show Sunday nights. It never made me nervous; I just thought it was awesome. John DJ’ed my Homecoming in 10th grade, was my guest speaker at the University of Dayton when he did mornings at WNCI in Columbus and we’re still friends to this day.
6. How would you describe your first radio gig?
I felt like college taught me everything except how to get in the door of a station, so I called John Cline for advice. He said ‘Send a tape to the station in Wheeling that comes in best at your mom’s house. Wheeling is small enough to get your foot in the door, but big enough that people have heard of it.’ I called K97 to see where to send my tape and the receptionist put me on the phone with the actual program director, Doug Daniels. We talked about radio for two hours before he asked what I was doing for lunch. I drove down, and he offered me a part time job doing the ‘Request and Dedication’ show weekend nights without ever having heard one break of me on the radio. He said something I never forgot. ‘You have the best attitude; I know you’ll sound great.’ I loved doing that show and connecting with listeners. I still remember I helped one guy get engaged on the air. I’m forever thankful that girl said yes.
7. Since in-person gatherings are still very limited, what social media avenues are best at keeping you attached to your listeners?
I put every ‘Feel Good Story’ on my Mix Facebook page and am always chatting on messenger with listeners. We connect on Instagram and Twitter, but Facebook is the main way.
8. When you were diagnosed with breast cancer, you shared your journey from start to finish with the audience. From a personal stand point, how did that help you move forward in warrior mode?
I told this story on the air as I shared what was going on. The video of the break is still the first thing on my Facebook page. I had a clear 3D mammogram not six months before I found a lump. It was stage two of the fastest growing, fasting spreading kind of breast cancer. My oncologist said, had I not found it, I’d likely have been stage four by the next mammogram. There wasn’t a doubt that I’d share this with listeners. I saw the good that could come of it; what a remarkable platform I had to remind other women to check themselves and put their health first. I wore a Wonder Woman costume to every chemo appointment, and listeners sent me so many amazing Wonder Woman gifts. But the most incredible gifts are the emails I still receive from women telling me how sharing my story and reminding them to check themselves saved their own lives.
9. Boston Children’s Hospital is also near and dear to you. What’s it mean to you to be able to be a hands-on fundraiser?
We did radiothon at Boston Children’s Hospital for a decade. It was my favorite event of the year, even though I didn’t even have a child at that point. Then our son, Gabe, had a major stroke during birth and BCH saved his life. A year later, he needed brain surgery and they saved his life again. I’ve run the Boston Marathon twice on the hospital’s team and raised nearly $45,000 as a way to thank them for giving us our boy back.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
I’ve worked for some of the best program directors in the business. Seriously, this is one blessed human you’re chatting with here. Greg Strassell, Jon Zellner, Tommy Austin, Mike Stern, Chris Shebel, Jerry McKenna, and now Steve Salhany. I still have the first aircheck note that Gene Romano wrote me! Our assistant program director and music director, Mike Mullaney, has been mentoring me with scheduling music through the pandemic, which is a whole other way to appreciate the station. As for who influenced my career the MOST? If not for John Cline, I don’t know that I’d be in radio. But Greg Strassell and Mark Hannon brought me to Boston, the place where I met my husband and had our son. So let’s call it a three way tie.
Bonus Questions
When all of this is said and done, and with the TD Garden at your disposal (at no charge) and with an unlimited budget, which 3 artists are you pulling together for a Mix Listener gala?
Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga and Bon Jovi for nostalgia. Hosted by Jerry Seinfeld, because we all could use more laughter these days.
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