10 Questions with ... Karla Lawson

NAME:Karla Lawson TITLE:Radio Broadcaster/Mom of All Trades STATION:WLAC, WSIX, WNRQ MARKET:Nashville COMPANY:Clear Channel BORN:Morgantown, West Virginia RAISED:South Florida & Tennessee

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I have been in the entertainment industry for over 30 years, starting as a child doing musical theater and commercials. I performed as a singer/actor until my twenties, when I was introduced to the exciting stability of radio. I never looked back. Ha!! I have done afternoons with Coyote McCloud at 102.9, Mornings with Doug Griffin at WAY-FM, and now I hold down traffic reporting duties for Clear Channel Nashville for morning drive. I launched MommyTime Radio on 1510 WLAC last fall.

1. How did you get your start in radio? Why radio, after working since childhood in other creative areas?

I can honestly say radio never entered my mind as a career. I was at a crossroads in what I was pursuing, trying to get work as an actor and singer. So I asked God to open the door that I was supposed to walk through. I got a call from a girl I never met, and she asked me if I could fill in for her doing traffic reports so she could go on vacation. I didn't follow up, because I thought surely God would NOT be telling me to be a traffic reporter! She kept calling me, so I went to the interview, and asked God to give me the ability, as I knew how clueless I truly was about radio. Long story longer- I was offered a full time job, and then about a month later, I was co-hosting an afternoon show with the legendary Coyote McCloud! That is all it took- I was hooked on radio!

2. About what are you most passionate these days?

Since I host a show about being a parent, of course it is inevitable that I will say my family is my passion. They truly are! Radio is my other passion in life, so it is great to bring both of them together in MommyTime Radio!

3. What kind of topics do you aim to discuss on "Mommytime Radio" that you think get underplayed or ignored by the media in general? What are you talking about on the show?

We talk about a wide range of topics on MommyTime Radio. You may see a short story on the nightly news about autism, and then never hear another word. We try to expound upon that story- we've talked to doctors, to a parent that has a child with autism, to an adult with autism that has just written a book about his experience. We try to bring a personal connection to that story, because that is what will help someone that is in the same boat. My co host, Sue Fabisch and I are just regular moms, trying to figure it out along the way. MommyTime Radio is just sharing the journey and hopefully bringing great information in a fun and entertaining format. We also feature moms and dads that you know and love -- John Tesh, Donny Osmond, Barbara Mandrell, and Rick & Bubba have been on the show, and we just ask them what challenges they face as parents, and any advice they can share. Since the Olympics are right around the corner, we even get the chance to talk to Mary Lou Retton. So the talk is topical, but our guests also get to share personally about their families and about what matters to them most.

4. There are magazines, books, all sorts of other media about motherhood, but you have one of the few radio shows to address motherhood issues. Why do you think there aren't more? Is there an untapped audience for this?

I do think there is an untapped audience for this, and I think there aren't more because most "parenting" material doesn't sound very entertaining, does it? I think MommyTime Radio can change that perception! As a relatively new mom, I started searching for info, and I discovered that there were a lot of moms that were podcasting. The more I surfed, the more I became convinced that I could do this show on mainstream radio. I knew going in that talk radio is primarily a male dominated format, but as a female that loves talk (Glenn Beck ROCKS), I knew there were other females that would appreciate what we do. I am also conscious to talk to both moms and dads on the show and we feature topics that help both parents. I have been pleasantly surprised by the response from the guys that are tuning in! More than once I have had a male listener tell me that he was wasn't sure what to make of the "MommyTime Radio" show, but that after listening, they walked away not only learning a thing or two, but they actually had a good time. So yes, I know there is an audience for this type of show, and we are excited to get to know them!

5. How does your family feel about your talking about your parenting experiences on the radio? Do you ever find yourself pulling punches or feeling like you should keep some stuff private, or, when something happens in your family life, are you thinking "this will make a great topic for the radio show"?

As a radio person, you always have that thing in the back of your mind, where that light goes off and you think: I gotta share this one! Life is show prep, right? So yes, Sue and I do think that way, knowing if something happens that other parents can relate to, that we have to talk about it. There is that line that we will not cross, though, and we would never hurt or embarrass our families just for the sake of a laugh. There are many stories that go untold, but our families are gracious and understand that the majority of our lives are an open book. We are blessed in doing this show, because if we have something we need to know about, we can have an expert come on, and we get to learn along with our audience. So basically this is free counseling for us and the audience gets the benefit, too!

6. Who are your influences, your mentors, the people who have had the greatest effect on your career?

I have learned so much from so many people, and I am still learning daily. Coyote McCloud taught me to have fun and to not hold back. He also taught me that it doesn't matter who gets the laugh! He had no ego in that regard; he loved it when I had the comeback (Our greatest laughs were off the air!).

Doug Griffin was my morning show partner at WAY-FM, and he taught me how to plan things out and to always prepare. He is super talented, has an incredible work ethic and love of great radio- and he is a true friend. He is like my brother and I still hang out with his family!

Gerry House is a teacher to me every day, as I still do traffic reports during his morning show. There are very few people who are gifted in the way that he is, and working with the morning show is a lesson on how a morning show should be done. He makes it seem effortless.

7. Of what are you most proud?

Gosh, I am not sure how to answer that one. I am proud of my family and the love and kindness that we share. I know that sounds so geeky, but it is true. I am proud when I see my toddler being kind and loving and sweet and he doesn't even know I am looking! I am proud that I get to work in an industry that I really love, too. Getting up at 3 am is hard- but I love what I do.

8. What do you do for fun?

Fun... fun... what is that? Hee hee... just kidding! Again, I am going to sound like the biggest nerd in the world, but for me, the most fun things I do are with my family. We go to the dog park, or to JumpZone where we roll around in huge inflatable things until management comes over and asks us to please dismount the ride. So anything where we are all together is awesome, no matter what it is! I love to read, but I don't have a lot of time for that now with a toddler to chase after constantly. My husband and I also love movies and stand up comedy.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ___________.

...kissing my baby's face off a million times. He is so yummy, I can't help myself!

10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?

Best advice: "If you can imagine it, you can achieve it." (I think I had one of those cheesy posters on my wall as a kid with this saying on it, but my parents made me believe it! Thanks, mom & dad!)

Worst advice: "You can't do it that way, Karla, it has never been done that way." Isn't there always a first time?