10 Questions with ... Chasta Michaelis

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• Instagram: @chastalynn
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/chastalynn
• Twitter: @chasta
• Website: www.chastalynn.com

1) What was your first job in radio and early influences?

My first job in radio fell in my lap by an unexpected stroke of luck. While in college, I called up 100.5 The KATT in Oklahoma City to ask where and when to get Aerosmith tickets. I spoke with the midday jock Greg Zoobeck (who is still there) and we hit it off immediately. I made him laugh a few times and he offered me an internship over the phone. Nine months later, I was sitting at my little intern desk when my PD came to me and said one of the jocks didn't show up for work. He said, "Let's go!" He took me in the studio, showed me the basics of running the board and then he walked out. I promptly puked in the trash can and cracked the mic. After that he gave me a Sunday morning weekend shift and the rest is history.

Chasta and Aerosmith's Steven Tyler

2) What led you to a career in radio? Was there a defining moment that made you realize "this is what I want to do for a living?"

Once I went on the air for that first shift, I was absolutely hooked! I had been a music nut my whole life and now realizing there was a possibility that I could talk about music as a career? And maybe even interview Rock stars? That was it for me! I was hell bent that I was never going to do anything else.

3) How long have you been rocking on 107.7 The Bone and what makes this station so special?

I have been on the Bone since July 2012. The call letters KSAN are legendary and I have always studied music history and knew what those call letters and the Bay Area radio scene stood for. When the station turned to the Bone and they gained Lamont and Tonelli (living radio legends), I knew I had to work there. When I moved to The Bay from L.A. in 2008, I made it my goal to work on The Bone and was relentless in sending in airchecks. Finally, their traffic reporter left and that was my way in.

The Bone Morning Show- Lamont Hollywood, Chasta, Producer Baby Huey and Paul Tonelli

4) You start your day as part of the very popular Lamont & Tonelli morning show on The Bone. What are your duties on the show and what do you do to "hold your own" with L&T?

I started out on the show in 2008 as their traffic reporter. Over time I became a much larger part of the show and now I am a full-blown co-host for the boys. It developed over the first few years slowly; I knew I didn't want to overstep boundaries and I wanted us to organically find our flow. L&T had a locked in legendary show; to add another person in more of a full-time role had to be a delicate move. Now, I'm the female perspective on the show but still do traffic as well. I help the guys get their prep together in the morning and help with features on the show. I also run the Bone text lines and keep the guys briefed on what's being said on social and on the texts.

5) You were also the interim midday person on The Bone after longtime market legend Steven Seaweed retired at the end of June 2017. Now that you are officially the new midday host, how does it feel to carry on the tradition of the "Weedman?"

It's totally unreal. "The Weedman" is an absolute legend ... a beloved Bay Area radio personality. Stepping into his shoes was intimidating, to say the least. However, Steven is a friend and mentor of mine and he was confident in my skills. He really recommended me for the job. I figured if Steven believed in me and handed me over to the Bone audience, then I would be fine. Steven is a master of the craft and I wanted to make sure everyone knew I was never going to try and be another "Weedman." All I could be was myself and thank God that has worked.

Metallica's Kirk Hammett and Chasta

6) With your dual role with L&T in mornings and midday host ... how do you balance your time so both roles are effective?

It's actually very helpful to do both. I'm at the station by 5a and read all the day's stories, go through all the prep and get ready for the morning show. Often I will continue conversations we have on the morning show throughout the day. Our audience is very interactive and very opinionated so I like to incorporate that on my midday show.

7) You and L&T producer Baby Huey are also very active with The Bone's social media with podcasts and posts on the station's website and Facebook page. What kind of info do you post each day?

On Mondays we record our 2nd Shift Podcast on Facebook and Instagram Live. We also do the "Bone Weekend Planner" on Thursdays on FB and Instagram Live, where we support the local music scene by promoting all the local rock 'n' roll shows going on in the Bay. We really look at social media as a great extension of the on-air show and do as much daily as we can to take the audience along for the ride.

Bohemian Rhapsody star Rami Malek and Chasta

8) Speaking of social media, you are also very active posting your own personal radio and life news on your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. As a radio personality, how important is touching base with your audience in this fashion?

Touching base with my Bonehead family is absolutely essential. They get to know me and my family and my life. They relate to me as a real person instead of just "a voice on the radio." I honestly think that is the key to the success I've had over my career. I have lived every single part of my life on the air ... I even left a voicemail message to be played on the air as I was being driven to the hospital to give birth! LOL! My listeners are a major part of my life. If people feel connected to you as a human, then that's the reason they listen to you. They can hear these songs anywhere these days. Why would they listen to my show? They listen because they know me, I'm their friend, I'm accessible and they have an investment in me. And in return I truly get to know them. It gives me a deeper understanding of our listeners and what they care about ... and what they don't. I've become so close to many of our Boneheads that quite a few have ended up in my personal friendship circle.

9) Besides your duties on The Bone, you are also the host of the local Soundwaves TV show. Tell us about that venture?

Supporting local musicians has been a passion of mine since I was 19 and worked on my first "Local Licks" show. I have always had a love for musicians and the blood, sweat and tears they put into their music. I have always done everything I can to support and promote. Soundwaves TV is a brand that has existed in the Bay for decades. It had been on hiatus for some years but the producer, Dennis Willis, came to me about hosting a revamp of the show and I was thrilled. I knew it could be an extension of what I do on The Bone airwaves in supporting the local music scene. It's a throwback to the great MTV days where actual music videos from Bay Area bands are played, and we do interviews with artists and promote local music shows and events. It's a true passion project and we're thrilled with its success so far. We truly believe it's helping to bring the Bay Area music scene so much closer and breathe more life into it.

10) Finally, with all of this on your plate, I know you have a family. What do you do for fun and relaxation when you are not in radio/media mode?

Relaxation? What is this word you speak of? Once I had my son Cody, I knew I had to work hard to find the elusive "work/life balance." When I'm at home with my son, I try my hardest to simply be present with him. He is also my "workout buddy," so we do our daily workouts together. And most importantly, my husband and I have a rule in our house ... no one works on Sunday. That is family day and we treasure it with family yoga, hikes or taking our son on "adventures."