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10 Questions with ... C.C.
February 9, 2021
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. I’m NOT the only female doing a solo morning show in Rock Radio, but it’s def not the ‘norm.’ Usually, women are #2 as a co-host, which is awesome as well. It’s just not as common to have a woman doing a solo morning show in this format. This was also a big reason I wanted to work at Rock 108. Granted, I do have the mentality of a dude, but try to offset it by wearing dresses.
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
1. What was your first job in radio and how did you get it?
My first job was in June of 2014 at 94 Rock in Norfolk, NE. I had just completed my 9th treatment center for alcoholism. While I was in that treatment center for six months, I knew I had to find a job I liked when I got out. I needed to find something that I was passionate about, rather than just “being sober” and working a random job, because obviously that wasn’t working. I began working with a job placement service, and I told them that I wanted to do radio. They showed me college courses that I could take, but instead I went to 94 Rock’s website. They had a job opening for a morning show co-host. I called the station and left a message. They called me back and said they’d forgotten that the job was even up on the website, but gave me an interview anyway. I told them in the interview that I had no radio experience, and that I was newly sober. They didn’t flinch, and asked me to audition. I got the job, and they taught me the ropes. I still get goosebumps when recounting that time, because not only did I get my foot in the door… landing that job kept me alive and sober.
2. Who were some of your radio mentors when you first started in the business and what did they do for you?
I didn’t grow up listening to radio jocks. I had NO clue I’d ever be in radio, so all of my mentors are the people I’ve worked with. At 94 Rock, Tonya Haze, PD at the time, believed in me enough to offer me a gig. She was kind and patient, and always made sure what we were doing was fun. Michael Anthony taught me the board, and basically everything about doing a show. After being at 94 Rock for two years, I was hired at Entercom Seattle to do weekend shows at 99.9 KISW, along with production during the week. Ryan Castle was the most chill P.D., in the fact that he doesn’t micro-manage. He wants you to be you. He let me develop who I was on-air at KISW at my own pace. His chill demeanor along with his strong work ethic showed me that it’s a job, but you have to have fun. He’d always say, “Make sure you have fun during your show.” Jason Dildine, Production Manager at Entercom Seattle was a HUGE mentor for me. That dude has the strongest work ethic of any human being I’ve ever met. Attention to detail is something he passed down to me. I spent MANY hours and days learning from him. Learning production and learning how radio in a major market functions overall. There’s not enough space here to share how impactful he has been to my career. Great guy. Eric Powers, PD of Hot 103.7 at Entercom Seattle. I applied to be the producer for Sir Mix-A-Lot’s morning show after working two years at KISW. Eric hired me, knowing that I’d never produced a show before. Both Eric and Mix were patient with me as I learned the ropes. He is also very detail-oriented, and I took that with me. Russ Mottla, P.D. here at Rock 108 has a style of his own, and I’ve learned SO much from him. He also doesn’t micro-manage, which I love. He gives me freedom to develop my on-air persona. He asks me, “What makes C.C., C.C.? When you figure that out, build on it.” Russ gives me freedom to try basically anything. I’m very lucky in that aspect. Having someone that believes in you means everything.
3. How long have you been doing mornings on KFMW (Rock 108) and what makes this station so special?
I’ve been here at Rock 108 for 1 year and 7 months. First off, it’s a locally owned, heritage station. It’s been around for over 20 years, which is one of the things that drew me here. I remember streaming Rock 108 when I was looking into working here, and I was blown away by the playlist. Rock music, especially heavy Rock is my jam, and there was no shortage. Some people might call me out on this, but Rock here in the Midwest is way more bad ass in my opinion. You've got a lot of blue collar, hard-working people here, and they love the heavy rock like I do. AND, having an Active Rock format is what I’m all about. You get to play all the new stuff.
4. You have said that a “solo morning show by a woman in Rock Radio is fairly uncommon.” Please elaborate.
Sure. I’m NOT the only female doing a solo morning show in Rock Radio, but it’s def not the “norm”. Usually, women are #2 as a co-host, which is awesome as well. It’s just not as common to have a woman doing a solo morning show in this format. This was also a big reason I wanted to work at Rock 108. Granted, I do have the mentality of a dude, but try to offset it by wearing dresses.
5. Do you do any special benchmarks or music features on your show?
I’d say the most popular one is “Daily Dumbass”. Stupid criminals are everywhere, so why not spotlight them as dumbasses, and add some fun sound effects/movie clips/audio to amplify their dumbass ways. It’s a lot of fun. Also, I love Thursdays, because my co-worker and friend, Brian Marshall has a segment on my show called, “Throwback Thursday.” He features a song from the earlier Rock 108 days, or just a song he liked growing up. I always look forward to hearing his personal story around it.
6. What about Rock interviews. Do you have any memorable interview moments and with what artists?
Probably the most memorable moment I had was with John Cooper from Skillet. Skillet played a show, and John had me go on stage with him to sing. We shared a mic. I suck at singing big time. As far as interviews, I remember interviewing Bret Michaels and was amazed at how kind and generous he was. He helped out with tornado relief while I was doing radio in Nebraska. A tornado ripped apart a small town there.
7. You’ve done radio in other formats. What makes Rock Radio work for you?
Rock Radio is my passion. I was married to a rock musician in Seattle. We were together nine years, and I went to SO many shows over those nine years. Local rock bands and national acts. That’s when I really got hooked. To be backstage and see how it all comes together before and after the show. I fell in love with the rock scene. The only other format I worked in was Hip Hop, when I produced Sir Mix-A-Lot’s show on Hot 103.7. I couldn’t pass up that once in a lifetime opportunity, and it was awesome. A lot of people don’t know this, but Sir Mix-A-Lot is a huge Rock fan.
8. You are also very active posting on your Facebook, Instagram and Twitter pages. As a radio personality, how important is touching base with your audience in this fashion?
I feel it’s quite important, because you get the opportunity to provide visuals to go along with what they hear on-air. I’m a very visual person, so if I can see a photo or video of something to go along with what I heard, I’m in heaven. Also, social media provides a way to interact more intimately with listeners. It’s just another way to ensure them that yes, I am their friend, and I’m genuinely interested in their life. If they feel that you care about what goes on in their life, it can go a long ways. You get to build a two-way friendship, instead of a one-sided relationship of a voice they hear on the radio.
9. You’ve been very open about your battles with alcoholism in the past and how it’s important to follow your passions in sobriety. How are things going with your journey?
I have 7 years and 4 months sober, and I got that in 24 hour increments. I’m very much focused on the present. Looking ahead gets me into trouble. As long as I do my best today, tomorrow will come when it’s supposed to. I have to keep my life simple that way. My journey so far has been the best high of my life. I get high off of little things like driving aimlessly and seeing where the road takes me. My big brother said to me recently, “I never miss one of your phone calls, because every conversation we get to have is a bonus conversation.” Indeed, every day is bonus time. I’m so grateful to my family for never giving up on me over the eight years of slowly killing myself with booze and drugs. I feel for me, it’s important to be open about my past struggles, because there are SO many people just like me, or there’s someone who has a loved one who’s like me. They/we aren’t bad people, they/we are just sick. It took me years to believe that statement, because I was so ashamed. Being open about my struggles, I hope can help someone to NOT feel ashamed.
10. Finally, with all of this on your plate, what do you do for fun and relaxation when you are not in radio/media mode?
This is that dreaded “hobby” question. I don’t have a lot of hobbies. To relax, (like I mentioned before) I love taking off in my car with a huge ass coffee, a pack of smokes, stereo cranked and seeing where the road takes me. I’ll often end up somewhere and grab a hotel for the night. Might sound weird, but when I get into my car and drive, it’s like being in a time machine. Driving into the future and leaving the past in the rear view mirror. I get such a high off that. The simple stuff.
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