10 Questions with ... Angela Yee

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I started my career as an assistant for Wu-Tang Clan, then transitioned into urban marketing. After working with fashion brands and consulting for music labels, I ended up at Sirius Satellite Radio as the co-host on the "Cipha Sounds Effect" morning show. Shortly after, I started my own weekly nighttime show called "Lip Service," then took over the morning show duties with my own show, "The Morning After with Angela Yee." After working at Sirius for six years, I was recruited by Power 105.1 for "The Breakfast Club" with DJ Envy and Charlamagne. We've been on for over eight years now and have grown into a syndicated morning show in over 90 markets, on weekends, and live on Revolt TV weekday mornings. In addition, I have my "Lip Service" podcast, I'm an owner of the Juices for Life all-natural juice bar in Brooklyn, and just launched the subscription-based drinkfreshjuice.com, a USDA organic pressed juice business. I also have the Angela Yee Book Club and my Run With Yee running club.

1) How do you balance everything?

I have to prioritize and learn how to sometimes say "no," even when there might be a good opportunity. That means turning down a check or a potential relationship, or sometimes letting someone down who you are close with. I also book a day off, which means I try to take at least one day a week to not have a packed schedule after work. Work is important, but so is my health.

2) What are you writing a book about?

The book is based on my "Ask YEE" segment on The Breakfast Club. There are always people who question how I can give advice about certain topics, and even when the advice is logical, they still don't like the fact that it's me doing it. Ever since I was young, I've been the person who people come to when they need to vent or get an opinion. Even my friends' parents would ask me for advice. I'm very practical and non-judgmental.

3) How did you decide on radio as a career?

It was the stars aligning. I have a background in marketing and I was actually trying to get a job in the marketing department at Sirius when Paul Rosenberg, who manages Eminem and is now the president of Def Jam, suggested that I try for the co-host slot on the Shade 45 morning show. They were looking for a woman to balance out the show, so of course I went for it. I had to audition indefinitely, and after about two months of not getting paid to show up to work every morning and not knowing if I would be hired, we had an interview with Jay-Z. It went so well that as soon as I walked out, they hired me and even gave me back pay for my probationary period. Thank God, because my unemployment checks were done.

4) What's your approach to radio interviews?

If there's a book, I read it. If there's a TV show, I watch it. If there's an album, I listen to it. I believe it's important to show as much respect to someone's art as possible. Obviously, sometimes things happen last minute, or we don't have access to material that's not out yet, but I do my best to be prepared. I also check out their social media and other press in case there are things that spark a good conversation. I believe that anything that's accessible online is fair game, but private conversations aren't. And I also treat people like human beings. I know how tough it is to be critiqued and even slandered by strangers, so I never want people to walk away with a bad experience when I can help it.

5) Where did you come up with your "Ask Yee" segment?

I've always had people confide in me and ask what I think they should do when it comes to relationships, work, and family issues. I know when people just want to talk and express themselves, and when they ask for my opinion, I give advice. I've had a pretty good track record with helping people, so it was a natural transition for me to do this segment where I give our listeners advice. I'm also aware that some issues require professional help, so I do have a clinical psychologist, Dr. Kendell Jasper, who I can refer people to and he's amazing.

6) What have you found around the house that you forgot you had?

Recently, I found a box that had my Skytel 2-way pager, PalmPilot, Tivo, and iPod 3. I'm not sure what would happen if I was able to charge any of those devices and turn them on, but I'm sure there would be some great nostalgic feels.

7) How do you show prep individually and collectively; what's your process?

I look up stories the night before and I watch the news in the morning as I get ready for work. I also pay attention to what's trending because that's what people will be talking about. Then I get to work early and go over the stories with our producer, Daniel, and we confirm what the Front Page News and Rumor Report stories will be.

8) Would you tell us about your business interests outside radio?

I just launched drinkfreshjuice.com, which offers fresh pressed juices with nothing extra added, only fruits and vegetables, which people can now order online. A lot of companies add water to their juices so they can sell them at a cheaper price, but we don't do that. I got that vision because our juice bar, Juices for Life in Brooklyn, has helped so many people get healthier, but if they don't have that option where they live, I wanted to be able to bring it to them. I also have my Angela Yee Book Club and you can sign up at kickinitfromthestoop.com, and my Run With Yee running club. Then of course I have my podcast "Lip Service" with my girls Gigi Maguire and Lore'l -- and Stephanie Santiago, when she's in New York. We also did a Lip Service game, which you can get at lipservicegame.com. We have a tour coming up, with the first date at Caroline's in New York on March 28th. On top of that, I'm the ambassador for the New York Public Library and the first ever global diversity, inclusion and community engagement ambassador for BSE Global (Brooklyn Sports and Entertainment). I serve on the board for AFUWI (the American Foundation for the University of the West Indies) and for WAFF (We Are Family Foundation).

9) What would be your advice to those who want to do morning drive?

Stay healthy. Sleep whenever you can, and make sure you eat balanced meals, so you don't get sick. Get involved with your community. It's one thing to be a social media activist, but it's a whole different playing field to provide jobs, opportunities and hope for other people.

10) If you had not gone into radio, what would you have gone into?

I would have already written several books and continued with marketing.

Would you share how you used social media over the years?

It has been a tremendous resource for me to get firsthand information about our guests, but also interact with our listeners. I'm fortunate to have started before social media was the phenomenon it is now, so I'm able to block (literally) negativity and use it productively.

Who were some of your influences during your career?

Angie Martinez. I've always liked her style of not having to resort to being a shock jock to be successful, and she's also humble and not thirsty for the spotlight.

Chelsea Handler. She's funny and can joke about traditionally taboo topics for women and not care about how conservative people feel about it.