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10 Questions with ... Supa Cindy
September 6, 2022
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Started at 99 JAMZ as an intern, worked my way through every air shift. Was a cohost on The Big Lip Bandit Morning Show, afternoons on The Afternoon Get Down with DJ Entice, recently I was moved to mornings on The PacJam Morning Show with Radio Big Mack and DJ Nasty 305. I started my own non-profit Supa Friends in 2003 because my community is a top priority to me and I have been a part of so many causes in South Florida. In 2016 I launched Cin D. Media which is my multi-media company. In 2021 I was named by The Miami New Times as “Best Radio Personality of 2021”, I also received a proclamation from the City of North Miami Beach on Sept. 21, 2021 and to mark the anniversary, this year I will be feeding 700 families alongside Farm Share with a drive thru food distribution and that weekend with a family friendly music festival titled ”Supa Cindy Day”. Recently I was inducted into the 2022 Grammy Members Class and was selected as 1 of 30 women to be featured in the Black Women in Radio’s exhibit in the Library of Congress.
1. What are you up to these days?
These days I’m adjusting to waking up at 3am to do mornings again. I am also working on making my 1st “Supa Cindy Day” festivities a success. My media company Cin D. Media also has a few tv show projects in the works and I can’t forget Supa Friends” and the projects that I am putting together for the holidays and 2023.
2. How did get into radio?
My journey in radio has been a roller coaster ride of ups and downs. I fell in love with radio straight out of college and like I said started as an intern working for free. A friend of mine Teddy T was the cohost of the night show with Al B. Sylk and he asked me to come write for the show and that’s what I did! People see me now and think it was so easy getting to where I am. In radio you will be overlooked a trillion times but I think it’s up to you to make the decision if you’re going to treat all of the downs that happen as a speed bump or a stop sign. I chose to push through! I almost gave up in 2008 when my morning show was suddenly, with no warning replaced with a syndicated show and I was fired. When it happened, I wasn’t even angry I was more hurt than anything. I said I would never return and went to work with Pitbull’s media company “Planet Pit”. Then in 2013 I received a call to return to be the local element and board op for the show that I got fired from. Talk about deep breaths and namaste! I was convinced by close friends to return and Thank GOD that I did. I have worked mornings, afternoons, nights, weekends and overnights. The only shift that I have not done is middays.
3. If you changed careers, what would you like to do?
I would get into media and producing television series, documentaries and movies.
4. What’s the most difficult thing about being an air personality?
I think that the most difficult part is knowing and believing in your worth when you are repeatedly overlooked. If you’re not standing or mounted on a firm foundation you can forget about it because you will sink.
5. Growing up what air personalities caught your ear?
Bo Griffin, Tanner in the Morning, and Cox on the Radio
6. When you were a kid growing up, what did you want to be?
As a kid I went to a Juvenile Diabetes Summer Camp in upstate NY and loved the way the dietitian showed me how to eat better and take better care of myself. In college I started out wanting to be a Dietitian but when I got the syllabus with a ton of Math and Science classes, my mind quickly made a detour and that’s when I decided to study Radio and Television Production.
7. Who have been some of your influencers and mentors?
When I was an intern at 99JAMZ a man named Jim Sears who was a legend in music promotion and loved by the 99JAMZ family began mentoring me and guiding me when I was absolutely clueless. Throughout the years different people have had an impact on my life and career.
Recently it was my previous P.D. and Director of Operations Jill Strada. She definitely supported my dreams, visions and goals that I was thriving for and gave me so much awesome advice and guidance.
8. Would you share one of your funnier radio moments?
Recently doing afternoons myself and DJ Entice were going into a talk break, we discussed what we were going to do like 5 minutes before but for some reason as soon as he cracked the mic my mind went totally blank. So, as he’s doing the opener, I’m signaling him in a panic with my hands “what are we doing?” and he answered live on the radio, “No Cindy it’s a talk break” live on the radio and then I had the nerve to answer him “Oh about the guy that cheated on his girlfriend?” and he replied, “Yeah” then we just went into the break. So, we basically had our show prep talk live on the radio. We were hysterically laughing in disbelief when we went into commercials.
9. Any advice for up-and-coming air personalities?
Be patient …Be respectful …Be a team player. Don’t walk in the door feeling and acting entitled and have different avenues of revenue.
10. And the best advice you’ve ever been given?
Go Back to radio! And advice that I give to myself: Don’t take things personal because you have no clue what that person is going through.
Bonus Questions
What are you are most proud of?
I am so proud of myself for not quitting, also for all the awards that I have been receiving the last few years, I am extremely proud of the relationship that I have built with my community. I feel so much love when I go to events or even to a simple visit to my local grocery store and I appreciate that beyond words.
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