In mid-January 2005, I was living in Nashville, unemployed, and wondering what to do with my life. I had moved there from L.A. in 1996 to oversee the Country radio division for a music-trade magazine. The magazine folded in 2002, and I sort of fell into a radio gig since I had worked so closely with radio during those years. After a stint at the iconic Country station, WSM-FM in Nashville — with the nastiest excuse for a human being, let alone a work partner- I was grateful to be fired in June 2004. I Spent the rest of the year traveling and working on a major holiday charity project. After spending Christmas in Mexico, January came and everyone else seemed to get back to their lives, while I had no clue where to turn for a job. I prayed for three things: to be near the ocean again, a company that actually valued my work and efforts, and a good partner that I clicked with, where we could both shine.
Literally, a few days later, I got a call from Randi Kirshbaum – the PD of Coast 93.1 — actually pre-Coast, it was still just WMGX. She heard about me from her VP of programming that I had met earlier that year. She say she had a three person morning show, and that the two females hosts were out on medical leave, was I interested in a four week fill-in job.
A California native, eight years in Nashville, January 2005. What the hell I thought, at the very least I could create a good demo tape. I drove to Portland and arrived on Friday, January 2. I got right to work. I was welcomed by Tim Wright, and we instantly clicked. He was-and still is-the brother God forgot to give me. I fell in love with Portland even through one of the worst January’s in terms of snow and cold.
Through luck and a lot of prayers, I was able to stay with the show – falling more and more in love with Portland, my job, the people, the stunning summers, and the fact that I was able to spend time at the ocean whenever I wanted! I learned to shovel snow, scrape ice, wear Yak Trax on my boots, and truly know gratitude at the first sign of Spring!
Fast forward 10 years! What a ride it’s been – diagnosed with breast cancer — pretty much on the air – in October 2005. My entire journey through treatment was documented and maybe helpful to someone who was struggling with the same diagnosis. Ive been able to lend my time to various charities that I am passionate about, and am lucky to have a platform to help spread these important messages.
I have made so many really good, close friends. I’ve been able to share my love of indoor cycling through teaching classes here, developed my road cycling abilities, learned to paddle board, traveled extensively around this gorgeous state. I truly thank God every day that I live here.
As I think about all that has happened in the last 10 years, I marvel at the fact that right now, at this very time, I love my life and my job more than ever. I am inspired and fascinated every morning working with Blake. It’s been a year of growth for us — individually and together – He really is that good and that driven to make our show the best. It has re-ignited my fire and my desire to be the best. I can’t wait to see where our second year together takes us. To my boss, Randi, thank you for calling me 10 years ago, thanks for all your support, through my ups, downs, tantrums, and tears. I hope the moments I have made you proud outweigh any sleepless nights I may have caused you.
And mostly, our listeners– I am grateful for such an amazing community of people — supportive, loving, funny, spirited, opinionated, and the true foundation of any morning show, I will never take that for granted. Thanks for laughing with me, crying with me, and sometimes carrying me when I needed it.
Cheers – to many more good times! I’ll take my gold watch now!
