Written by: Maya Perry
Audrey is a syndicated morning queen at Entercom, who describes herself as “Energetic, authentic, personable…. everyone’s friend who takes the joke too far.” She quickly explains her first start in radio as a funny story. “I researched who the PD was at my local iHeart cluster in Lexington, KY. I found out his name was Michael Jordan and just sent him an email with the subject line reading #23. He thought my email was hilarious and set up a meeting… from there I got hired on the spot for my creative way of getting his attention and started working as a part timer for three different stations in the building. I worked there as a talent for a top 40 station, alt rock, and classic rock. Basically, I was taking on anything I could to prove myself and to show how grateful I was for the opportunity.”
Like many of us, in a saturated industry, Audrey set herself apart and was persistent in finding her purpose and place in radio. “…. I found my purpose when I realized that my voice can create an awareness. In a job where we try to lighten the mood every day and ATTEMPT to not take ourselves so seriously… it’s been amazing to see the shift in confidence within myself that I CAN talk about mental health. I CAN talk about suicide prevention. I think that many of us have this fear of like, “will my boss be okay with this?” or “will my listeners turn off if I speak on this? I’ve decided that because I try to put as much as my life out there as possible that my purpose has transformed from this vain sense of boosting myself up on air and to stop making me sound like the coolest person in existence, because lets be real we all do that, and instead try and help others when they are hurting. We can all use the mic to uplift and motivate others!!!”
We concluded our interview with Audrey’s special tips on being a radio boss in this industry. “Being tired will be worth it. Keep grinding. The people you meet, keep their business cards. Go to those additional meetings that you’re not obligated to be in, but to show that you are eager to learn more. But above all, don’t be upset with how long it takes you to get to where you want to be!! Have patience. Don’t be afraid to move for the job you want. Don’t be afraid to chase your dreams. If it’s not happening in your radius…. gage whether or not you think it’s actually going to happen for you in that town. Comfort zones are comfortable for a reason. It gets so easy to go about your normal routine but you will NOT grow unless you go into a space that pushes you to excel in ways that force you to learn new talents. Know your worth and fight for it!!!!!” You can catch Audrey on mornings in Las Vegas and Albany, NY on “The Dave and Mahoney Morning Show.”