Jeunesse: Hard Work Will Never Steer You Wrong
“The advice I have for the aspiring women in radio is to throw away any ideas you have about what success might look like.
Written By: Maya Perry
Jeunesse is a multi-talented radio and TV host from Toronto, Canada. She is currently on air at Flow 93-5, Toronto’s Hip Hop. She started career at Flow over 10 years ago. Since then she has worked in Ottawa at The New Hot 89-9 and at a small market country station just outside of Toronto. She also host a daily lifestyle show on community television called ‘Inside Durham’ and a weekly podcast called ‘In Case You Missed It…with Jeunesse’ available on all major podcast streaming apps. Jeunesse states that “When I got my first major market job on air – I went by J’Ness. There was some pressure to take on a nickname because ‘everyone else had one’. I never liked it and it never felt like me. When I left that job, I decided I was leaving behind that name. Jeunesse is who I am and I feel like what I offer to my listeners is the most authentic version of me. How could I do that if I was pretending to be someone I’m not?”
Jeunesse started out by volunteering at a local community TV station and by going to college for radio and TV. Part of her program required her to get an internship in one of those fields. During her last year of school, she applied to a bunch of places to ensure internship. She states“I applied to a bunch of places but Flow 93-5, the hip-hop station in Toronto was where I wanted to be. Their unpaid internship program was Monday-Friday 9AM-5PM in the promotions department. Because of that I had to be done school to participate. So, I created a relationship with them and checked in from time to time. The day after I finished classes, I started my internship there.” Her determination and drive led her to live out her dreams.
While speaking with Jeunesse she provided great advice for aspiring radio host or tv personnel who are looking into getting into this ever changing industry. “The advice I have for the aspiring women in radio is to throw away any ideas you have about what success might look like. As a planner myself, that sounds crazy – but this business IS crazy! Don’t come into it thinking you’ll start out at the top. You might, but you probably won’t and that’s OK. There is value in working your way up from intern, to events cruiser, to weekends, to evenings, and maybe even back to weekends again. It’s an opportunity to be well rounded and likely – the most qualified and informed person in the room at all times. Also, have faith.”
Jeunesse concludes our interview by stating what she believes her brand is. “The way I would describe my brand is by saying: I’m authentic, I am a storyteller. I like to talk about and share things that are important to me. That’s how I connect with my audience. I am honest, forthcoming about who I am and what I have experienced. To me, my platform is not just a one sided conversation. On my show I give each of my guests the space and opportunity to tell their unique story. During my radio show I LOVE adding calls. I bring on people who want to comment on a topic or just tell me how their day is going. On social media I make myself available to chat or support anyone who listens to me. All the serious stuff aside – I’m a music lover who is obsessed with pop culture and entertainment news. So, I make sure to get in all of that as often as possible. It has taken each and every day of my career from beginning to this point now to really be able to articulate that. But it came naturally for me out of a love for what I do and the people who are watching or listening.”
Tisha Raye: Loud and Proud Radio Princess
“Also don’t share all your dreams and goals/plans with everyone because believe it or not, everyone is not for you some are just there to take away from you but they can’t take if you don’t give.”
Written by: Maya Perry
“BOOM!”, TishaRaye is a loud and proud radio princess whose energetic energy lights up the airwaves. TishaRaye states that “I always wanted to be on the radio rocking the mic. I started my radio career with my first internship with a Gospel Radio station at 1340 The Light in Winston-Salem under Anita “Boss Lady” Dean Arnette leadership. Following graduation, I landed another internship with one of my favorite hip hop stations in my area 102 Jamz, where I started off with ShowDownBeatz, DJ J Flex and DJ Lil Vegas.” After co hosting a mix show with ShowDownBeatz for a few years, TishaRaye finally got the chance to be the pilot and control her own show.
Tisha describes her purpose as “…just staying myself and doing what TishaRaye loves to do and that’s being positive, along with learning all the time and having fun with others.” In radio TishaRaye feels like she is there to enjoy herself and host a party with listeners especially the ones that love to BOOM real loud and proud! TishaRaye’s delightful spirit shines through every time she cracks the mic. She is a reliable and determined personality who is always supporting and encouraging fellow women in radio. When asked what advice she would like to share with fellow and aspiring women in radio is “would be to continue to support each other. I would say stay consistent and stay in your lane but make sure you are known! Know that you have a voice and you must be heard but THINK before you speak and react. Also don’t share all your dreams and goals/plans with everyone because believe it or not, everyone is not for you some are just there to take away from you but they can’t take if you don’t give.”
When asked about what she would tell her younger self she explains, “I would look Little TishaRaye in her eyes and I would tell her to keep the FAITH and always TRUST God. I would tell her to stay focused and just because you are hit with 100,000 Nos, it doesn’t mean to give up on it. Understand that there is that one YES right around the corner! I would tell TishaRaye to LIVE because life is too short and living is the way!!! I would share with her that LOVE is a real thing and to make sure she LOVES whatever she put her mind to especially if she is going through hell and high water to get what she wants. Lastly, I would share with little TishaRaye to be a LEADER of her own tribe.”
Young Gee: Dream It Then Do It
“ If every time that I’m on the radio, and I can touch just one person that’s listening, or just make one person’s day better, I’ve done my job.”
By: Maya Perry
“Dreams do come true. But dreams are nothing without action.”
Young Gee is a multifaceted on air personality with over ten years of radio experience. In 2000, as an intern, Young Gee was given the name by actor and television personality Terrance J (then radio personality) & CEO of Journee Enterprises Fred Whitfield (then on street team member). The “Gee” was short for her name Garrick. Now that she is older and no other names stuck, she states, “I guess it’s Young Gee 4 Eva!”
Young Gee explains her start in radio was unintentional.She grew up playing basketball, and that’s all she wanted to do. Entering her freshman year at North Carolina A&T State University, she wanted to be a sports commentator, while majoring in Mass Communications. Towards the end of freshman year while playing pickup, Young Gee tore her ACL for the second time. At that moment, Young Gee knew she could no longer play basketball on a competitive level, and along with that, it crushed her dreams of being a sports commentator. She was no longer interested in anything dealing with sports.
After taking about a year and a half to figure out what her next move is, she went back to something other than sports that was constant in her life; MUSIC.
Along with basketball, she always loved music. One day she decided to visit the college radio station WNAA 90.1, and signed up to be a part of the street team. A few months later, she started sitting in on a radio show, just to learn the behind the scenes operations of radio. While working with the street team for about a year, she was connected with the promotions department at WJMH 102 Jamz. After interning in the promotions department, she wanted to learn the production side of things, including running the board, and the daily operations of on air. Her tenacity eventually put her in the position to intern on the weekend mix show for about 2 years. Going into Young Gee’s last semester of my college, she was offered the on air personality mix show position and she has been working ever since.
When asked what she believes her brand is, she states “My brand in radio has always been “the voice of the people”. I’ve always made it a point to relate to the people in the community. If every time that I’m on the radio, and I can touch just one person that’s listening, or just make one person’s day better, I’ve done my job.”
Young Gee did take a break from radio for a few years but now that she is back, her appreciation for the craft and her passion has grown. She quotes “Not to worry about getting knocked down. Instead, focus on getting back up as quickly as possible.” Catch Young Gee rocking the airwaves in the NC Triad Area.
Roxie: From Mix Show to Morning Show
“Be yourself. You don’t have to be anyone else and you don’t have to try and please people. Be who you are and you will always win; people who like you will love you for you, and people who don’t like you will at least respect your authenticity.”
By: Maya Perry
Raquel “Roxie” Wadelington is a bubbly, passionate and assertive young woman who has taken over mornings as the first lady of the 3LiveCrew Morning show in NC. “Roxie” was a nickname given by mentor in the radio industry and she loves it!
Roxie started as an intern in 2007 at radio station while attending school and worked her way to into morning radio. She explains doing any and everything asked to do from filling in at remotes to picking up trash at station events. She began working on mix shows and filling in for on air shifts as well. Roxie describes her purpose in radio by stating, “Whenever someone says listening to me in the morning puts them in better spirits, uplifts them, or in some way brightens their day, my purpose is reconfirmed. That purpose is to spread light, love, and laughter and help people start each day as positively as possible.”
When asked what she would tell her younger self, she states “Be yourself. You don’t have to be anyone else and you don’t have to try and please people. Be who you are and you will always win; people who like you will love you for you, and people who don’t like you will at least respect your authenticity.” She grew up idolizing women in radio who displayed their very relateable personality and she is eager to continue those traits to the listeners she inspires every day.
Roxie is a mother and wife who exudes the significance of being able to be a family oriented individual in this ever changing media environment. She concludes our conversation by affirming, “Don’t compromise and don’t pretend. If you front long enough, it will get old, so save yourself the trouble and keep it real from the jump.”
Shilynne Cole: A Platform is Nothing Without People
By: Maya Perry
Shilynne Cole is programmer and personality with over two decades of experience in three radio formats. Shilynne, whom goes by her given middle name, is a proficient multifaceted personality who is open to learning new things and displaysawillingness and eagerness to adjust to the ever-changing radio industry.
Shilynne wanted to be in radio and television for as long as she can remember, but she had established an obsession with music and radio from a young age. At 10 years old, hermotherbought one of those small old school transistor radios and she would listen to it continuously. Her plan was to major in Broadcast Journalism, but do television first.
Her high school principal gave her introduction into radio.In her senior year of high school, she was the president of the Student Government Association and one of her duties was to read the announcements over the P.A. system every morning. One morning, her principal stopped her on the way out and said, “You know, you really have a great voice. You should consider going into radio.” That was her confirmation that this was her life’s purpose.
She went on to do internships at three different radio formats including Gospel radio and Public radio before she graduated from college. She began her first radio job immediately after graduation at the Gospel radio station she had previously interned with. Shilynne continues to share her spirit and electrifying voice during her show “The Afternoon Drive” on the #1 R&B and Old School station where she is currently program director.
When asked what Shilynne believes her brand is, she simply states, “I’ve never really thought about myself as being a brand. I guess that being my authentic self, both on air and off air is what’s most important to me. My purpose in radio kind of mirrors my purpose in life, which is to help…whatever form that help takes. Shilynne concludes her interview by giving advice to her younger self and other inspiring, upcoming women in radio by stating “….. you are not what has happened to you. You are NOT what people think you are. You are what GOD says you are. You are greater than any opposition that comes against you.”
“Be coachable. Be flexible. Be fearless.”- Shilynne, 2019
Elizabeth Coombs: Intern Turns Into Radio Mastermind
“I’d like to find new ways to leverage my position to benefit my community and women as a whole. There can never be enough voices empowering and cheering on women.”
By: Tyrisha Irwin
Elizabeth Coombs, also known as “Beth” has conquered the world of radio out of unwavering focus, drive and passion. The Brooklyn wife and mother of three credits her experience to “persistence, luck and a lotta learning.” Although her interests include stand up comedy and improvisation, she confesses to not being the most experienced radio host.
Her first job was as an intern for one of the smallest radio groups in New York. She lacked the radio experience and suffered from age differences. However, her heightened level of maturity worked for her benefit and jump started her career. The operating manager of 92.7 FM The Drive, Utica-Arjuna Broadcasting allowed Coombs to produce and air a Public Relations show for 30 minutes every Sunday.
After 5 months, she joined a radio station with her husband where she worked as news director and a co-host for the morning news talk show. Not too long after, she was hired by Lite 98.7 as a part of the “Beth & Dave in The Morning” show. The couple discusses a variety of topics ranging from odd things that make them cry to small town eats like sushi burritos.Although Beth has no problem letting loose on air, she does have some professional goals that motivate her everyday to keep moving forward.
Professionally, Coombs hopes to continue to grow as a woman and a radio host. To her, a hunger of learning is essential for success, “If you're not curious about every single aspect of the business, you're doing it wrong.” Beth always says, “I want to learn all the things!” She aims to get better at as many featuresof radio as she can in hopes that she can influence others.
Elizabeth Coombs has a desire to use her career as an opportunity to positively impact those around her, “I’d like to find new ways to leverage my position to benefit my community and women as a whole. There can never be enough voices empowering and cheering on women.” She even sees herself using her sense of humor and possibly trying stand-up comedy to support women all over the world.
Her advice to any upcoming radio personalities is this: “Never ever think it’s too late to follow your passion. Your path might be different than you imagined, but a path still exists.” She also urged women to always be willing to help others because if you’re apart of team then “act like it” because “people will be jerks here and there, but that doesn’t mean you have to be a jerk in response.” Her closing remarks were as follows: “You can do this! It comes down to how consistently you’re willing to work for it. Believe in yourself.”
Elizabeth Coombs has proven that hard work, passion and faith are keys to success and following your dreams. Although her career journey flourished at a time that some would consider as “late,” she has set her mark in journalism. She has shown that regardless of age or experience, women can accomplish anything they put their minds and hearts to.