Bethany Kent: Raised In Radio

By: Tyrisha Irwin

Sharp. Witty. Hardworking.

Bethany Kent, the Director for Marketing & Events for Emmis Communications New York City and Emerson College graduate, has over 5 years of radio experience. This radio fanatic has no intention of slowing down when it comes to soaring to new heights in her career.

She was born in a small town, Matunuck, which is in the southern region of Rhode Island. Throughout her childhood and adulthood, she was “raised in radio” and would tune into as many media outlets as she could while dragging her friends or family along for the ride. Little did she know at the time, but radio was her calling. When she was 18 years old, she first interned with formerly named Citadel Broadcasting while working in retail. After being at the radio station all day without being paid, she dreaded going to her other job even if it was for a short shift. Most people would kill to work short shifts, but she enjoyed all the magical and creative energies within radio and that made it even more difficult to resist.

An influential woman in her life, her mother, told Bethany something she’ll never forget: “You just found the difference between a job and a career.” Since then, Bethany Kent has kept her eyes on the prize. Fortunately for her, she was able to land an internship in her freshmen year of college at a great cluster of stations in Providence and later became a member of the Street Team. Working from the bottom to the top did not deter Kent from chasing her dreams. She shared the importance of putting your all into what you want and going for it even if the situation may look bleak to others.

“I worked on the Street Team throughout college and made sure I always kept a foot in the door so when a full time Promotions Director position opened for HOT 106 (WWKX) after I graduated, I jumped at it.” As one door closes, another one opens which it did for Bethany because she was able to connect with a remarkable mentor, Dan Hunt, who was the WWKX Program Director. Hunt taught her some basics in radio such as running a show and how to schedule music.

After being taken under his wing, Bethany Kent got more experience and later was given the opportunity to apply for a Promotions Director at HOT 97.  “I saw an Instagram post from DJ Enuff about an opening for a Promotions Director at HOT 97. That was my DREAM station, so I went for it.”

Six years later, she is leading an “amazing department in an incredibly legendary cluster!”

Despite her obstacles and doubts, she wouldn’t change anything about her journey. “Every challenge, set back, and speed bump now seem like they happened purposefully to bring me to the place I am currently.” She is optimistic about what the future holds for her. “I see where I am now and can’t wait to see where I’ll be in another 5 years or so. I’ve grown so much through experiences, mentors, hard work, and all the crazy things that go along with working in radio.” Her experiences have allowed her to view situations and handle them differently than what she did 5 years ago.

Hard work, dedication, and passion don’t go unnoticed. Thanks to women like Bethany Kent, the world of radio is in excellent hands.

Tradia With The Tea: Try, Try Again

By: Maya Perry

“Tradia with the Tea” is the self-proclaimed Radio girl of Beauty and Tea! Tradia describes, “On a daily, I give my listeners a daily dose of celebrity news and entertainment while keeping it sexy! I found my purpose early in life! While in college, I was always talkative and I learned people were very interested in what I had to say. I believe my purpose for radio was in me, way before I tapped into it. It’s a natural thing.”

Tradia got her start in radio a year after she graduated from South Carolina State University. Streetz 103.3 posted an internship flyer on their social media page and she applied. Even though she was  fresh out of college and worried they wouldn't consider her, ultimately they gave her a chance and she’s been serving tea ever since.

She explains the creation of her on air name in a funny story.““Tradia with the Tea" kind of grew on me. I went by two names before actually sticking with my name now. Before I got in radio, I went by "The Only Tradia". Shortly after, I was promoted to be a co-host on middays and "The Only Tradia" didn't flow with liners and drops for our show. I had a daily segment on the radio where I dished the latest celebrity news and entertainment and that segment was called "Tradia with the tea".She states that once that name caught buzz around the city, people seem to automatically call her "Tradia with the tea". Ultimately the listeners actually made her stick to name.

Tradia credits persistence and consistency in her current success in radio. She lives by the late and great R&B icon Aaliyah’s quote "If at first you don't succeed, Dust yourself off and try again." This has been something Tradia exudes in her work and on air growth. When asked what she would like to tell her younger self, she expresses, “I would tell her to continue the journey, no matter how hard it gets because better days come! And to stay focus on the end goal. Never lose sight of who you are and what you want to accomplish in life!”

DJ Ena Pop: Ladies First

Written by: Maya Perry

Dj Ena Pop is an outspoken go getter who has crowd control and can rock any party. Female dj’s are the minority in the media industry. Dj Ena Pop walks in every room with her head high, not her nose - while leading with integrity, dignity and respect. She makes her work speak for itself rather than the name.

“Ena Pop was a nickname given to me by a childhood friend. Everyone started to call me this. So naturally, when my mother bragged to everyone we knew that I was going to become a DJ, everyone just called me Dj EnaPop.” She explains that she wanted to go by DjLady V because her given last name is Valiente which means brave, and she felt brave by going after this dream. But now, she says her brand is her name and it represents overcoming all fears and doubt. The purpose is to show the world that the dope sound you're hearing through your speaker is being controlled by a woman.

DJ Ena Pop explains her big break in radio. “One day, Dj J Flex who is the Mix Show Coordinator called me and told me that my name was brought up in their music meeting. Shook by his question, I asked him Why? About what? He said the Program Director asked if you were ready to be on air. And Flex responded yes. So they put me on the very next Mix squad weekend and the rest is history.”

There’s a lesson to be learned from DJ Ena Pop’s story: “Sometimes your name is in rooms that you haven’t walked in yet.” You have to continue to perfect your craft and someone will notice your talent and hard work. When asked what she would tell her younger self, Dj Ena concludes by saying, “I would tell myself that it's not going to get any easier until you go for it. Don't be scared you got this kiddo.”

Jeunesse: Hard Work Will Never Steer You Wrong

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

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

 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.