January 28, 2025 • 41 mins
iHeartMedia Chicago presents the Women Inspire Chicago Podcast hosted by Angela Ingram, iHeart Chicago's Senior Vice President of Public Engagement and produced by iHeart Chicago’s Paulina Roe. Angela hosts inspiring conversations with some of Chicago’s top women executives as they share their personal stories of success, including their triumphs, detours, pitfalls and challenges.
In this episode, "Kickback with KeKe," Angela has a candid conversation with the voice of a new generation of leaders - KeKe Hampton. She is an award-winning on-air personality from iHeart Chicago's 103.5 KISS FM and 107.5 WGCI.
KeKe began her radio career as an intern at iHeartmedia Chicago. She excelled in several behind the scenes roles until she began her on-air journey as a weekend talent on 107.5 WGCI. KeKe is a member of the nationally syndicated morning show, "The Fred Show," on 103.5 KISS-FM. She also continues to host 'Weekends with KeKe" on 107.5 WGCI in Chicago and Q93.3 in New Orleans.
KeKe is a 2024 "Gracie Award" winner, selected as a "Rising Radio Star" by Radio Facts Magazine and a "Future African American Radio Leader" by Radio Ink Magazine. Keke continues to create viral content and deliver compelling celebrity interviews. She has made multiple appearances on ABC 7 Chicago and FOX 32 Chicago. In 2023, she made her first appearance on BET and guest starred on the nationally syndicated morning show "The Breakfast Club." She is a co-host of the popular "What More Can I Say" podcast and the co-creator/co-host of "Cooking with Keke & Ryan." When she is not on the mic, you can catch KeKe reporting from the hottest events or hosting, “The Kickback With Keke,” an after-school program for under-privileged kids in the south suburbs of Chicago.
Check out the Women Inspire Chicago Podcast and be inspired! The Women Inspire Chicago podcast is sponsored by @Potbelly
Connect with KeKe: @OnAirKeKe
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
iHeartMedia Chicago presents the Women Inspire Chicago podcast, hosted by
Angela Ingram, iHeart Chicago's Senior vice president of Public Engagements,
and produced by iHeart Chicago's Paulina Rowe. Angela hosts inspiring
conversations with some of Chicago's top women executives as they
share their personal stories of success, including the triumphs, detours, pitfalls,
and challenges. In this episode, Kickback with Kiki, Angela has
(00:21):
a candid conversation with the voice of a new generation
of leaders, Keiki Hampton. She's an award winning on air
personality from iHeart Chicago's one of three five Kiss FM
and one on seven five WGCI. Check it out and
be inspired.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Welcome to Women Inspire Chicago. I am so excited about
this episode. It's a new year and a new generation
of leaders and so we're kicking it off today with
Kiki and Paulina.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Welcome. Hi, thanks for having us kick.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Back with Keiki. I am.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm just overjoyed that you're in a studio with us today.
But first let me introduce brand new producer of Women
in spar Chicago, Paulina.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Yes, Hi, everybody, So we've.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Got Paulina and Keikey. We're all on first name basis here,
so that's how we're gonna roll today. But Kiki, I
am just so inspired and when I think about women
in spar Chicago and leadership in particular, I'm almost sorry
that you have not been on.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
This podcast and this is your first time. As I was.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Reading your bio and going over everything, I just said,
why why has she not been.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
A part of this?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
So forgive me. I'm starting out with an apology. But
why don't you share your background with us?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
All right?
Speaker 5 (01:38):
Well, you and Angelaie, I think you've seen me from
start my career till now. But you know, basically born
and raised in Chicago, lived everywhere in the city. Beginning
of my life in the Northwest suburbs now and you know,
through high school in the South Suburbs. Family from the
West Side of Chicago. I just always have loved radio
(01:58):
as a kid, so I was used to tell people
at eleven I would work in radio. I used to
call the radio station asking for a job at eleven
and they would tell me to just stay in school,
and that's what I did, and then I've ended up
getting an internship here, started out unpaid internship for like
two years, then did a a stent in the continuity department,
(02:21):
the commercials department, worked there, left the commercials department, went
to the digital team, worked there, ended up on air,
and here.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
We are.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
As a morning show contributor to The Fred Show, which
is a nationally syndicated morning show that's based right here
in Chicago on one on three five KISSFM. Paulina is
also a morning show contributor for one on three five KISSFM.
And it's just it's amazing to have watched you grow.
And it's the interesting thing is I think we're all
products of an internship with this company. Of course mine
(02:53):
was a lot you know, long time, but the end
result is the same. Yeah, we're here, But I just
think about when when you first came, and you're right,
you were in continuity where you were scheduling commercials, but
you always were there late at night when I was
I'm like, why is she always hanging around? And that
pays off because more than likely you were in the
program director's office at WGCI. Yes, And so not only
(03:14):
have you a morning show contributed for The Fred Show,
but you also do weekends on WGCI and then Paulina
spent a whole lot of time in my chair when
she was a part time promotions assistant and she actually
started podcasting before podcasting was popular.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
And then she said, well, I got an idea.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
I think I want to start a nonprofit. So we
talked through that. It's just amazing, first of all, to
see both of you and how you've grown. And when
I think about the new generation of leadership, I can't
think of anybody other than Kiki and Paulina.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
I mean, you have.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Really set the stage. But Kiki, just to look at
your list of awards and I'm just gonna call her through.
Named a Rising Radio Star by Radio Facts magazine, Future
African America, and Radio Leader by Radio inc Magazine. But
here's the big one. You are the recipient of the
twenty twenty four Gracy Awards. Now the Grasis focus on
(04:12):
women who are making positive change and are the best
representation for a career in the entertainment business.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Wow wowy.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
But here's the thing that is so amazing, and you
have got to share this. So when we submit for
the Gracy Awards every year, there's always someone in programming
or producer that actually compiles all the award entries.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
You have done that for years? Yes, tell me you
didn't compile your own?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Well yeah, some point.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Yeah, I did it for years in my digital role
for other women in the company who we would submit
every year, the different talents, and I honestly thought a
Gracie award was something that I might be considered for
way later down in my career, like once i've you know,
almost at retirement, I said, well, maybe you know, this
is something I could put on my goal list. So
never did I think that I would be even considered
(05:10):
for something like that after being on the air for
it was like a year. You know, that was my
first time being on the air full time. Obviously working
in you know, I did all I did every shift
you can do in radio before I got to mornings.
But I just thought that that was something that would
come after like thirty years on the air. So the
fact that I was even considered for that, I was like, wait, what,
(05:32):
like you are you are you gonna submit me for that?
So I was shook at the opportunity, and they were like, yeah,
pull pull up some clips and then you know how you've.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Done for all the other women.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
I said, Oh, Okay, so you know, I've sent them
over my clips and when I tell you, they sent
me an email saying congratulations, I just I don't even.
I think I was in a car and I just
pulled over and started crying, and I was like I
could not believe that that was actually happening. And I
got scared because I'm almost like, when stuff happens in
your career early on, it's like, Okay, what I have
(06:06):
to look forward to?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
You know, like what else does God have?
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Because this was not expected or you know, I didn't
think that I was deserving, but it was. It was
definitely a milestone in my career that I'll never ever forget.
And now I'm like, okay, I gotta get some more graces.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
You know, I.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Think you will. But you know, this is how God works.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
You know. We can sit down and assume that you know,
this is this, this is this is it for us,
and just as soon as you start to question her
doubt or you know, just think, oh well, I've got
a few more years ago than bam, he really shows up.
He shows up all the time. But this is a
testament to your humility because when you look at your
(06:47):
and you say a year and haven't been in the
business for a long time.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
But I got a full page here on the bio.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And you know, Kiki's somebody that you know, you can
hear on the radio in Chicago and New Orleans. Now, yes,
she might show up on the Breakfast Club, you might
see her on BT.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I mean, so when you look at that, I mean.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I'm not surprised. I am not surprised at all. But
that was just a phenomenal day for us here at
iHeart Chicago when you won, so so very deserving. And
it's interesting because one of the components of the Gracie says,
the award is given to a woman who feathers the
discussion of what a fulfilling career looks like.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
In media, and you've got it.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I just you're a favorite on television here in Chicago.
You know, sometimes I'm sitting at home listen to the radio.
Then I see you pop up on ABC seven, and
it's like it does not stop. But in your presence
when you walk in a room, you mean business, but
it's but it's it's fun, it's light. It's you just
(07:51):
make it look easy. Well, thank you, you just make
it look easy. But what are some of the defining
moments in your life, of course, other than the Grazy Award.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Yeah, the first time I cracked the microphone on the air.
Because through my internship, I came in the door extremely confident.
I knew exactly what role I wanted to play when
it came to radio. But once I got here, I
was extremely intimidated and I looked around and I was like,
oh this, I can never do this. You know, I
(08:20):
can be like these people. I can't. You know, There's
no way I can do that. So I played the
background for years. I spent like seven years behind the
scenes because I was terrified of even submitting a demo
to get myself on the radio. And it wasn't until
a friend of mine started working here and he just
was like, he actually sent the demo for me behind
(08:41):
my back, and I didn't even know. And you know,
my boss's responding and was like, Okay, be ready to
go on the air by Labor day from that one email,
that one demo. So it was always destined for me
to do what I'm doing, But I had a stage
fright in fear that helped me back for years. So
when I finally got over that fear and I finally
cracked the microphone for real. That was the defining moment
(09:04):
in my life. I was like, oh this, I can
do anything. You know, Like I fear held me back
for seven years and it will never hold me back again.
So from that moment, like that is the I think
one of the biggest moments in my life.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
And then just being like, I don't even.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Know it's been It's been such a whorld wind, you know,
Like I got to the first time I was on
television in Chicago. I always said like, I just want
to do radio. I don't ever want to be on TV.
I got in front of that camera.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
And selling I'm like, oh, yes, I love this.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
And so it's just like those different moments, being called
to sit in on the breakfast Club and co hosts there.
You know that I'm sitting across Radio Hall of Famers,
you know, they are the biggest show in the hip
hop culture, and so being invited into that space, and
then leaving that space to come back to Chicago, and
before I left, Charlemagne pulling me aside and saying like
you're different, You're special, you you are one of one,
(09:57):
you know. I was like, oh this is you know,
this is crazy. So it's just those type of moments
and even just being able to work amongst my peers,
Like I'm in Chicago Radio and I sit down the
hall from legendary jocks who I've watched their entire career.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Like I get to sit in the room with.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
V one oh three talent who have done everything I
wanted to do in more and getting their feedback and
learning from them every day. Like those moments to me
are just so surreal because I'm like, I, y'all are
the reasons I want to do this, And now I
can really pick your brain and we could sit across
from each other at lunch.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
It's crazy.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
So those those moments have always been like big, big
moments for me.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Something you say all the time that you love to
mix passion with purpose.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
What do you mean by that?
Speaker 5 (10:41):
I just feel like, you know, a lot of people,
especially in this in my era, where you know, we
fall in love with the opportunity to express ourselves. But
I feel like radio is so much more than that.
It's not just you talking at an audience, but you
should take whatever opportunity you get to be in front
of a crowd to fulfill a purpose. So I feel
(11:01):
like we are all here on assignment. God has all
given each one of us a specific purpose, and everything
you do should be purpose driven. So when you see
me out, you know, on social media a lot of times, yeah,
I'm just random, But really, I feel like my purpose
is to show the little key keys where I'm from
that anything is possible, that they can do things, that
they can come you know, they can be exposed to
(11:23):
different careers and they can be successful in different rooms.
That was a big thing for me being a part
of the Fresh Show. A lot of people looked at
me in my background and it was like, what is
she doing on Top forty radio. You know, she's she's
too big, she's too black, she's too loud. But you know,
I feel like, you know, I'm showing girls every day
when I show up that you know, you can thrive
(11:43):
in this space and you belong in these spaces. And
so I just feel like everything you do should be
connected to a purpose. So anytime I get to mix
my passion, which is radio and entertainment, with the purpose
of inspiring somebody behind me who may be battling fear
or going through some of the things that I've come
through and overcome, Like that's me mixing my passion with
my purpose. And I think we have to keep reminding
(12:04):
ourselves of that because sometimes it gets fun and you
just you just doing you. But I'm like, no, I'm
here for a purpose. I'm here on a mission, and
I'm here on assignment, and I got to make sure
that I'm staying true to that.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Amen. So you have no problem with imposture syndrome, Oh no.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
No, No, it's bad.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
It's bad.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Imposter syndrome is bad.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
But it held me back for so long, like literally
seven years in fear.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
And so it's like God is like, girl.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
I didn't create you to sit here and just keep
your mouth closed, like I gave you a purpose and
you're not doing what I ask you to do. So
I have to remind myself like, Okay, when you put
me in any scary situations or these rooms that I
feel like I'm not qualified to be in, I'm doing
a disservice to God if I'm not showing up how
I know I can and I know I should be.
So imposture system syndrome is something I battle every day,
(12:52):
but I know I got a answer to somebody, and
so I'm here for a reason that I got to
show up and do it.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Amen, will you cover it well? I would never know.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Yeah they say that, Oh yeah I would. That's why
I said, you don't have a problem with that. But see,
you never know what goes on behind close story.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
You never know. But hey, you covered well, Paulina.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Your resume looks it's a lot like why don't you
share a little bit about your background and what.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
You've been doing?
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Well? Thank you for having me be a part of this.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Oh I'm so excited. I couldn't. I just can't wait
to work with both of.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
You, and I'm very grateful and I'm very excited because
you know, you're also an inspiration to so many of us,
to Angela like on so many levels. Like you said,
I was in your chair for years and you've helped
me just really kind of navigate my path here and
listening to Kiki story, I get to work with her
every day now, right like up close and personal, and
like you said, I didn't know she felt this way
right with the past syndrome and like going through these
(13:43):
these motions because it's so true and sometimes you feel
like you don't belong in these spaces. So you also
inspired me, Kiki, and I love you know, being a
part of this this podcast now, so again, thank you,
and you know being being from Chicago as well and
being here really is special to me because it's home,
you know, and I love working in Chicago. I love
being here, being an iHeart of course. And then yeah,
(14:05):
just continue to try everything that I can get my
hands on. Is kind of like what I've done, I feel,
and Angela knows this very well, but anything that I
can do, anything that I that I've done, I'm just
really grateful for the opportunities and I want to continue
to grow here. So yeah, we're on the Frend Show
every morning, so you can hear me and Kiki literally
at what crack of five am.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Yes, the MIC's track.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
And we're there, and you know, it's really exciting to
be able to grow in different cities and you know,
join that and yeah, pretty much anything else. You know,
I'm a mom now, so it's crazy. It's a it's
a whole new chapter for me. It's a whole new world.
But I love it and I want to be able to,
you know, set an example for my daughter because I
want her to feel confident in any space that she's in,
you know, whether she does follow my footsteps and do
(14:46):
radio and which I don't know if she will, but we'll.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
See, you know.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
I want her to kind of follow her path as well.
So I just hope that she gets inspired, and she.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Will because probably she's an inspiration too. She has a
like you said, her resume is stacked, but I will
ever forget. The first time I met Paulina, I was
working in the commercials department and she had just come
here where.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
You're from, la I think you.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
And she literally was walking around the building to every
person and introducing herself and.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
She said, Hi, my name is Paulina. I want to
be on the radio.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
It was she said, yeah, she said, I'm working down
the hall, but girl, I'm trying to get on the
radio Kiss And I was like, okay, I like that,
you know, I was like oh, And then I turned
the next thing I know, she was on Kiss.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
FM on the radio. I said, she did it.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
And so, you know, you never know how you inspire
other people. But that's why it's always good to like
share your journey because people may not know that Paulina
inspired me when I was sitting in the commercial's apartment.
I'm like, oh, she came in the door, and it
was like, yeah, I got a job, but I want
to be on the radio. Meanwhile, I'm scared to tell
anybody I want.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
To be on the radio. So it was like, you know,
she she.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Has an amazing journey and you are crushing it as
a mom, and it's one of the people in the
building who I think can do anything, any role in
the job. She's learned how to do it, and we
know in our industry that's super important.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
So you know, so many people think outside of outside
of these walls and they look at us and think,
how did they make it? You know, they've been in
that corner office for a lifetime, or they've been on
the radio for a lifetime. They don't realize what we've
gone through to get here.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
They really do not.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
And life changes, the career is changed. But when it
comes to detours and challenges and pitfalls and success, there's
the same a lot of times. And so let's talk
about that. Any pitfalls, any challenges or detours along the
way for either one of you.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
I would say my biggest pitfall was just sitting in
fear for seven years.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
You know, I feel like I wasted a lot of time.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
And although I do believe that everything happens exactly when
it's supposed to, and I feel like those years of
me sitting with preparation for a lot of the things
that I faced along the journey. Once I did decide
to get on air, but I feel like, get you
cannot let fear hold you back in this industry.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
You have to. You have to get over that.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
You have to battle that every day so that you
don't miss out on opportunities that are created for you.
I think God has been gracious to help me make
up for lost time, so a lot of the stuff
I felt like I miss he has done in these
last two years, and I'm just like, oh my God.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
But yeah, I feel like fear was a big pitfall
for me.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
I had a really hard internship, but I felt like
it sharpened me and I learned a lot from it.
So anybody who's listening and may be interested in getting
into any industry, I feel like the best thing you
can do is just be a sponge at all times,
you know, soak it up, soak up everything that you
can and use that to kind of build your armor
for wherever you're going. So I know I've had different pitfalls,
(17:42):
but I can't even remember like one off the top
of my head because I felt like it, whatever it
was that may have happened, just sharpened me to be
prepared for my now.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
So well, you know, we always have a plan, but
God has another plan and our timetable is not always his. Yes,
And when I was growing up, it was no question,
no doubt that I was going to be on television.
I wanted to be a television news reporter and that
was just what I wanted to be, and eventually an anchor.
So I go to TV station for my internship and
(18:12):
I'm sitting there with the news director and he says,
I'm nineteen years old, and he says, so, what.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Do you want to be twenty years from now?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
And I said, have no clue, and I know that
in nineteen my goal is to be a news anchor
I've always wanted to be And he says, I mean,
great interview. I get back to a home and I
get a phone call from HR and he says, you
didn't make it, And I said, what happened? I thought
it was a great interview? He said, he asked you
a question what you wanted to be doing twenty years
(18:41):
from now, and you couldn't answer. What he wanted to
hear was that you wanted to be in television news
twenty years And I said, I was honest, Yeah, I
don't know.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
And so she said, well, we have an opening for
a radio internship if you want to try that.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
That was forty two years ago.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Yes, But here's the interesting thing, because where I was
working was a radio and television combo newspaper and printing
company in Louisville, Kentucky. And so the news director, television
news director's wife was a radio news reporter. And who
did I get assigned to with my internship? And I
didn't know it because their last names were different. So
(19:23):
then I find out, huh it was her husband. Well
maybe within a few months, I'm walking down the hall
and the television news director comes to me and he says,
I made one mistake in my career.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
And I said, what was it? He said, your name
keeps coming up in my household.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
You know you are here at five five thirty in
the morning out on stories with my I made a mistake.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
I made a mistake I should have hired you. I said, well,
I'm stuck on radio now. Thanks, but no thanks, but
you know.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
That you see what happens. Yeah, because I was open
and I was opened to change. If I had said nope,
I can't get a job here, and it was a
number one television station, so I really didn't want to
go anywhere else. But what if I had said, nope,
don't want to do radio. I'll just be open to whatever.
And I am so grateful and so thankful that, you know,
(20:16):
I never look back.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
I never look back.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I tell the story, but I'm never sorry that I
didn't do television. And so this is what God's plan
was for me.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
And it's funny because Ryan, who is a producer for
the WCI Morning Show, he talks a lot about Echo
Robinson and I who's overseas marketing for iHeart Chicago. And
anytime there are changes or things pop up or you know,
the career, the the the company change, they come by.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
He says, I'm just checking on Grace and Favor. I'm
just checking on are you still here? I'm still here.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
And I think it really does boil down to that,
It really does boil down to just being open. You know,
so many and I look at this this generation and
so many people are they they're And you need to
be focused, don't get me wrong. And you need to
have an end goal, but know that that ind goal
can change over the course of your career. Sometimes it
(21:11):
happens in two years, like it did you. Yeah, but
what about you, Pauline? Do you do you struggle with
being focused? Do you do you struggle with any regret
that you know, maybe I would have, could have should it?
Speaker 1 (21:22):
You know, that's such a good question because I try
not to write, you know, I definitely be said, like
I do feel like God's plan is it's the it's
the way, you know, And for me, my I would say,
I don't even know if it's the regret. But like
for me moving you know, across the country when I
was twenty twenty one years old, twenty two it was
right after college and I moved and looking back at it,
(21:46):
like it was such a stepping stone to like where
I am and like where I wanted to be. But
at that time, I like I didn't really I didn't
really know if I wanted to be in that space
right because I was like, Okay, I'm not in Chicago.
I have no family here. I've like friends and I've
met you know, so like I was really scared, but
then you know, praying about it, putting you know, my
(22:06):
all into it. I was applying to TV jobs to
do like PA work right, like, so I wanted to
be like behind the scenes because I knew people who
were like doing that or gonna do that. So I
was like, maybe that's my calling. I don't know, I'm applying, applying,
no one's calling me back. I have no TV like
behind the scenes experience where I'm no nothing. So then
I'm like, what do I do? So I applied to
a iHeart. I applied to a promotions assistant position and
(22:29):
that's the only one that called me back. And I
was like, okay, we're going into radio, We're doing this,
and you know, going there and taking that position was everything.
I got to do so many cool things, meet cool people,
and obviously I was living in Los Angeles, so it
was just like, to me, like the perfect kind of
combo of everything. And then I started getting homesick. And
this is kind of a wild story. I don't know
if this is like what was supposed to happen, but
(22:51):
it did. I was like, I'm getting homesick. I think
it's time to go home, but I don't know, like
what do I do. I don't have a job back home.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
What do I do?
Speaker 1 (22:58):
I don't want to leave radio. And I got into
a really bad car accident where my car got totld
like it was yes, I mean thank god, I was okay,
Like I walked away with like nothing like no scratch,
is no pain, nothing, but my car was gone. And
I was like, well, I need a car in LA
and I don't really have that right now, and I
don't know if I can make that happen. So I
(23:18):
called my mom and I was like I think I'm
coming home and I've been talking about coming home, but
I didn't like know how I was getting home or
why I would go home. And I contacted iHeart Chicago,
and there was a position here and I took it.
So I did a little like a little you know,
transfer over here, and I was like, Okay, that was
like weirdly meant to happen, supposed to happen. I'm supposed
to be back home. And that's like when yu Kiki said,
(23:40):
like I walked in this building, and I just started
talking to people and I was like, you know what,
I'm just gonna say, who I am, Like, what's the
worst that could happen? So then I did And then yeah,
I started working with the Fred Show, where was Fred
and Andy at the time, and like I would go,
you know, work with them in the mornings and make
my way to sales over here, tend to work as
an assistant because I was not good at it. I'm
not gonna lie until I was not good at it. Okay,
(24:00):
I try, my heart is. But then you know, like
everything happened the way was supposed to and everything, and
I think the one thing that I have lost about myself,
but I want to get back And I think Kiki's
such a good example of this, and I talk about
this all the time with you is advocating for yourself
and really just being like your own biggest cheerleader. And
for me, like I'm always so it wouldn't believe this,
(24:21):
but like I'm shy sometimes like no, right, sometimes I'll
be like I don't know, and I don't want to
talk about myself or I don't want to like post
this about myself or like reach out for this opportunity,
like I would be so shy because I was so
afraid of the word no, and I still am only wrong,
like I still can be because it can be scary.
But I forgot who told me this a long time ago.
(24:42):
But it's like, you know, you're gonna hear a thousand no's,
but it really just takes one yes, yes, and I can't.
I've learned this industry too, like, don't take things so personal.
You know, a no to me doesn't mean that I'm
this terrible personality and no one wants to work with me.
You know, it just literally means like this opportunity isn't
for me, and I'm going to move.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
On yes and yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
So for me, that's kind of something that I'm trying
to regain in the new year twenty twenty five, right,
is I want to kind of stick up for myself
more and kind of put myself in, you know, situations
that are I don't know, good for me right and
make me feel good. So that's my one I would
say regards.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
The one thing there are several though, but that impresses
me by both of you is your your desire to
give back. And so Kiki, you are out and about
in schools and speaking and really talking to a lot
of students that are interested in this building of business.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Why don't you tell us a little bit about that?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
I mean, I love them.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
That's probably my favorite part of it because I just
remember as a kid, if you're not exposed to different things,
you don't know that you can achieve them. And if
you don't see people who look like you doing different things,
then you feel like it's not possible. And so my
favorite story to tell is like I was a kid
eleven years old and in the car listen to the
(25:54):
Bad Boys or WGC.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
I called them and asked them.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
For a job, and lo and behal My started my
radio career on WGC.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
I just like them.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
So like I just go back to any time I
get an opportunity to get in front of kids, I
tell them that story because I want them to understand
that whatever it is you're dreaming of doing, you can
achieve it, no matter what your circumstances are. You know,
I grew up in a not great neighborhood on public
aid or public assistance, and I've been able to overcome
my circumstances. I've had every excuse in the world to
(26:25):
not be great or to not do great things. I
lost my mother at nine years old. My father was
an alcoholic. Like I'm raised by my sister, Like I
have a story, and I'm just like everybody has something,
you know, everybody has something, but it's up to you
if you're gonna let your something stop you from where
you could be going. So anytime I get a chance
to share that with kids, I love to do it
(26:47):
because I just think it takes you seeing somebody do it,
Like I saw the bad Boys do it, and I
was like, oh yeah, I can do that, and so
all you need to do is just be an example
for somebody. And then I also love talking to kids
who because kids, first of all, they're honest, yes, and so'nest,
and they give great feedback, you know. So I love
(27:08):
I love being connected to the youth in any way
that I can. But I just remember just sitting around
and seeing my circumstances and thinking that this is it.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
You know, They're like, this is this is it?
Speaker 5 (27:18):
Like you you can't you know, you can only do
what you see everybody else in your family doing, or
you could you can only be so great. But I
just think it's important to give kids exposure and let
them know that it's bigger, that it's bigger things you
can achieve.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
And so anytime I get to do that, I'm gonna
do it.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
And Paulina, you have a nonprofit.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Yes, yes, so we well I say we, but like
I think, you know, in my community or just like
growing up, I think mental health was just something that
like people you know, never really talked about, like, you know, nothing,
So for me it was really important to not only
like talk about it and raise awareness around like understanding
that you know, getting help is completely acceptable and completely okay.
(27:57):
And maybe because we didn't see our mom's grandma, nobody
and they all suffered in silence unfortunately, and and you know,
getting help was just so taboo at the time. You know,
for me, it was really important to like I said,
I only talk about mental health, but provide resources. So
we were we were in Pilsen, and we basically provide
free mental health resources to the community those who want
a therapists. But also there's different types of therapy. So
(28:18):
if you're more into like group talk therapy where you know,
you're's a group of you guys and you guys talk,
or it's obviously one on one. I have a physical
therapist because believe it or not, a lot of our
traumas are in our bodies and and a lot of
physical therapists do work through that as well. I just
wanted to normalize the conversation around mental health, especially like
in La Latino community, people uh really don't talk about
things like they'll believe in witchcraft before they believe in
(28:40):
getting help or you know, when it comes to you know,
getting just getting mentally right. So for me, that was
like really important and definitely like something I try to
implement in my daily life, you know, trying to meditate
when I can, I pray a lot. You know, I
do believe too, two things can go hand in hand.
I do believe that my my faith and you know,
talk to my therapists do go hand in hand because
(29:01):
it's only maybe a better better person, better at work,
but it's maybe a better mother, which is really important
right now for me. So I try to be an
advocate for that as much as I can, and it's
truly important.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Both of you have such a heart for service, and
that is that's just a blessing in and of itself.
So as we start to wrap up what or who inspires.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
Youkiki, Well, you inspire me. You inspire me just just
I don't know, like if you, I guess you have
to be in this industry to kind of understand some
of the things we may have seen. And I just
remember seeing a lot of different women in the industry,
(29:45):
and when I tell you, I always think of you
because you are just so classy always, you know, poised
and put together and professional and just confident like I
you are a really big inspiration to a lot of
us around here.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
So just whether you know it or not. And then my.
Speaker 5 (30:06):
Radio sisters, I look at them and I look at
their journeys, they inspire me because I just feel like,
if you're not a woman, you know, in this industry,
you don't really know what women go through, And just
looking at their journeys inspire me, even the good and
the bad. I learned what to do and what not
to do. So those women inspire me too. And then
just the women in my life, Like my sister is
(30:28):
my biggest inspiration.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
She took me in, she raised me.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
We're twenty years apart, but after my mother passed, she
raised me with her children, and I've just seen her
overcome everything, get all her kids, you know, through school,
and she just you know, has raised me. She just
is everything. So my sister is my biggest inspiration. And
then if you ever look at my social media videos
on my wall, you'll see Oprah, You'll see Wendy Williams,
(30:55):
because I feel like even with Wendy, you can take
good and bad. And then Angie my tenas, those are
like my three in the in the media industry that
I look to and I'm like, I want to be
you know, about my business like Oprah. I want to
shake the table and leave a mark like Wendy, and
I want to be respected like Angie Martinez.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
So those are the three big three for me.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
But yeah, thank you, Paulina.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
Definitely echoing off of Kiki. You know, you do inspire
a lot of us. You created a whole podcast about,
you know, to to uplift women and to really shine
a light on so many different just women different industries,
you know, sharing their stories or paths. So I think
that you know, even hearing your story and being able
to see you and all that you've accomplished and all
the stuff that you're doing, like going to the White
House and a casual, like what, she's just there with
(31:42):
the vice president hang out. But like you, I mean
you're in that position. You're in that place because that's
not only where God intended you for, you know, to be.
But I think all of us watching and being able
to hear you share that story and and and you know,
be able to talk about that kind of stuff to
us is very inspiring. Yes, so I think you're definitely
on my list as well. And for me, it's like, yeah, family,
you know, my mom is my number one inspiration. I
(32:04):
mean she's a single mom, like she was a single
mom and she still has I guess, but I mean
looking at it, like she came to this country, you know,
with literally nothing. Run day she'll write a book.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
And I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
In this story, I'm like I can't wait, mon. So
she's like everything to me, you know, and watching her
now be the best grandma that and I've ever seen,
just because I think she was able to really heal
a lot in her life and being able to you know,
raise her daughters and all of that. So now watching
her with my daughter is just like it's indescribable. And yeah,
like the women in this industry inspires me so much,
(32:41):
like you said, because it's it's the good and the bad,
the beautiful and the ugly. We take it all, you know,
and we see everything and you don't really get it
unless you're here as a woman. And you know that too, Angela.
Like being a woman in this industry in this position,
you know, we really do see stuff, we hear stuff,
but I think we persevere. And that's like what really
keeps us going is our passion, our love and the
(33:03):
inspiration really around us. Because I couldn't do this without you,
you know, without you both, I couldn't do this right
without like you know, Kaylin and even like Robin Brock,
I talked to her a lot, like everybody, and you
know that I think is in this industry truly, the
women have been so inspiring and so gracious and really
try to uplift one another, which I think we're really
lucky to have that.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Well, we all need each other and that's the key,
and that is one of the reasons why we created
the podcast, because women and we inspire each other and
sometimes we don't know it, you know, it could just
be something you say, something you do, the way you
react or respond. That is just the inspiration that you
need for the day. Well, I think both of you
for being a part of this podcast today.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
And so, Kiki, you have.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
Podcast, You have a podcast several, I think, so tell
us where we can hear you next on the podcast
on the Fread Show.
Speaker 5 (33:54):
Okay, yes, absolutely. You can hear me every morning every
weekday morning on the Friend Show on the iHeartRadio app.
Shout out to Fred Nashley, syndicated show that's growing throughout
the company. We just picked up like three new markets
in a week as Wild, so you could definitely hear
me there every morning every weekend weekends Wakiki on w
g C I and Q ninety three in New Orleans.
(34:14):
You can listen on the iHeart Radio app there too.
I have a podcast, shout out tone Copone and Zach
book the What More Can I Say?
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Podcast.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
You can listen to us every Wednesday, new episodes on
YouTube and iHeart and then also with the Shave Room
every Thursday we do a live show. Shout out to
Ryan my cooking show. You just gotta follow us on Instagram.
You never know when we might drop an episode, but
cooking Wikiki and Ryan and I think that's all. I
think that yeah, I think I can cover it off.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
That's all today, That's all today, Tomorrow, Paulina, we cut you.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Yes, I'll be with Ke show. That's every morning Monday
through Friday on the Heart Radio app, snatched syndicated. So
it's fun. It's really fun to be able to grow
with this awesome team. Mammy Collective podcast is on all platforms,
but I Heart is where we go because we love
the iHeart Radio app and that's where I'm at. I
drop every Monday, So it's uh, basically talking to moms
(35:08):
out there. You know, my biggest thing was I didn't
want to lose myself in motherhood. Motherhood is the most
beautiful thing about me, but it's not my entire It's
it's not who I am entirely right, There's so many
layers to me, and I know a lot of moms
feel that way, and I just want to make sure
that other moms know that their voices matter, that that
you know, we are here for them. We listen to
them and we share stories and from everything.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Right.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
How to navigate your career too, I don't know how
to like, you know, get over the whatever terrible twos,
so whatever might pay going on in the house right
with the kids that day. So I love that I'm
able to do that. And then I do never too
shy with my girl Doati and we just talk pop culture, lifestyle,
fun stuff. So I heart radio.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
App Well, thank you both for being here today and
it's just great to start the new year with a
new generation of leaders on the Women in Spars Chicago podcast, So.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
Oh thank you be here and call them again.
Speaker 5 (36:00):
Question before you wrap, can you share with us your
biggest lesson in life?
Speaker 1 (36:06):
You feel like.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Learning to be flexible?
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Okay, And I would like to say, and I think
it goes back to the story that I shared about
wanting to be in television. I think back on that
moment a lot because if I had had a closed mind,
look what I would have missed out on. And I
say that to young people. I said, particularly to my
(36:32):
great nieces who are both in this in this field.
Wonder why and both of them are just just phenomenal.
But sometimes we have these conversations that they kind of
don't want.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
To move with.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
They don't want to move with the time, and I say,
and I hate to say, but this is what I did,
because then they'll say, oh, Auntie, that was, you know,
thirty forty years ago, of course. But it's the flexibility,
and you need to be open to change, and you
need to be versatile. That's why, thankfully, together with God
I've lasted so long, is that I just roll with
(37:08):
the flow, and I am willing to do any and everything,
no matter what my title has been. And I think
I've had ten. I think that was the last time
I counted nine or ten. As long as it's not
illegal or immoral, sign me up, you know. But at
the core of who I am, it's my faith, you know,
(37:31):
in God. And I try to give as much time
to the I serve women's ministry that I lead together
with a group of women, because that's what really makes
me tick, you know. And so when I just say
be it open, because you never know where it's going
to lead, I can almost guarantee you if I had
(37:53):
taken the television route, I wouldn't be in the business today. Yep,
more than likely I would not still be here today.
But because I said yes to change, and while I
you know here, I am, so I would say to anyone,
just stay flexible, just stay open.
Speaker 4 (38:12):
Now you may go home and kick the wall and
be frustrated that, oh I missed it?
Speaker 2 (38:18):
Why didn't I do it? And I literally like you,
I would just we my mom would we passed this
television station, work there one day.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
I'm gonna work there one day.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
And so I remember when I got the call that
said I didn't make it, I was sad, but in
that same call was hey, you want to try radio.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
I'm like, why not?
Speaker 3 (38:35):
Right?
Speaker 4 (38:36):
You know, why not?
Speaker 2 (38:37):
But I think the older you get, the more I
don't know what I should say, the more inflexible you become.
And so it's probably because I was nineteen and I
was excited and I was anxious, and I'm like, Okay,
I'll do it, but what if?
Speaker 5 (38:53):
And you never lost that over your career. You had
so many titles, different departments.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
Oh I have. I have been as.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
Successful each one of them.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
So I have. And when I think about you.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
At Q ninety three, oh some twenty plus years ago,
I split my time between Chicago and New Orleans. And
why because I was I wanted something new and exciting
and I didn't want to leave Chicago, but they needed
a marketing division built in.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
At that time, we.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
Were clear channel want to think in New Orleans and
they said, hey, you want to do this. I said,
I don't want to leave Chicago. It wasn't then you
need to split your time. So I became the time
joiner of marketing scene and every other week I was
in New Orleans. And but here's the thing I had
such I had experience in all formats. And at that time,
you know, they had Q ninety three WYLD, but we
(39:43):
had Rock, and we had TOP forty, and we had Country.
And so because I had been open so many times
down the line, I could roll with all the formats.
And so for one solid year, I got on an
airplane just about every Sunday or every other Sunday and
split my time. But what did it do for Chicago?
There were others that were working on my team that
(40:05):
they had an opportunity to move up because I'm not here,
so they're neat And of course there was no virtual
component at that time. There was barely email, and so
they had an opportunity to be able to step up.
Echo Robinson, who oversees marketing, she was able to step
up at that time, and a couple of other members
on the team. So when a door opens for you,
(40:26):
always make sure that you look back and open the
door for someone else. We have a responsibility to give back.
We didn't make it where we are on our own,
and so as soon as the door opens for you,
don't close it, look back and bring someone else to
that door.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
That's good stuff there, that's it.
Speaker 5 (40:47):
That's I'm sitting in here with too much wizdoy.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
I hope I answered your question. I hope I answered
your question. But again, thank you, Keiki and Paulina. Just
really appreciate you opening up today and sharing your story.
We all have a story, and you all have great stories.
Speaker 4 (41:04):
So thank you, Thank you you.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Thanks for listening to the Women Inspire Chicago podcast hosted
by Angela Ingram, produced by Paulina Roe, presented by iHeartMedia Chicago,
and sponsored by pot Belly.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
Feed your group from small to larch with pot Belly
Catering pot Belly, you Gotta Get It Hot.
iHeartMedia Chicago presents the Women Inspire Chicago podcast, hosted by
Angela Ingram, iHeart Chicago's Senior vice president of Public Engagements,
and produced by iHeart Chicago's Paulina Rowe. Angela hosts inspiring
conversations with some of Chicago's top women executives as they
share their personal stories of success, including the triumphs, detours, pitfalls,
and challenges. In this episode, Kickback with Kiki, Angela has
(00:21):
a candid conversation with the voice of a new generation
of leaders, Keiki Hampton. She's an award winning on air
personality from iHeart Chicago's one of three five Kiss FM
and one on seven five WGCI. Check it out and
be inspired.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Welcome to Women Inspire Chicago. I am so excited about
this episode. It's a new year and a new generation
of leaders and so we're kicking it off today with
Kiki and Paulina.
Speaker 3 (00:48):
Welcome. Hi, thanks for having us kick.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
Back with Keiki. I am.
Speaker 2 (00:54):
I'm just overjoyed that you're in a studio with us today.
But first let me introduce brand new producer of Women
in spar Chicago, Paulina.
Speaker 4 (01:03):
Yes, Hi, everybody, So we've.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
Got Paulina and Keikey. We're all on first name basis here,
so that's how we're gonna roll today. But Kiki, I
am just so inspired and when I think about women
in spar Chicago and leadership in particular, I'm almost sorry
that you have not been on.
Speaker 4 (01:23):
This podcast and this is your first time. As I was.
Speaker 2 (01:25):
Reading your bio and going over everything, I just said,
why why has she not been.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
A part of this?
Speaker 2 (01:31):
So forgive me. I'm starting out with an apology. But
why don't you share your background with us?
Speaker 3 (01:37):
All right?
Speaker 5 (01:38):
Well, you and Angelaie, I think you've seen me from
start my career till now. But you know, basically born
and raised in Chicago, lived everywhere in the city. Beginning
of my life in the Northwest suburbs now and you know,
through high school in the South Suburbs. Family from the
West Side of Chicago. I just always have loved radio
(01:58):
as a kid, so I was used to tell people
at eleven I would work in radio. I used to
call the radio station asking for a job at eleven
and they would tell me to just stay in school,
and that's what I did, and then I've ended up
getting an internship here, started out unpaid internship for like
two years, then did a a stent in the continuity department,
(02:21):
the commercials department, worked there, left the commercials department, went
to the digital team, worked there, ended up on air,
and here.
Speaker 1 (02:29):
We are.
Speaker 2 (02:31):
As a morning show contributor to The Fred Show, which
is a nationally syndicated morning show that's based right here
in Chicago on one on three five KISSFM. Paulina is
also a morning show contributor for one on three five KISSFM.
And it's just it's amazing to have watched you grow.
And it's the interesting thing is I think we're all
products of an internship with this company. Of course mine
(02:53):
was a lot you know, long time, but the end
result is the same. Yeah, we're here, But I just
think about when when you first came, and you're right,
you were in continuity where you were scheduling commercials, but
you always were there late at night when I was
I'm like, why is she always hanging around? And that
pays off because more than likely you were in the
program director's office at WGCI. Yes, And so not only
(03:14):
have you a morning show contributed for The Fred Show,
but you also do weekends on WGCI and then Paulina
spent a whole lot of time in my chair when
she was a part time promotions assistant and she actually
started podcasting before podcasting was popular.
Speaker 4 (03:31):
And then she said, well, I got an idea.
Speaker 2 (03:32):
I think I want to start a nonprofit. So we
talked through that. It's just amazing, first of all, to
see both of you and how you've grown. And when
I think about the new generation of leadership, I can't
think of anybody other than Kiki and Paulina.
Speaker 4 (03:47):
I mean, you have.
Speaker 2 (03:48):
Really set the stage. But Kiki, just to look at
your list of awards and I'm just gonna call her through.
Named a Rising Radio Star by Radio Facts magazine, Future
African America, and Radio Leader by Radio inc Magazine. But
here's the big one. You are the recipient of the
twenty twenty four Gracy Awards. Now the Grasis focus on
(04:12):
women who are making positive change and are the best
representation for a career in the entertainment business.
Speaker 4 (04:21):
Wow wowy.
Speaker 2 (04:23):
But here's the thing that is so amazing, and you
have got to share this. So when we submit for
the Gracy Awards every year, there's always someone in programming
or producer that actually compiles all the award entries.
Speaker 4 (04:39):
You have done that for years? Yes, tell me you
didn't compile your own?
Speaker 3 (04:44):
Well yeah, some point.
Speaker 5 (04:47):
Yeah, I did it for years in my digital role
for other women in the company who we would submit
every year, the different talents, and I honestly thought a
Gracie award was something that I might be considered for
way later down in my career, like once i've you know,
almost at retirement, I said, well, maybe you know, this
is something I could put on my goal list. So
never did I think that I would be even considered
(05:10):
for something like that after being on the air for
it was like a year. You know, that was my
first time being on the air full time. Obviously working
in you know, I did all I did every shift
you can do in radio before I got to mornings.
But I just thought that that was something that would
come after like thirty years on the air. So the
fact that I was even considered for that, I was like, wait, what,
(05:32):
like you are you are you gonna submit me for that?
So I was shook at the opportunity, and they were like, yeah,
pull pull up some clips and then you know how you've.
Speaker 3 (05:42):
Done for all the other women.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
I said, Oh, Okay, so you know, I've sent them
over my clips and when I tell you, they sent
me an email saying congratulations, I just I don't even.
I think I was in a car and I just
pulled over and started crying, and I was like I
could not believe that that was actually happening. And I
got scared because I'm almost like, when stuff happens in
your career early on, it's like, Okay, what I have
(06:06):
to look forward to?
Speaker 3 (06:07):
You know, like what else does God have?
Speaker 5 (06:08):
Because this was not expected or you know, I didn't
think that I was deserving, but it was. It was
definitely a milestone in my career that I'll never ever forget.
And now I'm like, okay, I gotta get some more graces.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
You know, I.
Speaker 4 (06:23):
Think you will. But you know, this is how God works.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
You know. We can sit down and assume that you know,
this is this, this is this is it for us,
and just as soon as you start to question her
doubt or you know, just think, oh well, I've got
a few more years ago than bam, he really shows up.
He shows up all the time. But this is a
testament to your humility because when you look at your
(06:47):
and you say a year and haven't been in the
business for a long time.
Speaker 4 (06:50):
But I got a full page here on the bio.
Speaker 2 (06:53):
And you know, Kiki's somebody that you know, you can
hear on the radio in Chicago and New Orleans. Now, yes,
she might show up on the Breakfast Club, you might
see her on BT.
Speaker 4 (07:04):
I mean, so when you look at that, I mean.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
I'm not surprised. I am not surprised at all. But
that was just a phenomenal day for us here at
iHeart Chicago when you won, so so very deserving. And
it's interesting because one of the components of the Gracie says,
the award is given to a woman who feathers the
discussion of what a fulfilling career looks like.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
In media, and you've got it.
Speaker 2 (07:31):
I just you're a favorite on television here in Chicago.
You know, sometimes I'm sitting at home listen to the radio.
Then I see you pop up on ABC seven, and
it's like it does not stop. But in your presence
when you walk in a room, you mean business, but
it's but it's it's fun, it's light. It's you just
(07:51):
make it look easy. Well, thank you, you just make
it look easy. But what are some of the defining
moments in your life, of course, other than the Grazy Award.
Speaker 5 (08:00):
Yeah, the first time I cracked the microphone on the air.
Because through my internship, I came in the door extremely confident.
I knew exactly what role I wanted to play when
it came to radio. But once I got here, I
was extremely intimidated and I looked around and I was like,
oh this, I can never do this. You know, I
(08:20):
can be like these people. I can't. You know, There's
no way I can do that. So I played the
background for years. I spent like seven years behind the
scenes because I was terrified of even submitting a demo
to get myself on the radio. And it wasn't until
a friend of mine started working here and he just
was like, he actually sent the demo for me behind
(08:41):
my back, and I didn't even know. And you know,
my boss's responding and was like, Okay, be ready to
go on the air by Labor day from that one email,
that one demo. So it was always destined for me
to do what I'm doing, But I had a stage
fright in fear that helped me back for years. So
when I finally got over that fear and I finally
cracked the microphone for real. That was the defining moment
(09:04):
in my life. I was like, oh this, I can
do anything. You know, Like I fear held me back
for seven years and it will never hold me back again.
So from that moment, like that is the I think
one of the biggest moments in my life.
Speaker 3 (09:15):
And then just being like, I don't even.
Speaker 5 (09:19):
Know it's been It's been such a whorld wind, you know,
Like I got to the first time I was on
television in Chicago. I always said like, I just want
to do radio. I don't ever want to be on TV.
I got in front of that camera.
Speaker 3 (09:29):
And selling I'm like, oh, yes, I love this.
Speaker 5 (09:34):
And so it's just like those different moments, being called
to sit in on the breakfast Club and co hosts there.
You know that I'm sitting across Radio Hall of Famers,
you know, they are the biggest show in the hip
hop culture, and so being invited into that space, and
then leaving that space to come back to Chicago, and
before I left, Charlemagne pulling me aside and saying like
you're different, You're special, you you are one of one,
(09:57):
you know. I was like, oh this is you know,
this is crazy. So it's just those type of moments
and even just being able to work amongst my peers,
Like I'm in Chicago Radio and I sit down the
hall from legendary jocks who I've watched their entire career.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Like I get to sit in the room with.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
V one oh three talent who have done everything I
wanted to do in more and getting their feedback and
learning from them every day. Like those moments to me
are just so surreal because I'm like, I, y'all are
the reasons I want to do this, And now I
can really pick your brain and we could sit across
from each other at lunch.
Speaker 3 (10:28):
It's crazy.
Speaker 5 (10:29):
So those those moments have always been like big, big
moments for me.
Speaker 3 (10:33):
Wow.
Speaker 2 (10:34):
Something you say all the time that you love to
mix passion with purpose.
Speaker 4 (10:39):
What do you mean by that?
Speaker 5 (10:41):
I just feel like, you know, a lot of people,
especially in this in my era, where you know, we
fall in love with the opportunity to express ourselves. But
I feel like radio is so much more than that.
It's not just you talking at an audience, but you
should take whatever opportunity you get to be in front
of a crowd to fulfill a purpose. So I feel
(11:01):
like we are all here on assignment. God has all
given each one of us a specific purpose, and everything
you do should be purpose driven. So when you see
me out, you know, on social media a lot of times, yeah,
I'm just random, But really, I feel like my purpose
is to show the little key keys where I'm from
that anything is possible, that they can do things, that
they can come you know, they can be exposed to
(11:23):
different careers and they can be successful in different rooms.
That was a big thing for me being a part
of the Fresh Show. A lot of people looked at
me in my background and it was like, what is
she doing on Top forty radio. You know, she's she's
too big, she's too black, she's too loud. But you know,
I feel like, you know, I'm showing girls every day
when I show up that you know, you can thrive
(11:43):
in this space and you belong in these spaces. And
so I just feel like everything you do should be
connected to a purpose. So anytime I get to mix
my passion, which is radio and entertainment, with the purpose
of inspiring somebody behind me who may be battling fear
or going through some of the things that I've come
through and overcome, Like that's me mixing my passion with
my purpose. And I think we have to keep reminding
(12:04):
ourselves of that because sometimes it gets fun and you
just you just doing you. But I'm like, no, I'm
here for a purpose. I'm here on a mission, and
I'm here on assignment, and I got to make sure
that I'm staying true to that.
Speaker 4 (12:13):
Amen. So you have no problem with imposture syndrome, Oh no.
Speaker 3 (12:17):
No, No, it's bad.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
It's bad.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Imposter syndrome is bad.
Speaker 5 (12:21):
But it held me back for so long, like literally
seven years in fear.
Speaker 3 (12:28):
And so it's like God is like, girl.
Speaker 5 (12:30):
I didn't create you to sit here and just keep
your mouth closed, like I gave you a purpose and
you're not doing what I ask you to do. So
I have to remind myself like, Okay, when you put
me in any scary situations or these rooms that I
feel like I'm not qualified to be in, I'm doing
a disservice to God if I'm not showing up how
I know I can and I know I should be.
So imposture system syndrome is something I battle every day,
(12:52):
but I know I got a answer to somebody, and
so I'm here for a reason that I got to
show up and do it.
Speaker 4 (12:57):
Amen, will you cover it well? I would never know.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
Yeah they say that, Oh yeah I would. That's why
I said, you don't have a problem with that. But see,
you never know what goes on behind close story.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
You never know. But hey, you covered well, Paulina.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Your resume looks it's a lot like why don't you
share a little bit about your background and what.
Speaker 4 (13:15):
You've been doing?
Speaker 1 (13:16):
Well? Thank you for having me be a part of this.
Speaker 2 (13:18):
Oh I'm so excited. I couldn't. I just can't wait
to work with both of.
Speaker 1 (13:21):
You, and I'm very grateful and I'm very excited because
you know, you're also an inspiration to so many of us,
to Angela like on so many levels. Like you said,
I was in your chair for years and you've helped
me just really kind of navigate my path here and
listening to Kiki story, I get to work with her
every day now, right like up close and personal, and
like you said, I didn't know she felt this way
right with the past syndrome and like going through these
(13:43):
these motions because it's so true and sometimes you feel
like you don't belong in these spaces. So you also
inspired me, Kiki, and I love you know, being a
part of this this podcast now, so again, thank you,
and you know being being from Chicago as well and
being here really is special to me because it's home,
you know, and I love working in Chicago. I love
being here, being an iHeart of course. And then yeah,
(14:05):
just continue to try everything that I can get my
hands on. Is kind of like what I've done, I feel,
and Angela knows this very well, but anything that I
can do, anything that I that I've done, I'm just
really grateful for the opportunities and I want to continue
to grow here. So yeah, we're on the Frend Show
every morning, so you can hear me and Kiki literally
at what crack of five am.
Speaker 3 (14:23):
Yes, the MIC's track.
Speaker 1 (14:25):
And we're there, and you know, it's really exciting to
be able to grow in different cities and you know,
join that and yeah, pretty much anything else. You know,
I'm a mom now, so it's crazy. It's a it's
a whole new chapter for me. It's a whole new world.
But I love it and I want to be able to,
you know, set an example for my daughter because I
want her to feel confident in any space that she's in,
you know, whether she does follow my footsteps and do
(14:46):
radio and which I don't know if she will, but we'll.
Speaker 3 (14:48):
See, you know.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
I want her to kind of follow her path as well.
So I just hope that she gets inspired, and she.
Speaker 5 (14:53):
Will because probably she's an inspiration too. She has a
like you said, her resume is stacked, but I will
ever forget. The first time I met Paulina, I was
working in the commercials department and she had just come
here where.
Speaker 3 (15:05):
You're from, la I think you.
Speaker 5 (15:07):
And she literally was walking around the building to every
person and introducing herself and.
Speaker 3 (15:13):
She said, Hi, my name is Paulina. I want to
be on the radio.
Speaker 5 (15:16):
It was she said, yeah, she said, I'm working down
the hall, but girl, I'm trying to get on the
radio Kiss And I was like, okay, I like that,
you know, I was like oh, And then I turned
the next thing I know, she was on Kiss.
Speaker 3 (15:26):
FM on the radio. I said, she did it.
Speaker 5 (15:29):
And so, you know, you never know how you inspire
other people. But that's why it's always good to like
share your journey because people may not know that Paulina
inspired me when I was sitting in the commercial's apartment.
I'm like, oh, she came in the door, and it
was like, yeah, I got a job, but I want
to be on the radio. Meanwhile, I'm scared to tell
anybody I want.
Speaker 3 (15:44):
To be on the radio. So it was like, you know,
she she.
Speaker 5 (15:47):
Has an amazing journey and you are crushing it as
a mom, and it's one of the people in the
building who I think can do anything, any role in
the job. She's learned how to do it, and we
know in our industry that's super important.
Speaker 2 (15:58):
So you know, so many people think outside of outside
of these walls and they look at us and think,
how did they make it? You know, they've been in
that corner office for a lifetime, or they've been on
the radio for a lifetime. They don't realize what we've
gone through to get here.
Speaker 4 (16:15):
They really do not.
Speaker 2 (16:16):
And life changes, the career is changed. But when it
comes to detours and challenges and pitfalls and success, there's
the same a lot of times. And so let's talk
about that. Any pitfalls, any challenges or detours along the
way for either one of you.
Speaker 5 (16:34):
I would say my biggest pitfall was just sitting in
fear for seven years.
Speaker 3 (16:38):
You know, I feel like I wasted a lot of time.
Speaker 5 (16:41):
And although I do believe that everything happens exactly when
it's supposed to, and I feel like those years of
me sitting with preparation for a lot of the things
that I faced along the journey. Once I did decide
to get on air, but I feel like, get you
cannot let fear hold you back in this industry.
Speaker 3 (16:59):
You have to. You have to get over that.
Speaker 5 (17:01):
You have to battle that every day so that you
don't miss out on opportunities that are created for you.
I think God has been gracious to help me make
up for lost time, so a lot of the stuff
I felt like I miss he has done in these
last two years, and I'm just like, oh my God.
Speaker 3 (17:16):
But yeah, I feel like fear was a big pitfall
for me.
Speaker 5 (17:19):
I had a really hard internship, but I felt like
it sharpened me and I learned a lot from it.
So anybody who's listening and may be interested in getting
into any industry, I feel like the best thing you
can do is just be a sponge at all times,
you know, soak it up, soak up everything that you
can and use that to kind of build your armor
for wherever you're going. So I know I've had different pitfalls,
(17:42):
but I can't even remember like one off the top
of my head because I felt like it, whatever it
was that may have happened, just sharpened me to be
prepared for my now.
Speaker 2 (17:51):
So well, you know, we always have a plan, but
God has another plan and our timetable is not always his. Yes,
And when I was growing up, it was no question,
no doubt that I was going to be on television.
I wanted to be a television news reporter and that
was just what I wanted to be, and eventually an anchor.
So I go to TV station for my internship and
(18:12):
I'm sitting there with the news director and he says,
I'm nineteen years old, and he says, so, what.
Speaker 4 (18:17):
Do you want to be twenty years from now?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
And I said, have no clue, and I know that
in nineteen my goal is to be a news anchor
I've always wanted to be And he says, I mean,
great interview. I get back to a home and I
get a phone call from HR and he says, you
didn't make it, And I said, what happened? I thought
it was a great interview? He said, he asked you
a question what you wanted to be doing twenty years
(18:41):
from now, and you couldn't answer. What he wanted to
hear was that you wanted to be in television news
twenty years And I said, I was honest, Yeah, I
don't know.
Speaker 4 (18:51):
I didn't know.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
And so she said, well, we have an opening for
a radio internship if you want to try that.
Speaker 4 (19:00):
That was forty two years ago.
Speaker 2 (19:02):
Yes, But here's the interesting thing, because where I was
working was a radio and television combo newspaper and printing
company in Louisville, Kentucky. And so the news director, television
news director's wife was a radio news reporter. And who
did I get assigned to with my internship? And I
didn't know it because their last names were different. So
(19:23):
then I find out, huh it was her husband. Well
maybe within a few months, I'm walking down the hall
and the television news director comes to me and he says,
I made one mistake in my career.
Speaker 4 (19:37):
And I said, what was it? He said, your name
keeps coming up in my household.
Speaker 2 (19:42):
You know you are here at five five thirty in
the morning out on stories with my I made a mistake.
Speaker 4 (19:48):
I made a mistake I should have hired you. I said, well,
I'm stuck on radio now. Thanks, but no thanks, but
you know.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
That you see what happens. Yeah, because I was open
and I was opened to change. If I had said nope,
I can't get a job here, and it was a
number one television station, so I really didn't want to
go anywhere else. But what if I had said, nope,
don't want to do radio. I'll just be open to whatever.
And I am so grateful and so thankful that, you know,
(20:16):
I never look back.
Speaker 4 (20:17):
I never look back.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
I tell the story, but I'm never sorry that I
didn't do television. And so this is what God's plan
was for me.
Speaker 1 (20:24):
Yep.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
And it's funny because Ryan, who is a producer for
the WCI Morning Show, he talks a lot about Echo
Robinson and I who's overseas marketing for iHeart Chicago. And
anytime there are changes or things pop up or you know,
the career, the the the company change, they come by.
Speaker 4 (20:42):
He says, I'm just checking on Grace and Favor. I'm
just checking on are you still here? I'm still here.
Speaker 2 (20:49):
And I think it really does boil down to that,
It really does boil down to just being open. You know,
so many and I look at this this generation and
so many people are they they're And you need to
be focused, don't get me wrong. And you need to
have an end goal, but know that that ind goal
can change over the course of your career. Sometimes it
(21:11):
happens in two years, like it did you. Yeah, but
what about you, Pauline? Do you do you struggle with
being focused? Do you do you struggle with any regret
that you know, maybe I would have, could have should it?
Speaker 1 (21:22):
You know, that's such a good question because I try
not to write, you know, I definitely be said, like
I do feel like God's plan is it's the it's
the way, you know, And for me, my I would say,
I don't even know if it's the regret. But like
for me moving you know, across the country when I
was twenty twenty one years old, twenty two it was
right after college and I moved and looking back at it,
(21:46):
like it was such a stepping stone to like where
I am and like where I wanted to be. But
at that time, I like I didn't really I didn't
really know if I wanted to be in that space
right because I was like, Okay, I'm not in Chicago.
I have no family here. I've like friends and I've
met you know, so like I was really scared, but
then you know, praying about it, putting you know, my
(22:06):
all into it. I was applying to TV jobs to
do like PA work right, like, so I wanted to
be like behind the scenes because I knew people who
were like doing that or gonna do that. So I
was like, maybe that's my calling. I don't know, I'm applying, applying,
no one's calling me back. I have no TV like
behind the scenes experience where I'm no nothing. So then
I'm like, what do I do? So I applied to
a iHeart. I applied to a promotions assistant position and
(22:29):
that's the only one that called me back. And I
was like, okay, we're going into radio, We're doing this,
and you know, going there and taking that position was everything.
I got to do so many cool things, meet cool people,
and obviously I was living in Los Angeles, so it
was just like, to me, like the perfect kind of
combo of everything. And then I started getting homesick. And
this is kind of a wild story. I don't know
if this is like what was supposed to happen, but
(22:51):
it did. I was like, I'm getting homesick. I think
it's time to go home, but I don't know, like
what do I do. I don't have a job back home.
Speaker 3 (22:57):
What do I do?
Speaker 1 (22:58):
I don't want to leave radio. And I got into
a really bad car accident where my car got totld
like it was yes, I mean thank god, I was okay,
Like I walked away with like nothing like no scratch,
is no pain, nothing, but my car was gone. And
I was like, well, I need a car in LA
and I don't really have that right now, and I
don't know if I can make that happen. So I
(23:18):
called my mom and I was like I think I'm
coming home and I've been talking about coming home, but
I didn't like know how I was getting home or
why I would go home. And I contacted iHeart Chicago,
and there was a position here and I took it.
So I did a little like a little you know,
transfer over here, and I was like, Okay, that was
like weirdly meant to happen, supposed to happen. I'm supposed
to be back home. And that's like when yu Kiki said,
(23:40):
like I walked in this building, and I just started
talking to people and I was like, you know what,
I'm just gonna say, who I am, Like, what's the
worst that could happen? So then I did And then yeah,
I started working with the Fred Show, where was Fred
and Andy at the time, and like I would go,
you know, work with them in the mornings and make
my way to sales over here, tend to work as
an assistant because I was not good at it. I'm
not gonna lie until I was not good at it. Okay,
(24:00):
I try, my heart is. But then you know, like
everything happened the way was supposed to and everything, and
I think the one thing that I have lost about myself,
but I want to get back And I think Kiki's
such a good example of this, and I talk about
this all the time with you is advocating for yourself
and really just being like your own biggest cheerleader. And
for me, like I'm always so it wouldn't believe this,
(24:21):
but like I'm shy sometimes like no, right, sometimes I'll
be like I don't know, and I don't want to
talk about myself or I don't want to like post
this about myself or like reach out for this opportunity,
like I would be so shy because I was so
afraid of the word no, and I still am only wrong,
like I still can be because it can be scary.
But I forgot who told me this a long time ago.
(24:42):
But it's like, you know, you're gonna hear a thousand no's,
but it really just takes one yes, yes, and I can't.
I've learned this industry too, like, don't take things so personal.
You know, a no to me doesn't mean that I'm
this terrible personality and no one wants to work with me.
You know, it just literally means like this opportunity isn't
for me, and I'm going to move.
Speaker 3 (24:59):
On yes and yeah.
Speaker 1 (25:01):
So for me, that's kind of something that I'm trying
to regain in the new year twenty twenty five, right,
is I want to kind of stick up for myself
more and kind of put myself in, you know, situations
that are I don't know, good for me right and
make me feel good. So that's my one I would
say regards.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
The one thing there are several though, but that impresses
me by both of you is your your desire to
give back. And so Kiki, you are out and about
in schools and speaking and really talking to a lot
of students that are interested in this building of business.
Speaker 4 (25:31):
Why don't you tell us a little bit about that?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
I mean, I love them.
Speaker 5 (25:34):
That's probably my favorite part of it because I just
remember as a kid, if you're not exposed to different things,
you don't know that you can achieve them. And if
you don't see people who look like you doing different things,
then you feel like it's not possible. And so my
favorite story to tell is like I was a kid
eleven years old and in the car listen to the
(25:54):
Bad Boys or WGC.
Speaker 3 (25:55):
I called them and asked them.
Speaker 5 (25:57):
For a job, and lo and behal My started my
radio career on WGC.
Speaker 3 (26:02):
I just like them.
Speaker 5 (26:03):
So like I just go back to any time I
get an opportunity to get in front of kids, I
tell them that story because I want them to understand
that whatever it is you're dreaming of doing, you can
achieve it, no matter what your circumstances are. You know,
I grew up in a not great neighborhood on public
aid or public assistance, and I've been able to overcome
my circumstances. I've had every excuse in the world to
(26:25):
not be great or to not do great things. I
lost my mother at nine years old. My father was
an alcoholic. Like I'm raised by my sister, Like I
have a story, and I'm just like everybody has something,
you know, everybody has something, but it's up to you
if you're gonna let your something stop you from where
you could be going. So anytime I get a chance
to share that with kids, I love to do it
(26:47):
because I just think it takes you seeing somebody do it,
Like I saw the bad Boys do it, and I
was like, oh yeah, I can do that, and so
all you need to do is just be an example
for somebody. And then I also love talking to kids
who because kids, first of all, they're honest, yes, and so'nest,
and they give great feedback, you know. So I love
(27:08):
I love being connected to the youth in any way
that I can. But I just remember just sitting around
and seeing my circumstances and thinking that this is it.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
You know, They're like, this is this is it?
Speaker 5 (27:18):
Like you you can't you know, you can only do
what you see everybody else in your family doing, or
you could you can only be so great. But I
just think it's important to give kids exposure and let
them know that it's bigger, that it's bigger things you
can achieve.
Speaker 3 (27:30):
And so anytime I get to do that, I'm gonna
do it.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
And Paulina, you have a nonprofit.
Speaker 1 (27:35):
Yes, yes, so we well I say we, but like
I think, you know, in my community or just like
growing up, I think mental health was just something that
like people you know, never really talked about, like, you know, nothing,
So for me it was really important to not only
like talk about it and raise awareness around like understanding
that you know, getting help is completely acceptable and completely okay.
(27:57):
And maybe because we didn't see our mom's grandma, nobody
and they all suffered in silence unfortunately, and and you know,
getting help was just so taboo at the time. You know,
for me, it was really important to like I said,
I only talk about mental health, but provide resources. So
we were we were in Pilsen, and we basically provide
free mental health resources to the community those who want
a therapists. But also there's different types of therapy. So
(28:18):
if you're more into like group talk therapy where you know,
you're's a group of you guys and you guys talk,
or it's obviously one on one. I have a physical
therapist because believe it or not, a lot of our
traumas are in our bodies and and a lot of
physical therapists do work through that as well. I just
wanted to normalize the conversation around mental health, especially like
in La Latino community, people uh really don't talk about
things like they'll believe in witchcraft before they believe in
(28:40):
getting help or you know, when it comes to you know,
getting just getting mentally right. So for me, that was
like really important and definitely like something I try to
implement in my daily life, you know, trying to meditate
when I can, I pray a lot. You know, I
do believe too, two things can go hand in hand.
I do believe that my my faith and you know,
talk to my therapists do go hand in hand because
(29:01):
it's only maybe a better better person, better at work,
but it's maybe a better mother, which is really important
right now for me. So I try to be an
advocate for that as much as I can, and it's
truly important.
Speaker 2 (29:12):
Both of you have such a heart for service, and
that is that's just a blessing in and of itself.
So as we start to wrap up what or who inspires.
Speaker 5 (29:22):
Youkiki, Well, you inspire me. You inspire me just just
I don't know, like if you, I guess you have
to be in this industry to kind of understand some
of the things we may have seen. And I just
remember seeing a lot of different women in the industry,
(29:45):
and when I tell you, I always think of you
because you are just so classy always, you know, poised
and put together and professional and just confident like I
you are a really big inspiration to a lot of
us around here.
Speaker 3 (30:03):
So just whether you know it or not. And then my.
Speaker 5 (30:06):
Radio sisters, I look at them and I look at
their journeys, they inspire me because I just feel like,
if you're not a woman, you know, in this industry,
you don't really know what women go through, And just
looking at their journeys inspire me, even the good and
the bad. I learned what to do and what not
to do. So those women inspire me too. And then
just the women in my life, Like my sister is
(30:28):
my biggest inspiration.
Speaker 3 (30:29):
She took me in, she raised me.
Speaker 5 (30:31):
We're twenty years apart, but after my mother passed, she
raised me with her children, and I've just seen her
overcome everything, get all her kids, you know, through school,
and she just you know, has raised me. She just
is everything. So my sister is my biggest inspiration. And
then if you ever look at my social media videos
on my wall, you'll see Oprah, You'll see Wendy Williams,
(30:55):
because I feel like even with Wendy, you can take
good and bad. And then Angie my tenas, those are
like my three in the in the media industry that
I look to and I'm like, I want to be
you know, about my business like Oprah. I want to
shake the table and leave a mark like Wendy, and
I want to be respected like Angie Martinez.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
So those are the three big three for me.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
But yeah, thank you, Paulina.
Speaker 1 (31:19):
Definitely echoing off of Kiki. You know, you do inspire
a lot of us. You created a whole podcast about,
you know, to to uplift women and to really shine
a light on so many different just women different industries,
you know, sharing their stories or paths. So I think
that you know, even hearing your story and being able
to see you and all that you've accomplished and all
the stuff that you're doing, like going to the White
House and a casual, like what, she's just there with
(31:42):
the vice president hang out. But like you, I mean
you're in that position. You're in that place because that's
not only where God intended you for, you know, to be.
But I think all of us watching and being able
to hear you share that story and and and you know,
be able to talk about that kind of stuff to
us is very inspiring. Yes, so I think you're definitely
on my list as well. And for me, it's like, yeah, family,
you know, my mom is my number one inspiration. I
(32:04):
mean she's a single mom, like she was a single
mom and she still has I guess, but I mean
looking at it, like she came to this country, you know,
with literally nothing. Run day she'll write a book.
Speaker 4 (32:15):
And I can't wait.
Speaker 1 (32:17):
In this story, I'm like I can't wait, mon. So
she's like everything to me, you know, and watching her
now be the best grandma that and I've ever seen,
just because I think she was able to really heal
a lot in her life and being able to you know,
raise her daughters and all of that. So now watching
her with my daughter is just like it's indescribable. And yeah,
like the women in this industry inspires me so much,
(32:41):
like you said, because it's it's the good and the bad,
the beautiful and the ugly. We take it all, you know,
and we see everything and you don't really get it
unless you're here as a woman. And you know that too, Angela.
Like being a woman in this industry in this position,
you know, we really do see stuff, we hear stuff,
but I think we persevere. And that's like what really
keeps us going is our passion, our love and the
(33:03):
inspiration really around us. Because I couldn't do this without you,
you know, without you both, I couldn't do this right
without like you know, Kaylin and even like Robin Brock,
I talked to her a lot, like everybody, and you
know that I think is in this industry truly, the
women have been so inspiring and so gracious and really
try to uplift one another, which I think we're really
lucky to have that.
Speaker 2 (33:23):
Well, we all need each other and that's the key,
and that is one of the reasons why we created
the podcast, because women and we inspire each other and
sometimes we don't know it, you know, it could just
be something you say, something you do, the way you
react or respond. That is just the inspiration that you
need for the day. Well, I think both of you
for being a part of this podcast today.
Speaker 4 (33:44):
And so, Kiki, you have.
Speaker 2 (33:47):
Podcast, You have a podcast several, I think, so tell
us where we can hear you next on the podcast
on the Fread Show.
Speaker 5 (33:54):
Okay, yes, absolutely. You can hear me every morning every
weekday morning on the Friend Show on the iHeartRadio app.
Shout out to Fred Nashley, syndicated show that's growing throughout
the company. We just picked up like three new markets
in a week as Wild, so you could definitely hear
me there every morning every weekend weekends Wakiki on w
g C I and Q ninety three in New Orleans.
(34:14):
You can listen on the iHeart Radio app there too.
I have a podcast, shout out tone Copone and Zach
book the What More Can I Say?
Speaker 3 (34:20):
Podcast.
Speaker 5 (34:21):
You can listen to us every Wednesday, new episodes on
YouTube and iHeart and then also with the Shave Room
every Thursday we do a live show. Shout out to
Ryan my cooking show. You just gotta follow us on Instagram.
You never know when we might drop an episode, but
cooking Wikiki and Ryan and I think that's all. I
think that yeah, I think I can cover it off.
Speaker 2 (34:42):
That's all today, That's all today, Tomorrow, Paulina, we cut you.
Speaker 1 (34:48):
Yes, I'll be with Ke show. That's every morning Monday
through Friday on the Heart Radio app, snatched syndicated. So
it's fun. It's really fun to be able to grow
with this awesome team. Mammy Collective podcast is on all platforms,
but I Heart is where we go because we love
the iHeart Radio app and that's where I'm at. I
drop every Monday, So it's uh, basically talking to moms
(35:08):
out there. You know, my biggest thing was I didn't
want to lose myself in motherhood. Motherhood is the most
beautiful thing about me, but it's not my entire It's
it's not who I am entirely right, There's so many
layers to me, and I know a lot of moms
feel that way, and I just want to make sure
that other moms know that their voices matter, that that
you know, we are here for them. We listen to
them and we share stories and from everything.
Speaker 2 (35:27):
Right.
Speaker 1 (35:27):
How to navigate your career too, I don't know how
to like, you know, get over the whatever terrible twos,
so whatever might pay going on in the house right
with the kids that day. So I love that I'm
able to do that. And then I do never too
shy with my girl Doati and we just talk pop culture, lifestyle,
fun stuff. So I heart radio.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
App Well, thank you both for being here today and
it's just great to start the new year with a
new generation of leaders on the Women in Spars Chicago podcast, So.
Speaker 3 (35:56):
Oh thank you be here and call them again.
Speaker 5 (36:00):
Question before you wrap, can you share with us your
biggest lesson in life?
Speaker 1 (36:06):
You feel like.
Speaker 4 (36:09):
Learning to be flexible?
Speaker 2 (36:11):
Okay, And I would like to say, and I think
it goes back to the story that I shared about
wanting to be in television. I think back on that
moment a lot because if I had had a closed mind,
look what I would have missed out on. And I
say that to young people. I said, particularly to my
(36:32):
great nieces who are both in this in this field.
Wonder why and both of them are just just phenomenal.
But sometimes we have these conversations that they kind of
don't want.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
To move with.
Speaker 2 (36:46):
They don't want to move with the time, and I say,
and I hate to say, but this is what I did,
because then they'll say, oh, Auntie, that was, you know,
thirty forty years ago, of course. But it's the flexibility,
and you need to be open to change, and you
need to be versatile. That's why, thankfully, together with God
I've lasted so long, is that I just roll with
(37:08):
the flow, and I am willing to do any and everything,
no matter what my title has been. And I think
I've had ten. I think that was the last time
I counted nine or ten. As long as it's not
illegal or immoral, sign me up, you know. But at
the core of who I am, it's my faith, you know,
(37:31):
in God. And I try to give as much time
to the I serve women's ministry that I lead together
with a group of women, because that's what really makes
me tick, you know. And so when I just say
be it open, because you never know where it's going
to lead, I can almost guarantee you if I had
(37:53):
taken the television route, I wouldn't be in the business today. Yep,
more than likely I would not still be here today.
But because I said yes to change, and while I
you know here, I am, so I would say to anyone,
just stay flexible, just stay open.
Speaker 4 (38:12):
Now you may go home and kick the wall and
be frustrated that, oh I missed it?
Speaker 2 (38:18):
Why didn't I do it? And I literally like you,
I would just we my mom would we passed this
television station, work there one day.
Speaker 4 (38:24):
I'm gonna work there one day.
Speaker 2 (38:26):
And so I remember when I got the call that
said I didn't make it, I was sad, but in
that same call was hey, you want to try radio.
Speaker 4 (38:34):
I'm like, why not?
Speaker 3 (38:35):
Right?
Speaker 4 (38:36):
You know, why not?
Speaker 2 (38:37):
But I think the older you get, the more I
don't know what I should say, the more inflexible you become.
And so it's probably because I was nineteen and I
was excited and I was anxious, and I'm like, Okay,
I'll do it, but what if?
Speaker 5 (38:53):
And you never lost that over your career. You had
so many titles, different departments.
Speaker 4 (38:57):
Oh I have. I have been as.
Speaker 3 (38:59):
Successful each one of them.
Speaker 4 (39:01):
So I have. And when I think about you.
Speaker 2 (39:03):
At Q ninety three, oh some twenty plus years ago,
I split my time between Chicago and New Orleans. And
why because I was I wanted something new and exciting
and I didn't want to leave Chicago, but they needed
a marketing division built in.
Speaker 4 (39:19):
At that time, we.
Speaker 2 (39:20):
Were clear channel want to think in New Orleans and
they said, hey, you want to do this. I said,
I don't want to leave Chicago. It wasn't then you
need to split your time. So I became the time
joiner of marketing scene and every other week I was
in New Orleans. And but here's the thing I had
such I had experience in all formats. And at that time,
you know, they had Q ninety three WYLD, but we
(39:43):
had Rock, and we had TOP forty, and we had Country.
And so because I had been open so many times
down the line, I could roll with all the formats.
And so for one solid year, I got on an
airplane just about every Sunday or every other Sunday and
split my time. But what did it do for Chicago?
There were others that were working on my team that
(40:05):
they had an opportunity to move up because I'm not here,
so they're neat And of course there was no virtual
component at that time. There was barely email, and so
they had an opportunity to be able to step up.
Echo Robinson, who oversees marketing, she was able to step
up at that time, and a couple of other members
on the team. So when a door opens for you,
(40:26):
always make sure that you look back and open the
door for someone else. We have a responsibility to give back.
We didn't make it where we are on our own,
and so as soon as the door opens for you,
don't close it, look back and bring someone else to
that door.
Speaker 3 (40:44):
That's good stuff there, that's it.
Speaker 5 (40:47):
That's I'm sitting in here with too much wizdoy.
Speaker 2 (40:52):
I hope I answered your question. I hope I answered
your question. But again, thank you, Keiki and Paulina. Just
really appreciate you opening up today and sharing your story.
We all have a story, and you all have great stories.
Speaker 4 (41:04):
So thank you, Thank you you.
Speaker 1 (41:06):
Thanks for listening to the Women Inspire Chicago podcast hosted
by Angela Ingram, produced by Paulina Roe, presented by iHeartMedia Chicago,
and sponsored by pot Belly.
Speaker 4 (41:15):
Feed your group from small to larch with pot Belly
Catering pot Belly, you Gotta Get It Hot.
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