10 Questions with Paige Leacey

Former Features Editor

Named on Radio Today‘s Best New Talent list, ACRA nominee for Best Newcomer On-Air (Country) and pulling off some of the riskiest radio stunts we’ve heard (and seen) in a while… 2017 was certainly a big year for Magic 93.1’s Paige ‘Paij’ Leacey.

The AFTRS graduate has certainly made a mark since she landed the gig at the Grant Broadcaster station just one year ago; throwing herself into the local Berri community and into the demanding work of Breakfast radio.

Below, Paige answers Ten Questions from Radio Today.

  • Who/what inspired you to choose a career in radio?

The medium inspires me the most cos it’s ruthless. It’ll sell you out if you’re not being yourself. It can be unpredictable. It’s live. You’re speaking to thousands of people at once. But it has the ability to change a person’s day, and that inspires me big time.

  • Most memorable on-air moment so far?

Shaving my head on-air is definitely up there, also getting inside the ‘Sphere of Fear’ at the circus was pretty wild… soz mum!

  • What was the most awkward moment you had in your early years of radio?

Oh man, the list is long! I didn’t get them all outta the way early either. A recent one I had was when Morgan Evans was on the show. He’d called in from the US and my cohost and I made this huge deal about it in the lead up to the interview. When he finally came on I said “Morgan Evans all the way from Nashville, Texas!” and he corrected me straight up with “actually its Nashville, TENNESSEE”… The break beforehand I’d been talking about how I used to live in the US. So. Real smooth.

  • What’s one radio skill that you’ve mastered, and what’s one radio skill that you’re currently working on?

I’ve always got questions, which means I tend to do well keeping the conversation moving forward. I also tend to have too many questions so, among other things, I’m working on brevity.

  • How do you prepare for your shift on-air?

I meditate every morning before I leave the house. It’s the best habit I’ve ever adopted and I wish I came out of the womb doing it. Getting started sucks cos you have to commit to getting out of bed EVEN EARLIER than you already do for a breaky shift but then you sort of get a mini nap before you go in – win/win.

  • How does the person you are on air differ from the person you are off air?

I use way more profanities. I’m the anchor and panel opp of my show too, so in real life I try not to time stamp or weather call as often. Comes off as weird.

  • What’s the one piece of advice you were given that you can pass along?

I’m super lucky to have had awesome mentors in my career so far (Charlie Fox, Mike Byrne…) however a piece of wisdom I was gifted recently was by a coach of a different sort. She said, before you do anything, ask yourself ‘how can I add the MOST value?’… I guess in radio-land that means utility as opposed to just noise. I try to implement it it all aspects of my life though; be the good kind of smell that lingers.

  • Sum up working in radio in three words.

Laugh. It. Off.

  • What’s your dream radio job?

METRO BREAKY (said every radio host ever), or a night show, with different guests – Denton-style long-form interviews, getting to the talking about life part. I’ll know I’ve made it when I can offer celebs a mug with my mug on it.

  • If you weren’t working in radio, what would you be doing?

Trying to work in radio. Podcasting. Floundering.

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