Ali Clarke: “I don’t know if I was ever completely comfortable being a solo presenter on talk”

Mix 102.3’s Ali Clarke has confessed that she doesn’t know if she was ever “completely comfortable being a solo presenter on talk” on a recent episode of Leroy Brown’s Air Heads podcast. 

Now one of four on The Ali Clarke Breakfast Show, Ali said that although she didn’t dislike her time as a solo presenter on ABC Radio Adelaide, she works much better as part of a team that uplifts people with laughs. 

 

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Ali said she took the opportunity on AM after being fired from a commercial FM gig, only to find, “There’s a very, very big difference between AM talk, and FM commercial,” she said. 

“I made that move and had that opportunity and gave it a crack, but it would be kind of like saying to a netballer, for example, oh you’re going to be great at basketball becausebasketball’s round like a netball.”

“It’s a completely different craft and a completely different way of doing things, and I don’t know if I was ever completely comfortable being a solo presenter on talk. You know, no ads, no songs, and just musing to people, talking to people, and I find I’m a much better fit when I’m in a team, if that makes sense.”

“Now, that does not mean that I didn’t love my time on the ABC and I’d love to maybe have a crack at it again, but I took very seriously the privilege it was to be on the ABC, especially getting people and all of us through covid and bushfires, and it was really really big and grounding to be that person that people tuned on the radio for when they were feeling scared or uncertain or unsure about it, and my job, I took really seriously, was to get the absolute best information to them, so people could make the best decisions possible.”

“I loved that moment, but god I love having fun – not that that wasn’t fun – but I love rip-snorting laughs and lightening the load for people and that I get a lot more here at Mix.”

Ali also talks about making a difference in her community, building the perfect team at work and more.

Hear the full chat below.