“Incredibly proud.” Jo Stanley reflects as Broad Radio launches powerhouse programming line up

High profile TV and radio hosts, actors, comedians … not to mention a bona fide rockstar. You’d be hard-pressed finding a more talented or diverse array of broadcasters as Broad Radio today launches its star-studded programming line-up.

It’s no wonder Broad Radio founder and former top-rating Melbourne Breakfast radio co-host Jo Stanley says she’s feeling an incredible sense of pride right now.

This morning, almost four years since Broad Radio’s debut online broadcast, Stanley will host the first instalment of the Morning Broads weekly Breakfast show alongside award winning actor Michala Banas and former triple j host Marieke Hardy.

Broad Radio was the brainchild of Stanley and creative digital producer Darren McFarlane.

But Stanley tells Radio Today she has always felt like its custodian rather than its owner, hugely excited by the calibre of the talent surrounding her.

In her Breakfast co-host Banas, Stanley sees an untapped wealth of interesting stories and perspectives.

“Michala has this cheeky energy to her. We’ve seen her be everything from moving to hilarious. I mean, Upper Middle Bogan … that’s one of the most beautiful characters I think we’ve seen on our screens.”

“But, behind the characters she plays, she’s such a deep-thinking, compassionate, empathetic, really clever person. I’m really excited for people to hear her in a different way.”

Hardy brings her own unique quality to the table.

“Marieke’s intellect is fierce,” says Stanley. “She is skilled in cutting down what sounds like a really complex issue or narrative into just something that is really palatable and easily digested in a fun and interactive way.”

“I love her brain. I love the way she thinks and the way she views the world is so funny. I remember that from when I listened to her on triple j Breakfast all those years ago.”

“She’s very irreverent, but equally really kind and compassionate. That’s at the core of what we really are, and both of them embody that.”

“I have to remind myself not to ‘fan girl’ too much around them,” Stanley laughs.

A rotating cast of Breakfast co-hosts will include singer and Killing Heidi frontwoman Ella Hooper, comedian Nelly Thomas, TV and radio presenter Shelley Ware, ABC broadcaster Rana Hussain and bestselling author Mimi Kwa.

TV host Brihony Dawson, comedian Bev Killick and actor Madeleine West will also be regular contributors.

The rotating roster was born out of a desire for greater flexibility.

“Radio is pretty gruelling,” says Stanley. “And traditionally, if you’re not able to basically commit your entire life to a show, you then end up being excluded from being able to do that show.”

Stanley came at it from a very different viewpoint.

“I thought, well, why can’t we actually have some flexibility? Why can’t we make our model walk the talk of what women actually generally need in the workplace? And that is, the ability to job share or the ability to take time to do whatever they need to do, whether it’s parenting, or whether it’s touring their comedy show … all the things.”

“Hence, we have the three anchors sharing one chair. Then, in the second chair, it’s the co-hosts, and we have a beautiful diversity of voices.”

Added to the mix will be Broad Radio’s Friday Drive show Fierce, hosted by Tracee Hutchison, covering music, politics, sports and pop culture. Leila Gurruwiwi will also host a unique weekly show, Yapas Yarnin’, celebrating and sharing First Nations women’s stories – their knowledge, their life lessons and music.

Stanley says getting such a powerhouse on-air team together at Broad Radio wasn’t difficult at all.

“All it’s taken for me is to ask, which is extraordinary,” she says.

“I didn’t have to convince anyone. It was literally ‘Will you join me in this beautiful, great honour that I have, which is building Broad Radio? I want you to be a part of it.’”

“They were thrilled to be asked, and I was thrilled that they said yes. They all see the value in it, and the joy of working with other women.”

Bolstering this Broad Radio line up is a talented team including Row Murray, Cecelia Ramsdale, Janella Pash, Martine McMahon, Olivia Smith … and of course not forgetting Daisy the Radio Dog!

Stanley has witnessed first-hand the transformative power of radio.

“I love radio. I think radio is going from strength to strength. It’s my favourite medium because it is interactive, because it reflects people’s lives and because it has such power.”

“But I do think there are huge sections of the community who don’t hear themselves, and that’s women over a certain age.”

Stanley says our communities today are diverse, and often look and sound very different to what we hear through the mainstream speakers.

“I’m excited to share stories that are more reflective of our life stage.”

“It’s women who are juggling kids and ageing parents and their careers are really demanding. Maybe their relationships are ending and they’re single for the first time in a long time, or maybe they’re re-partnering and trying to understand a blended family. All of those things that are incredibly challenging.”

Making a difference might be something as simple as giving women a little moment in their day that lifts them, delivering them the information they need … or just giving them a much-needed laugh.

As for the playlist, Stanley says Broad Radio offers a joyous mix of music, from Aretha Franklin to Helen Reddy – everything from the sixties through to today.

Morning Broads can be heard live on the Broad Radio app or online from 7am to 9am  weekdays. All shows will also be available for catch-up listening.

Main photo: Broad Radio lineup (clockwise from top left): Shelley Ware, Rana Hussain, Michala Banas, Ella Hooper,  Jo Stanley, Tracee Hutchison, Brihony Dawson, Madeleine West, Bev Killick, Mimi Kwa, Leila  Gurruwiwi, Marieke Hardy and Nelly Thomas