Unpredictable but exciting: Why Livinia Nixon loves hosting talkback radio

Livinia Nixon at 3AW. Image: Facebook

Last week, Livinia Nixon found herself chatting about everything from world politics to lunar flybys, whilst filling in for Tony Moclair on 3AW Afternoons.

While best known for her TV work, the former Nine News weather presenter is no stranger to radio, having been heard on Nova 100 and TT FM (now KIIS 101.1), where she hosted Drive alongside Ed Phillips.

She’s also presented weekend Breakfast across 2UE, Magic 1278 and4BH.

Talkback radio, though, is a different beast.

Summing up her week at 3AW, Livinia – who surely has one of sunniest dispositions of anyone in media – clearly enjoyed the experience.

“I love working in radio,” she tells Radio Today. “It’s such a different energy.”

“There’s that really immediate and personal connection that you have with listeners through those one-on-one conversations.”

Livinia also embraces the fast-paced nature of the format.

“It’s like a huge speeding train that you’ve got to keep up with. It’s a little bit unpredictable but I find it really exciting.”

She says one of the biggest differences is that in radio, it’s pretty much just you and a microphone doing all the heavy lifting.

“On TV, you’ve got your body language to communicate, you’ve got all the production elements to support you. And radio does have those production elements but it’s more about the storytelling and connecting with people through their stories.”

“It feels more intimate, and, in a way, it’s a little bit more freeing, because you can take things wherever you want them to go.”

Live radio, as Livinia can attest, is a moveable feast that is everchanging.

Laughing, she says “I’ve always got one eye on the clock as well as one eye on who’s calling, what’s happening, who I’m chatting to, what’s coming up next. “

And as Livinia points out, you can’t just stick a graphic up to illustrate what’s happening.

“You have to paint the picture for the audience, which kind of takes a different skillset,” Livinia says.

“And because it’s live, there is a safety net … but it’s probably got more holes in it. You really need think carefully about what you say before you say it, which is tricky when you’re doing three hours of live radio.”

“But I’ve really enjoyed it.”

Images: Facebook