“We sold our house to fund a dream.” Jess Eva’s giant leap of faith

Jess Eva had a very big decision to make just recently.

Offered two full-time radio gigs in great markets, it was very tempting to say yes.

Instead, she turned them down to focus all her energy on Budget Battlers, the TV renovation show she lovingly built from scratch.

“It really was one of the hardest decisions, because I love radio,” Jess tells Radio Today. “But we’ve come this far. We can’t just give up now.”

“I could have probably done both of them at once but I’m a big believer that if you’re going to do something, you do it right.”

One of the most popular TV couples from The Block, Jess and hubby Norm sold the family home to finance Budget Battlers, ploughing every cent back into the project. There is also another show currently in production.

“That’s how much we believed in it and that’s how much we believe in authentic content, which obviously comes from a radio background, where you have to be live every day,” says Jess.

And there are no regrets.

“We sold our house and if nothing comes from it, I can die a happy woman because I gave my dreams a shot.”

Due to launch on Nine, Jess conceptualised the show, wrote it, co-owns it, financed it, chased down sponsors, narrated it and executive produced it.

Jess and her team transform lives by building equity of over $1 million for families working on shoestring budgets, proving that meaningful change is possible, even when resources are limited.

“Your socio-economic environment shouldn’t define whether or not you have beautiful spaces,” says Jess.

“It’s so much more than a renovation. It just proves to you that you’re worth it, that you’re worth nice things.”

Determined to create something that was not only watchable but actually attainable, Jess draws on her own journey of resilience. She knows more than anyone what it’s like to want a nice space, but feel like it’s out of reach.

“We grew up so poor, I didn’t have electricity until I was eighteen,” she says.

It’s cut-through content, delivered with Jess’s trademark humour and unwavering belief in second chances.

Jess started writing the show during her days co-hosting Breakfast on Triple M Sydney, just before COVID hit.

Now it’s come full circle, with Jess recently having made the coveted 40 Under 40 list in the Business Elite Awards.

“I nearly wasn’t going to go, because I’m filling in on radio at the moment on The Rush Hour,” she says.

Being named among some of Australia’s most outstanding young executives and entrepreneurs is a huge honour for Jess.

But she finds it a bit of a struggle to talk about herself in a positive light.

When I ask her whether she thinks radio and TV audiences connect with her warmth and relatability, she bursts out laughing.

“I think it’s a bit up yourself to think that,” she says.

“I love creating but I struggle a little bit with talking positively about myself, because I used to pick tomatoes, I used to be a snorkel guide in the Maldives.”

It’s an attitude which has extended to her media career. Jess isn’t interested in airs and graces.

“The ego of what the industry is doesn’t mean anything to me,” she says. “What we create is what I’m passionate about.”

Jess says seeing the look on people’s faces when they first clap eyes on their newly-renovated homes makes it all worthwhile.

As far as Jess is concerned, there’s no such word as ‘no.’

“I love it when people say ‘Oh, you shouldn’t do that,’ because that just lights such a fire in my belly, to go ‘Hold my beer!’”

Jess feels she’s been underestimated in the past.

“I love to surprise people. I’ve just turned forty. I don’t feel like I have to prove my worth to anyone anymore. I just do stuff, and if people like it, they like it, and if they don’t, they don’t.”

Jess says industry colleagues like Julia Morris, Angela Bishop and Shayna Blaze have championed her cause.

“I think the big misconception about our industry – in radio – is that there’s this female competition that’s going on. Some of the biggest supporters that I’ve had as things have progressed have been the women. And men!”

“I have had so much kindness. Stage Addiction – my new management – they rallied around me when I shit myself and it could have gone both ways.”

“I’d just encourage anyone to follow their dreams. If you’ve got a burning desire, don’t die with that fire in your belly.”

Jess feels deeply for her radio industry colleagues who’ve recently been made redundant.

“Everything evolves and I know it’s a really serious time for radio announcers at the moment.”

“But if I can give them any advice, from somebody who’s had a show cut in Sydney Breakfast, and watching it at The Rush Hour …  your world is so creative, so if there are no jobs, create your own. Own your own content. Write your own content. Pitch your own content.”

“You can’t sit back and wait for a job offer. All is not lost – just work out how you’re going to create your next opportunity.”

“It might feel like shit right now, but the world works in mysterious ways and it’s a chance to sit back, write, edit, create, publish … see what the feedback is, and see where that takes you.”

“But make sure that it’s something you’re passionate about, because it’s a shitload of work.”

Jess understands that radio can be somewhat ‘institutional’ in making us wonder what other jobs we might be capable of doing – but she says sometimes we don’t realise just how versatile we are.

“The world is never going to stop consuming content, it’s just a matter of how they’re going to consume it.”

“So, go for it babes! Take it by the balls.”