CHRISSIE SWAN
Chrissie Swan is a game changer. Along with Jane Hall, she led Melbourne’s first all-female breakfast show on Mix that went to #1 in 2014. In 2017, she co-hosts Chrissie, Sam and Browny on NOVA's breakfast show. Chrissie is one of radio’s best storytellers, and her warmth and honesty has delivered audiences to every station she’s worked on. In this interview, she reflects on life, career and confidence.
READ THE SHOW NOTES
2:08 Talking about her current radio show and how extroverts work
2:40 Working with Sam Pang on Chrissie, Sam and Browny
3:16 Understanding the importance of good rapport with your co-hosts
3:35 Working with Jonathan Brown (and the surprise of liking him) on Chrissie, Sam and Browny
4:15 Understanding the vibe of the program on Nova
5:00 Getting to know co-hosts and their families
5:44 Reflecting on family and the impact of her two sisters
6:42 Joking about her family's sense of humour
7:51 Starting her first job, 'I wanted to work in advertising because my favourite show growing up was Bewitched'
8:58 Studying to be a primary school teacher
9:30 Reflecting on her time on Big Brother
9:58 Listening to radio growing up
10:23 Enjoying true crime
11:35 Dealing with the attention post-Big Brother and getting into radio
12:09 Talking about the stages of Big Brother
13:03 Starting a new radio station and offered work by DMG
13:35 Working on the Sunshine Coast
14:07 Following direction from producers, including not laughing
15:10 Learning from her first Program Director
16:22 Working with various on air partners
17:25 Returning to Melbourne and other opportunities
18:40 Working in advertising hoping radio would work out
19:20 Talking about the Vega breakfast team
19:47 Changing dynamic when working in your home town
20:10 Accepting a job that may end tomorrow
22:30 Making ratings and the influence on your content
23:30 Accepting ratings results don’t make any sense
23:49 Dealing with the pressure of low ratings on Vega?
25:00 Moving from one job to the next (Vega to The Circle)
25:43 Moving to host breakfast on Mix with Jane Hall
26:05 Talking about The Circle
26:30 Working as a female in radio
29:05 Talking about how radio stations deal when things are not going well
30:40 Reflecting on the surprise of Mix ending
31:20 Lacking confidence
32:10 Rekindling her love of radio with Fifi Box on Fifi and Dave
32:50 Taking the Nova opportunity
33:09 Working with content directors
34:08 Balancing work and life
34:54 Communicating with your team about how you want to be managed
36:36 Producing versus presenting, the on air talent versus behind the scenes
37:43 Moving beyond taking anything personally in a super personal job
39:27 Finding content
40:04 Working with the team and finding content by staying back
41:30 Loving an industry full of fun people and arseholes
42:25 Knowing a big story when you find one
43:04 Talking about things that are hard to talk about
44:33 Recognising some on air relationships wont ever make it
45:17 Reflecting on the authenticity era of radio
46:05 Talking about her current team and where it’s going