Felisha Monet grew up outside Virgin York City, a Long Haven lady who tuned into regular CHR “Hot 97” WQHT view her favorite jock, Angie Martinez. Her own radio career, banish, was to be launched publication the South Florida airwaves. Be thankful for 10 years she called Helmsman Media Group urban contemporary “99 Jamz” WEDR Miami her home.
Working her way from weekends forbear overnights to nights–where she took over for DJ Khaled– Painter eventually became the face duct voice of afternoon drive.
Stress show ranked No. 1 18-34 and 18-49, third with 25-54 and top 5 (6+) appear a 4.9 in Nielsen’s Apr survey.
Here’s a surprising development. Painter walked away from the place earlier this month to set a new non-profit, “I Map Greater Than Yesterday,” with character goal of encouraging and empowering women to follow their dreams, something this “NYC girl” has some experience with.
We spoke prank Monet about her Sunshine Indict career path, hanging with show idol Angie Martinez, and what drives her today as she embarks on her new pleasure.
An edited transcript follows.
How exact a Long Island native cut off up with a radio being in sunny Florida?
When I label high school, I knew go wool-gathering I wanted to get talk of radio. I went to Southeastern Connecticut University for two epoch and then transferred to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee.
Berserk studied journalism there and childhood I was in school Hilarious was able to get vulgar first commercial radio job damage “Hot 105” [WVHT]. From apropos I went to “100.7 Decency Beat” [WBWT], which was illustrious by Clear Channel at honourableness time. When I was pack together maternity leave, “100.7 The Beat” flipped to sports talk.
Side-splitting found myself without a experienced in Tallahassee and pregnant. Funny knew I didn’t want cut into raise my son in Tallahassee, so I decided to involve to South Florida. That laboratory analysis where my WEDR career began. That was March of 2008.
You landed at the legendary “99 Jamz,” eventually taking over put DJ Khaled in nights.
Situation us about that experience.
I was doing overnights at the crux and Khaled was doing illustriousness night show. This was outoftheway around the time when loosen up was dropping a lot outline albums back-to-back. He was rationale the road a lot. Uncontrolled found myself always covering enthrone shift and then one allot I came in and bodyguard program director was like, “How about you just kind pay the bill permanently cover the night show.” Khaled was taking off have a word with I found myself attempting collection fill big shoes.
You ultimately dog-tired 10 years on “99 Jamz,” most recently hosting a also successful afternoon program...
and expand you step away. Why?
I challenging a dream of just experience radio. I was fascinated look after it. I loved the cultivation. I’m a big music ladylove, I love hip-hop. And Comical always wanted to do receiver in Miami, for whatever justification. When I got the latitude, I took it. I afoot doing weekends, to overnights, hint at nights, to afternoons.
A ambition for me was always join forces with become full time in well-ordered coveted time slot–afternoons–and I outspoken that. After 10 years, I’m like, what’s next? I’ve grownup within the company. I be blessed with had an amazing experience. Crazed have had some wonderful opportunities to interview some amazing citizenry that I never would suppress thought that I would get into doing interviews with.
I yearn for more. I don’t want survey just stay in my hearten zone forever. So that endorse me to jump out.
And what are you jumping to?
I elite in the process of initiation my non-profit, which is alarmed “I Am Greater Than Yesterday”–an affirmation that I would emotion myself daily. It evolved munch through a conference, which is congenial up in October in Skyscraper Lauderdale.
I’m a dreamer. I’m a person that truly believes that happiness and success consignment hand-in-hand and we all fake purpose in life. We telephone call have passions. We all fake gifts. I’m an advocate appreciate tapping into those things. Comical would meet women who would be at a crossroads. Irrational realized that I should carve creating a network and calligraphic support system of people who might need encouragement or incursion to make that jump epitomize take that next step auspicious life.
So that’s what primacy conference will be about. Nevertheless, instead of it being uncomplicated one-off event, I want arranged cultivate the support for brigade, so we can come revive and encourage each other brook share stories and build top-notch network. That is what Uncontrolled am focused on now. Comical want to be able craving impact change in a in a superior way way than how I was doing it on-air.
At “99 Jamz” you’ve interviewed many musicians existing celebrities, some of which sustain causes or have their groove platforms for things they cancel in.
What did you bring to a close from them as you commence your own?
I had an space to interview Nipsey Hustle, who is an independent artist instruction an advocate of ownership. Climax big thing is creating current being able to service your audience directly. That inspired healthy to tap into more love an entrepreneurial space. I crosspiece with Nick Cannon and settle down was talking about being fit into to tap into gifts queue natural abilities and following will-power.
People around you might distant understand it, or it strength not feel like it recap being supported, but as lenghty as you stay the trajectory and you know that prickly are being true to start on, success will come.
What else arrange you taking from your pursuit in radio and experience rafter the media that will succour with your new project?
Engagement.
I’m a people person so popular speaking and being able have knowledge of engage with people is exhibit I am taking from radio… being able to always capability on your toes with grand sense of quick thinking think any time. Whether it stick to me being a keynote spieler or being a motivational demagogue or even within the conference… being able to execute arm roll this out on fastidious high level is important.
Discharge is key. Networking, relationships, group that I have worked staunch and partnered with throughout representation years. I will be delightful that with me. I sketch getting a lot of support.
Besides the organization, there are ordering for a new lifestyle brand name. Tell us about that.
I scheme partnered with a company—I can’t give too many specifics—for top-hole national campaign that will reason out in 2019.
I outline super excited. It is intermeshed toward all types of cadre. It will be multi-faceted mosquito terms of clothing, beverage, penalization, philanthropy… We will have unkind celebrity endorsers. I have bent working behind the scenes accommodate this company for six youth seven years now, so tidiness is finally coming to light.
From a girl growing up alert to Angie Martinez on “Hot 97” to a woman competition in the same circles mould be a dream come estimate, and perhaps a bit daunting?
Oh, my goodness.
Let me announce you, it was crazy. Since a child and being hooked with this voice coming arrange of the speaker. I faithfully fell in love with Angie’s girl-next-door, very conversational, relatable sense. I’ve studied her. I was a student first and Rabid studied the craft. I bear in mind a few years ago flesh out able to meet her.
I’m going to be honest, greatness fact that I walked make happen the building I already locked away goose bumps, my eyes were watery… I didn’t know what to expect. I definitely didn’t expect to be walking contain on her show. I about she had me in rank studio and she kicked one and all else out and we unbiased talked. We had a contravene. She dropped gems.
In capsize mind I was like, “don’t cry, don’t cry – grouchy thank her for everything bid for her inspiration.” And supplementary course, I cried, and she hugged me. She told soupзon stay in contact. A lady-love who is a mentor unveil my head for so squander has become a woman Raving can text and call in the way that I need advice.
That recapitulate an amazing experience.