Growing up I played the flute and did drama (theatre kid, can you tell?) – I loved both, but didn’t see a long-term career for me in either. I decided to combine my skills in music and yapping, and studied a Bachelor of Journalism at the University of Wollongong, with a focus on music and arts journalism. Alongside this, I presented on the Illawarra’s community radio station 106.9 VOX FM, before volunteering at FBi Radio as an online contributor.
In 2015, I made my on-air debut at FBi hosting Allnighters and in 2016, made the move to Sydney to be the daily host of their flagship breakfast program Up For It. After two years of early alarms, I had a short break to recalibrate and catch up on sleep, and in May 2018 I sent my reel to triple j. Over the course of 18 months I got a demo, Mid-Dawns, Good Nights fill-ins, weekend shifts, Summer Breakfast, Lunch and Mornings covers and a stint hosting the final weeks of Breakfast in 2019, before starting my full-time gig on Mornings with Lucy Smith in 2020. Phew!

My greatest achievement is hosting Mornings. Like any young Australian music lover, I always knew I wanted to be on triple j – and when I got in the building my vision was ‘Mornings 2020’ (which actually started as an inside joke with some friends, but it stuck). I just knew it was the program for me and was so inspired by its hosting alumni of passionate, knowledgeable music fans.
I started my dream gig in January 2020, did my first Hottest 100, interviewed Tame Impala and then in March, you-know-what happened. Broadcasting during a global pandemic was the ultimate test in steering a ship through confusion, impatience, cancellations, loneliness and uncertainty. The silver lining was that  for the first time some listeners weren’t switching off after
9AM to head into work, the radio became their WFH companion. Bringing Mornings to an audience who would otherwise never have listened was one of my greatest accomplishments, and where I felt community too. It was also a lesson in honing my radio craft when all releases, gigs, festivals and tours were at a standstill. (Legit, ‘what do you talk about when there’s nothing to f*cking talk about?’ was a daily consideration.) I’ve grown with the Mornings fam and ticked off some big career/life highlights. Live broadcasts at Splendour in the Grass and Laneway Festival, guest hosting rage, multiple H100 countdowns and interviewing legends like Halsey, Elmo, Grace Tame, Jamie xx, Glass Animals, The Veronicas and Billie Eilish, alongside a national listening party. And of course, chatting science every week with my bestie Dr Karl.

I’m paraphrasing, but a friend once sent me this quote: “don’t be so caught up thinking about what’s next, that you forget you’re right in the middle of what you used to look forward to.” That and “not my monkeys, not my circus” keeps me level-headed.

My entire family, but an honourable mention to my brother David – who’s had FBi Radio AND triple j bumper stickers on his car over the years. He’s a huge music lover and totally influenced my taste in dance music growing up. We’d listen to the Ministry of  Sound CDs and regularly request Groove Armada’s ‘Superstylin’’ on triple j’s Super Request with Rosie Beaton.
He’s a long-time triple j fan (he’s even got a tattoo of the iconic red drum!) and a regular on the textline and on-air – he even did a segment with me on Breakfast called ‘Do You Get It?’ where he’d tell jokes. The audience fell in love with his laugh and still ask what he’s up to. His pride in triple j and my career means so much, and I genuinely couldn’t ask for a more supportive, enthusiastic brother.

“I think we can let Lucy Smith off the hook sometimes.”

Monobrows will be cool one day. Please invest $5 a week from your Hungry Jacks wage into big tech – don’t ask, it’ll all make sense. And finally – the thing you’re ruminating over will be forgotten in 10 years, a year or even several months. Seriously, you won’t remember why you were so anxious in the first place – feel what you need to and keep moving.

To be regarded as one of Australia’s great interviewers and presenters. I want to continually work on my craft, connect with talent and explore how we present meaningful conversations. I’d love for one of my interviews to be someone’s favourite.

Zan Rowe (duh!) who reminds me to back myself and be my own cheerleader. Nic Kelly who keeps passion and fandom at the forefront. Megan Burslem for her vibrancy and willingness to try new things. Amelia Dimoldenberg for being her own boss and trusting in a concept. Clara Amfo, whose warmth can be felt through the speaker and screen. Linda Marigliano who strikes the perfect balance of vulnerability, cheekiness and expertise. And Richard Kingsmill, who always lets the music be the focus.

I love when a listener takes me into their world. Where they’re listening from, how a song made them feel, a moment it soundtracked, who it reminds them of. I want them to feel part of a music community where stories, recommendations and (reasonably) hot takes are welcome. The power of live broadcasting is that we’re hanging out in real time – and it makes my day when someone turns on the radio and feels a little less alone. Or tells me that they leave the radio on for their pet at home.

– Community radio. Community radio. Community radio. I cannot say it enough. It’s the best place to get your foot in the door, learn the value of volunteering, be involved in a like-minded community of local music lovers and stay tapped into your scene. It’s a training ground where you can find your style, make mistakes and meet your people.
– Listen to radio – lots of it. Commercial, independent, underground and overseas. Note the presenters you like and why you’re drawn to their style.
– Radio chemistry can be rare – keep tabs on the people you like working with on-air and behind the scenes.
– If you like podcasts and adrenaline, consider radio as an outlet.
– It’s a bottleneck industry in Australia and it’s hard work – you’ve gotta want it.

Working really hard alongside playing the waiting game, and not knowing when/if my full-time opportunity would come. There’s a set number of positions on the grid and often it just comes down to timing, which can really test your patience. You get tired of ‘making it work’, hustling and juggling other lines of income. You need money to live, but you also want to be ready to answer the call. My lowest point was working multiple jobs at once – sometimes going from a bar shift, to a mid-dawn and then being back for lunch service. It totally drained me, and yet I knew I was doing everything in my power at that point in time. There’s also this residual guilt that you should be grateful for opportunities because you know how rare they are. A total mind trip! Some of my fellow presenters haven’t been able to stay the course for this reason, and I don’t blame them.

I’m currently going through this as I enter my DJ era and play sets for the first time. Learning a new skill as a fully-formed adult is wild and humbling! But in life and work, here’s what I’ve learnt:
– I think a big part of it is trust. Trusting the process and yourself – and being confident in the fact that it will be easier one day, you just have to move through that discomfort to get there. And being uncomfortable is okay, it’s fuel.
– Imposter syndrome is usually just a confidence or knowledge gap – so ask questions, study up, practice, listen, get feedback and mimic people you admire while you develop your own style.
– Revisit your previous work – you’ll realise it wasn’t nearly as ‘bad’ as you thought and you’ll recognise where you’ve already improved.
– Your timeline is valid.

Miss Kaninna

Pretty Girl

and Skeleten.

You can catch me at BigSound this September, presenting a panel on superfandom! I’m also working with the UNDR ctrl crew on some upcoming DJ gigs, so keep an eye out for those.

Beyonce, Jay Z – ‘Drunk In Love’ or ‘What’s Up’ – 4 Non Blondes. If I’ve ever been husky on a Monday morning, this is probably why.