The Queen of Snark [Today’s Woman]
Copyright: | (c) 2011 Today's Woman LLC |
Source: | Proquest LLC |
Wordcount: | 1545 |
J ust days before I interviewed
"You know.. .it's always fun to be recognized," Mandy begins at the mention of the accolade, "although at first I thought '#6... what's up with that?" she deadpans. "But I really like a lot of the radio talk show hosts who are above me. So I was kind of like 'OK.. .#6, I will take it, because there are quality people in the slots above me, (the closest person to Louisville on that list being in
Mandy's talk show airs Monday through Friday from
Asked in what way her show differs from the one she had in
Mandy says the reason she enjoys her 84WHAS show much better than the one in
Mandy's current #6 ranking, combined with her 'snarky commentary' remark prompts me to ask if I'd be correct if I labeled her 'The Queen of Snark.'
"You know.. .some people work in marble, some people in oils.. .I work in sarcasm," she replies matter-of-factly. "It's the medium that I'm most comfortable in, and I've used the phrase 'snarky commentary' for about a decade. And now I'm seeing Vt everywhere," she continues. "So I'm going to take full credit for the use of the word snarky, as I've made it hip again."
The actual story behind
#1: During a 1996
#2: After hearing Mandy's reenactment, a male passenger approaches Mandy with his business card and says: "You're really funny! You need to be in radio or television."
#3: Because Mandy was then in her mid-twenties and blonde and beautiful, she was often handed business cards from men during flights - which explains why, without looking at the man's card, she threw it away.
#4: One week later on the same flight (now going from
#5: The man turns out to be
#6: After Mandy explains ? haven't the money to go to your school/ Robinson accepts what little money she has to offer and gives her a scholarship for the remainder.
#7: Coincidentally, at the same time Mandy meets
#8: Mandy takes the leave from the airlines and enters the
#9: Upon graduation, Mandy lands an internship at the news station 970 WIN Radio,
#10: Thanks to newfound editing skills, Mandy then lands another internship, and for the next five years, climbs the ladder within the radio industry by working at various Florida stations as a producer, programming director (with a three-year break at one point, selling insurance "as the radio pay was so badi"), before finally hosting her own morning show in
"I think I'm funny. I think I'm ultimately entertaining, and look at things in a way that is slightly off-kilter," muses Mandy on her success in her field. "And even when I'm talking about issues that are serious, I've always used comedy and levity and sarcasm to lighten the mood," she explains. "I guess I grew up in a family where, if the choice was to laugh or cry, we were going to laugh. I also say the things everybody's thinking but don't want to say, so I kind of provide a platform for people where they can look at the radio and go 'holy crap! I've been thinking that for two years and she finally said it!'"
When the subject turns to the fact that women are still a minority when it comes to hosting radio talk shows, she sighs, then says: "it's not even a minority... it's a speck. It's still very, very much a male-dominated industry. There are still biases that exist within the industry itself that women can't do this job. And it's very frustrating to me. But when I start to get frustrated, I just tell myself that I'm going to make it easier for the next talented young woman who wants to do this job," declares Mandy, who is the mother of a 2-year-old daughter, stepmother to two sons, and whose husband was recently hired by the 84WHAS sales division.
As to how she handles those call-in listeners who rigorously disagree with her conservative viewpoints, Mandy says: "I'm never mean. I try never to be personally nasty. And I never want people to feel stupid. They say the definition of tact is being told to go to hell and enjoying it."
I then take a moment to reflect on just how much Mandy has achieved professionally in such a relatively short time; although inexplicably, the process results in my suddenly blurting out, "I imagine there being a stitched pillow on a chair in your office with the words 'Nobody puts baby in a corner!'"
Thankfully, Mandy reacts to my musings by laughing uproariously, before exclaiming: "That is hilarious... that is soooo true! There have been so many times where I've just been bowed up and ready to go," bringing to mind an archer with her bow and arrow raised in firing position. "And that is awesome.. .absolutely hilarious!"
So my Patrick Swazye-ish analogy about Mandy's spirit actually hit the nail on the head?
"Absolutely," she declares still sounding amused, "because I'm a fighter and very competitive. And I don't like to lose. Period."
"I have the opportunity to give my opinion about whatever I want to give my opinion about. And people are there listening and responding to that. I think most people would relish the opportunity to have their voice heard and then get feedback on it. What you don't realize is that you get negative feedback, and you have to grow a pretty thick skin in this industry."
- talk show host
She's the One
"When
Enter
Carls recalls how Mandy had summarized her five-and-a-half years as a flight attendant. "'Duties included serving bad food to angry people, safety demonstrations, and barf bag disposal,'"
Mandy's cover letter to Carls, which she'd purposely sent three weeks after the 84WHAS job was posted, also included the following remark: ? figured I'd give you a few weeks to weed through the bad stuff before I hit you with my stuff.'
"Hooked enough by that point to investigate more," Carls continues, "I visited the
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