Working

black and white doodle of an angry man looking into a computer monitor

The Pain/Pleasure Principle

November 9, 2021 | 13 Comments | Reviews, Social Marketing, Working

People often ask me why I’m no longer on the radio and whether I miss it. Radio and I had a long love affair. I loved it and it mostly loved me back. After a long career for which I’m eternally grateful, I grew frustrated with corporate owners who didn’t care about radio. When these giant companies swallowed up smaller players, the CRTC forced them to take radio stations even though all they wanted was TV. TV – specifically flagship TV stations in Toronto – is the favourite child. Radio is an afterthought. No, I don’t miss it. I miss the people, not the culture or the work.

…

The Pain/Pleasure PrincipleRead More »

Honemoon Suite single sleeve band photo for Feel It Again

Brushes Before Fame

October 17, 2021 | 6 Comments | Celebrities, Politics, Working

Someone on Twitter recently asked whether anyone had seen a band or knew an actor before they became famous. Most of us radio types have had the good fortune to experience loads of those moments. But the questions took me further back, to my days of beer and bars. There were several times when I saw bands before they hit it big.

…

Brushes Before FameRead More »

A woman's face half robot and half human in shades of blue

My (Unlikely) Replacement

August 16, 2021 | 5 Comments | Social Marketing, Working

All through the voice-over trade, worries are bubbling like simmering soup that artificial intelligence will replace human voices. Some in the voice-over game full-time are wringing their hands that work will dry up, AI will take over and the voice will become obsolete. I’m in the VO game full-time and I’m not worried. With a caveat.

…

My (Unlikely) ReplacementRead More »

close-up of fingers on a keyboard

More Than Words

August 4, 2021 | 4 Comments | Working

A definite upside to narrating and editing audiobooks is getting to absorb their content. Derek is on a roll with a bunch of non-fiction books in a row. Some are more interesting than others, but I find that all self-help, you-can-do-this books are uplifting. It’s not a chore to listen to my husband read words of affirmation and encouragement for several hours as I help with editing.

…

More Than WordsRead More »

The 9-way split screen with characters of the Brady Bunch in each, from the opening segment

The Zooming Bunch

April 12, 2021 | 7 Comments | Working

Do you Zoom? Or perhaps use a Zoom-like app that brings a group of people together in Brady-Bunch-intro style windows? I had no idea I’d use it as much as I do, since I’m self-employed and have no staff of my own. (Miss Sugar would say I am HER staff.)

…

The Zooming BunchRead More »

red background with happy face and white lettering reads: I'm a nice person until you piss me off!

Nice Girls Finish Last

March 22, 2021 | 1 Comment | Personal Life, Working

Women of my vintage put up with a lot of crap. Passed over for a promotion because of our gender. Looked through when it came to gathering opinions around the boardroom table. (I was the only female on a management team, for a time.) It was part of the deal. Early on, I was confused about relationships. I never knew whether I had “the right” to be firm with men who were treating me like a thing. Being a “nice girl” didn’t help.

…

Nice Girls Finish LastRead More »

Closeup of a microphone suspended over an on-air computer in a radio broadcast studio

Media Carnage

February 4, 2021 | 6 Comments | Social Marketing, Working

I’m not here to vilify one corporation because, frankly, they have all treated some employees badly at one time or another. Format changes and lockouts. Vacation firings. Whatever suited the suits and the shareholders at the time made it justifiable to them.

…

Media CarnageRead More »