In this episode, I interview Kristen Kurtis (@KristenKurtis), morning show host and DJ at WXPN, a prominent independent radio station in Philadelphia.
Kristen grew up surrounded by music and creativity, which translated into a lifelong love of music, books, and performing. Someone who understands the power of great radio stations, she’s worked in Austin and other places before returning to her hometown a few years ago. As you’ll see from the interview, not only is she a walking encyclopedia of all things radio and rock but a die-hard Gwennabe (Google it) and extremely well-read individual who knows how to make the most of her creativity. (Dabbling in improv apparently helps, too!)
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In this chat, we discuss;
- Her path to working in radio, and the role music played in her childhood
- How she recharges from the demands of her work and hours (Hint: Silence is golden.)
- The desire to help artists and be a supportive voice for musicians
- Her love of the book, The Artist’s Way
- How she defines creative success
- The impact of social media in her day-to-day responsibilities
- How she juggles multiple tasks and responsibilities while on-air
- What influences her music selection on a daily basis
- The experience of falling out of love with her creative job in Austin, then rediscovering it in Philadelphia
- How we grow comfortable with music as we age and stop discovering new artists and songs, and the role some commercial radio stations play in that
- The most surprising thing she discovered when working in radio
- How the “human element” in radio has evolved and may be disappearing
- The importance of developing a routine around your creativity, and what hers looks like (or doesn’t)
- The difference between underwriting messages the air on public radio and commercials that air on other stations
- Her advice for other creatives
In addition to Twitter, you can listen to Kristen on WXPN every weekday morning.