Top New Talent Q&A: Grace Garde

Grace Garde has been named in Radio Today’s Top New Talent to Watch in 2019.

Grace got her start in radio as a promotions assistant at SCA in Gosford.

Graduating from AFTRS in 2017, Grace secured a job doing Workdays at Grant Broadcasters-owned Power FM in Nowra, where she now hosts Breakfast and also works as a digital content producer.

Her infectious on-air personality has already been recognised by the industry in the form of a nomination for Best Newcomer On-Air (provincial) at the 2018 ACRAs.

Get to know Grace with our Top New Talent Q&A:

Who/what inspired you to choose a career in radio?

I grew up listening to radio – my parents always had it on in the house. Radio always seemed like something incredible that was totally out of reach for “regular people”, but joining the street team at SCA Gosford made me totally fall in love and decide that I needed to at least TRY to get into radio. Going to AFTRS gave me tangible steps and real-world tools to actually help me get there.

I have always looked up to some of the most incredible women in the industry – people like Ash London, Kate Ritchie, and Bree Tomasel constantly inspire me. Fyona Smith from AFTRS has also been the most incredible mentor.

What radio shows do you first recall listening to as a kid (or when you first started listening)?

I grew up listening to a lot of Sea FM on the Central Coast. The first radio show I really fell in love with was Kate, Tim and Marty – I think they are great.

How did you end up in your current gig?

Honestly, it all happened very quickly! I had literally just finished at AFTRS and the job came up. Now I am lucky enough to be doing radio in the Shoalhaven which is (in my opinion) one of the most beautiful places in Australia.

What’s been your most memorable on-air moment so far?

For some reason, I had it in my head that a raw onion, a raw potato and an apple all taste the same if you eat them blindfolded with your nose plugged, which I decided to bring to the show as a “fun fact”. I then decided to prove the fact because no one believed me and needless to say, I was very much wrong. Surprisingly, it was the raw potato that tasted the worst!

What’s one skill that you’ve mastered, and what’s one skill that you’re currently working on?

I have definitely mastered over-sharing things from my life. I have spoken about showering with my dog, being treated for (potential) rabies and monkey herpes (I was fine, thankfully), and the time I fell down a drain on a first date. I definitely don’t have a lot of shame and I really take pride in being unabashedly myself.

Honestly, interviewing people is something that still makes me nervous. To me, it’s important to nail that perfect mix of intelligent, casual, intimate and fun – and I definitely think I will always be hoping to improve my skills there.

How do you prepare for your shift on-air?

I look through news sites to find the weirdest and most wonderful things happening around the world. I try to find a unique angle on the big things that everyone is talking about, or find a way to make whatever the big talking point is relatable to the local audience.

I also have a list in the notes app on my phone of all the content-ready things that happen in my everyday life. It has all kinds of things from “my ex-boyfriend wrote and published an erotic science fiction novel” to “I accidentally left my fake tooth on a cafe table and a waiter took it.”

(Hot Tip: If you are ever looking for more content, just have one of your teeth temporarily taken out, it does wonders).

How does the person you are on air differ from the person you are off air?

Unfortunately, it’s not very different. I am somehow one of those people that chaos seems to follow constantly, so it’s definitely not hard to bring that part of me on air.

What advice do you wish you could give yourself when you were just starting out?

I am still just starting out! Something I need to remember is that it’s ok to put myself out there more often. There are so many brilliant radio minds out there that I am yet to connect with, and that’s something I should definitely prioritise.

What’s your dream radio job?

I adore Breakfast radio, but in all honesty, I am not really a morning person. Any kind of content-based show that doesn’t involve a 4am alarm would be an absolute DREAM.

If you weren’t working in radio, what would you be doing?

I somehow also have a degree in Special Effects Makeup so maybe that? Turning someone into a goat or zombie is a lot of fun, but it still doesn’t compare to live radio to be honest!