Top New Talent Q&A: Josiah & Elly

Josiah Shala and Elly Chaney have been named in Radio Today’s Top New Talent to Watch in 2019.

The people of the Goulburn Valley have been getting up with Josiah & Elly on Hit96.9 since June of 2018.

Josiah joined the Hit Network in 2018 to pursue his dream of becoming an announcer, after spending five years as Fitzy & Wippa’s panel operator at Nova 96.9.

Elly’s radio career also started out at Nova, undertaking work experience in Perth. She then worked as a street teamer, before eventually moving up the ranks to become the panel operator for Nathan, Nat & Shaun.

Get to know a bit more about the duo below with our Top New Talent Q&A:

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

Elly – I had a bit of an epiphany the moment I stepped into my first proper radio station to interview for a street team job and I knew radio was where I was supposed to be!

Josiah – One of my best mates Timbo had a radio studio in his house and when I was a teenager I used to go round there and jump on pirate stations. Highly legal stuff.

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

Elly – My first radio memory is the time I inherited my grandad’s old stereo and waited hours for ‘Jumpin’ Jumpin’ to play so I could record it on a cassette tape… But in between that, I grew up listening to Nathan, Nat & Shaun on Nova which made panelling for them as an adult a pretty surreal and exciting gig to get.

Josiah – My first memories were driving home from football training with dad listening to Stan Zemanek on talkback at night and of course Hamish & Andy after school.

How did you end up in your current gig?

Elly – I studied Postgrad Broadcasting at Uni, did six work experience stints, spent five years working every content related job I could at Nova, sent grovelling emails and demos around the country and finally landed the job with SCA in Shepp!

Josiah – After 9 years working my way through the ranks at Nova (including 5 years panelling Fitzy & Wippa) I decided it was time to bite the bullet and go learn my craft so I can one day take their jobs.

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

Elly – Probably when Josiah blindfolded me and had a listener bring in his pet snake. I’ve genuinely never been more scared.

Josiah – Well I currently have shingles so we’re doing the ‘Shingle show’ and I’m broadcasting from my backyard in an Australian 1st. We also bought a show ferret and raced it.

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

Elly – I’ve mastered artfully ripping on Josiah but I’m still working on being okay with his continually shirtless approach to broadcasting.

Josiah – I feel like our audience engagement is really high so mastering that has been awesome. I’m currently working on ‘making every break count’ – so turning average breaks and making them memorable by adding in that ‘x-factor’.

How do you prepare for your shift on-air?

Elly – We generally try to have the show mapped out the day before and so the morning of is about sourcing topical stories and drinking coffee.

Josiah – We try to be prepped the day before so when I come in the morning of – I can look at my breaks and see how I can add that X factor I spoke about above and make them more memorable to the listener.

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

Elly – I hope not too much! One time though, I was going through a break-up and bawled my eyes out off air until the mics went on then sold Pharrell’s “Happy” like a bloody pro.

Josiah – It doesn’t. I try to live my whole life out on the air so people feel like they know really know and connect with me

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

Elly – It’s a super tough industry and is full of knockdowns and setbacks but the fact you get to laugh at work every single day is something not many people can relate to!

Josiah – Hussle harder and get in front of the right people harder. What I’m doing now I should’ve been doing a few years ago but didn’t have the confidence to.

What’s your dream radio job?

Elly – Brekky in Perth!

Josiah – Metro Breakfast or National Drive in any market.

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

Elly – Manning a boat and jet ski hire shop on a Greek Island. 

Josiah – I’d love to say professional footballer but most likely a sports journo.