Thank you to the Professional MBA program at the University of Illinois for sponsoring today’s Chambana Mom to Know. The Professional MBA is a MBA program that meets two nights a week (Mondays and Wednesdays, 6-9 p.m.) in Champaign. Applications are being taken now. Attend an information session on Sept. 16 at 6 p.m. at the Business Instructional Facility, 515 E. Gregory Dr., Champaign. Please RSVP at 217-244-7602 or email professionalMBA@illinois.edu.
Marlene Mahon went from stay-at-home mom to morning drive time radio host in one fell swoop. Well, not exactly, but that makes for a better story. Not that she needs a good story: Mahon teams with Josh the Prize Guy and Jeremy aka Dapper JT on Q96 (otherwise known as 96.1). She got her job in a contest. Yes, a contest. Read on for that story. Mahon is the mom of two boys, Zanden (15 and a sophomore at Central) and Kezden, a 6th grader at Edison Middle School. In her spare time, she likes to dabble with hosting AirBnb guests.
See why we think Marlene Mahon is a Chambana Mom to Know.
Q: You got your job in a very unique way. Tell us about the process, and be honest: did you ever imagine you would be where you are now?
I was in the car listening to 96.1 and it happened to be Ashmo’s (former co-host Ashley Morgan) last day. The show had a somber tone. I was thinking to myself how cool would that be … morning show co-host getting paid to talk and crack jokes all morning. Oh, if only I had a broadcasting degree. I figured that Josh had a replacement all lined up. Then a few days later I was in the car listening to 96.1 and, low and behold, Josh was holding a contest to find a new sidekick. I sent in my resume and several weeks later I was on air, auditioning for a permanent “sidekick” position. Did I ever imagine? Nope, never ever did I think I would be co-hosting a morning radio show. I always hated the sound of my voice. Hated it!
Q: What is it like to work with the Prize Guy? Inquiring minds want to know!
It is quite honestly wonderful. We have an amazing dynamic. We have this natural rapport; he is really easy to improv with. He gets me and I get him. I think it’s hard to jump in with someone and banter and carry on the way we do. Sometimes people have to work really hard to have such an on-air relationship or a flow with someone that they have not known for very long. But for us, I think it’s authentic and the flow is genuine, never forced.
Q: What is your favorite thing about morning radio? Least favorite?
Favorite? Everything! I love waking up and starting my day with Josh and Jeremy. They set the tone for my day. I am such a morning person and I have so much energy first thing. I think I am at my best in the morning and that makes for good morning banter. I tend to slow down around 5 or so. Least? I have not one complaint about morning radio. I wish our show was longer.
Q: What is the best piece of parenting advice you’ve ever received? The worst?
Well, it’s not really advice. More like pieces of wisdom that I try to live by. 1) I am not raising kids. I am raising adults. I make my parenting decisions based on this. What type of grown-up do I want this little person to become? 2) The days are long but the years are short. This is true when the kids get a bit older. The worst advice: I don’t think that there is such a thing as bad advice. If someone takes the time to share with you what works for them, embrace that little nugget of wisdom. It may or may not work for you but please take the time to listen. Words of wisdom are also free — and who does not like free?
Q: What’s your dream family vacation?
We all dream of a trip to Iceland or the Galapagos Islands swimming with sea turtles, right? Nope. I am simple. I just want to jump in my Volvo station wagon and drive to the Grand Canyon, check out Vegas along the way, maybe drive to LA … then drive home. This entire trip will take a about two to three weeks. Once that is over then backpacking across Europe on a motorcycle will be next.
Q: What would you love to see in C-U that we don’t already have?
A high-speed system that takes you directly to and from IKEA. I would settle for that high-speed rail system to make a stop in downtown Chicago if the IKEA thing doesn’t pan out. I feel it’s the small victories we should celebrate.
Q: What’s your favorite thing about Champaign-Urbana?
In my opinion it’s the people. But let’s be serious, it’s the commute. It takes you 10 minutes to get from point A to point B. Going from the Meijer in Urbana, to the Target in Champaign is 20 minutes, top. Seriously … I love the people. Everyone is so eager to make Chambana such a great place to live. This town has changed so much in the 20 years that I have lived here, and it keeps getting better. I love my little micro-urban community.
Q: Tell me something most people don’t know about you.
I always wanted to have five or six kids. I am the oldest of five. I thought that families with one or two kids were, well, sorta weird! Well, come to find out that people with one or two kids, they probably thought that we were sorta weird as well. I always wanted to be a cast member on SNL. I remember dreaming about moving to New York and living in a huge loft with a ton of actors/models just trying to make it in the big city. I think I wanted my life to resemble a TV show or a movie … Zoolander meets Friends. I fancied myself to be Rachel but let’s be serious, I am totally Phoebe.