I feel as if I have ‘grown up’ for want of a better phrase with the lovely Sami over the years…. I feel as if she has always been part of my life, and I love the sense of humour she has and how she works so well with Toddy, her radio partner. Sami is so much fun but also has a serious side, a very girly side and basically would be loved by most women of a similar age group as we can all relate to her in some way, especially with the everyday juggle of life, family, career. So I’ve always felt as though she is a best friend I can confide in (she just makes you feel that way!) and I really wanted to be able to share her story with other ladies around Australia as she will no doubt inspire you, definitely motivate you but will also demonstrate that it’s OK to be human too! 

So let’s dive right in… Sami, tell us about you and share with us your story, including business and personal achievements:

My greatest achievement is having my 3 children with my kind husband.  Sam and I met later in life so the battle to have kids has been a tough road at times but they are our children and are the total light of my life.  I still find myself just staring at them all the time in disbelief they will grow up and that we somehow made such wonders! I love the way kids think and play and interact.  They are nothing but sunshine and goodness.  There are no agendas.  No negativity. They are so honest.  I am also really proud to have beautiful friends and family in my life.  My other achievements I am proud of include my career in the media and the fact my husband and I have worked hard and been responsible along the way to have a house and a life where we are blessed to be able to buy all the necessities including food and warm clothing for our family.  This is something I never take for granted. I am really glad I travelled a lot before I had the kids too.  I just think travel is the ultimate buzz and learning adventure in life.

I started working in the media on the Coast when I was 21 and did work for free at Seven Local News.  I would make coffee and just shadow all the journalists.  It was always my dream to be a journalist.  This dream came true with my first full time job in Bundaberg with Seven Local News.  I made my way home to the Coast a few years later and in the 23 years since I have worked for WIN TV, The Sunshine Coast Daily, Hot 91 radio and My Weekly Preview.  You have to be willing to adapt and get on with all local media if you want to stay and work here.

A little bird has told us that you are heading off to report on THE event of the year (Prince Harry & Megan Markle’s wedding)…. tell us what’s happening!

Yes, I really am off to cover the wedding for the Todd and Sami show on Mix FM! It is totally a dream come true! I have always loved the royal family and when the Queen came to visit Brisbane I presented her with a posy from my grandmother’s garden when I was only five years old.  I cannot wait to see Harry get married as I think we all have such a soft spot for him after losing his amazing mum at such a young age.  As for work plans for covering the wedding, we will be broadcasting live every day from 3pm-6pm on Mix FM so that means we will be doing the show in London time at 5am (a return to those breaky hours I used to do!).  We plan to bring a fun show every day with a bit of a twist as we both love meeting quirky people.  Our focus will be on the real characters and larrikins of the United Kingdom we meet in the pub and on the street as well as all the royal gossip.  I cannot wait to see what Meghan Markle wears down the aisle.  It is a credit to our boss John Williams that we are going but more on him later!

I have been to London before. I went 20 years ago as a back packer when all my friends were doing the shared living thing and partying around the clock. I went for a few weeks as I was not brave enough (or too wise, perhaps) to quit my job at Seven Local News.  It was an eye opener for me to see how far away Australia is from the rest of the world and it was a huge culture shock for a Sunshine Coast girl.

I have since been back to London to visit my best friend about 10 years ago and a few times since. A decade ago it was the perfect holiday as I went at Christmas and we filled our days sipping hot chocolate with snow flakes falling on our smitten faces, ice skating at Somerset house and having high tea at The Ritz.  I will always be grateful for those memories with my friend and I am always hassling her to go away with me to create more life-long memories.

Tell us about a decision that changed your life?

On a career level, the decision to leave TV and ‘serious’ journalism to join the fun world of radio was a big one that changed my life – for the better! I always wanted to be a journalist and the news bulletin was my entire life but it turns out I am actually a radio girl and I love the format of radio.  It is so intimate with locals and so immediate with its timing.  I love the fact we can help spread the news of traffic delays or bad surf conditions within seconds of being notified about them.
Deciding to finally get a dog was a decision that has enhanced my lifestyle no end.  That was 13 years ago and my loyal little shadow, Louis, is one of the best things I ever did.  He is so wonderful and so loved I ended up getting 2 more shiatsu’s as well! Only 6 months ago I started doing life coaching with an amazing coach who is based in Paris.  My life has changed a lot when it comes to my emotional side of things, our financial side of things and the way I look at just about every aspect of my life and the way I relate to others.  I am so glad I decided to do it as it has put me on a path to a more authentic lifestyle.

And of course having kids has just cracked open my heart forever in a good way.  I am so glad I have them.

Also the day I resigned about a year ago hugely impacted my life.  More on that later too.

Who has been your favourite person to interview and why?

My favourite person to interview has been Hugh Grant.  He was just like his roles in that he was charming and funny and put himself down and was also a terrible flirt.  I was totally star struck.  Will Ferrell was also completely awesome and went out of his way to conduct his interview with us.  Only a few weeks ago I interviewed Chris Hemsworth.  My kids are massive Avengers fans so the fact we met ‘Thor’ gave me cool credit with all of them.  Chris was totally divine and got down on his knees to talk to my son who was freaking out that Thor was in the same room as him! I will always remember interviewing two of my idols too: Ita Buttrose and Yana Wendt.  Both journalists were stunning in real life and had those greedy eyes that take in all of their surrounds and sum you up in a few seconds.

How do you manage working hours with family?

Not so well! I often joke I am a bad mum and a bad employee! In saying that I have the world’s best team behind me with 2 baby sitters who are more like family, an amazing boss, a great guy who I am on air with and a wonderful husband who has always been happy to support my decision to work.  There have been bad weeks of course when it has all gone pear shaped but I think working (for me) forces me to be in the present and to stop stressing about all the things mum stress about the rest of the hours of the day!

We have 2 gorgeous ladies who we pay to help with the kids for a few hours each day and I have the world’s best boss and on air partner and husband.   I try to be organised and to be honest I don’t get a whole lot of sleep.  But I would not trade it as I have a job I adore and I have 3 beautiful children who need me.  I like being needed.  One day they will grow up and I will have a neater house but I will probably be miserable without them at home.  I resigned a few years back as the dreaded mummy guilt got the better of me but my boss, John Williams, refused to accept my resignation and instead sat down with me and redesigned my life and timetables for home and work so as to make some clever changes to allow me to feel I was spending more time with the kids and still doing a good job at work.  It is amazing how this made me feel! I honestly expected to leave as I thought it wasn’t fair on anyone.  I learnt lots of lessons that day including don’t be afraid to ask for help and sometimes you more valued than you could ever realise.  I also realised there are some great managers in our midst.  Until that point I had never backed myself in the work place.

How did you find the transition from news reading/TV to working in radio, and what made you move?

My transition from serious news on TV to fun radio world took a few years to be honest.  I used to wear ridiculously over dressed red power suits to radio until I started wearing the unofficial radio uniform of jeans and Converse sneakers.  I am never going back! I am a very loyal person so I missed the friends I had formed at Seven Local News in those formative decades.  But then I made some friends in radio world who I know will be life-long ones.

What’s your favourite place on the Sunshine Coast and why?

This is an easy one for me! My favourite place is Buddina! I grew up here and live here now and have no plans to leave the untouched beaches, the serene river and the quiet lifestyle.

Favourite travel destination?

Paris! It is such a special place to me and I actually feel homesick for Paris at times.  Doesn’t that sound kooky! I always cry when I arrive as it is just so beautiful. I love the way French women savour their coffee they do not run around like headless chickens drinking it while doing twenty other things

What book has impacted you the most?

I read a lot of blogs these days including The Grace Tales, French Essence and What Kate Wore. As for books, The Alchemist was a game changer many years ago and prompted me to go overseas.  In 2018 I have read and loved The Barefoot Investor, Steve Biddulph’s Raising Boys and Leveraging the Universe.  I have about 30 books next to my bed I will get to in 2038.

Share you top tip to success

There is a saying in radio “What you do on air is only 60 per cent of the game.  What you do off air and how you treat people makes up the rest”. Todd and I always try to make people feel great about themselves and try to not let it show if we are having a bad day. We are always telling ourselves that things happen for a reason and we really only ever have to deal with first world problems.

What’s on your bucket list or next goal?

Lots more travel with my kids but before I do that there is a course in the south of France about uncovering your life story and tapping into what makes you tick that I would love to do.  I would love to see the cherry blossoms in Japan.  I would like to continue to have a radio show that rates number one in its time slot and I would love a few more babies (hopefully my husband isn’t reading this!).

What are you most proud of?

I am most proud of my children and the fact this girl from a broken home and not much money has a really beautiful life.  I have found the love of my life.  I was given the chance to have children when I was told I never may have them and I have a career I love and I am surrounded by beautiful friends and family both at work and at home. Wow! How lucky am I? Of course life has its bad days and I have weathered my share of storms including health issues with my children and I had cancer as a young child but this patch of life is really, really good! Maybe I should just enjoy the ride for a while and stop thinking it will all come crashing down!

Listen to Toddy & Sami on 92.7 Mix FM on the drive home
Week Days between 3pm – 6pm!