She may look like a typical college student, but this female prodigy has done much more than attend classes during her time at Penn State. Read on to find out more about Saige Jones and how she began hosting her very own radio show.
HC: So, how does one begin hosting his or her very own radio show?
SJ: I like this question because it makes me reflect on my path to SaigeJonesRadio, which is important to do when moving forward. Coming into college, I had no idea what I wanted to do. I was always asking myself, “How am I supposed to decide what I’m going to do for the rest of my life right now?”
I learned that my major did not define me, nor did it close me off from doing other things. Instead, I saw declaring my major as public relations as a way to open doors. From there, I connected with a student who hosted a show on THE LION 90.7 FM, and I became a co-host the following semester. Even as a co-host, I was hungry to learn more and bring more of my personality to THE LION’s listeners, which led me to my position as a host on my own show. It has been one of the most awesome experiences I’ve had in college. Not only do I love being behind a mic and connecting with listeners, but I have also been able to create opportunities for other students to get involved, which is the most rewarding part.
HC: How do you handle being a full-time student along with managing your own business?
SJ: I consider myself a student of the world, as I’m continuously learning from all of my experiences, so being a student and running a business is really one in the same for me. As a college student, I’ve discovered that learning outside of the classroom is almost as important, if not more important, as learning in the classroom. I view being a student as a continuous lesson on how to handle structure and learning to be efficient with your time. Taking direction, which goes hand-in-hand with running a business, is also extremely important. Since getting a degree is important to me, I always make the time to get my work done because I have high standards for the grades I get, but SaigeJonesRadio never leaves my mind. When I’m in class, I find myself thinking about my future and planning my next steps to get there. Being a student motivates me to work harder on myself and all I’m striving to accomplish. I prioritize my time so that I never have to choose between school and SaigeJonesRadio. SJR is my brand–that’s a reflection of myself, who I am and all that I embody. I would never neglect myself, so neglecting SJR is never an option either.
HC: How do you score the interviews, and who was your favorite artist to interview thus far?
SJ: I’m still learning how to conduct a great interview—I’m exploring myself as a host, and as I hone in on my skills, my way of judging my interviews changes. A good interview is one that not only connects with the person I’m interviewing, but also the audience as well. For example, one where I ask questions that the person I’m interviewing relates to and enjoys answering. I also believe that a good interview covers the questions that so many people want to know the answers to.
I’ve genuinely enjoyed interviewing every artist who I’ve sat down with. I can’t say one was my favorite because I’ve learned from all of them. Borgore was awesome – he was so honest and out there – I had a lot of fun interviewing him. Talib Kweli taught me a lot, and Kid Ink was another that I really enjoyed. I also interviewed a strings band called Time for Three. It was scheduled that day, so it was impromptu, but it was so raw and so real. The vibes in the studio were amazing. From the energy the band was giving off to that of my co-hosts to my own energy, we all could feel it. We had people passing by the studio that were drawn in and stayed because the energy was that contagious.
HC: Who would you like to interview that you haven’t yet?
SJ: There are so many people I’d love to interview. P. Diddy is at the top of that list—I think he’s a genius businessman and to get a glimpse of what goes on inside his head would be amazing. I have so much respect for Oprah, and I look to her for inspiration, so having the opportunity to interview her would be an indescribable honor. By setting goals like interviewing Oprah, I have no excuse not to work 110% every day to reach that goal.
I want to interview everyone from J. Cole to Norah Jones to Post Malone, Chance the Rapper, Citizen Cope, Pharrell, to Kings of Leon; the list goes on and on. I’ve also started to interview people with interesting stories who have reached out to me or who I’ve met and been intrigued by. I want to get peoples’ stories out there. SaigeJonesRadio has a couple interviews in the works, so look out for them!
HC: What are you plans post-graduation?
SJ: Great question—everyone seems to be wondering this! I am in the process of exploring all of my options to make the best decision for my future. I do know that SaigeJonesRadio will continue with artist interviews and I’m looking forward to being able to travel a bit more to do them. I’ve put a lot of work into the brand SaigeJones, and it will certainly be moving forward with me after graduation.
HC: Any advice for students interested in radio?
SJ: Absolutely. Start by doing something. Find a way to get involved. Find the people who are already involved and make it known that you want to get your foot in the door. If you don’t have experience, that’s okay. You’ll get it, but you have to create the opportunity for yourself by being proactive, by connecting with the right people and by expressing your interest.
HC: Where do we go to listen?
SJ: Before you do anything else, go subscribe to my YouTube page and check out some of the interviews! You can stream SJR on your phone at tun.in/seqZw or on your computer thelion.fm on Tuesday nights from 9:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. By following @SaigeJones on Twitter, you’ll be able to see us live tweeting about the topics we’re discussing and the links are tweeted out during the show, too.