Julia Lepidi is the Morning Host of “The Julia Show” on Alt 98.7 in Detroit. She also hosts Middays for most of Audacy’s Top 40 stations across the country. She started in radio in 2012 as a promo kid, literally on the same frequency as she’s on now in Detroit, except back then, it was “Amp Radio.”
Lepidi got her on-air chops doing overnights there, where she said she found who she really was as a personality. That led to her securing the night show; the rest is history.
The two formats she’s on now literally and traditionally target completely opposite demos, one predominantly male and the other female, and yet, really by accident, they’re kind of the perfect fit.
“I’m so equally interested and listen to both formats,” she says. “I think my personality is a combination of what both of those worlds require.” Which is, by default, very similar to everyone else in her generation, male or female.”
“Work-wise, I have a pinned note in my Notes app for ALT and one for Pop. I just funnel content throughout my day in whatever place it makes more sense, and there is often crossover.”
When it comes to balancing both formats and focusing on so many shows, Lepidi admits she was intimidated at first. “I won’t lie,” I was,” she says. “But I rely on my systems/playbooks. Having structure helps me keep my brain from wanting to crumble and helps me focus.”
“I know what I’m doing every day. It’s just my producer, Rachel, and I. And throughout the course of the years, as it does for anyone, life happens. So, creating a plan for every instance: normal day-to-day, a day full of meetings/station events, when someone isn’t feeling well, emergencies, work travel, etc. We know exactly how we handle pretty much every circumstance at this point. My twenties were a hot mess. My thirties are about planning and leaving little to be a surprise. The better I plan, the better I feel.”
Lepidi is also newlywed, so finding a work/life balance is also important. “Currently, I am incredibly lucky that my husband and I are on a really similar schedule. He also hosts mornings,” she explains. “During the week, we stay pretty work-focused and have an embarrassingly early bedtime. For example, we eat dinner at 4 p.m. the way my 80-something-year-old grandparents did. But hey, it’s great for digestion.”
“Anyway…The weekend is where I get my fill of life. I love doing something on a Friday. I’m big on traveling right after I’m done with my workload on Friday and coming back on a Sunday afternoon. Or just making sure I have something fun planned throughout the weekend, whether it’s hitting a show, trying a new restaurant (I love food), or my friends and I coming up with a theme party to celebrate something minuscule because we love dressing up.”
As for the Detroit community, Lepidi says she strives to be different from everything else in the market. “I grew up as a massive fan of morning radio in Detroit. It’s what made me want this career. The market is full of really great, long-running, full-cast morning shows. However, I’m proudly the only female-lead, music-intensive morning show. Our station thrives on having our own lane.”
Over the years Lepidi says career growth has been incredibly rewarding for her. “I’ve always wanted to be a part of a morning show since I was a kid, so hosting my own in the market I grew up in feels special,” she says. “Lately, I have been lucky to be a part of a few different movie junkets through Netflix, and that has been really special and fun.”
“But I always say the hardest thing about this job is having things go on in your personal life and having to show up and perform through it. Throughout the last few years, I’ve dealt with loss and other particularly tough moments in life. Ya know, like anyone, things happen. And it’s weird because sometimes my brain will go into overdrive like I have this backup generator, and I’ll surprise myself with how much stuff I can come up with and use as fuel to work through it.”
“But other times, if I’m navigating something tough, I’m just really making sure I’m taking care of myself and doing what I have to do to get back to as healthy of a brain as I can. That’s why what I need from management to continue to be successful is frequent communication so we’re all on the same page and help funnel my 100-mph brain of ideas at times.”
Another topic I like to cover in these features is the use of AI in the radio industry. It’s one of the things that concerns us all the most. I asked Lepidi about it.
“The only form of AI I’ve utilized is Chat GPT. I’m creative, and honestly, I will just type out a bunch of nonsensical thoughts and idea starters and have it help organize and make sense of them for me. It helps!” she insists.
“I’ll have it organize prep and make show sheets. It’s nice for a personal assistant tool. As far as how it will impact the industry? Who knows. I know it’s been experimented with in terms of on-air, but I do really think people want a connection with a real person, so I am hopeful that will remain the same.”
About her impact on the industry? Lepidi says, “As a huge fan of audio-based content myself – whether it’s radio, podcasts, audiobooks, or music, I always use it as a way to make the things I don’t want to do more tolerable. Enjoyable even. That’s what I want to provide for listeners. If I throw something on, and it makes things suck a whole lot less, then it’s a win for me and the audience.”
“The Monday episode of my favorite podcast, hearing the familiar voices I love, makes me a little more excited to take on the week and what’s ahead. That’s the impact I want to have. Of course, I want to connect with the listeners. That goes without saying.”
But we all have to do things we don’t want to do all the time, and I hope the audience will bring me with them, and maybe I make their commute or day a little less of a burden. To hear the feedback, or see it on socials, is when I am most rewarded, and I know I am doing things right.”
Follow Julia Lepidi on Instagram/Twitter @theradiohag
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Charese Fruge’ is an award-winning Content, Broadcast, and Marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, and Las Vegas. As the owner of MC Media, she works with radio brands and individual talent, especially young women, helping them grow their brands and negotiate on their own behalf. She is also a Voice Actor and Voice Over Talent as well as a Freelance Writer for International Broadcast Outlets. Find her at @MCMediaOnline or www.mcmediaonline.com.
