Erica “Ms EKlass” Coleman built her name over nearly two decades on the air. She has hosted mornings, middays, afternoons, and even overseas. She has worked local radio and national syndication. And this month, she joined a growing list of talent affected by iHeartMedia‘s latest round of layoffs.
Last week I spoke with Josh Martinez about where he’s at post layoff. My goal with speaking to both Martinez and EKlass is not to harp on layoffs, but to spotlight talent that have no business being on the beach and are both now available for hire. EKlass brings her own perspective to her newly found free agent status. One that is shaped by faith, entrepreneurship, and a career built on connection.
The Moment She Found Out
EKlass didn’t see it coming. She has been in radio since 2007 and on air since 2010. This was her first layoff.
“I had a moment where I allowed myself to be disappointed because radio isn’t just what I do. It’s who I am,” she said. Then her faith took over. She believes that “God doesn’t close a door without opening another one.”
Today, she says gratitude outweighs the shock. She’s thankful for her listeners, her opportunities, and what comes next.
“I don’t know exactly what that chapter looks like yet, but if my life has taught me anything, it’s that some of the biggest blessings start with an unexpected plot twist,” she said.
A Career Built on Adaptability
EKlass has worked across formats and markets. Her résumé includes stops at WWKX, WRBO, and Westwood One’s syndicated programming. She has hosted mornings, middays, afternoons, and weekends. She has worked local radio and international radio.
This transition feels different from the others, though. Her past moves were choices. This one wasn’t.
“But one thing my career has taught me is how to adapt,” she said. Nearly two decades of experience doesn’t disappear with one layoff. It “simply changes the direction of the journey.”
Entrepreneurship as a Safety Net
Long before this layoff, EKlass built something outside of radio. Her agency, once known as A Klassy Life, has evolved into Co Collective. The company handles web design and SEO work.
That business taught her something important: her value extends far beyond a microphone.
“I know branding, SEO, web design, copywriting, hosting, and content creation,” she said. Adding “radio gave me an amazing platform, but entrepreneurship reminded me that I create value wherever I go.”
She isn’t starting from scratch. She’s building on a foundation she already laid.
What Layoffs Signal About Radio’s Direction
EKlass sees an industry in flux. Audiences consume content differently than they used to. Companies are adjusting their financial models to match.
Her hope is that personality doesn’t get lost in that shift. Listeners don’t tune in for songs alone.
“They want someone who feels like a friend during their drive home,” she said. “For women especially, we’ve had to work incredibly hard to earn our seats at the table. My hope is that our value continues to be recognized beyond ratings and spreadsheets because authentic connection still matters.”
The Moments That Mattered Most
When I asked EKlass about her career highlights, she didn’t lead with a celebrity name — though she laughs and says that her interview with T.I. “still goes down in the books.” Instead, she points to the listeners.
She remembers the people who told her a comment on air helped them through a hard day. She remembers surprising teachers and highlighting nonprofits. She remembers motivational breaks that led someone to reach out and say they needed to hear it.
“I’ve always believed radio is about serving people first,” she said. If she brightened someone’s day, she did her job.
Picturing the Next Chapter
EKlass doesn’t have a fixed answer for what comes next. I pushed her to speak into existence her dream job. She said she wants “a place that values authenticity”, whether that’s radio, digital media, journalism, or something new entirely.
She hopes to join an organization that sees talent as more than a voice on air.
“Someone who can write, host, create, build brands, lead conversations, and genuinely connect with audiences,” she said, describing what she wants to bring to a team.
Balancing Family, Ambition, and an Unexpected Pause
EKlass has spoken openly before about juggling radio, motherhood, and entrepreneurship. Last year, she added “newlywed” to that list.
She laughed off the idea of balance entirely. “Some days I’ve nailed it, and other days I’ve been eating dinner in the car on the way to an event wonder what day of the week it was.”
This season taught her something different, though. Balance isn’t something you stumble into. It’s “something you intentionally create.”
“My family has been incredible through all of this,” she said. Being a wife and mom remains her greatest role. This pause gave her time with them she might not have taken otherwise.
Advice for Others Facing Layoffs
EKlass has a direct message for radio personalities going through something similar, especially those earlier in their careers.
“Don’t let a layoff define your worth,” she said. A job ending doesn’t mean a purpose has ended too.
She encourages people to update their resumes, reach out to their networks, and learn new skills. Grieving the loss is fine. Staying there isn’t.
She has connected with others affected by recent layoffs and found comfort in one piece of advice: don’t make permanent decisions based on temporary emotions. Hope, not disappointment, should write the next chapter.
A Pitch to Programmers
If a PD is reading this, EKlass has a message ready. “I care. I care about the audience, themcommunity, my teammates, and representing the station well.”
“I’m coachable, dependable, creative, and I genuinely love this industry,” she said. She still feels a spark every time the mic turns on, decades in.
Lifting Up Others in Radio
In an effort to pay it forward, I’ve been asking my feature interviewees recently to spotlight other talent in radio the feel are doing great work. EKlass told me the question “is stressful because I know I’m going to leave somebody out. But a few who immediately come to mind are Trey White, Dani D, KeKe, Keisha Nicole, AshMac, and Big Sue.” Each one, she says, connects with audiences in their own authentic way.
“This business is full of incredibly gifted people, and I love seeing good people win,” she said.
For EKlass, that mindset may be the clearest signal of where she’s headed next — wherever that turns out to be.
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Bethany Kent is a Music Radio Editor for Barrett Media. She spent nearly 20 years bringing radio to life on stages, across the airwaves, and through unforgettable listener experiences. Her career spans local markets including Providence, Philadelphia, and New York City, most recently serving as National Director of Music Initiatives for Audacy. From producing major live events like HOT 97’s Summer Jam to leading strategic national marketing initiatives, she has built a career at the intersection of music, media, and culture. She can be reached at bethany@barrettmedia.com.