Today we’d like to introduce you to Emmanuel Thalerand.
Hi Emmanuel, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work life, how can you bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Damn, I don’t even know where to start. I have always been an entertainer; naturally, I just wanted to be the reason people smiled and was happy. From the beginning of time, I have always been the life of the party. Those close to me would say that I am the epitome of a people person. One who will go out of his way to make sure everyone else is straight. I joined the military in 2010, and once I got out (Shout out to the United States Coast Guard), I finished my degree in Converged Communications. While I was in college, I met someone who got me in the door for my first radio station gig as a board operator with Cox Media Group. During my time there, I also interned with a local sports station(1010XL).
For two years, I worked part-time as a board operator making $6.50 an hour for a news talk radio station. Let’s just say, I never want to work in politics. I’m talking overnight shifts over the weekends and even spending nights at the station during the hurricane. Needless to say, it was not my favorite gig, but I knew I had to work my way up and do what I had to do to get to where I wanted to go, which ultimately was to be on air. After about a year and a half, I was finally noticed for my hard work and was given the opportunity to work with some of the on-air guys and gals of other shows and stations in the cluster. (hip-hop and top 40). What I mean by working with them, I mean submitting air airchecks. For me to get on the air, I needed to have air checks and experience. But how can you get experience if nobody would give me the opportunity right? Long story short, they wasted my time. I can recall working on air checks for months, and finally, when the time came to submit them to the head guy in charge, he shot me down by saying, “my voice was too mature for radio” I remember that like it was yesterday, buddy wasted my time. From that day forward, I had additional motivation.
Eventually, I started my podcast to get reps and a feel for things such as interviews, creating content, and just a general on-air presence. At that time, I also reached out to the sports station that I interned for, letting them know I was still in the market and readily available if opportunity were to present itself. Two weeks later, I got an interview, and boom, been on the air with this same “matured voice” on 1010XL’s airwaves on 92.5 FM ever since. November 5th, 2018. Thanks for the motivation homie!
Would it have been a smooth road, and what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Hell no, If it were smooth or easy, everyone would do it. As I stated before, early in my career, I was told my voice was too mature. I was shot down and told no many times. Imagine working at a political radio station, making $6.50 an hour, and missing out on good times on Friday and Saturday nights because of work. Not to mention, I was and still co-parenting from out of state. So, to say the grind is difficult is an understatement. To get somewhere you have never been, you must do things you have never done. Till this day, I still struggle with somethings, but I know and understand that’s just how the game goes. I always think about some of my favorites. If Charlamagne, Nate Burleson, or Michael Strahan would have quit or gave up, they would not be where they are today. That keeps me going.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Being an on-air talent, producer, host, emcee, and creative is what pays me, but my personality is what makes me. My main job description started as being solely a producer. I was in charge of all the sound for Jaguars Today (a two-hour radio program that strictly focuses on the Jacksonville Jaguars). I would cut up sound from the players and coaches, book guests, and ensure that the hearing quality of the listeners was crisp and smooth. But over time, I began to find my voice. Mike and Tony gave me a platform to share my opinion on the whatever topic was being discussed. Along with my music selection coming in and out of breaks, it was my way of speaking to the people. Gradually, my voice was expected to be heard and accepted by all of Jacksonville and beyond.
Audio engineering is my main priority, but I turned that into more. Every morning at 10 am, after a Jaguars victory, listeners would tune in to the station to see what kind of show open I conjured up. And trust me, it is worth the price of admission when I get in my bag. That eventually turned into me being the third leg of Jaguars Today with Mike Dempsey and Tony Smith.
What I am most proud of is seeing the growth in my career. Early in 2022, I was promoted and given a very important role, the morning drive. That move made me one of the few, if not the only, person who is on air for six hours straight. Catch me from 6 am till noon Mondaythrough Friday as I am now the on-air producer for The Drill with Dan Hicken and Jeff Prosser to go along with my roles with Jaguars Today. I firmly believe that energy is contagious, and to get what you want out of this world, you I believe you have to put into it. Also, you teach people how to treat you. So, I get it back in return by putting good energy into everything.
What matters most to you?
What matters the most is putting a smile on other people’s faces. You never know what someone is going through. If someone is having a bad day, you can positively affect that. If they are already having a good day, you can do add sprinkles to it. I feel like the good lord put me here to bring a happiness to people around me. And that is what makes me smile. The smallest and simplest things can change someone’s entire mood. Energy is contagious, and I’m trying to inject that into the world and everyone I come across. My goal is to sell happily. And I am just now scratching the surface!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/e2thet
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/e2thet/
- Facebook: Emmanuel Thalerand
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmanuelthalerand/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/iame2thet?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKKUEZTpw7F-5xbQehXFERA
Image Credits
Shot by Terrance Tyson
