Renna Gives You A Needed Boost!
Q. What gave you the idea for your program Morning Energy?
A. The idea and motivation for the Morning Energy program was born out of my personal values and goals of constantly desiring to help others but on a larger scale, and "morning energy" is also what I needed in my life. Music is emotionally powerful and relatable, and it can also influence our thinking. Knowledge is power. Hence, the Morning Energy program provides a collective, constructive, and creative way to both motivate and educate. The name of the program is also reflective of its goals in that mornings can sometimes be the hardest moments of our day because we are often still wrestling with yesterday's challenges while preparing to take on the challenges of a new day. Consequently, people are often seeking useful and motivational information to enhance their lives.
Although the live programs air during the early morning hours, everyone needs a little "Morning Energy" no matter what time of day their morning begins, and they can get their "Morning Energy" fix by tuning into the WMNF archives to listen to each weekly program for up to 7 days after it airs.
Q. What are the challenges of adding different kinds of content for a 4-6am show? It’s a lot more than just putting together a playlist.
A. Preparing for the weekly program indeed goes beyond creating a playlist. It requires a lot of research, analysis, and creativity. However, this process is not what makes the program challenging to create each week. In fact, for me, creativity is the easiest part of preparing for the program because anything in life can become a topic of discussion. Fortunately, I had a lot of practice delivering impromptu and extemporaneous topics/speeches when I used to participate in various speaking opportunities with Toastmasters International. So for me, the real challenge is "time" (in terms of trying to balance work and personal life with my passion for helping others through a weekly content-driven program).
Q. What are your most gratifying moments on and off the air?
A. For me, there is no better-gratifying feeling or action in life than to positively pour into the lives of others. While I am on-air, for example, it really warms my heart when listeners share with me how touched they were by a particular program/topic and/or how useful the content has been to their lives. These gratifying moments extend off the airwaves when I am doing other kinds of volunteer work, house sitting with an elderly person, supporting a friend who is battling a disease/illness, or simply being an ear to someone in need. There are so many ways in life to unselfishly give to others. And in so doing, I strive to allow the words of the late Mother Teresa to be a part of my guiding light, "Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness: kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile."
Q. What do you want those who have never heard Morning Energy to know about the show? Why should they tune in live or on our archives?
A. Every week on the Morning Energy program we go on a collective and creative musical journey, wherein listeners can gain wisdom, knowledge, and hope. The program is (and always has been) positive, informational, and educational.
