By: Marissa Spencer
Former 107.7 The Bronc Student General Manager and Production Director, Emily Stratton sat down with Beyond the Mic this past week. Yet her station accolades don’t even begin to tell her story. This super mom, voice actor, podcast extraordinaire, and seasoned air wave veteran discussed with us how she juggles it all with ease and precision.
Upon arriving at Rider, Stratton set out to pursue a career in television media, “I initially thought I would’ve gone the television route, I never would’ve thought I would have gone the radio route… nobody would know if I was in my pajamas, that what was so cool about it,” said Stratton. As for how Stratton began her involvement with the station, she was a unique find for the team, “I joined the Bronc unexpectedly…Mozes was my professor in writing for broadcast.”
After developing such a passion within the course Mozes took notice of her written assignments and on-air spots. He approached her in search of a replacement co-host for the station’s sustainability show: Sustainable You. “I was terrified, I knew no one at the station, knew nothing about radio broadcasting, and knew nothing about sustainability, but I went for it and the rest was history…made some lifelong friends and held two positions,” Stratton exclaimed.
It takes a dedicated student leader to assume the role of the station’s student general manager, Stratton reflected on her many feats during this time, “The most rewarding and difficult part was managing so many events and students,” she said. “I loved seeing the fruits of our labor and learning from Mozses himself,” said Stratton.
From her time on air hosting Sustainable You, Stratton and her co-host scored the unique opportunity to partner with our Cruisn from Commencement partner, Toyota of Princeton. “We were able to secure a Toyota Prius for 6 weeks…me and my co-host just got to drive around a Prius for six weeks,” she exclaimed.
Ranging from co-host to production director to general manager, Emily’s Bronc journey didn’t end there. She took home the first audio award for station imaging at the NBS Electronic Media Competition. “I really felt like it was that moment that solidified my passion for voice-over work and broadcasting,” she said.
“My time at the Bronc made me a much more confident person…taught me how to network and really believe in myself…you know years after graduating I still have that same passion for radio broadcasting that I did as a student,” concluded Stratton upon discussing her fulfilled collegiate career.
Stratton now resides in Williamstown, NJ with her husband and two children. “My day-to-day is pretty all over the place…working freelance is super versatile..you have the ability to set your own hours and as a mother of two my family comes first,” she said. She happens to be the ultimate media multi-hyphenate, working as a podcast producer, copywriter, media manager, and voice actress. “The sky is the limit, I’m not tied down by a company it makes all the works and projects I choose be ones I’m passionate about,” said Stratton.
Currently, Stratton is working on two podcasts that can be found on any platform where you may get yours. These are, The Harder to Breathe Podcast with Ryan Dusick of Maroon 5 and Try Life On with Maurice Philogene. Stratton reminisces on her work done for Dusick’s show, “they just had Sara Bareilles on the episode… I knew her from when I was growing up… I never thought I’d be here doing this from my home office,” she said.
Stratton’s advice for aspiring media professionals stems from her Bronc days when she was a student on the shyer side eager to break into the industry. “Always network, always advocate for yourself, and always keep pushing to get better…it will help you overcome literally any obstacle that comes your way professionally,” she said.
As for her advice for aspiring industry pros and aspiring parents, “It is possible, I don’t want people to think because you have kids you have to sacrifice your career…It’s definitely not for the faint of heart…it is really awesome to get to see my kids grow and thrive while I get to chase my passions, Stratton finalized.
Be sure to check out Emily Mazzio Stratton’s audio expertise on Harder to Breathe and Try Life On, wherever you get your podcast fixin’!