Who Is Angela Yee? One of the Most Successful People In Radio

We’d like to honor Angela this year as a well-deserved Woman of Color in Media for her noteworthy contributions to the industry. 

I see that all of you (The Breakfast Club) are breaking new ground this year. Making a lot more appearances and using your platform to serve a greater public interest by doing things like interviewing political candidates. How did that come about?

ANGELA YEE: It really happened organically. We had interviews with Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders ahead of Hillary Clinton becoming the Democratic nominee. Those interviews ended up having such an impact on an audience that all candidates want to reach.  After those sit downs made headlines, our platform seemed appealing to candidates wanting to get their message to millennials and black and brown people.  We simultaneously understood the importance of encouraging our listener family to pay attention, be involved, and be active.

The last time that we talked you preferred to keep a low profile on the show. This year I see that has changed. How did that come about?

I still have a low profile. I balance getting my work done with putting positive acts, like my philanthropy and entrepreneurship, on platforms that can benefit people.  I never like showcasing what I have going on unless I’m promoting an event, but I also understand the importance of inspiring people to act and that if you can see it, you can be it.  

Several morning show syndicators have told me [that] you never get used to getting up in the middle of the night to do a show like yours. Do you feel the same way, even after years of doing it?

I tell people all the time that I will never get used to this. My friends do know at this point that if I’m too tired, it’s a wrap.

How do the three of you get motivated each morning (together, like blast music or something else that might surprise people)?

I get to work before the guys and get my makeup done because we are on Revolt TV every morning as well. That’s when I sit with one of our producers and go over the stories we are doing every day and possible topics. Then I sit down with my green tea and my smoothie.  We definitely don’t blast music but there’s a lot of chatter in the studio.

What are some of the demands that make your job challenging?

There are so many stories I have to be familiar with every single morning. I do “Front Page News” twice and three “Rumor Reports,” and the stories are always changing and getting updated.  On an average morning I have to review at least twenty different stories.  It’s not easy to get all the details straight. Then we have multiple interviews every morning, so I’m always prepping by reading a book, watching a movie, documentary, TV show or series, and/or listening to music. I feel like I have to work all day and then do homework at night.  Not to mention the limited amount of sleep.  There’s also constant negativity and criticism, and that can be frustrating.  I’m also the only woman in the room and my experiences make my point of view different which can lead to a feeling of me against them.

What are some of the demands that make your job rewarding?

There’s definitely a lot of perks. It pays well, we can use this platform to support our other businesses and bookings, we get lots of freebies, and my family is extremely proud.

Have you ever hosted the show alone when Envy and Charlamagne were out? What was that like?

There has to be at least two of us present for the show. I’ve been alone for a few minutes when the show started, but never longer than that.

Out of all the interviews that you’ve done this year what do you think were some of the best for the audience over the guest benefiting?

Usually these work in tandem with each other. Our most popular interviews will benefit the guest because it brings more attention to them as well. 

 Are there certain types of shows you tend to shy away from?

I don’t like guests who have a negative agenda.  Maybe they want to expose someone who cheated on them or break up a relationship.  I don’t want that bad karma on me.

How are your guests picked; do they solicit you for the most part?

They either reach out to one of us directly, or they contact our producer through their publicist.

Out of all the syndicated shows with Black hosts, The Breakfast Club has the widest array of guests from all walks of life. How does the audience respond?

If it interests you, you tune in.  Even for interviews that don’t get played on-air, the video interviews are so valuable and popular.  Everything isn’t for everyone, but my hope is always that we can all learn something or be exposed to something new.

What would make you go after a guest to appear? Do they usually comply?

If there is something happening in the media that people would be interested in, or if they have a new project that we want to support, then we would definitely reach out.  Usually that means we have a personal relationship with that person or someone close to them.  And rarely do potential guests pass unless it’s a touchy topic.

What does it feel like to be on the other end of an interview in-person? Is there anything that takes you by surprise?

I feel comfortable being interviewed because if you know how to ask questions you should know how to answer them.  I know what makes a guest appealing and how to spice things up if necessary.

Have you ever felt like or actually walked away from an interview?

There have definitely been people I don’t want to interview because of things they have done or said that I don’t respect.  I’m honest about it.

Has a guest ever critiqued your interview after the cameras stopped rolling? If that happened how would you respond that?

Not really, but there have been times when guests have commented that it wasn’t as tough as they thought it would be.  If a critique is valid and reasonable, I’m open to it.  Every one can’t be a home run.

Without mentioning names, there were a few guests on The Breakfast Club who went off. Most have rarely been heard from again. In this day and age of reality show success, are you surprised by that?

Celebrity is fleeting. You can sit front row at a fashion show today and not even get invited next year.  People like to stand next to whatever is hot at the moment.  And when you’re not hot anymore all the perks disappear. I do believe when you are a respectful person with a solid foundation you have more longevity because we all have a choice of who we want to help when times get rough.  And for people who were nasty and condescending, we have a choice to remember that and cut [their] air supply.