If you tell enough people about your dreams, desires and passions, God, Universe, Source has a way of making those things happen. Case in point – I share with just about everyone I meet my love of Britain, and that I have this blog that you’re reading right now. You never know when your dreams, desires and passions might align with someone else’s.
I’ve been on cloud 9 since a much-unexpected opportunity led to our first interview with a UK media outlet! The Times newspaper (which also has a radio station in the UK) was looking for a Royals enthusiast from America to interview about Princess Beatrice’s secret wedding to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. And they asked Jolly Britain to discuss it live on the air!
So how did this interview – which lasted about 7 minutes – come about? I got a text from my friend Carmen – who lives in NYC.
Turns out, Carmen’s friend and voice teacher, Alison, is friends with Rosemarie, a radio producer from the Times Radio. Rosemarie called me to explain that the news team was looking for an American perspective on the Royal Wedding, and asked me what I thought about it. Rosemarie asked a few questions, I gave a few answers. Rosemarie told me she’d share this with her editors.
Since my first career was in TV news as a producer, reporter and anchor (presenter, as they’re called in the UK), I was happy that I can still think on my feet (I hope!). I wrote down a few talking points for myself so I wouldn’t blank out – just in case they actually interviewed me.
About 20 minutes later, the studio called from London and said I was 2-minutes away from being interviewed on the live broadcast (Yikes!!)
I started quizzing the studio producer who was on the other end of my Facebook Audio.
“What will they ask me?”
“Lots of things!” he replied.
Before the actual start of the interview, I had a brief chance to speak with the host, the lovely Kait Borsay. She also hosts the Offside Rule podcast and is a keen sports reporter, as well.
Kait asked me about the Jolly Britain blog, why Americans as fascinated with the Royal Family, and whether I feel cheated that the wedding was in secret. She also asked which is my favorite Royal Wedding. Isn’t that like choosing a favorite child?!
I have to say, the whole experience was just exciting! Granted, the interview was in the wee morning hours of the weekend (12:30 a.m. early Saturday, UK times) But I couldn’t wait to share it with you. You can listen to the clip here. (I attempted audio editing, but there’s still a lapse when I had to stop and start again because my internet decided it was time to buffer and reload!).
The whole 2-hour program is available here (My interview is at about 2:40:10).
So here’s hoping this is the first of many interview and media opportunities for Jolly Britain. A huge THANK YOU to Carmen, Alison, Rosemarie and Kait. Opportunities are everywhere when you’re open to them!
And some shameless self-promotion… if you’re a journalist or fellow blogger in need of an American source to speak about the Royal Family, London travel, or being an Anglophile, I can help!