By Ally BarnesThursday 12 Oct 2023Brendan and DanniebellePodcastsReading Time: 5 minutes
The first question everybody asks when you tell them you’re in Breakfast radio is “what time do you wake up?” followed by “what time do you go to bed?”.
My answer is usually “early” followed by “not early enough”. But if you care, here are the specific details…
My alarm goes off at 3.55am. It’s Kelly Clarkson’s rendition of It’s Quiet up Town from the musical Hamilton. I turn it off so quickly, I never get to hear the lyrics.
I’ve never understood people who snooze their alarm or fold their underwear. Regardless, it’s not an option. I enter full ninja mode to not wake my husband and kids.
My eyes don’t fully open until I’ve showered. I sometimes consider a cold shower, Wim Hof style. But the shrieks will wake everyone, so I sacrifice the health benefits.
I dress in the clothes I left out the night before. Until there are cameras in the studio, it’s a minimal slab of makeup, mascara and lippy, and I’m in the car by 4.20am.
I read the Real Hope devotion in my car and get on the road. I take a toll-free route #cozzielivs. There isn’t much traffic, and I like the drive to think, pray and listen to podcasts.
My producer Celeste and I always arrive at work at the same time. One will make the teas, the other will set up the coffee machine.
We’re in the studio by 5.05am and my co-host Brendan and I play musical chairs. Each day we alternate paneling, AKA pressing the shiny buttons. If someone hasn’t slept well, the other “drives the bus”.
Listen to today’s episode of Ally & Brendan
The next hour is made up of selecting content for our run sheet, replacing “old” stories we put in the day before. If we can’t bring something unique to the conversation, we leave it to Hope News to cover. We prefer content that listeners can weigh in on. They’re the real heroes of the show and make it much funnier and more interesting.
We prefer content that listeners can weigh in on. They’re the real heroes of the show and make it much funnier and more interesting.
At 5.50am, Celeste organises audio for the show. Brendan and I head down to the kitchen and get our first coffee and catch up on our personal lives. We refer to our relationship as an arranged marriage. We’re thankful mum and dad knew what they were doing.
Our show kicks off at 6am. The next three hours fly by. When it’s dragging, its usually because I’m tired.
After the show I have a coffee and banana. I do a quick lap of the office and chat with colleagues. By 9.15am, my introverted soul takes over, and I bunker down in a studio and edit highlights of the morning into promos.
At 9.30am we have an “aircheck” – our boss plays parts of the show, and we cringe, critique and high five. We listen to other shows and think how we would approach the same story. I really enjoy this process. We want to get better and better and have as many Sydneysiders tune into Hope.
From 10am to noon, our team will prerecord and edit interviews, write web stories, put together a rough run sheet for the next day, and edit the daily Ally & Brendan podcast.
After work looks different each day of the week: Mondays and Wednesday are pre-school days, and my opportunity to exercise/sleep/be social/catch up on life admin/ and sit in silence and think about nothing.
On Tuesday and Thursday afternoons I pick up the kids from grandparents (AKA superheroes) and we usually hit the skate park, speech therapy or the library.
On a Friday, I leave work at 10am, and enjoy “Adventure Fridays” with my boys. How great is my boss!
We eat dinner as a family around 6pm. Before and after that includes Lego, rumbling, trampoline, bath and books. We say goodnight to the kids around 7.30pm in winter, 8pm in daylight saving. How do families get their kids in bed by 7pm?! Seriously! Send me your tips.
That final hour looks different every night with exercise and bible study and dinners with friends. More often than not, it’s an opportunity for uninterrupted conversation with my husband, and some mindless TV. I’m trying to get better at reading instead of watching telly. I haven’t made much progress.
At 9pm, I put my clothes out and get into bed. And then I do the thing I’m not supposed to do… Scroll.
I wish I did that last part better. But often I find a lot of great content for the next day’s show. (I’m good at justifying my bad habits.)
So, I’m generally asleep by 9.30pm.
For the last few months, my 3-year-old has been joining us in bed around midnight which I secretly love. Except when my alarm goes off at 3.55am and it wakes him.
The brekky lifestyle works for me. I’ve always been an early bird. Sometimes I hit a wall and I’m tired and cranky. But I remember it will all be worth it when my oldest son starts school next year, and I get out of making lunch boxes and can be at the school gate to hug him.
Listen now to the Ally & Brendan podcast
Hope Breakfast duo Ally & Brendan share uplifting stories, have thought-provoking discussions, and connect with listeners though heartfelt conversations.
They bring a unique blend of entertainment and encouragement to the Sydney airwaves and now to everyone through their podcast.
Catch up on anything you missed from the weekday show and get ready for moments of hope, laughter, pep ups, and a little bit of chaos.
Listen on hope1032.com.au, via the Hope 103.2 app or wherever you get your podcasts.
All images: Supplied