A Monster from the start
Like many of the jocks, Karla started out as an avid RX listener. “I remember going to school every single morning and listening to The Morning Rush, and I was obsessed with Chico. I thought he was the coolest radio personality.” She even channeled her interest in radio programs into her daily life. “When I was a kid and we would take family trips, we would play the radio, and I would pretend to introduce songs.” Looks like Karla got a head start on her DJ training!
Fortunately, she had people in her life who supported her love for speaking. “My mom was like, ‘You know what, sweetheart? You might as well find a job that plays on your strengths. Find a job that actually pays you to talk.’” Mothers really do know best!
Karla joined the Monster Jock Auditions online, and soon she was asked to come by the station for an interview. She told the RX bosses all about why she wanted to become a jock, and wowed them with her outgoing personality! “They did this weird thing where they pretended it was like a beauty pageant, and I was a contestant,” Karla recalled. “So, being the shy, introverted person that I am, I nailed it."
As the newbie, Karla went through her training and took over The Morning After shift from 2-6 am. But what some people might not know is that she was working as a preschool teacher at the same time! Her daily routine: “I would do TMA 2am to 6am, go home, take a shower, literally sleep for 10 minutes, and then be in the preschool by 7, finish my day at 1pm, come home, eat, sleep, and then do it all over again. And I did that for 11 months.” Gotta respect that hustle, Karla.
It also seems that some friendly bullying was part of the initiation during the graveyard shift! “Sir Lou, being the wonderful program director that he was, told me that there was a little girl who would stay with me the entire time I do my show,” Karla said. “You know, that ghost that supposedly hangs out here? So that made my first week in TMA alone really fun!” But thank goodness, Karla never had any haunted encounters during her time on The Morning After!
The tandem that goes All Out
There is one presence though, that seems to have been part of Karla’s Monster journey from the start, and no we’re not talking about any ghost! We mean none other than Rico Robles, her partner since 2016.
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You may know Rico and Karla as All Out’s unstoppable duo with the BEST celeb interviews, but did you know that their first interaction goes way back to Karla’s interview day? She went into the booth while waiting for her interview and met Rico while he was on board. “He was about to order coffee. And he was like, ‘Hey, wassup! I’m Rico Robles! I’m buying coffee, you want coffee?’ And I was like, ‘Dang, this job must pay really well if this guy’s willing to offer me coffee,” Karla said (Turns out Rico’s just that generous that he’d offer coffee to a random interviewee).
Fast forward a few months later, and the two became partners when Karla’s shift finally got moved to 10am! Since then, they’ve been interviewing the biggest names in entertainment locally and internationally, and are quite popular for really bringing out the fun side in all these celebs! Fandoms know then when it comes to an All Out interview, they’re sure to be entertained.
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Making worldwide connections in quarantine
The past year in the pandemic has been quite an interesting time for Karla, Rico, and their show. Since All Out is known for their celebrity interviews inside the RX booth, would the pandemic put an end to it all? Thankfully, no!
The power of the internet has made All Out interviews bigger than ever. “I think one of the benefits that this pandemic has given radio, specifically us and our show, is that now because everyone’s stuck at home, artists are more available people,” Karla said. “All these big named artists are willing to hang out and it’s also a more casual, more intimate setting in a way. As weird as it is, because we’re on Facebook Live. But because I guess they’re talking to us from their homes, it’s more comfortable for them.” They’ve talked to world famous musicians, movie stars, beauty queens, TikTok creators, celebrity chefs, and everyone in between!
Of course, it wasn’t easy to shift from in-person interviews to livestream ones. Karla talked about the challenges of remote board work, saying “I think more than anything it was just trying to figure out how to make things entertaining by DJ-ing remotely. Cause it’s really different.” We think it’s safe to say they’ve gotten the hang of it, and Karla’s now an experienced livestream host and interviewer!
A few other challenges Karla’s experienced boarding from home: Trying to keep her French bulldog from barking into the microphone, and standing up from her chair forgetting that her lower body isn’t fully dressed!
The dream job and a dream team
From introducing songs during family road trips to showcasing her unique personality on the airwaves, Karla’s come a long way and really made her mark on the Monster! And for her, this is a dream come true. “I say this all the time: This has been my dream job. Honestly, the reason why I feel like it’s such a great job is because it’s such a fun job. Like, every single day is different.”
She enjoys every second of work, from interviewing guests to greeting the listeners and playing their favorite songs! “You can literally make someone’s day just by greeting them on air or playing their request. I mean, nothing feels more rewarding than getting a tweet or a message from someone saying, ‘I was having the crappiest day. Thank you for playing BTS.’That’s the best part about being a DJ! Because you just get to make people happy,” she said. And it’s a plus that she can unleash her talkative side! “If you’re madaldal, you get to talk for a living! I literally get paid to be myself!”
Karla’s also been very grateful for the people she gets to work with at RX, whether it’s her fellow jocks or the rest of the staff. “From 2015 to 2021, I can really see that more and more, we’re working together as a team, as a family.” After all, teamwork makes the dream work!
There are hundreds more stories that Karla would love to share about the Monster family. Funny ones, embarrassing ones, and heartwarming ones, too! But she’ll leave it at this: “RX is a place that truly welcomes everyone! And there is no judgment here. I’m in a Christmas sweater in July, I pass by, and nobody comments, cause they’re just like, ‘Ah, that’s Karla!’ So if you’re really looking for a place, or if you really are wondering, is there really a place like that? It’s RX.”
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Tune in for Karla’s crazy antics on All Out and Hip26! Check out her jock profile here.