From Sky news.

This is connections.

I'm Veronica Volk, filling in for Evan Dawson.

Our connection this hour was made in March 2021.

We were a year into the pandemic, a year since those first cases of Covid and the widespread shutdowns.

When Raquel Stevens joined the newsroom as our health reporter, she covered those early vaccine rollouts, the Omicron variant.

Remember that.

And eventually boosters and so much more.

The scope of her reporting broadened, and so did her title.

Now she covers health, equity and community.

And we're going to get into all that and what it means.

But first I want to talk about why we're here.

As you may have heard, Evan Dawson, the host of this show, is taking some time off over the summer.

And while he's off our very own Rick, Steven will be in this chair.

She's going to bring you those same in-depth interviews, the latest news and information, roundtable discussions, all of that.

But she's going to put her own spin on it.

And what is that spin?

Raquel wears many hats, not just here at sea, but out in the community.

She's talked about her alter ego, about being between two worlds.

And we wanted to give you, the listeners of this program, a chance to get to know her better.

So in this hour, we're going to talk about her life and her career and reflect on journalism and media and this dichotomy of her Cal, Steven and Rocky B and of course, we'll invite your questions.

You can call us toll free at 844295 talk 855.

The local number is (585) 263-9994.

You can email us at connections@wxxi.org or comment on the connections live stream on the Wpxi news YouTube channel.

All right, let's get into it.

Joining me in studio is my colleague, Raquel.

Steven.

Raquel, thank you so much for joining me.

Then I have a choice.

No, I don't think this was a prerequisite to set you up.

So you're going to start hosting on Monday at 12:00?

Yes.

And I wanted to tell our listeners that, for the time that Evan is gone from now until September, we will be live from 12 to 1 with Raquel and her guests, and then from 1 to 2, we're bringing, back some of our favorite shows from the, past year and the year before that.

But, Raquel.

Let's talk.

Yes.

All right, so what brought you here?

Let's let's go way back.

Way back to the beginning.

Wow.

We were just talking about this.

You were born in Saint Lucia and raised in Saint Croix.

Yes.

What were those early years like for you?

How they shape you?

Yeah.

So, you know, living on the islands, you just.

You feel like every day is just magical, right?

You're you're in Paradise.

You grew up in Paradise.

So for me, my experience was very limited, right, to the islands.

But everyone that that grows up on the islands, they want.

If you dream big, right?

Your goal is to come to the United States and and, you know, live your dreams, right, and pursue your dreams and make it to be as big as you.

You like bigger than life.

So I had a really fun life.

The beach, you know, is a small community.

50,000 people.

Saint Croix, the Virgin Islands, 50,000 people.

And so everyone knew everyone.

So if you were doing things in the community, everyone knew who you were.

I was I actually grew up as a tomboy.

I played sports.

I was actually a dancer as well.

So I, you know, joined a dance company.

So I, I was pretty well known for, for the arts, and I just knew that I loved that light.

Right?

That limelight, that spotlight.

So I was in pageants.

My mom put me in pageants.

Whatever I want to do that pertain to the arts, to just showcase, what I was good at.

So you're on a stage?

I was honest.

Yeah.

Performing.

I was never afraid of the stage, but, I still like to be.

We're talking about this.

I don't like.

I like to call it unnecessary attention.

I like to be in the cut, like just observing.

But when it's time to put it on, I will put it on.

So I love the stage, and I want a couple pages, actually.

So, it doesn't it doesn't.

I have a huge personality, sometimes too big for my body, but, I, I just knew that I wanted to be in the spotlight.

I knew that I, I wasn't camera shy.

I enjoy public speaking.

A lot of people are run away from that type of stuff.

And I was like, no, I'll do it.

I was the one in class raising your hand.

Like, who wants to read out loud?

Hey, I'll do it.

So I was never afraid of that.

And.

But you you want to dream?

You dream bigger.

And I, I attended private school, so Rancho Sister was something my guidance counselor put on my radar.

We got.

I never heard about Rochester.

My life.

Yeah.

The Virgin Islands to Rochester, New York.

How did you end up in.

Yeah.

So your guidance counselor recommended it?

Yeah.

So, high school graduate in oh five.

And my guidance counselor, like, hey, you would.

You know, she she knew Rochester.

And she's like, I think you'll be good at University of Rochester.

I'm like, okay.

You know, I'm just applying to schools at this point, like, okay.

And studied.

I studied, I might like I came in initially for electrical engineering.

Okay.

Yeah.

Electrical engineering.

And it was just something that when you grow up, your parents are like, you're either going to be an engineer, a doctor or lawyer, right?

Those are the big three.

And my mom was like, oh, engineering.

And I'm like, okay.

So I applied to be electrical engineer, for and for college.

And yeah, that didn't I realize my brain doesn't work that way.

So I knew I loved to create.

So I took a creative writing course at University of Rochester, and, it just took off from there.

And the rest is history.

Yeah.

So how did your parents react when you sort of changed?

Switched?

Yeah.

When you really say right away, I kind of just did it on my own.

Because I just, I just wanted to try it out.

And then when I discovered what I was good at, which was creating and telling stories.

I kind of just shifted over, like, mom, I'm not doing logic engineering.

More like, I don't know, a plus B plus C, and my brain doesn't work that way.

So.

Yeah, but it was I if I had a dollar every time someone asked, why would you leave the version?

I was on the Rochester, I would be rich.

I probably wouldn't be here right now.

And it's because when you live on the islands, this is what you dream of.

And people, you know, people you want to get away from home.

Home is always home, right?

And I think everyone shares that same sentiment where eventually you want to leave the nest in and go like you want to fly.

And I just wanted to fly in so far away from home.

But I think it worked out.

I think so, yeah.

So far, so good.

Yeah.

So far, so good.

Okay, so how did we get from creative writing storytelling in college to radio?

How did that happen?

Wow.

So, when I graduated from the University of Rochester, I did a couple jobs.

I worked at a psychiatric center.

I knew a lot of people.

So I worked in a lot of, administrative worlds.

World worked like I was at the Monroe Golf Club.

I was at the front desk.

I just love interacting with people you're just talking to.

I was just a talking and a talk, and I'm still talk.

I'm that I got most talkative in high school.

Definitely did an elementary.

So I just love to talk.

And I just love people.

I love hearing stories.

I love telling stories.

So, I got an opportunity.

A friend of mine, she was hosting her own talk show, and she said, hey, do you want to come in as a guest just to be interviewed?

I'm like, okay, sure.

And I guess she saw something in me.

It was like, do you want to be a co-host for the entire show?

And I'm like, okay.

And I discovered that I had a niche for that, like, oh, okay, there's a there's a gift there.

And she went off to do other things and I'm like, well, I still want to do this.

So I continued on my path.

I proposed my own show.

I stayed within the radio realm, and then it just took off from there.

I went back to school because I'm like, okay, let me if this is what is going to be, let me get the credentials behind it.

Yeah.

So like a lot of people that end up here, myself included, don't necessarily take the JC school route.

So what made you take like that leap?

You're already in radio?

Yes.

Why did you go back to school?

You went to, Newhouse?

Yes, I went to, new house, a Syracuse University.

I think I was a just test for me.

Like, let me see if this is the path I'm supposed to be on.

If it is, then I'll get accepted because it's very hard to get accepted into that school I think is only about 20% of applicants for Newhouse for the broadcasting, department field.

So I just like, let me just test myself to see this where I belong.

I was actually moving back to the Virgin Islands, Veronica, because I felt like I didn't know what my purpose was.

I felt stagnant.

So for me, it was I was in the Virgin Islands for three months.

When I got accepted to Newhouse.

Wow.

Because I'm like, let me just see.

And, I came back, but it was really just a test for myself.

And I know that's one of the biggest in the most, prestigious schools when it comes to broadcasting.

So if that's if this is the path I'm supposed to take, then I will be accepted.

And boom, I got a letter of acceptance.

I'm like, I guess I'm not moving back to the Virgin Islands after all.

And it just everything else, just the doors just began to open from there.

Right.

And so one of those doors being here at Sky.

Yes.

You know, you talk a lot about being sort of naturally outgoing, loving a talk, all that.

How does that sort of play out in your interviews with folks, even when you're talking about things like, you know, health science, some more technical subjects?

Yeah.

With these.

Oh, yeah.

With these, these hard I think these are hard subjects like health, especially coming in during the pandemic.

Right.

I, freshly out of school and WXXI, I was like, okay, here, let's talk about Covid.

I'm like, oh my gosh, no, not me, not right now.

So, and I think people just want to be heard by someone that is human, that is that that's relatable.

that lead with emotion.

I, I, I think I provide that safe space when I do interviews, because I'm not coming with all the technicalities.

I'm not like, okay, so tell them no, I'm just making sure that you see my personality and you understand that I'm here to just tell, okay, tell your story and do a good job at it.

I want you to trust me.

And I establish that rapport from the beginning when I do interviews.

And I don't like to call them interviews every time I do set up an interview, to this day, I always say, let's chat.

Hey, I want to schedule a chat on zoom.

I make sure I lead with that because I feel like when you say interviews, people come with this, this idea that it's going to be very structured and you have to, you know, watch what you say and, and, you know, open up.

I feel when you open up is when you get the best content.

So I'm like, hey, let's just chat for ten minutes.

Even when I'm talking to the director of, you know, a strong, hey, can I have a chat with you for like ten minutes?

Because I don't like the word interview, I think is very, It can be very intimidating.

It is intimidating.

Yeah.

And it can be hard when you work in radio.

I mean, I'm sure it's a whole different ballgame for TV or for video, but having that microphone in between you and your source can be like a little bit of a barrier.

Yes, but watching you talk to people, it's like you make that invisible watching you.

And, people who are listening to the program know that you've hosted the show a couple times now four times, and you are able to sort of make the microphone disappear, really bring people into their element.

Is that just like, is that how you just have always been like, I think so, I think because I just see people as humans, no matter who they are.

Whether it's the mayor or, the janitor.

Right?

Everyone is human.

I see you as human.

You're you.

You're going to laugh.

You're going to cry just like me.

So I want you to know that I'm coming to you as human to human, not as, Is this not going to be a political thing?

We're talking as human.

So I want to.

I started I create the, I create the vibe, and then people naturally follow it.

And I think that's important for me to just people to understand, like, I just want to have a chat.

I want to have fun.

I'm human too.

So let's just talk about all the human stuff.

Yeah.

And it's it can be missing sometimes.

Actually, right now, when people are so polarized.

So I won't talk about your title shift.

Oh, you, you you were hired as the health reporter here at Xxii, and now you are the health equity and community reporter.

Yes.

What does that title mean?

You.

Yeah, that's something I pushed for because I felt like, being a black woman here in, in, in media, I felt like it was an obligation for me to tell the story of the marginalized community.

And with health, I think you're kind of limited in the sense where you can you can get, you know, the black in, in Hispanics or, you can get them to be a part of your story, but sometimes you don't get the chance to tell that their story.

Right.

Just living that experience.

And, I did a lot of story for a city magazine where I was able to just do that a little bit, touch on that a little bit, tell more stories about that community.

And I'm like, hey, I like this.

I actually like this.

I like stepping out of health and because health can sometimes be it can it can be a little draining.

It can be, it can weigh on your emotions a little bit.

And I wanted to wanted something more uplifting.

Right.

And, city allowed me to do that.

And I'm like, yeah, just why don't we do that?

Z and because the last stories I proposed, the city Z my hey, we want that too.

And I'm like, okay, all right.

We're not going to be selfish.

So I'll do it for you to Z.

And then I just proposed like, why not I, I want to continue doing that.

So I propose like, hey, can I change my title so I can cover more of these stories, whether it's whether the black people, the LGBTQ plus community, whether it's, just people that are the communities that are not feel like they're not their stories are not being told or not.

They're not being heard.

I just wanted to cover those things.

You you bring up a really good point, too, which is that the health beat in particular can be so sad, right?

You you're talking about you talk to people with chronic illness.

You talk a lot about pain, death and dying.

You've managed to bring this angle to the health beat that I really love, where you're covering stories about, like, a woman square dancing group, you know, as a way to get fit or sort of all these other health adjacent.

You focused a lot on mental health, especially recently, as it pertains to fathers or mothers, and I just, I, I wonder, if you, if you want to move past the health stuff in general or if you find yourself like constantly tying back to that health.

Yeah.

So that's my that's my foundation.

Right.

Since I've been here, health has been my foundation.

So, I look for the health stories I do, and I also I try to incorporate it some way.

Health is in everything.

You know, my colleagues do health stories and, you know, that is just in everyday life.

So that's my baby, right?

I'm always going to go back to health because and then they I try to find a hopeful line like a silver lining with all my stories.

I always want to end on hope, even when it's something that's so, traumatic or sad.

I always want to end with hope.

So health is something that I've, you know, it created me, right?

It created this journalist.

So I will never leave health behind.

I just wanted to be able to tell tell more stories and in and get out my comfort zone a little bit with with telling the stories.

And speaking of stories, I want to talk a little bit about more about your story, particularly your story as a mom.

You've you've been a little bit more open about your personal life and your experience as being, a mom to a son with autism.

Yes.

How has parenting changed the way that you approach people, or how has it sort of shaped your storytelling and your journalism?

Wow.

Yeah, that's that part of my life I don't really talk about because I get a lot of emotional with it.

So my son, he's seven, he's non-verbal, and I feel like, you know, I've spent a lot of years just crying and wondering why.

And it started to make sense to me, just recently, like, okay, I'm supposed to tell these stories.

I'm supposed to open up about my journey.

So it made me patient.

When it comes to people in general, it's made me really patient with people.

Because you never know what someone's going through.

And I just want to provide that.

That a relatability, right?

Like, I, I go through it too.

Like, it may look glamorous on the outside looking in, right, with my two personas, but I definitely, I struggle to and I go through my challenges and I understand.

Right.

We may not share the same challenge, but I understand, and that's why I approach everything with, just compassion.

Because you never know.

A lot of people can just carry they carry their journey really well.

They carry their challenges really, really well.

But we all go through things and when I put that out there about my son and raising my son is to let people know, like, yes, okay, it does look good.

But we all have our challenges.

Like I always say, ignorance is bliss, right?

And people don't know what anyone is going through.

So I just, I think that it made me really humble in a sense where I, I can be more compassionate, especially with my, my sources.

Is there also an element there of like, you're not alone, right?

Like we're in community.

Yeah.

For other parents who are going through this and it can be an isolating experience.

Yes.

And it's I, I put out a post on social media and it was so overwhelming, the amount of, people and parents that are raising kids that are neurodivergent.

I didn't know this community was so vast.

And so I felt like, okay, this is maybe one of my this is my purpose, right?

To let people know they're not alone, to share that journey.

And there was a time was a friend of mine said, you know, you should put that out there.

You should let people know.

And I'm like, wait, not yet.

I need to accept this before I put it out there because I, you know, it's timing is everything.

And it wasn't just my time.

And when it became my time to put it out there, then I did.

And it's just a there's so many people waiting to share that experience and waiting for that community.

So it's it is every day is rewarding, but it's also challenging.

So after I leave work, I go, I go to work, right?

I'm a caregiver.

So I understand that that life as well, being a caregiver, whether it's you're taking care of your parent or, you know, a child with a disability, being a caregiver is a shared experience.

And I get it, I get it.

So a lot of times I can approach my stories with you.

I get it.

I want to just like, take this really quick and just be like, because I need this.

I need to keep talking about this because I'm a I'm a mom, too.

And we're both women and there's a lot of public discourse about like, you know, there's been this toxic, view that women can have it all.

You can have, like the work you can have the profession, you can be a stellar mom.

From the outside looking in, it looks like you're doing a really good job with it.

Like, how do you feel about sort of being in the midst of all of that?

Like, do you think that's a that's a healthy way to look at it, or do you, do you feel like, I don't know, I guess.

What do you think about that?

Like having being a mom and being a successful in your career and all that stuff.

All that.

Yeah.

Oh, how do you do it?

Every.

Everything comes with its price, right?

I, I do it, but there are times when I'm exhausted.

And getting rest is hard for me.

And I, I look back at my, my childhood and my mom being raised by a single mom and watching her do it and she's still doing it right is there's no rest in between.

And it's hard to get rest.

It's hard because when you have a goal for yourself and you have a goal for your child, you can't sometimes you don't sleep right.

And, it looks beautiful.

It is.

There are some rewarding moments right where you're like, this is why I'm doing this.

And there's also times I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm so exhausted.

And it it, it trickles down into every aspect of your life where sometimes I feel like I'm not performing at my best because I am exhausted.

And then sometimes when I have a great day with my son and I'm like, it just trickles down to every aspect of your life.

So it looks beautiful, right?

And you can't have it all.

But everything comes with a cost.

You're either sacrificing your rest, you're sacrificing sometimes your health.

I try to put, I try to insert like gym time, exercise time, some self-care time.

Whether it's just getting a pedicure, you know, just some time for myself.

So you really have to.

It's hard to to for that self-care time to take time to yourself.

You really have to be intentional with that.

And it shouldn't have to be that way.

Right.

But it's you have to really be intentional when you're when you want, when you see the vision and you know what you want and you sacrifice for the moment, and then hopefully eventually everything pays off and you can have weeks of rest.

I was going to ask, what what is your relationship to rest?

Oh right now.

Oh it's it's very toxic.

It's a very toxic relationship.

And I guess also I do want to say to not just what's your relationship to us, but like what's your advice for women for people and their relationship.

Taurus yes.

To I think one of my biggest things is asking for help.

I, I don't like to ask for help.

I don't like to be a burden on others.

So I would say, don't follow me.

Ask for help.

Okay?

If you need that time, use your village and get that time and get that help.

Because you can't be one of my biggest things that you can't be.

You can't be beneficial to anyone if you're not doing what's best for you, right?

If you're not taking care of yourself.

So I still have to work on that.

I still have to.

I still have to work on self-care.

And taking time to myself is I'll get it one day, I promise.

But asking for help and taking that time so you can take that time, yeah, is important.

And I think that, like, conversations like this with vulnerability in them are important too, right?

Because like, I think that traditionally in media, the journalist plays the role of this like objective and neutral sort of mirror.

Yes, for the story, for the audience, whatever.

And media is shifting a lot.

And I want to get into that in a little bit.

But I don't like put the cart before the horse.

Before we talk a little bit more about your philosophy on media, you've talked about authenticity being really important.

Being unapologetic, unapologetically yourself.

So what does authenticity look like to you in media?

Why?

Why is it important in media?

As far as pertaining to myself.

Yeah.

Well, I just, I approach everything as myself, right.

And if I that was one of my big things for finding a job.

Right.

It's like if I can't be myself in my workplace, if my, the workplace culture doesn't allow me to be myself, I don't want to be there.

And I can attest to this.

You are.

You are very much yourself.

And you walk into your room.

That's a good or bad thing.

No, it's a very it's a good thing.

Yeah.

Okay.

Like, I'm, I, I need to be my loud extra self.

Right.

Like, I have this blond mohawk and I walk in with my heels and I'm just unapologetically un.

Wow, I know I just caught that, right?

That was unapologetically myself.

And I, I want to be able to do that with my work.

Right.

So with any anything, I want to be myself at all times, which means I want to be loud and extra.

And I also know that I'm emotional, and I also know that I need time.

I want to have a safe space within, the work culture to say like, hey, I need, I need time.

But in media that people are getting paid for being themselves, people are getting paid for being themselves.

So many people in, in, in media, entertainment news, whether it's sports, right.

They're getting they're they're blown up just by being themselves.

And I see it and I there's room for me to be myself in media right.

And be where I want to be.

And being myself has got me to this point, right where I guess you guys saw something in me here execs hired to give me this summer position.

It's all because I was myself.

So there is room to be yourself, right?

Whether how you show up how are you show physically with, with your, your mindset, your emotions being yourself is what gets you anything.

Like there is a saying that you know, God cannot bless who you pretend to be.

So I'm not pretending to be anything about myself, because I want every opportunity that I get for me to get because I, I am myself.

So there's no there's no surprises.

You guys knew what you were signing up for.

I hope you know what you're signing up for with connections, looking at what you were signing up for.

And it's all it all came because I was myself from the beginning.

So how does that play out in this room?

Like, what do you hope the audience gets from that?

I want the audience to know that, or I hope they get that.

I am that I'm truly like a fun, a fun person.

And but I'm also very much, passionate about what I do.

Right?

And and I love a challenge.

And, and it's funny because I just wanted to say, like, it took me so long to agree to co-host connections, okay?

Because I was terrified of being myself on this platform, I was terrified.

I'm like, oh my gosh, are the other listeners going to accept who I am?

And when I finally did, after years of being asked, everyone's like, Make Evan and Megan like, hey Raquel, do you want to be a co-host on connections?

I'm like, no, I'm not ready yet.

I'm not ready to be myself yet on this platform.

And then when I found, like, you know what?

I'll just be my.

Okay, I'll just be myself.

And it it came with a reward.

So I think I can attest to what you're saying.

Like, sometimes I know myself, I'm like, are the people ready for for me?

Yeah, because it sounds like you're saying.

You're saying you weren't ready.

But what it really sounds like, it's like I wasn't ready.

I wasn't ready to to give space to that.

I don't, I don't know.

Yeah I'm pretty sure.

Yes, I was ready because the opportunity presented itself plenty of times.

Because sometimes you can't see what people are seeing you.

And that's one of my biggest things like I live with that, that imposter syndrome.

So I don't see what people see me like when you, when you guys give me compliments like, oh, I did that.

Wow.

That's amazing.

Okay.

Who is she?

Because I don't see it, right?

Because I am myself.

Like I'm being myself at all times.

I'm not critiquing everything I do.

So when you or applauding everything I do, so when people see that in you, you're like, okay, you know what?

They see something in me.

So let me just go out there, just be who they see, I guess.

Be myself.

Like, for some reason that makes me think of, like, fake it to you, make it fake.

Except that you're talking about, like, just be me and.

Yeah, but hope for the best.

Hope for the best.

I just don't think I know how to be.

Yeah.

With me and I don't have it all together.

And a lot of the shows that are coming up, I'm no expert.

Right.

And I feel like that's that's part of the growth of this all.

And I'm still learning myself in this.

This will help me.

I want to talk more about who who you are and who it means to be.

Raquel, Steven and also Rocky.

Oh, but first we're going to take our a quick break.

Our only break of the hour.

I'm here with my colleague Raquel Steven, our health equity and community reporter, and we'll be back, for more of this conversation and more of your questions.

I'm Evan Dawson, coming up in our second hour, a special rebroadcast of a conversation on connections about the voices of a generation.

Bob Dylan was known as the voice of the generation in his day.

But is music so different?

Is media so different now that we don't really have a voice of a generation anymore?

We're going to talk about it with our guests in this special rebroadcast next hour.

Support for your public radio station comes from our members and from Bob Johnson Auto Group.

Proud supporter of connections with Evan Dawson, believing in informed public makes for a stronger community.

Bob Johnson Auto group.com.

We're back.

This is connections.

I'm Veronica Volk filling in for Evan Dawson today and only today because after today my colleague Raquel Steven will be co-hosting the show.

Excuse me.

Guest hosting the show.

She's the health equity and community reporter here at Sky.

And we're getting to know her a little bit better.

And I just want to say, if you have a question for Raquel, you can call 844295 talk 8255 toll three.

The local number (585) 263-9994 or you can email us at connections at WXXI.

Talk or comment on the connections live stream on the Sky news YouTube channel.

That live engagement element is something that makes this show so special.

It's also part of what makes the show a little bit intimidating, I think.

And I've never hosted the show before, but you've done it a couple times now and let me just say, the shows that you've hosted so far have been absolutely stellar.

Oh.

Thank you.

I'm wondering what you know, what you're thinking about for this summer.

What sort of topics do you want to do?

You want to talk about?

What do you want to explore that's new to you?

What do you want to explore that maybe, some of the listeners will be familiar with.

What do you got?

Yeah, I, I, I'm trying to touch on everything.

Right.

Even things I'm not familiar with.

So I know it's a lot of I really underestimated the planning it takes to to keep this show running as smoothly as Evan does is going to is some pretty big shoes to fill.

So you guys, you know, give me some grace for the first week or so as I, as I get my feet wet and really get comfortable, behind, being, you know, steering this ship.

But, I want to touch on everything, whether it's health related, arts related, anything that gets me going.

And I feel like I approach my stories that way.

If if a story pitch doesn't excite me, I assume.

Right.

Because, you know, my thought matters.

I assume that I want to excite my listeners, right?

So if it excites me, I, I want to I want to pursue that.

And if we can get that done and produce, let's let's do it.

So we're covering anything from phobias to, vaccine rollouts and what is, you know, what is it looking like now for us and, the arts and the Corn Hill festivals and, and the Carrot Fest and, and we're going to touch on Pride Week and we're going to touch on, mental health.

Anything that whenever it diabetes and in, in cures for chronic illnesses and and outlandish cures like I want to go I want to stretch it as far as I can and I want to touch on things that I'm not familiar with.

If I'm not comfortable with the topic, let's do it.

Because I think this is a moment for me to grow and and in Evans gave me the one of the best advice ever.

Like, if you're not sure, then your listeners probably aren't sure.

So be, you know, be that, be that vessel for them.

And we're we're just going to all just grow together, I guess.

And, and I'm just going to show up as myself.

And hopefully you can see how passionate I am as a reporter and just delivering good, good radio.

Okay.

Let's get into what it means to be yourself, because here, I you came in the doors, Rick house.

Steven.

But you have built an identity around, also Rocky be used as host personality.

Creative.

So who is Rocky be and how did that dual identity come about?

How'd that come to be?

Okay.

Rocky B is, she's just the is is we're talking about myself in the third person.

Yeah.

We can we can change the framing.

Rocky B is she's just, a vibrant, sassy thing that loves to entertain.

And, she came from.

Well, you know, Rocky is short for Raquel, right?

So I know a lot of work.

Nicknames are Rocky.

So that's, you know, that's Rocky, and the B is my my middle name.

So Rocky B is just.

She's my alter ego, right?

She is on, you know, the beat 155, and she talks entertainers and she entertains a certain demographic, and, she just has fun.

A whole lot of creative control and, and that's another part of myself that where, like, my authenticity really shines, and comes through.

So I think a lot of people have two lives or two different, you know, alter ego.

And it just so happens that both kind of work for me in a sense, which is weird.

I never wanted them to meet.

I never wanted Rocky B and Raquel Steven to meet like, you go over here, you know, you're over there, like, separated at birth.

You know, I want I didn't want them to meet.

And it just so happens that them coming together in some aspect works well on both platforms.

But yeah, I was petrified of them eating like, no way.

And by meeting, you mean, like, coming together, those two worlds thinking.

Yeah.

Coming together.

So you said this alter ego situation like Mayor Malik Evans himself will say, see you.

Who are you today?

Yes.

Oh my gosh, mayor Malik Evans, every time he sees me at a press conference or if I'm doing something as Rocky be, you, like, oh, hey, Raquel, or is it Rocky B today?

And I'm like, well, it's Monday.

So technically I'm Raquel because I'm only Rocky me on the weekends.

So yeah, it's and he he did say himself like, this is someone that knows there's a time and place and that's what it is.

Because I was going to ask, how's it feel that that duality plays out so publicly that you're being called out, you know, like, who is it?

Yeah.

Today.

Yeah, it's it's still weird.

Yeah.

It's it's still weird.

I still there's still they're still trying to get to know each other.

But both I, I exist in both worlds.

Right.

And I for me, it's just my way of just navigating those world, and they're coming together because Rocky be.

You know, the people that know Rocky B are nasty to know Raquel.

And they're like, oh, okay.

This is what she really does is she's a journalist and not just an entertainer.

So on the beat, what are you what are you talking about.

Oh on the beat.

So on the beat I am.

That's the beat 155.

I am the weekend host.

Right.

And so I do I do a lot of fun things, whether it's giveaways or, if there's like a celebrity entertainer that comes to town, you know, oftentimes I would interview them.

So the skills crossover, right.

Because the huge personality works here.

And sexy as well.

And especially when I do interviews and then the Raquel works, the journalist works well at the beat when I have to interview the politicians or the entertainers that don't that don't want the typical interviews.

Right.

So having those interviewing skills, having those journalist skills works well over there as well.

It's just they work together.

Okay.

I was going to say is, do you feel like there's one place where you are able to be more authentic?

And you can be honest?

Oh, Chris don't listen.

Rocky B, I think is more more me on the.

She's she's free.

There's no limitations there.

Right.

It's here.

It's you know, it's very structured here.

And, you know, you have an assignment and your assignment is to report defects and, and the facts.

Right.

And over there is more you're free is more creative control over there.

But then here.

Yeah.

Personality driven.

Right.

But then over here you do the same thing like media is media, right.

Like personality is what got me here.

So I'm both of them are myself is just a different demographic.

I think people are starting to recognize that you can be both.

Yes.

I think that the, you know, there's a there's a fear in sort of investing in people who are all personality for your news and information because they're there's sort of a surface level trust their base on vibes, right?

Yes.

But you don't actually know if they know what they're talking about.

So I guess, like I think not speaking for WXXI, but as somebody who's worked here for a long time, I think that is sort of coming to a place where, like we talked about, there's more space for that personality, there's more space for, for a person rather than just, you know, an individual who's representing, a brand.

Yes.

Yeah.

And this is a world for, like, content creators, right.

And now with podcasting taking over, right.

Everyone has a voice and everyone is everyone's opinion is is being heard.

So I feel like there is room.

There is room for both.

There is room for both to coexist and, even even as Rocky be my listeners over there.

Trust what I'm saying.

They trust what I'm saying.

And I think that has a lot to do with the fact that I'm also a journalist.

Yeah.

So it it works both ways.

How much of this do you think has to do with race.

You know, in what way like in the way that the audience for this show and WXXI in general, is predominantly white?

Well, how do you think that plays out in, in, I don't know, in you when I who I would say it makes me more mindful here.

Right.

How I come across because it is a different demographic.

Right.

So I do I, I pay more attention to what I say and how I see it.

Say more about that.

I feel like as as a black woman in, in media or just a black woman in general.

Right?

In this, in this corporate world or just being successful, like, you have to be a certain way or you're expected to be a certain way, right?

And when you are that when you are articulate and when you are good at what you do and you're you're proven to be an asset, you're like a unicorn, right?

And in some and I think me taking so long to host connections was because I don't want you know, I, I always tell you like I don't want to look stupid on air.

Right.

And I think it's an added pressure of having to prove yourself, having to prove yourself, having to prove that you're just as good as your male counterpart, your male white counterpart.

And I feel that every day in the work room you know like am I just as good.

So I honing on my strength like I know I'm great at this.

So you hone in on that and you just you, you perfect that.

Yeah.

So it is an added pressure to prove that you're just as good and as you do you are a little bit more aware of like am I sounding like I'm just as good.

Yeah.

So there is an added pressure when it comes to reporting for Z.

But when I'm rocky B I'm speaking to my people.

It's like code switching when I'm code switching.

It's it's different.

That's hard.

It's different.

Yeah.

It's it's hard every day is hard.

Yeah.

Yeah every day.

But that's just the reality of it.

Well I hope that at least in part through some of this conversation, that like your time on the show, it helps you tell the stories that are, like, authentically you and also helps, helps you reach a new audience, helps us interact with the new audience.

WXXI is in sort of a moment of transition also.

Yes.

Right.

Like we're on the cusp of potentially losing all this funding.

And really and really, I think we're reckoning with what our identity is in this community.

Who are we for?

Yeah.

And what are what are we doing?

And and why.

Yeah.

So no pressure.

You just happen to also be hosting the show at this, like, really pivotal moment.

Yeah.

Have you thought about have you thought about that?

Heck yeah.

Yeah.

Like, why me?

Why me right now?

Yeah.

Right.

Is it, is it, is it race driven?

Is it because I'm good.

You know like I've, I've thought about that.

Yeah definitely thought about that.

Like am I, am I that good.

Yeah.

I've talked to my friends like am I good.

Like is this why I have this position right now.

Yeah.

That's just being real.

That's, that's really my thought process sometimes.

Yeah.

I mean I think it's like it's really interesting to ask that question.

Yeah.

But you are really good.

Yeah.

Thank you.

So and that's a unicorn thing I'm talking about.

Like it's a unicorn thing like wow.

She actually is really good.

And she has a blond mohawk and she's, you know, like I can navigate in, in both rooms.

So, Yeah, but you do ask that question during the time like this.

Like, is it because I'm really good?

We've never gotten a chance to talk about this.

Yeah.

Feel free to say, like, I don't want to talk about this.

No, I'm, I'm I'm is honest.

Our newsroom is mostly white.

Yeah.

I mean, how how it did it wasn't always that way though, right?

I came in and I'm like, oh hey girl, that look like me, you know, April Franklin and James Brown.

And we had one that's like, oh, this is diverse.

Yes.

And then, you know, then then I became that she's a stood alone.

I'm like, wow.

Okay.

So there was an added pressure there.

Right now I'm representing I feel like representing a whole demographic.

Right, right.

With your work, you can't share the load, right?

Because at the end of the day, being that black reported advantages, I can go into these communities and they will trust me to tell the story.

Right.

And whether it's because I'm black, whether because I'm Rocky, being I already established that report with that community, that's an asset here, because now we can really get to the the people that we should be talking to.

But then it's also oppression.

You think we should I you obviously think we should.

Yeah.

Like when you talk about the future of WXXI, it's like embedded in this because we do great work, we do great work.

And it's so sad that there is this, this, this reputation that Zoe has.

It's not just WXXI, it's public media, public media in general.

Right?

And it is great work.

And I feel like I, I think I'm bridging that gap.

Right.

I'm bridging that gap between.

Our public media and and the real world I'm having this moment of reckoning where like I want you to bridge that gap too.

But I don't want to make you feel responsible.

Oh yeah I'll tell you guys just too much.

I carry that burden.

And on these, we can talk about it.

These heels is not, man.

Heels are made for walking.

But yeah, I just it's it's an added responsibility, but it's also so empowering.

Right.

Because people are looking at me like yo she's doing it for us.

And you guys are like no she's damn good.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So it's like it's it's like, yeah.

Anyone who like seeing you in your element.

And it's so funny too, that when we were talking just before the show, you had this sort of like you call yourself an introverted extrovert, where you were just kind of like, all right, well, I don't really like talking about myself.

And this could be a little bit of a challenge in our, But there's something about being on the air that just like it sort of, I don't know, like lights.

You on fire?

Yeah.

The best way is.

Oh, I love a microphone.

Yeah, well, it's a stage.

It's the stage.

Turn that microphone on.

I'm like what I was scared of.

What.

I just yeah.

And I feel like not everyone gets this opportunity when not everyone gets this type of platform.

So if you have it you better take advantage of that.

You don't shy away from it.

Is the fashion part of the Liz I already I already ordered a ton of clothes because I know we're streaming live on YouTube and I'm planning not to wear the same thing twice.

So I just, I think I, I think it's just my personality.

Yeah.

I think I just have this huge personality and it works.

And how did that like the fashion?

Like it was that, like part of your early sort of like performance pageantry stuff, or is it just like it just came about?

I just like putting things together.

I like looking good.

Right?

Because if you look good, then you feel good and you have a good day.

And that's just my philosophy.

And, I feel like you speak without speaking with with your with your fashion.

You say a lot about who you are without saying anything.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm in jeans.

You're a mommy.

Yeah, I know, okay, so.

Oh, we only got a couple minutes left.

I had this idea, and I was talking a little bit about this before the show.

There's the show Wild Card on NPR, hosted by Rachel Martin, where she asks these really off the wall questions, but I. I don't have a deck of cards, and I can't serve you with a deck of cards.

But I did have a couple of wild card questions.

If you're game.

Okay.

Go ahead.

Okay.

What is something you think about very differently today than you did ten years ago?

Wow.

Yeah, I love that.

Gave me a wow.

Wow.

What is something I think about differently today than I did ten years ago?

Wow.

Wow.

Oh, wow.

I, was.

Oh, okay.

I don't know, like, Well, where were you ten years ago?

Ten years ago?

How old was I?

I. I was, you know what?

I'm.

I finally found my purpose.

Yeah.

Because at ten years ago, I was still trying to figure out where my life was.

Had it like ten years ago.

This was a dream.

This was on my vision board.

It wasn't a reality.

So I feel as if like right now I would say it would just be.

Like, just trusting the process.

Yeah.

Trust the process.

Trusting the process.

How has your idea of success changed over time?

Success.

I think success is just looking back and looking back in hindsight and seeing how far you've come and not knowing that where you are was something you once thought about.

And you're happy doing this for me, like, I enjoy every aspect of my life.

Yes.

I don't get as much rest as I would love, but, I chose this life, I chose it, and I'm living it, and I feel like that's successful and I'm being pretty good at it.

That's what success is for me.

Yeah.

And being recognized for that, what is something people think comes naturally to you.

But it actually takes a lot of work.

Oh my.

Well.

Oh wow.

I would say.

Geez.

Right.

I wish we went over this before I came on here.

That's not what I was.

I know what something like, people think comes naturally.

I think my, my stage presence, my stage presence, people think I'm just, like, this confident person.

It just turns it on any time.

I don't believe for a second that you're not.

You see, a I really have like, before I host an event, I really or even.

Yeah be going before I go live on connections or I host an event.

I really have like a process that I go through first before I, before I dive in like I have to do this my, my ritual.

Right?

Because it takes a lot to build up that energy and that esteem to to do it, to be confident.

Right.

And yeah.

Yeah, it's something that I really have a ritual and I build myself up to do.

What is your earliest memory of music and what was your relationship to music?

My earliest memory of music.

Well, I, you know, I grew up on the islands.

So I grew up loving reggae music, calypso music, soca music.

Anything, I guess my body moving.

Right.

I the dancer, I'm a dancer.

Okay.

These, this waistline is okay.

This waistline is not stiff ladies and gentlemen.

Okay.

I am a dancer.

So, And I grew up in a dance company.

Like, I started dancing at three years old at Caribbean Dance Company.

So I've loved music forever.

And one of the things that it teaches you is to just let the music guide you, right?

So at three years old, I was finding my my body in my movement, expressing myself through music at three years old.

That's awesome.

Yeah.

All right.

Well, we only have, like, a minute or so left, so, I'm going to ask you what I ask at the end of all of my interviews.

Oh.

Do you have any questions for me?

Yes.

Why me?

Guys, I don't know if you can answer that, but why choose me to host this show?

These are huge shoes to fill, right?

Yeah.

Huge shoes.

Seven.

Dawson is highly respected by his looks.

I don't have to tell you guys that, but yes.

Raquel, you're incredibly talented.

You are a phenomenal host.

The way that you're able to connect with people on a human level is something that plays out in, like, every stage of your reporting.

And it was it was seeing that that I think through your guest hosting made it make sense.

Yeah.

Sounds good.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you for seeing so much for joining us.

And I hope you've enjoyed this hour learning all about Raquel Stephen.

She will be back to host the show starting Monday from 12 to 1.

And connections will be rebroadcasting some of your favorite episodes hosted by Evan from 1 to 2.

Thank you so much for listening.

You've been listening to connections.

I'm Veronica Wolfe, and for Evan Dawson and WXXI.

This program is a production of Sexy Public Radio.

The views expressed do not necessarily represent those of this station, its staff, management, or underwriters.

The broadcast is meant for the private use of our audience, any rebroadcast or use in another medium, without express written consent of Icsi is strictly prohibited.

Connections with Evan Dawson is available as a podcast.

Just click on the connections link at WXXI news.org.

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