It’s not hard to believe that somebody as open and friendly as Easton would aspire to be a radio personality. But there are a million and one things that a personable person might choose to do, so why this? She says, “I think everyone in radio starts off as some little kid carry around a tape recorder doing their own little song and dance.”

Tape recorder aside, Easton also had the advantage of growing up in Jersey where she was exposed to the eclectic music mix of the Philadelphia area and learned to enjoy all kinds of music at an early age. As she listened one day, the idea of actually becoming a DJ struck her. “I could do this,” she remembers thinking. And she did; though her route may not seem typical.

After a few credits she decided against college life. How then did she manage to get on the radio? She answered an ad, of course this led her to a part time, and eventually full time, position as an on air host at Lebanon’s all talk WLBR.

Easton has been a DJ for ten years now, but not always for commercial radio stations. While raising her children she wanted as much time with them as possible, so she opened a home DJ business where she jockeyed events such as weddings, and did voice-overs for radio and TV commercials.

In 1995 Easton rejoined radio with Harrisburg’s Dame Media. Though she worked with both WRVV and WHP (you can still hear her hosting the Weekend Show every Saturday morning from 6 until 9 on WHP) she says of BOB, “I’ve found my niche. We play great music, and we’re aloud to put something between the music.” She also adds that BOB’s format allows its personalities the freedom to decide what that is.

When finding a niche in life, many think of a professional point in which an individual can slow down. Easton, however, considers working at BOB to be a growing experience. Not only has it afforded her professional growth, she’s just been promoted to music programmer for the station, but personal growth as well. “To start with something form square one and work to have it recognizable is an invaluable lesson and a incredible journey,” she says. One that she gives much credit to her listeners, who she’s had opportunity to meet in BOB’s 200 plus public appearances.

Speaking of listeners, I have to admit I’m a bit of a novice when it comes to country music. So, perhaps it was naïve of me to ask if Easton has always been a fan of country. While she liked a little of everything while she was growing up, she says she has especially come to enjoy country as an adult.

“It has changed so much,” she says, explaining that country has broken free of stereotypes and has become appealing to a variety of people. She further explains that her appreciation of the genre is heightened because “the artists are so approachable and the listeners are so approachable.”

Her listeners. This is the key to really understanding Shelly Easton and why she’s so good at what she does. One gets the feeling when talking to her that the most gratifying aspect of her career is being able to interact with and mean something to her audience.

“I consider myself a public servant,” Easton admits, “It’s not about me, it’s about whoever is listening.”

Easton understands the power of radio. Early in her career she received letters of appreciation from the family of an individual with Lou Gehrig’s disease. Because this person could do little else, the radio was truly a friend. Since this time, Easton strives to make the most of the contact with her audience and an often time includes her listeners in the program.

With the help of technology, Easton can drop a pre-recorded, edited, phone call into her show within minutes; and she’ll use anything that has the potential to put a smile on the face of her listeners, or in some way reach out to touch them.

Nothing is ever perfect, but for Easton, being a radio personality is close. “What a dream,” she says, “to sit in a room by yourself and talk to someone who finds you at least halfway appealing – I mean working in radio beats working for a living, absolutely!”

As our time together draws to a close, I get back to thinking how impossibly with it Shelly Easton seems. She’s got a great family and career that she says are equally tolerant of one another, and on top of that she generates a sort of warmth that only extremely confident and contented people do.