We sat down with Laura Woods as she kicks off her new gig with Dublin’s Q102.
Here she chats to us about her new show, being a mother and what she’s learned over the years…
Hi Laura, congrats on the new show! You must be chuffed?
Absolutely – I’m so pleased to join the team at Dublin’s Q102. My new colleagues have been so welcoming and generous with their time, especially when I first arrived. The initial days were definitely school days, but they were all so helpful in getting me settled in quickly! Although I’ve worked in radio before, I’ve never anchored my own show and I had very little experience of managing a sound desk until now either. So it’s been a challenging, but really exhilarating time. We’ve been on air with The Home Stretch a few weeks now and we’re settling in well. Feedback from the listeners has been really lovely and supportive, so I’m really delighted.
You’re going to be bsuy now, but when you get a bit of downtime, what’s the first thing you do?
Sleep! Over the past few years, I have been working on a part-time/freelance basis, so my schedule depended on how busy I wanted or needed to be. But I’ve found since starting this role and learning so many brilliant new skills from scratch, that I’m worn out by the time I get home every night. But I’m getting used to the busier routine now, and when the weather improves, it’ll be easier to catch up with friends or go for nice walks with the family once I finish the show each evening.
Are you good at switching off?
Yes and no – my husband regularly laughs at me for insisting on watching the end credits of any Irish made programme to see who I know and may have worked with in the past. As for specifically switching off from my job, I’ve learned over the years through working on live TV shows, that if you fluff a line or maybe a segment doesn’t go as well as you had hoped, you have to just let it go and move on. Otherwise, the rest of your presentation will be affected and your confidence will dip. So when I hand the mic over to Elizabeth Hearst who presents Dublin Today at 6.20pm on Dublin’s Q102, my focus shifts fairly quickly – to the football drop, the grocery shop, or whatever needs my attention at home.
What are you watching on telly right now?
I recently enjoyed House of the Year on BBC as my friend Jane Larmour was one of the judges and she did an amazing job. I always enjoy Room to Improve with Dermot Bannon too. Currently I’m watching His and Hers on Netflix.
What are you most thankful for in life?
Family and friends – 100 per cent.
What have you learned over the last few years?
To pick and choose my battles, both professionally and personally. If an issue crops up, I now decide if it’s worth my time and energy to be bothered by it. Usually the answer is no. As a result I now have a calmer mindset than when I was in my twenties because I don’t let the little things in life annoy me as much as I might have done when I was younger.
What scares you?
Spiders and airplane toilets. If I ever meet a stowaway spider in an airplane toilet that will be the end of me.
What are you listening to at the moment?
I flick between podcasts like Are We There Yet? with my brilliant colleague Kathryn Thomas, Empire, Uncanny, My Therapist Ghosted Me and The David McWilliams Podcast – all depending on my mood. Otherwise, I’ll be listening to one of my playlists and bopping around the kitchen while making dinner.
What’s your favourite thing to cook?
Any dish that my kids will actually eat.
What are you reading?
I currently have three books on the go, so I’m reading slowly… The Year of the Locust by Terry Hayes, You are a Badass by Jen Sincero, Would You Be Well? by Clare McKenna.
Where’s your favourite place in the world?
Cuba will always have a special place in my heart. I hope to return one day soon.
What’s been your career highlight so far?
Every time I’ve started a new gig over the past twenty five years I’ve always been excited about it and see it as a career highlight at that point in time. So right now, The Home Stretch on Dublin’s Q102 is my highlight and I’m just really enjoying this fantastic new chapter in my life.
What’s been your proudest personal moment?
My two boys!
Who’s made the biggest impact on your life?
See above – my best role to date has been as a mum.
What are your hopes for the future?
I hope that my sons grow into healthy and fulfilled adults. I also hope my wider group of family and friends maintain good health in the years ahead. Of course work can be so rewarding, and travelling is always fun, but good health is the best gift I think any of us can wish for.
Tune into Laura Woods’ brand new show The Home Stretch with Laura Woods, airing on Dublin’s Q102 and the Onic player Monday to Friday from 2pm–6:20pm
