Toni Lontis, Host of Radio Toni [Interview]

I first connected with Toni Lontis when booking radio shows for my client, Deborah Olson. It was such a pleasure getting to know Toni and working with her. We even spoke via Skype at a later date. That was especially fun since she’s in Australia. Here’s her interview.

Tell us about your podcast

Radio Toni is more than a podcast. It starts its life as a live radio show with real time guest and listener interaction. Once the live show is finished it is converted to a podcast and distributed everywhere you get your podcasts from. Radio Toni gives people a voice to be heard and a platform to send their message out to the world. I interview new guests each week and talk to many authors about their books. I have a particular focus on trauma and trauma recovery.

Why did you start this podcast?

Radio Toni started in March 2019 and there’s an interesting story to its inception. In January of 2019 I published my first book – Resilience, memoir of a broken little girl discovering a woman of strength and beauty. I then embarked on the process of production of the audiobook version. The production company I used convinced me that I should narrate my story myself, rather than using a voice over professional. Eventually I agreed to do this. At the end of this long endeavor, Simone, a radio veteran and the owner of Brisbane Audiobook production, asked if I had ever thought about radio or podcasting as she thought I had a wonderful voice for radio. I shrugged off the suggestion as something I had not ever been interested in.

As I embarked on marketing for my book, I started to build my social media accounts in earnest. As this happened, I connected with a US media company owner and I started to ask about podcasting. This led to a longer discussion and finally a Skype call from the US. I thought Dean, the owner, wanted an interview, but then he asked if I wanted a radio show of my own and asked if I would consider it. The rest, as they say, is history. After a very nervous start and knowing nothing about radio whatsoever, I learnt quickly and discovered a total love of radio. Now I get to talk and interview people from all over the world, it’s the best fun, very entertaining and aligns totally with the 4 pillars of my business – inspire, empower, educate and help.

How long have you been podcasting?

Since March 2019.

What do you look for in a guest?

I look for people with a story to tell, who are willing to tell this story to the world and who are open to following the guidelines I set out – filling in the guest paperwork, responding to emails and confirming dates when they are offered.

How can listeners find you?

Listen in Live each week to Radio Toni on w4wn.com Thursday 7pm ET US and then the podcast is simply Radio Toni everywhere you get your podcast.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

My website:
https://tonilontis.com/
https://tonilontis.com/be-a-guest-on-radio-toni/ – for anyone who wants to be a guest on my show.
https://tonilontis.com/podcasts/

And here’s what Toni has to say about working with me to book guests on her show.

“Working with Sue has been an absolute pleasure!  The quality of guests she has been able to supply for my Radio show has been perfectly aligned to my program and I have become friends and stayed connected with all of them. The combined efforts of Sue’s promotional strategies, my show reach and coverage has shown wonderful results for those guests chosen to be interviewed live on the show. If you want to get impressive promotion for you and your book, join Sue and the team and get your name and book out there, you will be glad you did”.