Caileigh Morrison: So, Yolanda.
Yolanda Ajak: Yes, Caileigh.
CM: Tell me, what is your programme called and when is it?
YA: My programme is called Poetic Justice and it’s on Saturdays at five o’clock.
CM: And what is Poetic Justice all about?
YA: Well, it varies, depending on the theme of the show that day. There’s always poetry involved, sometimes spoken word, and music that’s heavily conscious and brings attention to global issues, as well as facts and statistics that highlight global issues in order to create awareness.
CM: So art + justice. Lovely. Now, how long have you been doing this programme?
YA: I’ve been doing it since last May.
CM: Sweet. Have you done any programmes before this one?
YA: Actually, this is my first one. I’d never done any programmes before, so I was really nervous when I started.
CM: That happens. What first drew you to Trent Radio?
YA: Well, I always wanted to do a show on Trent Radio but I never had the guts to approach Trent Radio. I just kept saying “I’ll do it when I’m good enough, I’ll do it when I’m able to do the show,” but then I ran into John [K. Muir, General Manager of Trent Radio], and he said “Hey, you look like you’d be good at radio because you have an interesting personality,” so I said okay. I was still really nervous, but then I just decided to go for it. It was a now-or-never-type thing.
CM: “You look like you’d be good at radio”? I hope he didn’t tell you that you have a face for radio! That’s quite an insult.
YA: Yeah, thank god he didn’t say that [laughing].
CM: Have you ever had a really cool moment on the air?
YA: Yes. It happened when I first started getting comfortable and feeling like “Yeah, I got this”. There was one show where everything just kind of flowed together. I do write stuff down and plan my show out but when I get here it doesn’t always go that way depending on the timing, but things just kind of came together and they flowed and a song came into my head and then I decided I should freestyle, on the air, with a beat in the background. It didn’t work out but it still felt cool. And then I... didn’t try it again [laughing].
CM: But it was an exciting moment.
YA: Yeah, and I decided I’d do it again, later on.
CM: Other than programming, what else do you do around here?
YA: I’m an operator and I’ve also been on the board since November. I’m excited about that. We’ve had one meeting so far and there’s another one coming up next week. So that’s what I do at Trent Radio.
CM: And outside of Trent Radio, what do you do with your life?
YA: Besides partying? [Laughing] Well, there’s school. That’s an obvious one. I also write for the Arthur as part of an internship course I’m doing on behalf of KWIC [Kawartha World Issues Centre]. And I’m also involved with an Oxfam working group.
CM: So Trent Radio’s more of your creative outlet?
YA: Yeah. When I’m here on the weekend it gets me inspired for the week. I get my show going and then once I walk out of here I think “Okay, let the weekend begin!” You know?
CM: Definitely. Now I found, personally, that I hated operating on Saturdays. But you seem to enjoy it. Do you have any particular reasons why?
YA: I couldn’t imagine doing this on a weekday. I have so much to do and I’m just very, everywhere. If I did this on a weekday I’d be very disorganized and it just wouldn’t work out for me.
CM: Right. So this is your “me time”.
YA: Yes. After doing my laundry on Saturday morning and all that, I come here and it’s Fun Time [laughing]!
CM: What do you like about Trent Radio as an organization? What keep you here?
YA: What I love about it is the administration. Seriously, you guys are really cool. Secondly, I really love the aura that Trent Radio gives off. It’s really grassroots, but open. It doesn’t push you to a certain type of genre or anything. You’re free to express yourself, but at the same time I feel like my beliefs coincide with Trent Radio’s aims and objectives.
