Fred: Hahahaha! Diet…. Hmmm… I don't have any in particular like I have to eat pawpaw or certain fruits. However, I know that my voice is my asset, so there are things that I need to be cautious of. For example, I am very particular with milk and sugar especially when I am preparing for a show. I don't want to mess up my voice.
FM: How long have you been in the media?
Fred: Aaaaah… it's been 9 years now.
FM: What is your main role at Family Media?
Fred: I head the radio department at Family Media. Apart from that, I have a number of shows such as Cross Talk on Family TV that airs on Saturdays. I have a number of radio shows that I am involved in and do Voice Over's both for radio and TV. I am an all rounded guy.
FM: What is your main area of interest in the media? TV or Radio?
Fred: Wow! At the moment, I can say both. However, at first I was mainly interested in television. There is so much one can do in TV it is just amazing, but that was then. When I became head of radio, I was overwhelmed at what radio can do and has done over time, it is amazing. So having been exposed to both, I prefer both.
FM: Has it always been your dream to be in the media or where you like all children who want to become or engineers?
Fred: To be honest, I wanted to be a pilot. I have always had that adrenaline for speed as a child and even now as an adult and family man.
Let me tell you something, I have always wanted to take part in a rally race. I am yet to achieve this but was close when I was given a lift in a rally car sometime back.
Interestingly, it has been my dream to fly a fighter jet. Man those things are supper fast and the day I get to ride on one… oh! My, that will be it!
FM: "This is Me", one of your many shows on radio. Excellent! Briefly, what runs through your mind when you hear what people are going through?
Fred: Most of the time I need to debrief myself before I begin the show. It is like a roller coaster, at one time someone will call in and when you hear what they have to say you are even lost for words, you have no idea of what exactly to tell them. But after a few minutes, someone else calls and have just the right solution. It is such a relief.
FM: What are some of the challenges of such a show? "This is Me"
Fred: With this show… you never know what to expect. I remember there was this one time when a lady sent me a text message and I decided to call. Guess what? She was intending on killing her children and latter taking her own life because her husband had left her. She had actually prepared supper for her children and was intending on spiking the meals with poison. So, with the help of the councillor, we managed to talk to her, she poured the poison into the toilet bowl. Note, all this was happening live on air. So you never know what to expect.
The other thing is the calls we get, they are so many that many are the times when you have to ignore some. Then you develop some fear, what if the call that I am ignoring is a similar or worse case as that lady who wanted to kill her family?
FM: Being a TV presenter, do you get strange stares when you walk in the streets?
Fred: Oh! Tell me about it… I do get them but over time I got used to it. These days I do not notice them unless someone stops me or points at me.
FM: Any stockers?
Fred: Hmmm… I have had a couple but nothing I would like to get into. But nothing life threatening.
FM: Being a media personality, is your private-social life affected?
Fred: I try as much to keep my family out of it all. When I am with my family, I am Fred the husband and father to our children. I endeavour to keep my family out of it. So far, I have been able to separate the two. That is the good thing about working for a Christian station, the audience understand. They know that we are human beings and not supernatural beings.
FM: What does Fred do off camera and off the mic?
Fred: I do a lot of reading, watching science fictions and documentaries, catch up with what is happening in the motor industry and spending quality time with my lovely family.
FM: Where is your ideal location for relaxation?
Fred: I do not have any specific place but, as a family, we do and go to places we have never gone before. Basically anywhere but it has to have a section for kids to play.
FM: You seem to have different characters, there is Freddie (playful and entertaining) and Fred (so serious), and you easily interchange them. How do you do that?
Fred: Naturally I am entertaining and fun loving. However, everything comes with a different heart. I identify the different roles and play my cards well. I have trained myself, over the years, to change from one character to another depending on the role. How I am able to be serious? Part of me is serious and I pay a lot of attention to my work. Give me something to do and I will bite the nail HARD.
FM: Advice for those interested in media?
Fred: You need to know exactly what you want and be serious. You also need to have a passion for the media and enjoy media related work.
Desist from the perception of money, do not go into it for the money and finally, you will need to assess yourself fully and develop an interest of reading widely and in-depth.
FM: Parting shot?
Fred: Fly as high as you can. Remember eagles fly together; keep away from the chicken if you are an eagle.
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