Whatcom Host: Local Woman Seeks iRadio Prize

Lauren Ebert is competing for a radio hosting gig and a cash prize.

Ebert, 40, is a resident of Whatcom County and an employee of a local company. She is also a wife and mother. Her two eldest daughters recently got married. She says that change left her wondering who she is outside those roles. She described the period as an all-new chapter. She said it is okay to not know what to do and then figure it out.

Ebert has always enjoyed connecting with people. She calls herself an empath by nature. That trait led her to start a TikTok account. She quickly built a following of people who share her perspective. She hopes to launch a podcast one day. She applied to the Top Host competition after seeing it on social media. She said she had never heard of it before. She jumped at the chance to apply.

The competition offers specific rewards. The winner will host a six-part series for iHeart Radio. They will also appear as a guest star on an episode of On Air with Ryan Seacrest. The winner receives a $25,000 prize. Ebert said she had to reply candidly and openly during the application process. The judges wanted to know what makes her unique. She said the best conversations are rarely polished. She wants to bring humor and heart to each one. She said, “I really love being able to laugh at the chaos.” She added, “I’m also probably going to cry with you if that’s what the situation merits.”

Ebert has advanced out of the first stage. She is now in the Group Phase. Public voting ends on Nov. 5. If she places in the top five, she moves to the final group stage. The top person from that stage advances to the quarterfinals. The runners-up can participate in a wildcard round. The winner of that round also moves on.

Ebert says she plans to start her own podcast regardless of the competition outcome. She is a survivor of Stage 4 cancer. She was told she had a 5% chance of surviving. She said, “I’m so blessed to be here.” She said, “I have such a calling to appreciate everything.” She noted that cancer was her battle. She said everyone has their own silent battles that people never hear about. She said, “Tomorrow’s not promised. I learned that the hard way.”

During her battles, she learned to build a village. That means showing up for other people, not just asking them to show up for her. She is building that village on social media. At 40, she says she is looking at the world differently. She wants others to know that how they are feeling is not crazy. She wants them to know they are not alone. She envisions the podcast as a round-table discussion. It would feature a couple of friends or guest stars. They would unpack whatever the day brings. She said people, particularly women, have traumas that are products of Gen X parenting. She said, “It could be really empowering for women, really for everyone.”

Ebert intends to show up for herself as much as others in this new chapter. She wants to show up authentically. She sees a podcast as a way to do that and share it with others. She said this opportunity helps create another connection point for people.