Ericka Woode an
swered her front door wearing grey bunny slippers and holding the jar of baby food her daughter was having for lunch, hospitably offering some of the squash to her visitor. The smooth-voiced radio personality was in full mommy-mode and relishing every moment of it.
In the living room, as Ava (nine months old at the time her mom was interviewed for this profile) played on the floor and her husband Kevin kept an eye on the Braves game on TV, Ericka talked with enthusiasm about her family and living on the air in
Her husband: Kevin is a firefighter, currently at Station 1 downtown, “the fire station,” as he designates it. A motorcycle enthusiast, he also played guitar in a local cover band for several years.
Her daughter: “She’s fun to be around,” Ericka said as Ava tugged at the ear of her slipper. “Her personality’s coming out. I see a lot of her daddy in her. She seems to be a lot more patient than I am, although you learn patience when you have a baby. She’s given me new eyes.”
Their dog: Roebuck, a border collie. “He absolutely loves Ava. He gets excited when she wakes up from her nap.”
Their home: A small older cottage-style house in Pleasant Grove. “We both sold our houses and moved here with just the basics. Most all of our furniture is in storage because there’s no room for it in this house. It’s just temporary; we’re looking for a new place. We need more space, and it’s 
all about being near good schools for the little one.”
Their living room: A cozy room with hardwood flooring, a fireplace, and an open-rafter ceiling. It’s decorated with photos of Ava and populated by her toys and indications of her parents’ occupations: a reproduction of a vintage radio which occupies an end table and a firefighter’s helmet (partially melted while Kevin was putting out a blaze) hanging from the hearth.
Time together at home: Because of their work schedules, it can be hard to come by. “We hardly ever get a Saturday or a weekend together,” Kevin said. “When we do,” Ericka added, “we think we’re going to sleep late, but we usually forget to turn off the alarm. Ava is usually already awake playing in her bed, so we get up, start the coffee, read the paper, drink the coffee, take a shower, and then sit around in PJs and bunny slippers. We play outside with Ava, watch TV, enjoy conversation, and order Chinese and eat it on the floor. Those times are such a luxury.”
Her work: Middays on-air personality for Magic 96.5 FM. She’s been in radio since 1998. “I’m lucky that I get to do what I love. I’ve known since I was in kindergarten that it’s what I wanted to do. I was going throu
gh a box of photos with my mom recently, and we found one of me at Christmas with a Snoopy radio that had a microphone attached. I said something about singing along, but Mom said, ‘No, you were being the DJ and giving the weather.’”
Is it difficult to balance motherhood and a career? “I love my work, but family means everything. I see myself as a full-time mom and a full-time radio DJ. Magic is a family-oriented station, and I’m glad that I work at a place that allows me to bring her to work when I need to. It was easier when she didn’t crawl, though. There are all kinds of stuff for her to get into at mommy’s work.”
Literally balancing motherhood: “I’ve learned to do everything with one hand. Opening jars, everything, because the other one is holding Ava. I don’t need to work out at the gym. I have a nine-month-old.”
Her hopes for Ava: “I’d love to be able to keep her sweet and innocent like she is now, but I just want her to be happy. When I was a little girl, my mom took me to the ballet and the ASO and helped me learn to appreciate all kinds of great things. I’m looking forward to sharing those experiences with A
va. I want her to be smart, educated, and cultured, but, most of all, happy.”
On music: Her station’s format is adult contemporary, but “I appreciate all kinds of great music. My mom likes Big Band, my dad likes Charlie Rich, my sister listened to the Eagles and Elton John, and I grew up listening to Motley Crue and Metallica. I have a Big Band CD in my car, which drives Kevin crazy whenever he drives it.”
On motorcycles: “I love them,” she said watching Ava flip through one of Kevin’s bike magazines and noting his approval that she chose it rather than one of Ericka’s fashion magazines. “I love to hear it when Kevin cranks it up and the pipes roar. It’s awesome. I used to ride before I had Ava, but not any more.”
