Five Minutes With Meredith Ochs.
Meredith Ochs - Author, Journalist, Broadcaster
1.What is your current occupation?
I dovetailed my way into my current occupation through a number of jobs, starting with my first professional radio gig at The Howard Stern Show. I worked as a deejay at New York-area radio stations and at venues such as Lincoln Center, writer/editor at Guitar World, freelance writer for Entertainment Weekly, Rolling Stone, and other publications, broadcast journalist, NPR commentator, talk show host at Sirius XM, touring musician, specialty foods judge — I've done lots of different things. All along, I kept pitching book proposals to publishers, to no avail. Finally, a project came to me. I've had four books published since then and I'm working on two more.
2. What's your best advice for PR professionals?
Not all writers narrowcast. I have many interests and built out my areas of expertise over the years — from entertainment and news to travel, food/drink, wellness, consumer technology, home goods, etc. — so I don't mind receiving "outside the box" pitches.
3. What's a fun fact about you?
I'm a sailor! I learned how to sail about a dozen years ago. Harnessing the wind to move a boat across the water is one of the most exhilarating things I've experienced (and I've performed on stages in front of thousands of people). I'm not a purist, though — I like motorboats, too. And I don't have any tattoos!
4. Tell us about your favorite nonprofit and why it's important to you.
Meals on Wheels is a wonderful organization. They deliver hot, nutritionally balanced meals to homebound seniors and other folks with mobility issues. Delivery volunteers are also trained to check on wellbeing and more. A healthy meal, a chat with someone — these things are vital to living better at any age, and no one should be without them.
5. Tell us about your favorite meal, movie, and / or vacation spot.
My husband and I have traveled all over the world, and there are a lot of places I'd love to revisit. If I must pick a favorite, I'd say the Whitsunday Islands in Australia. You can take a boat to a remote sandbar where it's just you, your loved ones, and a picnic basket, and the water is warm and clear. Relaxing on a beach is my Zen.
Connect with Meredith on Instagram.