Triple M’s Laura ‘Loz’ O’Callaghan: I suffer from impostor syndrome

She’s the No. 1 woman on breakfast in Adelaide, but Triple M’s Loz is encouraging other young women to have a crack at radio and even admits suffering from impostor syndrome.

Mark Ricciuto, Laura O’Callaghan and Chris Dittmar. Picture: Triple M

Triple M’s Laura “Loz” O’Callaghan wants young women toying with the idea of working in radio to get switched on to their girl power.

The 32-year-old is the top-rating woman on brekky radio in Adelaide and – according to industry sources – the secret to the success of the Roo, Ditts & Loz brekky show being No.1.

While O’Callaghan won’t take credit for it – saying the trio’s on-air chemistry is what gives them the X factor – she wants to dial up the female to male trio in radio.

“I’d love to encourage any young woman who has any aspirations in pursuing radio to do so with gusto,” she told The Advertiser in exclusive interview.

“It was the scariest, but unequivocally the best, decision I’ve ever made. Women have so much to offer this industry, and there just aren’t enough of us on air. So don’t be intimidated girl – chase the dream.”

Mark Ricciuto, Laura O’Callaghan and Chris Dittmar. Picture: Triple M

O’Callaghan was also keen to point out that it isn’t just the on-air talent that makes or breaks a show.

“It’s so many factors operating in unison, and a lot of it feels pretty inexplicable,” she said.

“We’re all grinding bloody hard to make it work, everyone from the producers to the brand experience team all the way up to the content director and GM (general manager).”

She added: “But even then, no matter how much blood sweat and tears you put into it – if you don’t have chemistry, if you don’t have people with unique perspectives and if you don’t have a respectful, trusting environment that fosters creativity then it really doesn’t matter. So we’re extremely lucky that we’ve found a team where all that magic is somehow coming together every morning.”

Laura O'Callaghan from Triple M, with Mark Ricciuto and Chris Dittmar. Picture: Triple M

While O’Callaghan isn’t enthusiastic about her “hideous” 4am weekday alarm – “I think to myself why for the love of god did I have to choose radio” – once she gets going of a (very early) morning she loves her job.

Especially when the perks involve interviewing “one of the greatest hunks of all time” Matchbox 20’s Rob Thomas.

“He was so funny and generous and I got to tell him how many times a week I still listen to Smooth – an ungodly amount- and I was honestly smiling for about a week,” she said. “It may not have been an audience favourite and I’m quite certain I freaked him out, but sh** I loved it.”

Singer songwriter Rob Thomas. Picture: Zak Simmonds

While she would love to rub shoulders with Thomas, you won’t see O’Callaghan on the red carpet alongside Adelaide’s A-listers.

“It’s always lovely to be invited to these things and everyone’s genuinely really friendly, but I get pretty shocking impostor syndrome when I’m at media events,” she said. “I’ll look around and see an army of iconic Adelaide media personalities and just think to myself ‘what the bloody hell is Loz the sausage from Paracombe doing here.’

“So to be honest you’ll probably find me at the pub with my mates or with my family.”

Or her "emotional support balloon”, which she jokes about on Instagram.

Triple M's Laura O'Callaghan: “So amazing that venues are relaxed with me bringing my emotional support balloon out with me.” Picture: Instagram

But like other media identities, O’Callaghan is keen to use her profile for good.

“Easily the coolest thing about working in radio is getting to raise big chunks of money for great causes,” she said.

“I’ve gotten to know the team at Puddle Jumpers through a charity walk we did last year and I honestly cry every time I think about the amazing work they do for the most vulnerable kids in the state. They genuinely do God’s work.

“I’m hoping we get to collaborate even more in the near future.”