Two recent graduates from Conestoga’s Broadcast - Radio diploma program debuted their new talk show on Rogers TV on September 25. What’s Buzzin with Chris & Cam focuses on trending and local content and is co-hosted by Chris Steffler and Camryn Sheppard, who first started working together on the college’s student-run radio station 88.3 CJIQ.
Camryn Sheppard (left) and Chris Steffler on the set of What's Buzzin with Chris & Cam, a show they co-host on Rogers TV.
“We actually ran a three-person morning show and we basically did it for three weeks on rotation as part of the program. And through that, we realized we have chemistry, and we just we clicked, and we came up with content and it was overall just a really fun experience,” Steffler said.
While many students pursue a field placement once the radio rotation is complete, the group opted to create their own podcast for the college’s Q2 streaming station, with input and guidance from industry leaders. Steffler and Sheppard then attended a Rogers TV open house to pitch the idea of converting their podcast to TV talk show format, an idea that was accepted.
"The focus and enthusiasm Chris and Camryn showed throughout the program have brought them to this exciting opportunity. They put in the extra effort, pushing to continue a show on their own time because they knew they had something," said Kara Judge, a professor in the Broadcast - Radio program.
The skillset acquired by students in the program provides them opportunities to crossover from radio and podcasting to TV, with Steffler and Sheppard standing out as a success story for co-hosting a TV show directly upon graduation.
“As the radio industry evolves, so does the program and the skills students learn. It's all about matching what the industry demands and right now, that's multi-skilled grads,” said Judge.
“Students learn traditional radio, but also video and audio editing, podcasting and social media content creation. This has allowed them to land jobs like the Rogers TV show, and with organizations like TikTok, 519 Sports Online and Parker Media, as well as radio stations including 91.5 The Beat, Dave Rocks, CityNews Kitchener, Country 106.7, and Myfm.”
Steffler and Sheppard credited their dedicated professors and the hands-on learning environment at Conestoga for providing them with the confidence and connections they needed to land their TV show.
“I don't think we would have been able to meet with as many people as we did without the connections we had through the CJIQ station and all of our amazing professors who pushed us through it. And they were great supporters through all of it,” said Sheppard.
“That real-world experience where we're on the air for three weeks at a time, getting up at 4:30 a.m. to host a morning show, and a midday show and a drive home show, too. So we were really getting to do all the things. And that's what made us comfortable working together,” added Steffler, who also hosts a Saturday evening radio show on Grand 101 in Fergus, Ontario.
Steffler and Sheppard, who are also active on social media, look to continue their careers in the TV and radio landscape, and also spoke of being inspired by past graduates of the program who have made names for themselves. Notable alumni include Kat Callaghan, who is TikTok’s text-to-speech voice and a host on 91.5 The Beat, and Mike Farwell, host of the Mike Farwell Show and play-by-play voice of the Kitchener Rangers on 570 NewsRadio Kitchener.
“I wanted to be in that same boat. I wanted to be a graduate who had succeeded and gone above and beyond,” said Sheppard.
“I've always had a passion for wanting my own show or podcast or being an entertainer in the industry. And now my dream is actually starting and it's all thanks to Conestoga.”
Judge’s career path, which includes a variety of roles, may also foreshadow what’s ahead for Steffler and Sheppard.
“I've worked at 14 different radio stations, plus the Weather Network. I've been a radio host, co-host, news anchor, sports anchor, music director, talk show host, traffic reporter, and on-camera meteorologist, and I still get to play radio. I'm currently on Virgin Radio Kitchener on weekends,” Judge said.
What’s Buzzin with Chris & Cam can be seen on Rogers TV cable 20 in Waterloo Region, Stratford, Guelph and Brantford on Wednesdays at 8 p.m. with several re-airings throughout the week. Content from the show is also available at RogersTV.com.
Conestoga’s Broadcast - Radio two-year diploma program provides hands-on learning opportunities with specific attention paid to on-air performance, announcing, audio production, creative writing, research and interviewing, news presentation, sales, marketing, promotions and podcasting, as well as social media and content production for multiple platforms.
The program is available through the School of Creative Industries, which offers a broad range of dynamic programs that span all aspects of media, communication and design in fields ranging from journalism and broadcasting to interior decorating and graphic design.