Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Sirus XM radio star entertains at Tasty Talk
Mina “Say What” Llona of Sirius XM Radio shared a deeply moving story of her beloved dog, Venus, at the Tasty Talk at Yangming Nov. 28.
Llona told the quests how her pet Venus comforted her as she learned to deal with the challenges of her early media success and her demanding TV career and how their close relationship led her to become an active supporter of South Jersey’s Animal Welfare Association, her chosen Tasty Talks charity.
“I want to talk about happiness and what it means to different people,” Llona began her Tasty Talk.
While attending Syracuse University studying TV and radio, a friend offered her a puppy. She’d never wanted a dog, but Llona accepted the pup and named her Venus. And although Venus ate her sneakers and had to be kept at a friend’s house, they became close.
After college, Llona worked at Sirius XM as a music programmer. At only 25 years old, she scored a coup: the morning show on Power 99 in Philly. Llona quickly discovered that when you do a morning show, your days, your schedule and actually your whole life is about work. And at that very trying and lonely time, her greatest comfort was sitting at home on the couch … with Venus.
Mina found her way forward, doing entertainment news on Thomas Drayton’s Morning Show on Fox 29. But less than a month after leaving Power 99, Venus got cancer and, despite Mina’s best efforts, deteriorated quickly. Learning to let go is what led Llona to become an active supporter of South Jersey’s Animal Welfare Association.
“For a long time, I thought my job would make me happy. But really, Venus made me happy. My dog was a great part of my journey,” Llona said.
Sophia Barrett of the Animal Welfare Association then joined Llona at the dais to describe how the AWA has helped nearly 11,000 cats, dogs and bunnies in Southern New Jersey in 2017 alone.
Fox 29 Morning News anchor Thomas Drayton then described his participation with the charity group MANNA whose popular pies are sold to fund its charitable work: feeding the hungry. Former Tasty Talk speakers Jim Donovan of CBS3 News and Lucy Noland of Fox 29 News are also active MANNA supporters.
The guest list for the Tasty Talk included Ken Gage, star of the Discovery Channel’s reality show “Airplane Repo”; fashion designer Karon Woodland of KW Couture; Drayton; Gina Gannon, who’s seen on QVC and ABC News; and three former Tasty Talks speakers: Nicole “Nik the Web Chick” Michalik, publisher Eddie Keels and celebrity photographer HughE Dillon of PhillyChitChat.com.
Jody Peskin, of the Sweet Trading Co. in Narberth, shared her custom chocolates with every guest, and Kim Wright of Nothing Bundt Cakes surprised Chester County Sheriff “Bunny” Welsh with a “Bunny Bundt” birthday cake.
“Tasty Talks will be on hiatus for December, as Yangming focuses on holiday parties and New Year’s celebrations,” Yangming owner Michael Wei said.
When season two of Tasty Talks resumes in January 2019, the first speaker will be Quincy Harris, the host of the nationally syndicated show “The Q” at Fox 29.