On Friday the 6th of April, Smile 90.4FM hosted the first Bekkig Boot camp of the year. 10 little ones between the ages of 6 and 10 came to the studio to see what happens behind the scenes and share their thoughts for the Bekkig feature on Smile Breakfast.

Parents and bright-eyed kiddies started arriving at 08:30 and were welcomed with coffee, tea and muffins. The kids’ excitement was palpable as they stood peering into the Smile Breakfast studio, little noses pressed up against the glass to get a glimpse of the team inside. One little girl brought her toy dog to share in the excitement.

In the What Have We Learnt segment of the show (just before 09:00) the kids were ushered into the studio to get a taste of live radio. Bobby asked the group who were huddled around two microphones how they’re feeling and they answered politely in unison “Fine, thanks!” When asked if they were excited, he got an emphatic “Yeeeeeeeeeees!”

After the breakfast show finished at 09:00, the Bekkig Boot campers were taken on a tour of the Smile 90.4FM studio and offices. They were given a breakdown of what the news department does, what the marketing department is responsible for and what happens in music programming. However, they seemed to find the plush toys on the windowsill far more appealing than the process of dealing with breaking news. Fair enough.

After the tour, it was off to the recording studio. One by one they were interviewed on questions varying from the sublime to the ridiculous! Be sure to listen out for them in the next few weeks.

What’s remarkable is how confident these little Smileys are and their sense of imagination. They interpret ideas in a creative, uninhibited way and that’s what makes “picking their brains” so much fun! If only we could all still have that sense of wonder.

The first Bekkig Boot camp of 2018 was a huge success and there will definitely be more throughout the year, so if you have a talkative little one at home and you weren’t able to bring them through this time, please do come through next time. The littlest Smileys always leave the biggest impression on the team and who knows, it might just inspire the next great radio star.

An avid Crossfitter, 5th Dan Karateka and many times South African National Champion, Self Defence coach, Surfer, businesswomen, public speaker, and mom of 2 little boys, Tammy Fry embodies health & wellness.

In 1981 Tammy Fry was a born vegetarian in Durban, South Africa. Her father, Wally Fry, grew up as an animal farmer where meat was a staple in his everyday diet. Tammy’s mother, Debbie Fry, is also a lifelong vegetarian.  Together they helped to inspire Wally to embrace a vegetarian diet and sparked the creation of Fry’s Family Foods Co.

After receiving her BCom (hons) in Marketing and Economics, there was only one place where Tammy could see herself working as a passionate vegetarian and that was at Fry’s.  She joined the company in 2001 where she was the only marketer in the business.  Now with over a decade experience at the helm of marketing at Fry’s Family Foods, Tammy is guided by nutritional expertise, a love of fitness, love of the environment and outdoor lifestyle. Enabling others to live a happier and more energetic lifestyle through plant-based nutrition is the cornerstone of her passion.

 She is also the director of Meat Free Mondays AUS and South Africa where she promotes a flexitarian lifestyle as one of the major solutions to unsustainable food choices, global warming and awareness of the cruelty we see in the industrial production of animals in factory farms.

 Tammy has spoken at over 50 schools and universities in South Africa on the topic of food choices and climate change as well as presenting to numerous corporations and assisting them in adopting the concept of meet free days in their canteens and workplace. Recently, she has taken her message to the global stage, having spoken to audiences around the world including London, New York City’s Climate Change Summit, and Australia.

Tammy’s motto in life is: “Eat, Live, Consciously!” We need to take impactful yet simple steps to make the world a better place for our children and grandchildren. As the Native American Proverb says: “We do not inherit the earth from our forefathers, we borrow it from our children”.

Get in touch and feel free to ask Tammy your questions on Twitter: @tammyfry1