Steady As She Goes

Breakfast radio and TV presenter, Amanda Keller, opens up to paul ewart about fame, family, her ‘daggy’ past and staying fit in her 50s

Hilarious, warm, cheeky, and as straight talking as they come, Amanda Keller is the ultimate anti-diva.

Despite decades at the top of her game as one of Australia’s most well-known media personalities, during which she’s conquered both the small screen and the notoriously cutthroat world of breakfast radio, the bubbly blonde remains decidedly unaffected. Add to this a loving husband and two healthy teenage sons, and the 56-year-old seemingly has it all. But the talented journalist is quick to affirm that her life hasn’t always been perfect. Amidst the highs, there have been epic lows, including health woes, childhood insecurities and a lengthy battle to become a mum. And then there’s the daily 4am starts…

When Good Health chats to the smiley presenter straight after her top rating WSFM Jonesy & Amanda show has wrapped, talk quickly turns to this particular downside of life as a breakfast radio heavyweight.

“From the minute I wake up I’m already thinking about when I’m next going to get to sleep!” she bemoans. “Which isn’t the best start to the day. There are times when it all feels overwhelming with my schedule and other stuff, but I’m quite robust and I try not to dwell. I go to bed, get up, take a deep breath, and then face the day.”

While yoga and meditation are off the cards as mental coping mechanisms (“Nooo! Though I’d love to be that kind of person,” she laughs), her solution to combating mental stress and exhaustion is characteristically simple.