The story of Shelley Irwin host, and producer of the WGVU Morning Show

We had the opportunity of interviewing the host and producer of the radio program, the “WGVU Morning Show,” a program that has been on air for 20 years. Shelley Irwin has been the host since 2001.

To produce and be the face of a program as popular as “WGVU Morning Show” is not an easy task, but Shelley does it enthusiastically.  She is  able to be the communicator in the community of Michigan, sharing with all her listeners the stories of her different guests as well as all the activities happening in West Michigan.
Regularly, Shelley interviews around 25 guests which come from different areas, from economists to local event planners, adventurous people, and more.
For Shelley, it’s very important to maintain a busy schedule, which often means having up to seven interviews in a two-hour program. Generally, her guests are scheduled a week ahead of time with the goal of helping them and their organizations with whatever publicity and promotion they may need to have a successful program or event.
Michigan is a very important community in Shelley’s life who has lived here for 20 years. Her brother lives in Birmingham, Michigan and currently her nephews attend Grand Rapids Community College. This is why Michigan means a lot in her life – a place where she feels at home and among family members.
But Shelley’s connection to, and love for,  Michigan is not only through her radio program; she is an active athlete who participates in various triathlons, motorcycle racing and even sailing the the state. Being athletically active is a key part of Shelley’s life, who has also participated  in World Triathlon Championships. Her routine includes being physically active six days a week, and she considers this time her “happy time,” and allows her to focus daily.
With a radio program as active as the “WGVU Morning Show,” there are many personalities that Shelley has interviewed over the past few years. When we asked her about the most memorable and interesting ones,  she did not hesitate for a second and mentioned NPR mentors like Diane Rehm and Terri Gross, as well as some childhood stars, like members of the “Brady Bunch” and “The Waltons.”  She also had the opportunity to interview Vice President Al Gore and singers Carole King and Wynton Marsalis.
In  2016, this great host and radio producer received the prestigious Athena Award from the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce.
In addition to being the host of “WGVU Morning Show,” Shelley also hosts “Family Health Matters,” “Kalamazoo Lively Arts” and the new digital show, “Art Unfiltered.”
Without a doubt, talking about Shelley is talking about tenacity, constancy, and commitment to her work, something that she demonstrates every time anyone listens to any one of her programs. Thank you Shelley for inspiring us!