Nicole Michalik spends her afternoons talking directly to Philadelphians as they make their way home. As a host on 92.5 XTU, the city\u2019s country music station, she\u2019s on air from 2 to 7 p.m., juggling live breaks, listener calls, and interviews with artists like Luke Combs and Parker McCollum. Radio, she insists, is still relevant, \u201csexy\u201d even. \u201cI\u2019m live, I\u2019m local, I\u2019m talking about stuff that\u2019s going on in Philly,\u201d Michalik said. What more could you want? <\/p>\n
Michalik lives in Midtown Village, but her days stretch across the city, including a trek to Bala Cynwyd<\/a>, where the radio station is located. She loves her job. In fact, she loves it so much that her perfect Philly day includes a trip to the office. Here\u2019s what else it includes.<\/p>\n This interview has been lightly edited for clarity.<\/p>\n 7:30 a.m.<\/p>\n I usually wake up somewhere between 7 and 7:30. First thing I do is check socials and email, then I make coffee at home. I need it piping hot. I use a Keurig \u2014 no judgment \u2014 with organic half-and-half.<\/p>\n I take it back to bed and do my Instagram bit, \u201cCoffee Under the Covers.\u201d I started it during COVID and it just became a thing. I\u2019ll take a sip and talk about whatever\u2019s on my mind. People have sent me mugs. It\u2019s wild.<\/p>\n After that, I record my Boston radio show from home. I\u2019m on Country 102.5 up there, so I have a whole setup \u2014 computer, mic, everything. I want it to feel as local as possible, even though I\u2019m not physically there.<\/p>\n 10 a.m.<\/p>\n I force myself to work out. I walk to XForce<\/b><\/a> to train with James, who keeps me accountable. I hate working out, but I don\u2019t hate it there, so that\u2019s a win for me.<\/p>\n When I cross Broad Street, I always take a photo of City Hall and post the temperature. It\u2019s become a thing. One of my friends who lives in Portugal checks it every day. He calls me his Cecily Tynan.<\/p>\n 11:30 a.m.<\/p>\n After the gym, I get my hair blown out at Dina Does Glam<\/b><\/a> inside Sola Salons<\/b> at 15th and Walnut. I go at least once a week. I love that Sola lets people in the beauty industry run their own little studios.<\/p>\n From there, I walk to Gran Caff\u00e8 L\u2019Aquila<\/b><\/a> for an iced coffee. It\u2019s the best iced coffee in the city. That\u2019s nonnegotiable.<\/p>\n I try to head home after that, because if I don\u2019t, I\u2019ll get sucked into Sephora buying makeup I absolutely do not need.<\/p>\n 1 p.m.<\/p>\n I get ready for work and drive to Bala Cynwyd. On the way, I stop at the Starbucks<\/a> on City Avenue. I order an iced Americano with almond milk and a drizzle of caramel. They know me there.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t even know if caffeine really affects me that much. I just love the ritual. I like sipping it throughout the show.<\/p>\n 2 to 7 p.m.<\/p>\n I\u2019m live on the air. On my perfect day, I\u2019m doing a Zoom interview with Luke Combs, and he finally announces he\u2019s coming back to Philly. We\u2019ve been mad at him for skipping us for a few years, so this would be huge.<\/p>\n 7:30 p.m.<\/p>\n