Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westacott knew stepping into the Hit Network’s Drive slot was a big moment – they just didn’t quite grasp the scale of it at first.
Now hosting nationally while Carrie & Tommy take a survey break, the duo say the weight of the opportunity only really landed once they were behind the mic.
Westacott said the opportunity initially felt like another routine survey break fill-in, something the pair had done before. But as the details became clearer, both she and Jackson realised the height of the mountain they were about to climb.
“We do a certain amount of filling-in during survey breaks every year. But then this came up, and even though we knew Drive was a big deal, I don’t think we realised at the time that we were filling in for Carrie & Tommy in particular, because they don’t usually get anyone to do that. We are super honoured,” Westacott told Mediaweek.
Jackson echoed that sentiment, pointing to their relative newness to radio.
“I guess we probably didn’t initially realise how much of a big deal and honour it was. We feel really grateful for it. It’s been super fun, and we love the Drive slot. It’s such good hours, and the team we’re working with is amazing,” she told Mediaweek.
The stint – which began in the week commencing 6 April – marks their first time hosting a live national Drive show, a key benchmark slot in commercial radio.
Finding out it’s not just a ‘yap’
For a duo who built their brand on conversational podcasting, the shift to a national Drive audience has brought moments of perspective.
“I think sometimes we have this like out-of-body moment when we realise like that, it’s not just the two of us sitting in a room having a yap,” Jackson said.
Westacott admitted the scale of the role really hit home just before going on air.
“It’s funny, on our first day, I definitely had like some pre-show nerves. I was thinking about the size of this opportunity, the audience we were speaking to, the time slot, and all the weight behind it. I definitely got nervous.
But then, as soon as it was like we were on, it was literally just like talking to Lucy in a room – just the two of us.”
Working together (and not getting annoyed)
That dynamic – built well before radio – remains central to their on-air chemistry.
“When we first started working together, we also lived together at the same time,” she laughed, adding that “we used to be in each other’s space a lot more than we are now.”
Creators coming to radio
The pair’s move into radio is part of a broader shift as podcast-first creators transition into traditional broadcast, think Triple M’s Lu & Jarch, and Brittany Hockley and Laura Byrne, who brought their Life Uncut podcast vibe to ARN back in 2021, before moving to LiSTNR.
“Podcasting is probably our main form of creating, and we do have complete creative control there. Our podcast is very raw and unsheltered; it’s really just Lucy and me speaking directly to our audience, which has been so amazing,” Westacott said.
She added that the shift into radio has required a recalibration – moving from long-form, free-flowing podcast conversations to a tighter, more structured broadcast format.
“So I think going into radio has been amazing because we’re able to treat it as more a skill that we need to learn in terms of being more media trained, and even just the fact of being able to talk about things and get your point across within three to four minutes – something that was initially hard for us because we can talk about one topic for a whole hour.”
She added that the transition also reflects a broader shift in the industry, with podcast talent increasingly being given the opportunity to build new skills in radio.
“I think it’s nice that the industry is now giving podcasters or people like us the opportunity to learn new skills in radio because it comes across as very genuine when you are working with someone who is your actual friend, and I think that translates really easily to radio,” she said.
From Instagram to national drive
The current Drive stint is the latest step in a steady expansion across platforms.
Jackson and Westacott first built an audience in 2015 with the fashion label Jagger & Stone, before launching the podcast The Happy Hour with Lucy & Nikki in 2019. The show has since become a consistent performer, regularly ranking in the Top 20 of the Triton Australia Podcast Ranker with more than 268,000 monthly listeners and over 440,000 downloads in the latest results.
The brand has since extended into live shows and national tours, while radio has become a growing focus. The podcast joined LiSTNR in January 2024, followed by a Saturday night show on the Hit Network and a second weekly slot added in September.
For the Hit Network, the move reflects a broader industry trend – tapping podcast-native talent who bring built-in audiences and a more conversational, personality-led style.
Main image: Lucy Jackson and Nikki Westacott