My name is Rachel Swann, and I am an on-air personality “DJ” here at Radio New Braunfels.
1. Where were you born and raised?
I was born in Mobile, Alabama but my family moved to East Texas when I was eight. I was raised in the small town of Trinity, Texas (pop. 2,300). I grew up singing in church and I was a twirler (like with the batons) and the Drum Major of the high school band.
2. When did you move to New Braunfels?
We were living in Schertz and decided to visit Gruene one Sunday afternoon.
We stumbled into Gruene Hall and Walt Wilkins and the Mystiqueros were playing a free show, at which point my husband looked at me and said, ”We are moving here”. And we did! About 12 years ago.
3. When did you start at Radio New Braunfels?
It’s actually a funny story…
I used to work at “The Outlaw”. Many of you may remember the Texas Music radio station out of San Antonio 92.5 which was the sister station to KJ. I always knew about KNBT and Mattson Rainer, and it was a dream of mine to work here.
When we moved to New Braunfels, I took my resume to Gruene Hall to give to Mattson when he was hosting the Friday Afternoon Club. FAC can be a little chaotic and he lost my resume.
Fast forward about a year later when I get a phone call from my old radio partner Hank Moon. Hank told me that he got a call from John Boyd (thanks again, John) saying that Mattson was looking for me— but had misplaced my info and didn’t know how to get in touch.
So, I called the station when Mattson was on the air to say “HEY, you found me”. Well, since Mattson was on the air at the time the call was on speaker during a commercial break and Dave Ferguson was in the room getting ready to do a weather/sports/news update.
Another interesting twist… Dave just happened to be my next-door neighbor here in New Braunfels! This all came to light in the next few minutes and Mattson couldn’t believe that the DJ he had been looking for lived right next door to his News Director!
So, it was a bit kismet— and the rest as they say is history…that was a little over 10 years ago.
4. What did you do before working at Radio New Braunfels?
I’ve been a Project Manager for a commercial contractor,
a training manager for a photography company,
a Sales Rep. for Auto Trader (when it was still a magazine),
a DJ …and a million other jobs. We would be here all day.
5. Do you have any hobbies?
I love to cook, sing, travel, snuggle with my dog, and I’ve been known to race cars on occasion.
6. Have you ever been in a band?
Yes! I’ve been in a Jazz band and a singer in a blues band, but now I’m very proud that my daughter is the singer of the family!
7. What item on your bucket list have you accomplished?
I work at KNBT!
8. Lastly, the best breakfast in the world is…
In Bed.