Valerie Smaldone

Despite living in the Bronx, Smaldone found herself unaffected by the borough's dire situation, “I didn’t really know any better. It was what it was. I lived on campus for two of my four years, so that felt quite safe.”

In addition to radio, Smaldone recorded daily local news promos on CBS-TV, and was paid $700 a day for hosting the television shopping show “Shopper’s University.” She was also offered a weekend job as a QVC host in West Chester, PA, but she took the Shopper's University offer instead. Smaldone hosted and produced “two or three syndicated shows” for which she conducted a variety of interviews with celebrities like Paul McCartney, Elton John, Billy Joel, Lionel Richie, Cher, the Bee Gees, and Mariah Carey.

In July 2019, Smaldone launched “Bagels and Broadway with Valerie Smaldone,” a talk radio program on AM970 in New York and on podcast, which combines discussions with Broadway performers and behind-the-scene creatives and producers, with stories about New York City eateries and innovative food products. Airing weekly on Saturday mornings from 9 to 10, the program has thus far featured interviews with Brenda Vaccaro, Laura Benanti, Susan Lucci, Stephen Schwartz, Dionne Warwick, and Michael Lomonaco and many others.

Smaldone's other notable roles include Kara Angelo, a character she created in the play she co-wrote, entitled “Spit it Out!” She has performed in several acclaimed Off-Broadway plays: “Spalding Gray: Stories Left to Tell” at the Minetta Lane Theatre, “Naked in a Fishbowl” at the Soho Playhouse, “Broadway’s Next Hit Musical” at The Triad, and “Girl Talk: The Musical” at the Midtown Theatre, has participated in several readings featuring celebrities like Mario Cantone, Ralph Macchio, and Ally Sheedy, and was an onstage celebrity guest in the Broadway hit, “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.”

Among the many interviews she has conducted, her interview with Rod Stewart led to a friendship, as Mr. Stewart took notice of Smaldone's talent. Shortly after their second successful interview, Mr. Stewart personally requested Smaldone to interview him for his 2003 concert special, “It Had to Be You: The Great American Songbook.”

Smaldone has been in a relationship with Richard Steinhaus, Jr, since 2001. She has an older sister, Dr. Laurie Smaldone Alsup who is a non-practicing oncologist, former cancer researcher and CFO of an international company. Smaldone was diagnosed with early-stage ovarian cancer on April 30, 2001, and after her recovery became a patient advocate and speaker.

After 24 years at WLTW and many notable ventures, including co-presenting the 2000 Billboard Music Awards with Ryan Seacrest, and the 1996 Atlanta Summer Olympic Torch event in Rockefeller Center with Bob Costas, Smaldone felt it was time for a change. Smaldone founded Valerie Smaldone Media Worldwide, LLC a talent coaching, production company, and consultation agency. In 2009, Smaldone became an adjunct instructor at The School of Visual Arts, where she teaches adults voice-over acting and hosting and interviewing skills.

After graduation in 1979, Smaldone began working at WWYD, an FM station owned by the same company as WFAS. By 1981, Smaldone was recruited by WVIP in Mt. Kisco, New York. Owned by producer Martin Stone, Stone hired Smaldone to host an afternoon show as well as a morning program on Sundays. Smaldone then began hosting and producing a cable television program called, “Meet the VIPs.” This program granted her more interviewing experience with guests like television icon Regis Philbin and Mrs. Jackie Robinson.