Photography: Emily Chalk.
At first glance, The Edge radio stars Ash London and Yasmina “Yas” Coe don’t appear to have much in common.
Melbourne-born Ash has interviewed everyone from Taylor Swift to Harry Styles, has written a book and is a devoted mum to nearly five-year-old son Buddy, while Nelson girl Yas lives with eight flatmates, thinks of Auckland as “the Big Smoke” and is still pinching herself about landing her dream gig.
However, they’ve quickly become best friends as well as co-workers.
“I’m obsessed with Yas!” laughs Ash, 40.
“She’s super-smart, but she’s sometimes a complete mess, which makes for hilarious stories. She’s an incredibly hard worker.”
The admiration is mutual.
“When Ash first came over from Australia, she became my mentor,” Yas, 24, tells Woman’s Day.
“We got close fast. Sometimes she’ll be thinking something and I’ll be thinking the exact same thing!”
Instant chemistry
Having covered Meg Mansell’s maternity leave on The Edge Breakfast, Ash couldn’t be more thrilled to now be working on the afternoon show with Yas and Celebrity Treasure Island star Harrison Keefe.
“No more 4am alarms!” she enthuses.
“I get to spend the morning with my son before kindy, catch up with friends back home in Australia, cook, meditate, then head into work.”
She says the trio clicked instantly.
“Usually when the songs are playing, we’re just laughing. The fact we get to spend every day together and call it work is special.”
However, Yas, one of the youngest voices on radio, confesses she was convinced she would one day end up on stage, rather than behind a mic. As a teen, she performed in amateur theatre and even travelled to Scotland to play Sandy in a production of Grease at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Making waves on air
After studying broadcasting in Christchurch, an internship at The Edge followed and when an announcing role opened up, she begged her boss for a shot.
“I was producing Breakfast and doing the day show as well,” recalls Yas.
“It was lots of work, but I wanted to prove myself.”
While her hard work has clearly paid off, her family remains the centre of Yas’ world, especially younger brother Andre.
“He’s the best,” she shares.
“I’m so proud of him.”
Andre, 21, has Fragile X syndrome and recently moved into a self-contained flat beneath their family home in Nelson.
“He’s loving his man cave,” says Yas.
“He’s so funny. Honestly, I could imagine him on radio too.”
Family support
Family is equally important to Ash. She jokes that one of the biggest perks of having rellies across the ditch is the steady stream of visitors.
“Between my mum and my husband Adrian’s parents, we get a grandparent visit every couple of months. My mum comes over from Melbourne and fills the freezer with homemade Lebanese food, which is always a huge bonus.”
It means help is close at hand. Recently, when Ash was planning a weekend in Queenstown with her friends and Buddy was a bit under the weather, she was able to call her mother-in law.
“I asked if I could fly her over the next day and – boom! – she came. Family’s everything.”
Both Ash and Yas believe their genuine friendship has boosted the popularity of their radio show. Their “Best Ever” videos, where they debate everything from iconic key changes to soaring choir moments, have racked up millions of views globally.
“The response has been incredible,” says Ash.
“People are reaching out from all corners of the world, thanking us for making them smile.”
Of course, the social media success is wonderful, but for Ash, who’s had a mobile phone since she was 13, digital burnout is a constant battle.
“I often feel totally zonked from the amount of information I’m taking in,” she admits.
“The emails, texts, DMs, WhatsApps… It’s endless.”
Finding balance
When Ash starts feeling overwhelmed, she turns to simple rituals like meditation and leaving phones by the front door.
“On the nights we actually manage to do it, I’m a better wife, mother and person.”
Yas understands the challenge. As someone who grew up with social media, she admits the pressure to build an online following feels relentless.
“It’s probably the thing I stress about most.”
That’s why she’s become fiercely protective of her favourite activities away from her phone – including rummaging through op shops, heading to Pilates or escaping to Raglan for the weekend with her boyfriend Harry.
“It’s important to have things outside social media,” she reflects.
“Otherwise, you can get consumed by likes, followers and people’s opinions.”
Ash says the trio has become a genuine support system for one another away from screens and the pressures of work.
“We all take care of each other,” she enthuses.
“I adore them both and can’t believe I’m so lucky that I get to work with them every day – absolute dream team!”
Listen to The Ash London Show from 3pm weekdays on The Edge and the Rova app.
