Jess Phaneuf was raised by music-loving parents on the south shore. Her mom saw the Beatles live and her dad attended the original Woodstock. They both instilled a love of music and theatre in Jess and she dreamed of pursuing musical theatre at Emerson College in Boston. While she was accepted to Emerson early admission, she did not make the cut at the musical theatre audition, so she chose a major in broadcasting on a whim. Once radio classes started sophomore year, she was hooked and has worked in public radio ever since.

Jess has been on air at WERS, MVYRADIO and WUMB and she was the Music Director at MVYRADIO from 2018 until 2023. She also worked brief stints at Club Passim in Cambridge and at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River. Since 2016, she’s been back on stage in community theatre productions at Massasoit Community College, Hingham Civic Music Theatre and the Academy of Performing Arts. Jess is thrilled to be back on air at WUMB, hosting WUMB Sunday Morning – Sundays from 8a – 12p.