For anyone who regularly reads STM magazine or tunes into Nova's breakfast show, Nat Locke needs no introduction. She's the familiar, smiling face greeting readers each Sunday morning and the cheerful voice that has brightened early mornings across Perth for more than two decades.
Despite her household-name status and the flood of glowing feedback that follows her relatable, humorous columns, Locke remains remarkably down-to-earth. In person, she radiates the warmth of a favourite primary school teacher, possesses the quick wit of a Netflix comedian, and displays the genuine friendliness of your local barista.
The Woman Behind the Microphone
When the microphone switches off on weekday afternoons or when she closes her laptop after submitting another column (sometimes just before deadline), Locke transforms into someone quite different from her on-air persona. She's more comfortable enjoying craft gin with her book club or walking her dog Lewis around the park than posing as a fashion model draped in tulle and adorned with $150,000 worth of jewelry.
Locke's journey to radio fame took anything but a direct route. Born and raised in Esperance, a seven-and-a-half-hour drive from Perth, she experienced the distinct rhythm of country life before heading east for university. She established herself as a chiropractor, eventually running her own practice, with radio nowhere on her career radar.
The turning point arrived unexpectedly through the popular quiz show Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? Like many Australians in the early 2000s, Locke believed she could win big if given the opportunity. When her chance came, it nearly didn't happen due to the airport chaos following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Determined to get proper rest before her national television appearance, Locke arrived early at the airport and successfully negotiated an earlier flight. Her appearance netted her $16,000 - enough for a new couch and some unchipped plates - but the real prize was far more significant.
The Radio Calling
"Doing that pushed me outside of my comfort zone and it was really fun," Locke recalls. "It was intoxicating, one of those moments in your life that you can narrow it down to when a switch flicked and you realise lots of things are possible."
This newfound confidence led her to try stand-up comedy, reasoning that performing for 150 people couldn't compare to the hundreds of thousands who watched her on television. Soon after, she spotted a newspaper advertisement for radio positions and submitted what she considered a witty application.
The station initially responded with a polite rejection, but thanks to a comedian friend who vouched for her, Locke secured an audition and landed the job. She acknowledges this break wouldn't likely happen today in an industry that now prefers established personalities from reality TV, sports, or comedy circuits.
For twelve years, Locke balanced both careers - chiropractic and radio - before eventually choosing the microphone. She describes herself as an extroverted introvert, energized by people but equally content with quiet time on the couch.
Life in the Early Hours
Despite not being a morning person, Locke has adapted to 4am wake-up calls that begin her weekdays. "The hours are awful, there is no getting around that," she admits. "But having said that, there are lots of jobs where people get up early, but the difference is that we have to be nice. I'm very conscious of the fact that we don't work that hard, but it uses up a lot of energy - more emotional energy than physical energy."
The radio industry has transformed dramatically during Locke's 23-year career. Today, every show is filmed with cameras trained on each host, and content is regularly shared across social media platforms. Locke feels fortunate to have worked with supportive teams that contrast sharply with the dramatic environments of shows like Married At First Sight.
She recalls one difficult co-worker who believed women shouldn't share opinions on air, despite half their audience being female. "I was on holiday in Paris and got a call in the middle of the night to say he'd been fired. I could not have been happier," she reveals, adding that she later discovered he had been campaigning to have her dismissed.
Throughout sixteen years of weekly columns, Locke has established herself as one of Perth's most relatable storytellers, covering everything from dating trends to Buy Nothing groups and even Kardashian pregnancy shapewear. She maintains personal boundaries, avoiding discussion of new relationships as they develop, but remains open about other aspects of her life.
She has shared details of her gastric sleeve operation, advocated for same-sex marriage during the 2017 plebiscite, and praised figures like Brittany Higgins and Grace Tame for advancing conversations about women's treatment in Australia.
For Locke, connection remains everything. She understands that even though listeners aren't physically present in the studio, they're engaging with her content across Perth - something she's reminded of when recognized on the Bibbulmun Track or at local cafes.
Reflecting on her unexpected career path, Locke observes: "If you asked me in 2002 if I would still be here in 2025, I'd say not in a million years. I've always had the philosophy to ride the wave while it's still going."
The real credit belongs to Locke herself - for trusting her instincts, leaving a secure career for an unpredictable one, and consistently showing up before dawn to make Perth laugh along with her.
