Sheila “Spitfire” Olaiz is a vibrant speaker who likes to move around as she broadcasts “The Sassy Spitfire Show” on WPMD.

The broadcast major’s program streams Mondays on www.wpmd.org from 11 a.m. to noon.

“It’s a variety of music. I always open it with ‘Enter Sandman’ by Metallica because it wakes up the audience,” she said.

Olaiz then goes into a mix of rock and classic rock, and even throws in a special hip hop segment she calls the “Funky Fresh Music Mix.”

“I also give news updates, cover entertainment and give weather reports for Los Angeles, Orange County, Big Bear and New York,” she said.

Olaiz readily admitted she did not grow up wanting to be on radio, but there was something within her that needed to be expressed.

“I love to talk!” she laughed. “I was a hotel manager for Hilton for a long time. But I would always speak my mind and get into trouble.” That is when she decided to get into broadcasting instead.

After completing the requirements needed, which includes passing Radio Production 155, she started streaming her program on WPMD.org “about a year ago.”

“An ex-boyfriend gave me the nickname ‘Spitfire’.” she explained. She liked how it sounded and has been using it ever since.

She recalled the nerve-racking early days when she would lose sleep because she was worried about doing well on the program. “I felt like throwing up. I made lots of errors.”

Despite her fears, Olaiz’s show progressed. At one point, she even shared the mic with fellow broadcaster Tito Benavides.

“It was a lot of fun,” Benavides said. “She seems to be able to put a lot of different shows into one. She is an incredibly enthusiastic person. We would comment on anything that was going on. It was just about being creative.”

Olaiz admitted, “It was endless laughter with (Benavides).”

Despite their fun together, Benavides eventually had to leave the program. “We did it for a few semesters including in the summer, but once classes started again our schedules didn’t allow us to do it together anymore.”

Today, Olaiz is solo, but ready to expand her program. “Starting Sept. 10 it will also start airing Thursdays from noon to 1 p.m.,” she said.

“I’m actually working with a couple of bands right now on some projects that will be happening on my show in the next few weeks, Strepthrote from Big Bear and Mite from the OC.”

With a drive like hers, Olaiz’s life is both busy and eclectic.

She is now working backstage at the Fantasmic show in Disneyland and trying to get an internship with Power 106.

Cerritos College broadcasting professor Casey Patrowski summed her up by saying “She is a marvelously energetic and very well prepared radio person. And very good at [what she does).”

“People should listen to my show because it’s upbeat and fresh… and sexy!”