After nearly 40 years in radio, Kacey Morabito-Grean, who lives in Philipstown, recently left WHUD to become executive director of the Holy Mountain Retreat Center at Graymoor.
How did you get your start in radio?
I studied journalism and media at Mercy College. I needed an internship to get my degree in 1985, but The Evening Star in Peekskill had just closed and I ended up going to WLNA-AM 1420. I was terrified my first time on air. I’m forever grateful to the listeners in Peekskill who tolerated me until I figured things out. Fifteen years later, they moved me to the morning show on WHUD — and I was still terrified! This past April marked my 24th year on that show.
What do you remember most vividly?
I had only been at WHUD for a handful of months on Sept. 11, 2001. I was … I had … no words. My background is journalism, and I was a cautious broadcaster; I didn’t just read things randomly off the internet. I verify everything. I was displeased that people were calling in, saying it was a terrorist attack, even before news stations did. I didn’t say anything, which angered my cohost. He wanted me to comment but I wanted a greater news authority to interpret what was happening before I jumped in. Circumstances were strange that day. We were disconnected from our network news and couldn’t just throw it over to them. I didn’t think we had the authority to use the word terrorism yet. But, of course, that’s exactly what it was. Those days were horrifying.
What prompted this dramatic career shift?
In 2015 I began creating events for women: lunches, seminars, outings, hikes and labyrinth walks. Later I started giving retreats at Graymoor and Mariandale [in Ossining]. That side of my life really grew. When I heard there was an opening at Graymoor, I had a funny feeling it was a great opportunity to try something new, something special. I love radio and I’m not saying goodbye to it. I still pre-record “The Health and Happiness Minute,” which airs three times on Fridays, and “Shine! The Health & Happiness Show” on Sunday mornings.
Are retreats still relevant?
I knew women’s retreats are still needed, that we moms and grandmas are changing careers, looking for jobs, and need to gather. My biggest shock and education have been that retreats for men, families and the general public are so popular. I had no idea the rest of the world was still gathering in this way. The first retreat I witnessed at Graymoor was for 75 men from a church in New Jersey. Why are they still relevant? They may be a hidden aspect of society, that people everywhere are looking for respite, a place where they can shut off the world for a weekend, be with like-minded people and practice their faith, whatever it may be. Graymoor is ecumenical and interreligious; we host retreats for all faiths as well as recovery retreats for people in AA [Alcoholics Anonymous] or other 12-step programs.
What kinds of retreats do you want to develop?
I want to see grief retreats and joy retreats. I want retreats that allow people to excavate their buried emotions and live a little healthier and freer. A lot of people have buried their trauma. They may think it was something that happened only once, but it informs all their decisions. They’re not even aware of it sometimes. Those are the kinds of retreats I’m working on.
