Whirlwind romance, a lopsided triangle, trust issues, a tearful break-up: when it comes to the matters of the heart, no one is the ultimate guru. Nonetheless, every Friday night, there’s a live radio show that airs from 10pm to midnight to help listeners get to the heart of love and relationship problems.
Since 2005, Saithip Montrikul Na Audhaya and Napaporn Trivitwareegune have been taking phone calls and giving personal advice on weekly love topics on their programme Club Friday, which features on Green Wave 106.5.
“The idea of the show came about when ‘non-stop music, no-talking’ programmes were popular,” said Saithip. “Having been a radio host for my whole life, I couldn’t agree to that. We wanted to prove that talk radio shows were still in demand.”
She teamed up with Napaporn, her well-seasoned colleague who shares common interests, so they could together host the programme, with the aim of being a love forum for the target audience of Green Wave, who Saithip describes as “emotional”.
Also at helm as the CEO of A-Time Media, the operator of FM radio broadcasting stations, including Chill 89 FM, EFM and Green Wave, Saithip has proven that she was right. This relationship advice show has enjoyed a decade-long success, with a strong fan base and an endless supply of relationship dramas. The institution spontaneously expanded into the realms of online broadcasting and TV show while the love stories have been translated into books, songs, live concerts and, most recently, the much-talked-of Club Friday The Series.
“Club Friday isn’t a mere agony aunt programme about love,” said Napaporn. “We listen. The show is about having someone be there to listen to people’s problems.”
“I believe that 90% of relationship issues can’t really be solved: he cheated on me, he’s getting married to someone else, for instance. What should I do? There’s nothing you can do, but let it go”.
“We might not be able to help the listener find an ultimate solution to the problem, but we suggest a positive way of thinking to make him or her get over the situation and help them overcome heartbreak,” said Napaporn.
“The show is like a small classroom with a lot of case studies,” Saithip added. “When people share their personal stories, exchange thoughts and listen to one another, everyone can learn from these love stories and apply the lessons to their lives one day.”
Saithip admits that hosting Club Friday has been one of her biggest challenges as a radio personality. With some phone calls openly sharing controversial relationship cases, it’s her duty to be extremely careful about giving advice as the show is broadcast live with listeners of diverse backgrounds, age ranges and genders.
“We have to be very careful and cautious about every single word we speak,” said Saithip. “We listen and give our personal viewpoints. Sometimes, Napaporn and I think differently. Other listeners can also express their opinions via text messages.”
Thanks to their years of experience, the two veterans know by nature how to respond. With kind, thoughtful and caring language and tones of voice, they give eye-opening, realistic views on love, in a genuine manner.
“It’s crucial, in some cases, to make them see the situation more realistically,” Saithip said. “We do give honest viewpoints to make them rethink and become conscious of their problems.”
“Love is not blind. The problem is that one chooses to shut his or her eyes and refuse to see something they don’t want to,” Napaporn added.
The co-hosts have naturally cultivated trust and close bonds between them and their listeners. They are respected as expert “sisters” on love and relationships and are therefore admiringly called “Pi Chod” and “Pi Aoy”. In many cases, when love turns sour, the listener turn to the weekly two-hour call-in show instead of sharing their feelings to friends and families because, according to Napaporn, they feel more “safe” this way.
“When we give advice, like other professions, psychological techniques are essential,” Napaporn said. “We listen to them objectively. We usually question them back to provoke thoughts, point out a new perspective and give them frank views. A lot of times, the listener don’t really look for answer. They only need someone to comfort them.”
When love can all bring out our most extreme emotions, Saithip sees that human nature is the root of the problems. “Human being can sometimes be selfish and insane. It’s natural. Many cases of relationship problems start from selfishness and false love.”
“When it comes to love, it always goes directly to the heart — not the head,” Napaporn said. “The best way to deal with it is to calm yourself and ask yourself what to do next. Regain consciousness and dare to accept the truth.”
“In the end, we always stress that the person is responsible for his or her life and the decisions they make,” Saithip said, hoping that the listener can take some advice and insights to heart and be inspired to love themselves better and move forward. “Love is something you can’t be prepared for. You may think that I’ll be smarter, I’ll be a perfect partner, I’ll be this and that for a new romance. But in real life, it’s another story. When people listen to Club Friday, we at least hope that they learn something and can apply it to their lives.”
Throughout the 10 years, while Saithip and Napaporn have been hearing countless relationship dramas, they themselves have learned a lot about gender differences and the nature of impermanence that manifests through love.
“Uncertainty is what I’ve personally become more aware of through hearing stories from people. Both love and life are uncertain. We never know how long it lasts. Once we realise this truth, we will simply do our best to take good care of what we have today,” said Napaporn.
“In any relationship, in the details, there is constant change. With each moment, things evolve. Nothing remains the same. Those in healthy relationships are those who can evolve together in a similar pace and can embrace the changes. There are problems everyday in every relationship. It’s how to maintain it that matters,” said Saithip
“I’ve been asked if I’d feel embarrassed if I got heartbroken,” Napaporn smiled. “It’s common. It’s the truth of the world. Anything can happen. I’ve been listening to other people’s issues. I might feel sad too, but I do know that it will pass.”
To end, what is love to the relationship experts? “To love is not to hurt the one you love,” Napaporn said. “When you love someone their happiness doubles yours. When he or she suffers, so do you. So if you cheat on or do something bad to someone you claim you love, you may not really love that person as much as you think.”
“To me, love is impermanence. Like everything else, it arises, exists and ends. Once we are able to accept this truth, we’ll stop promising, because there is no such thing as forever. It’s not that I sound negative about love, but it keeps my feet on the ground to be more aware of its transient nature. In the end, we all part. When we learn to understand and accept this, when our final day comes, we realise it’s the rule of nature,” Saithip concluded.
