CALGARY, ALBERTA — Paolo Oliveros believes that every story holds the power to inspire, connect, and transform. Now, the Calgary-based Filipino Canadian host is stepping onto a major national platform, vying for the title of Top Host in a high-stakes competition backed by audio giant iHeartRadio and radio icon Ryan Seacrest.
The winner of the nationwide search will earn an incredible package: leading their own six-episode podcast series produced by iHeartRadio, taking home $25,000, and appearing as a featured guest on On Air with Ryan Seacrest.
For Oliveros, who brings 20 years of hosting experience across journalism, activism, and community advocacy, the contest represents much more than a career milestone—it is a platform to amplify underrepresented voices.
Oliveros’s hosting philosophy centers on deep, empathetic connection. His goal is to move past surface-level interviews and build spaces where guests feel genuinely seen and celebrated.
“I’ve been hosting for 20 years, and my journey from journalism and activism to becoming a Filipino immigrant in Canada has shaped the way I see and tell stories,” Oliveros says. “It has taught me that our community cannot be represented in a single tone or through a single experience. We have as many perspectives as we have dialects, and I believe those voices deserve to be heard.”
That commitment to authentic representation is deeply rooted in his family history. Oliveros recalls his mother’s early days in Canada, when she worked as a nanny before returning to school in her late 40s to become a healthcare aide.
“She wanted to build a better future and upgrade her skills, so in her late 40s, she went back to school to become a health care aide. But she still had bills to pay, and money was tight. There were days when she would walk to school because she simply didn’t have enough money for transit fare,” Oliveros recalls.
“At the time, it was difficult and challenging. Today, it’s something we can look back on and even joke about as a family,” Oliveros reflects. “There is something distinctly Filipino about that: our ability to find humor even in the difficult chapters of our lives, without diminishing what we went through... It is not about making light of our struggles; it is about finding the humanity and humor within them.”
If crowned Top Host, Oliveros already has a meaningful purpose mapped out for the $25,000 prize. As an active community organizer and proud member of the LGBTQ+ community, he plans to produce a unique podcast focused on the "sandwich generation"—individuals navigating the dual responsibilities of caring for growing children and aging parents.
The project would offer practical guidance, shared stories, and a supportive community for families balancing multigenerational care.
“That is the kind of storytelling I want the show to embrace. The Filipino diaspora has a deep well of fascinating, funny, difficult and inspiring stories. I want to create a space where we can talk about those experiences honestly while making them accessible and entertaining,” Oliveros said.
Supporters can cast a free vote daily on Top Host website until October 15 to help propel Oliveros to the next round.
Additionally, voters can choose to make a donation-based vote benefiting the Ryan Seacrest Foundation (RSF). The non-profit builds full-scale interactive media spaces, known as Seacrest Studios, inside pediatric hospitals across the continent, allowing young patients to explore broadcasting, radio, and creative arts during their hospital stays.
The competition’s first major elimination cut takes place on Thursday, October 15th, at 7:00 PM PDT.
