Liana Tan is a wife and mother. She has an impressive career, working as a radio DJ, content creator, journalist, actor, and more. Starting in her youth she always had a fascination with media creation.
“I was always the kid that had a camcorder in high school,” Tan said. “And I would film everything. I think I've always been just so interested in documenting things. I've always been also interested in performance and creating something for people to be entertained by.”
Tan attended Brigham Young University when she began studying journalism, she then got a job working for the university radio station.
“My experience at BYU Radio in Provo was very telling of where I am now,” Tan said. “I just fell in love with radio. I love the aspect that you don't have to get dressed up every day and that you can really be whoever you are.”
Her job at BYU Radio helped prepare her for her job where she currently works as a DJ for Star 98 radio station. Star 98 listeners will be more familiar with Tan by her DJ name, “Pheonix Cannon”.
Pheonix is Tan’s middle name, a lucky name in Chinese culture to give to a daughter, meaning “success”. When younger she did not like the middle name she had, but her feelings on it changed in adulthood when her coworkers insisted it would be a great DJ name.
“It was a rebirth for me,” Tan said. “Oh, people like my name. And then I started to love it. I was like, actually, I do like my name. And it meant a lot to me.”
Tan is also an acting coach and has been acting professionally for around 10 years. Working in projects for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints like The Book of Mormon Videos, and the church’s 2025 Easter message video. She has also been in other productions like The Chosen.
As a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Tan strives to be a disciple and have a positive impact in all she does.
“I feel like media has such power, and those of us who use it, have a responsibility,” Tan said. “You have such a power to influence, especially when you're behind a microphone or when you're in front of a camera. Your influence magnifies, I feel like you have a responsibility. And I always take that to heart.”
You can listen to Liana on Star 98 (98.5 FM), Monday through Friday from 1 pm to 6 pm.