Coastal Conversations
This Mother’s Day, I wanted to do something a little different: sit down with the woman who raised me and let her tell her own story.
My mother, Robin Stoloff, has spent four decades as one of South Jersey’s most trusted voices in health and wellness. A Villanova graduate and lifelong fitness enthusiast, she created “Health Update” at NBC 40 in her early twenties. It is now the longest-running series in New Jersey television history. She is a certified fitness instructor and host and producer of her own workout video, “Rock Hard with Robin,” taped on the Atlantic City beach. See her YouTube channel, “Living Well with Robin Stoloff,” to try it! When NBC 40 went off the air in 2014, she didn’t skip a beat, bringing the series to our local Townsquare Media radio stations where she also hosts “Living Well with Robin Stoloff” on Lite 96.9 WFPG every Sunday morning.
As an award-winning health reporter, former fitness competitor and Women’s Hall of Famer, she continues her goal of “empowering you to live a healthier life.” It is more than her tagline, it is her lifelong mission. To the community, she is our local health reporter, but to me, she’s my best friend, and I couldn’t be more proud of her.
Here are some excerpts from our Coastal Conversation:
AS: How did your childhood shape the kind of mother you became?
RS: Growing up, I was fortunate to have loving parents who always encouraged and believed in me. I had an incredible support system that cheered me on and motivated me to be my best. They helped me truly believe that my dreams and goals were within reach. More than anything, I hope we have shared that same feeling of love and encouragement with you and your brother.
AS: When you first found out you were going to be a mom, what was going through your mind?
RS: Like most expecting parents, dad and I were thrilled, excited and a little nervous. At 37, I was considered an older mom, which does come with some additional risks, but I felt truly blessed. I was well established in both my career and my personal life, so I was more than ready to embrace motherhood.
AS: What’s something about being a mother that surprised you, something no one really talks about?
RS: When you’re expecting, you read everything you can find about caring for an infant or toddler. But no one really prepares you for the emotional rollercoaster of raising a teenager, or navigating the relationship with an adult child. Motherhood truly is a lifelong learning experience. As they say in the military commercials, “It’s the toughest job you’ll ever love!”
AS: What does Mother’s Day mean to you personally?
RS: Since losing Nonna, your grandmother, in 2021, I am ever more aware of the enormous impact a mother has on her children’s lives. I miss my mom every single day, but I always feel her love around me. Mother’s Day also reminds me to cherish every moment with you and your brother. I am sorry, but I will continue taking way too many pictures!
AS: Looking at where we are now, what makes you most proud, not just of me and Luke, but of yourself as a mother?
RS: A mother’s greatest job is to raise good people who are self-confident, honest, hard-working, and kind. You and your brother have all of those qualities and so much more. I’d say your dad and I did a pretty good job!
AS: Switching gears, let’s talk about your career as a health reporter in our community. What inspired you to follow that path?
RS: I’ve always believed that the choices we make have a profound impact on our lives, especially when it comes to our health. I grew up playing sports and naturally gravitated toward fitness, eventually becoming a certified instructor and developing a deep interest in health and wellness. I was also fortunate to discover a love of video production and editing in high school and college, and those two passions shaped my future. I created the “Health Update” series at NBC 40 to encourage people to live better, healthier lives. That was 40 years ago. Although NBC 40 went off the air in 2014, I’ve continued the series on radio and still actively promote health, nutrition, fitness, and mental well-being through social media.
AS: How did you get into the TV business and expand that into other areas?
RS: I moved “down the shore” from the Philly area and started at NBC 40 at age 22. About a year in, I walked into my manager’s office and said that the station needed a health reporter and that I knew exactly the right person for the job! She gave me a chance and I will forever be grateful. I essentially created “Health Update,” which, to my surprise, became the longest-running series in New Jersey television history. I have interviewed local medical professionals and experts across a wide range of topics. After NBC 40 closed, I brought the series to the South Jersey stations at Townsquare Media, including Lite 96.9 WFPG, where I also host a Sunday morning radio show called Living Well with Robin Stoloff. I also write health columns for Shore Local and NJ Lifestyle Magazine. One fun side note: the series is called “Health Update” because I stumbled upon a tape, yes, we used tapes back then, with a moving graphic of that exact logo. Since we didn’t have a graphics department at the time, the name just stuck!
AS: Do you follow your own advice?
RS: As you know, your dad and I do our best to live healthy, active lives, and instill those same values in you and your brother. I have been playing tennis since I was a kid, and I play golf and pickleball, teach fitness classes, and train with weights. I met your dad in a gym where we both worked, so fitness is a part of our lives. I also take time to focus on my mental health, which is just as important as physical health. We have no sweets, junk, or overprocessed food in the house, and we cook very healthy meals at home. I do have one weakness: ice cream. So, I’d rather treat myself to a cone out than keep a gallon in the freezer since that mint chocolate chip would be calling my name. We all have to know our limitations!
AS: Looking back on your career, what are you most proud of, and what do you still hope to accomplish?
RS: I’m proud that I created “Health Update” and that, after all these years, I’m still able to share information that makes a real impact on people’s lives. The positive feedback I get truly keeps me going. One story, in particular, stays with me. I’ve always encouraged people to schedule health screenings around their birthday as a simple way to remember. A woman stopped me one day and told me she had done exactly that, and they found early-stage breast cancer. She said she got treated, was doing well, and wanted to thank me for possibly saving her life. I cannot tell you how much that meant to me. That is what motivates me to keep doing what I do. I love it.
Thank you, Mom, for sharing your story. Luke and I are so grateful for your love, guidance and the example you set every day. We are proud to have you as a mom, and our family wouldn’t be the same without you.
Coastal Conversations highlights people in our community who are making a meaningful impact. If you know someone who would be a great fit for a future column, please contact me at ShoreCoastalConversations@gmail.com.
From the shore to your door, let’s keep the conversation going.
