Short questions with Dana Perino for Carley Shimkus

November 09, 2023 at 04:00 AM EST

In a new "Short questions with Dana Perino" piece, Fox News co-host Carley Shimkus shares the challenges of working motherhood, plus career advice and a wish-list for family travel.

You've seen us on screen, but have you ever wondered what we're like off-camera?

For the last few months, I’ve enjoyed checking in with some of your favorite Fox personalities to learn more about who they are behind the scenes.

What's the one thing Jesse Watters couldn’t live without? What's Bill Hemmer’s favorite Halloween costume? And what's sitting on Greg Gutfeld’s nightstand?

But that's not all! The fun is just getting started.

This week, we're excited to shine the spotlight on Carley Shimkus. She currently serves as a co-host on "Fox & Friends First." She joined the network in 2009 as a production assistant on Fox Business Network (FBN), where she was later promoted to associate producer.

She is also the author of the new book "Cooking with Friends: Eat, Drink and Be Merry."

P.S. We have so much more in store for you. Stay tuned each week for new editions of "Short Questions with Dana Perino" — and if there’s a question you want answers to or a suggestion for the person I should interview next, leave a note in the comments section below.

CS: I grew up in Long Valley, New Jersey, and my dad is a huge Giants fan. In honor of him, I still cheer on the G-Men!

But the most important team at my house is Michigan football. My husband is a diehard fan. We walked out to the Michigan fight song on our wedding day at his request!

CS: I always knew I wanted to work in TV news. As a matter of fact, it was around-the-clock Fox News at our house growing up. I used to love watching "Fox and Friends" while eating breakfast before going to school.

I thank God every day for allowing me to now work on the very show I used to watch.

CS: Ha ha! I played soccer and ran cross country. Both unsuccessfully.

Anything not involving too much coordination is usually best for me.

CS: My sister and I LOVED playing Clue and Candy Land!

But Monopoly, 1313 Dead End Drive and Guess Who were in the rotation. My sister would beat me nine times out of 10.

CS: Say yes to new challenges that make you uncomfortable! Nerves = personal growth. Feeling nervous is kind of like having a growing pain as a kid. It’s an uncomfortable feeling, but it means your abilities are being stretched and you are becoming stronger as a result.

There was a social media trend that went viral this past summer called the #LazyGirlJob — please do not follow the crowd on this one.

Put in the extra hours, work the holidays and the weekends. Hard work is undefeated. Your boss will notice. All of it will pay off in the end.

Also, be open about what your ultimate goal is. If you are a production assistant and want to be on-air one day, tell your boss!

That way, if an opportunity arises, your boss will know to ask you to take it on!

CS: I worked at WRNJ radio station during breaks while in college. It is a small radio station covering Northwest New Jersey.

I went to lots of town council meetings with my tape recorder and listened to all the local issues of the day. Then I would create nightly newscasts with the sound I gathered.

CS: I like coffee so much sometimes I go to bed excited thinking about the coffee I’m going to drink when I wake up in the morning.

Also, when I was a kid my mom would call me her "morning girl" because I used to wake up happy in the mornings — so this schedule works for me!

CS: I love the fantasy genre, so if it has a dragon in it, it’s for me. "Game of Thrones," "Lord of the Rings," "Harry Potter," of course. I also like period dramas like "Vikings" and "Black Sails."

CS: To be honest, I’m still working this out myself. When I was pregnant, I was worried I wouldn’t be able to do it all, and then I found a wonderful nanny who I adore — but my new worry became, "What if Brock winds up loving her more because he sees her so much?"

It’s embarrassing to admit, but I will say it in case anyone else is going through the same thing.

The way I am handling it is when I’m at work, I devote 100% of my attention to work. And when I am home, I put work away and devote 100% of my attention to my son. I hope it all works out!

CS: The Gabby Petito murder was very heavy. Everyone pretty much knew the truth even before her body was found, and we were going to press conferences with her grieving parents, who were begging for answers.

A very sad situation all around.

CS: Yes – 100%. Stories involving children impact me more because I can now relate to how the parents must be feeling.

CS: Before Brock was born I would have said Spain, France and Croatia. Now, I’ll say Disneyland, the Jersey shore and Grandma’s house!

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER

To read all of Dana Perino's earlier "Short Questions" interviews for Fox News Digital, check out this (long) list!

For her interview with five New York FOX reporters, click here.

For her interview with Katie Pavlich, click here.

For her interview with Guy Benson, click here.

For her interview with Pete Hegseth, click here.

For her interview with Sandra Smith, click here.

For her interview with Nicolas Yannicelli, click here.

For her interview with Abby Hornacek, click here.