Air Heads

This week on the show we head to Townsville and catch up with Hit Morning's announcer Carley Whittington. A stereotypical radio career has you moving 10 times before you finally secure your dream job! Not Carley! She landed her dream job early in her career and enjoys broadcasting to the City she grew up in.There are some great lessons in this weeks podcast including trying your hand at most roles in radio to set yourself up for success. Carley was great to have a chat too and you should get alot out of this weeks episode.

This week on the show I chat with Elerrina McPherson from Triple M Gippsland.Elerrina hails from Community Radio on the Gold coast which is where she learned the craft of Breakfast radio. It's a common thread on this podcast that young announcers tend to spend the time behind a community radio station's microphone before entering the world of Commercial Radio. You'll hear on this Podcast Commercial radio can be quite your learning curve when you have come from Community Radio. That's a good thing!If you are thinking about getting into the the industry then Elerrina has some great advice for those that are wanting to test the waters of Commercial Radio.

This week on the show I chat with George Sargent from Hit CQ who pulls back the curtain on his love of radio. Described as an infatuation, like any relationship it has it's ups and it's downs and George shares that if it wasn't for his good mate Grant Denyer he may have very well walked away from the game all together. Sarge is a great chat this week on the show as he shares some great advice for new comers to the industry.

This week on the show I chat with fellow Group Content Director Mat Cummins from the Ace Radio Network. Matt is a self confessed Radio Nerd which makes him the prefect fit for this podcast. Mat talks about how Radio Legend Barry Bissel was solely responsible for his radio career. How? You've have to listen to the show to find out. See what I did there? That's a hook!There is alot of great advice in this weeks Episode of the Air Heads Podcast!

Jake Tracey from Fresh 927 in Adelaide joins me this week for a chat on the Air heads Podcast.Jake talks about the importance of The Australian Radio School and the role it's played in his career so far and suggests you take your opportunities when they present themselves.Jake understands the importance of making yourself valuable in this industry and suggests you do as much as you can to empower your future in the radio industry.If you have been thinking about a career in radio then this is definitely an episode you could take a lot from. Listen now at airheadsradio.com

Sarah Patterson is another great talent that got her start in Community Radio. From anchoring the news for Eddie McGuire's hot breakfast on Triple M Melbourne to writing articles for one of Australia's best radio publications - Radio Today, Sarah's career has covered many angles. This week on the show we talk through Sarah's incredible career and lift the lid on the secrets to recording a successful radio/ podcast interview (Conversation). You'll love this week's edition of the Airheads Podcast.

Ryan Bebbington is Group Content Director for SCA, Central QLD and Wide Bay. This week on the show we discover how Hamlet played a key role in Ryan nailing his first role in Radio.Ryan talks about how trying your hand at EVERYTHING in the industry has helped set him up for success in the Industry.For Ryan as a CD it's all about Catch and Release so when it comes to new talent he's not a bad guy to have in your corner when you are looking to land that first gig in the radio industry.

I'm lucky enough to work along side Ashleigh Baker on a daily basis at Shepparton's Hit 96.9. Everyone in the station will tell you that Ash is a ball of energy and there is never a dull moment when she's around, this translates on the air too. Ash has One Direction to thank for her career in radio and has this interesting fact that every job she has been rejected for ends up hiring her in the end (True Story). You'll love this week's edition of the Air Heads Podcast as there are some great tips in here for up and coming radio announcers.

This week on the show it's The Central Coast's Brandon Atkin. He's been involved in the radio industry for a little over 9 years and has tried his hand at pretty much EVERYTHING! From Producing the big shows like The Thinker Girls, Jonsey and Amanda, Operations with the Nova Network and pulling weekend shifts at NEW FM. We have heard it plenty of times on this podcast before and again Brandon shares that if you can learn many skills within the radio industry then you set yourself up for success later. There are a lot of Golden Nuggets in this week's episode of The Air Heads Podcast. You'll love it!

One of the longest standing, most decorated and best shows in the Country at the moment sits comfortably in the Sydney Radio Landscape on WSFM, Jonsey and Amanda. This week on the show I talk to one half of this brilliant team. Jonesy talks career highlights, recalls why he fell in love with this great industry and pulls back the curtain on what makes such a great breakfast show.

Jennie Lenman is a journalist with the Australian Radio Network in Murray Bridge. This week we sit down on the air heads podcast and talk about the radio fence that was responsible for starting Jennie's Radio Journey.Jennie talks about some of big mistakes made in her career that set her up for success!

In a career spanning 30 years, David Rogerson has experience in every facet of the radio industry. He has held positions like Group Program Director, a National Marketing Manager and Company Director. He was most recently the Group Director for Programming and Content at Grant Broadcasters.David is now a senior lecturer at the Australian Institute of Music which covers all things radio and media and has made famous The Radio Rubber Room on facebook! Dave break down what COVID has done for the radio industry in this edition of the Air Heads Podcast.

Harry Boucher is a ⭐ on the rise. He's been in Commercial radio for 3 Months working at Hit105 in Orange. Radio has always been on the cards for Harry as a self Proclaimed super fan of the Hamish and Andy show he was making radio content years ago and just didn't know it yet. Harry organised a birthday Party for Andy (Who never celebrated Birthdays) which the boys turned up to for their final 15 mins of their radio show in Melbourne's at Federation Square.

You hear the term "Jack of all Trades" in the radio Industry all the time but you might be hard pressed trying to find someone that has done everything from On Air Announcer to CEO of a Media Company. Challenged accepted! Mark Taylor from The ACE radio network is a self confessed radio nerd and loved this industry from Primary School. Mark has done it all in radio and still loves to get back to his roots of announcing on 3MP in Melbourne.If you ever wanted an example of someone that oozes passion for this industry it will be found in this week edition of The Air Heads Podcast!

This week on the show we dive into some content that I posted on the Air Heads Face Book Group earlier this week. "Have you ever been the recipient Hate from a listener?" Needless to say you didn't disappoint and there are some fantastic stories on this podcast. I think every announcer has a radio horror story when it comes to hate mail! Enjoy this little collection this week!

There are some great lessons is this weeks podcast especially for young Air Heads. Dylan talks into building your skill sets in radio incase you need to change gears at some point in your career. The other great lesson from this podcast is the importance of building connections. There's alot to like about this weeks Poddy.

Much like most of our guests on this Podcast Ewan Grant got the taste for radio while doing some volunteer hours at a Community Radio station. After years of pushing out the volunteer over time, Ewan took it upon himself with a friend to walk into the studios of K-Rock Geelong and demand a job!Did he get that job? You'll have to listen to the podcast to find out what happened next... Nice hook Right?This Podcast is a great reminder that building relationships and Community is a very important resource in your radio career.

Today we celebrate WORLD RADIO Day 13th of Feb 2022.Normally Facebook and Instagram is flooded by Facebook memories of people's time in radio and it's a day like today us radio people (Nerds, airheads) stop and think about what our careers have looked like over the journey. I thought Instead of sharing some of those moments on Facebook I'd create a bit of a podcast of some of my favorite moments along my journey.

Simon Owens is one of those rare species that has only ever worked in the ONE radio station across a 20+ year career.

Let me set the scene for you! You are in the middle of a busy radio shift and you have just played the latest no#1 song on the radio, it's currently everyone's favorite song and you've just come off the back confidently back announcing the artist. Problem is you have just said the Artist name incorrectly and now everyone in their cars have are rolling their eyes because the guy on the radio doesn't know how to pronounce the number one song around the Country right now.Sound familiar? It's happened to the best of us. This week on this show it's a collection of people's stories who have had this happen along the way in their career.

This week on the show we catch up with Jordan Bocock

This week's Episode is another edition of Then and Now. John and Julie from The 3MP breakfast show sit down with me and we here samples of some of their work when they first came together as a duo back in 1999 compared to some of their on air work these days.

This week on the show we catch up with Aimee Craig from Bendigo's Hit 91.9This week on the show Aimee reveals how she used to teach the craft of radio and Podcasting in Jail. That's right in jail! Much like a lot of other announcers on this Podcast Aimee started her career at Community Radio SYN FM in Melbourne which lead her to NOVA 100 to work in Promotions and Marketing later landing her first on Air Role with Hit 91.9 in Bendigo.Aimee's Content is more than just what's happening between the speakers. Social Media is a big part of what Aimee does here at hit and notes that this as a big part of the radio industry moving forward.

This week on this show Steve Woods joins us for a chat about his long multi colored career in radio. From his early Production days, on air dominance and then leading a small radio team out of the dangers of shutting their doors.Steve has done everything in radio and off the back of his career he's written 2 amazing resources that every radio announcer should have in their collection which is why we have decided to air this Podcast JUST before Christmas ;P

This week on the Show Leroy explores another radio Podcast that's certainly worth a listen if you are a Radio Nerd. Jon Vertigan's "I was a Teenage Prize pig" is a great concept linking the concept of winning prizes on the radio when he was growing up (Yes he's kept the audio) to the announcers that gave them away and what they are up to now.

Mark "Robbo" Robinson is one of very few radio announcers in Australia that has been lucky enough to work in broadcasting overseas as well as here in Australia and this week on the pod cast we dive into some of the key differences between the two Countries.Robbo has a lot of great advice to share and sites his connection with Listeners as the number one motivation factor for why he wakes up early and Greets Central Victoria where they are at.

Nic Kelly is one of the best Music Announcers on the radio today. A local Gosford boy hands out daily lessons in localism during his 9-12 shift at Hit on the Central Coast. In and out of radio over his Journey Nic has learnt some really important lessons and opens up about the most important one gifted to him by Ash London.If you are an aspiring music announcer then make sure you run your ears over this episode of the Air Heads Podcast.

13 Years on Breakfast radio in Melbourne at one station is a tough ask for any radio personality but Peter "Grubby" Stubbs and Diane “Dee Dee” Dunleavy make it look easy at GOLD 104.3. Both the can be still heard today albeit separately on Melbourne's 3AW they are both a Juggernaut of the industry. Grubby has some great nostalgic stories to tell on this Podcast and there are some fantastic lessons to learn along the way.

On Episode 153 it's special Episode on the air heads podcast featuring a topic of conversation that's always in the back of your mind as an announcer. The moment you dread from the moment your career starts… I know of a few announcers that have navigated their long career without this happening to them but I'll be honest they are few and far between…I'm talking about when you accidentally say F#%K on the radio.

As a Motor Sport nut Leigh was lucky enough to start his career at a Community Radio network based in Bathurst! Seriously... does it get much better? After trying his hand at announcing Leigh was always destined to become a news journalist. There are some great lessons in this podcast if your are looking at news presenting.

One of the Juggernauts of Radio in Brisbane is Ian Skippen. Famous for his anchor work with the B105 morning Crew Ian shares some really important radio lessons from working in the Country to the Big city Metro gig. What happened on the day the Jamie Dunn punched him in the studio? Find out on this Podcast.

It was only a few Months ago that I opened my stupid Mouth and told you to show me your old Radio Air Checks and I'll show you mine. It was all set to happen on the 150th Episode of the Air Heads Podcast...Well that went Quick!I actually didn't expect you to brave enough to dive into those vaults and pull out the audio you thought you'd buried forever. I guess a promise is a promise... Let me just say one thing in advance. Once you hear this... I can't be unheard.

If you ever wanted to know what radio was like in the 70's and 80's well there is no better man than John Peters to tell you the stories. In this Episode of the Air Heads Podcast John reflects on Interviewing some of the big names like Elton John and Michael Hutchence and tells the story of how he woke up to Iggy Pop making himself a coffee in his Kitchen. This Episode is a ripper!

This week on the Podcast another talent that has community radio to thank for her career. Starting doing a youth show at PBAFM in Adelaide, Crystal caught the radio bug early and knew she could turn her passion into a Career. With the Help of Sean Craig Murphy at the Australian Radio School Crystal was on her way to Tamworth! Crystal has done many shifts on the radio in her short career and sights breakfast as something she enjoys the most aswell as mixing it with the locals from every town she adopts.

Ian Wright is the General Manager of Community Radio 90.1 Happy FM. After a number of years in Commercial Radio Ian now takes pleasure in the simple thing life has to offer in the Coastal South Australian town of Victor Harbor often broadcasting from 2 pop up radio studios in the local shopping malls.In this week's Podcast Ian shares about some of the great lessons he has learned in Commercial radio and proudly highlights the importance of Community when it comes to the development of future radio talent.

This week on the show we address an issue that has really come to the surface over the last 18 months for obvious reasons but it's been around a while. This industry can from time to time leave you a little lonely and isolated so we chat with members of the radio industry this week that have had to work down this street and find a way out.

In this week's episode of the Air Heads Podcast you'll soon learn that ever since she was a little girl Leisha has wanted Radio as a career path.Playing toy cars with her brother she realized her dream while playing music and track announcing for the cordoned off lounge room that housed her make shift race track.On the way to making her dream come true Leisha has had to make some personal sacrifices along the way and this podcast is a solid reminder that you can't always have your cake and eat it too.

Glen Star is quite your entertainer! Vocally he's really talented on stage as a performer which is why his radio career has been up and down like a Yo Yo over the last few years. One min Glen is performing on cruise ships all over the world, the next he's entertaining the masses on the radio.Glen has now landed back in a town he knows all too well to do the breakfast show and sink his teeth into early morning starts and content creation.

If you think you have got a used by date to land your first job in radio these days well here is the episode of Airheads you have been waiting for.Craig Kahlefeldt is proof that if you want it bad enough you have to keep believing that someone will take a chance on you. Craig has a great story and gives Air Heads a fair shout out during this podcast noting that one episode prompted him to send an air check away that was about to change the path and gain him entry into the industry he wanted so bad!

This week on the Podcast we have a chat with Moffee from 106.3 Triple M. Moffee is another great solo breakfast announcer that knows what it takes to build a successful solo breakfast show. Callers, guests and thinking outside the box are all the tools he uses to bring his breakfast show to life. Moffee is the only solo breakfast show that I know that's had the power to convince his General Manager that broadcasting his breakfast show from London was not only a good idea but well within the stations budget. You'll get a lot out of this Episode of the Air Heads Podcast!

This week on the Podcast we catch up with South Australian Icon Cosi from the SAFM Breakfast show. Cosi is very grounded when it comes to his career in the radio industry and prides himself on the simple fact that people matter. There are so many valuable lessons in this podcast for young up and coming radio people. The Key take away was a lesson he leaned at the top of Mount Lofty (Adelaide) after a week filling on the SAFM breakfast show.

Alo Baker started his career in Dubbo, has been to the Gold Coast and is now back in Dubbo and haven't times changed! Alo has taken "Then and Now" to a whole new level with different audio lifted from the same station just with a different name/ Brand... Then = Star FM Now = Triple M... You'll love his episode of then and now as you hear Alo laugh along at how high pitched he sounded when first jumping behind the microphone,

This week on the podcast Bryan Madigan snuck into the radio industry via a Triple M Listener Party and hasn't looked back. He's spent some time in some of the best markets around Australia and worked along side some amazing talent including the radio juggernaut that is the Christian O'Connell Breakfast show. Bryan comes armed to this podcast with some really impressive lessons on persistence and creating success of the back of trying his hand at pretty much everything radio has to offer.

An air check from 1987 landed in my inbox this week and it belonged to Jason Staveley from Gold 104.3. Now the head for Music for GOLD 104.3 and WSFM in Melbourne and Sydnedy Jason still finds time to fill the gaps on the air and loves it! On this weeks show we talk preparation and the art of music announcing.

Coastie got his start at Triple M in Brisbane when he was 21 years old writing comedy for the night show. A self confessed tragic fan Martin Molly, Roy & HG and Merrick & Rosso. Much like others Coastie found a way to get behind the microphone doing stunts for the mid-dawns Triple Announcer at the time and after a decorated career he is now the breakfast announcer at 102.9 at Triple M Broome.If you are learning the craft of solo breakfast radio Coastie is someone who offers some great tips and insights in this episode of The Airheads podcast.

Tracey Sergiacomi has been on the air for 11 years in the one market which is quite an achievement in radio. Over the journey she has gained some great knowledge working in a number of different departments. In this Podcast you will hear how powerful Localism and Heritage are when it comes to owning your town. Tracy is a unreal story teller and delivers some really great lessons in this Episode of the Air Heads Podcast! Listen now at airheadsradio.com

This is a segment of the Air Heads podcast that was born out of a Facebook question I posted the other day: Do you still have your first Aircheck? The amount of messages I got off the back of that post was out of control and they were all asking to hear my first Air Check? Believe me that will come but in the mean time - who's up for sharing theirs?Who's first Air check would you like to hear from the radio industry. I threw the challenge up to long time radio friend and mentor Liam Renton and let's just say he delivered.

Angela Frino started as an On Air announcer at 3SH in Swan Hill. Over the years Angela has tried her hand at pretty much every single job a radio station has to offer and has now landed in her sweet spot as not only The Content Director of Edge FM and 1521 2QN in Deniliquin she's running the show as General Manager. Angela Highlights some great key lessons in this episode including getting yourself in front of people and how to successfully transition from one department to another if that's your desire later in your career.

Chris Dzelde is the former Drive Announcer/Music Director Power FM & 1125 5MU in Murray Bridge, South Australia. Over the years Chris has done the rounds across the industry navigating most of his commercial radio experience in South Australia with Triple M, Mix 102.3 and 5MU. This week on the show we dive into how Chris made a network drive show work across the whole state. Staying local in a regional market is hard enough let alone doing it from a different town.

Ben wood fell into radio via the Street Team at NOVA in Sydney. Realising early his foot was in the door working the with street team the hard work started trying to get noticed by the right people. Ben has done the Metro thing and now anchors the breakfast show for Triple M on the Gold Coast as well as holding a leadership position as assistant Content Director. We chat with Ben this week about the moves you need to make early in your career to get noticed and what to do when you have to air check the very same show you are apart of and a day to day basis.

When it comes to describing Silco there is only one word that come to mind and that's versatile. As you'll hear in this episode of The Air Heads Podcast he's done about 101 jobs in his career with ease. It was only recently that Silco had settled on the Triple M brand to live out the rest of his radio life until another curve ball was thrown his way and now he's back where he started doing mornings on the HIT brand in Mildura.