Media Mates: Recent Episodes
Ralph Tucker
Ralph Tucker has worked in Sydney radio for over 20 years as a journalist, editor, newsreader and producer. In the Media Mates podcast Ralph chats to people he's met in and around the industry about where they've been, where they're going and everything else in between.
Emily Smith from ABC TV in Melbourne chats about getting her big break at 2SM, being made redundant at 2UE after a week and making the transition to television during a stint overseas.
Corbin Middlemas from ABC Grandstand chats about getting his start in media, an unexpected award, living in three different states in the three years and the late, great Ken Judge.
Matthew Elliott chats about his transition from coach to commentator with the ABC Grandstand NRL team.
Andrew Ryan chats about his transition from player to commentator with the ABC Grandstand NRL team,
Alexandra Factor from the Victoria Racing Club chats about leaving Perth to pursue a career on the east coast in radio, struggling in Sydney before finding her feet in Melbourne and the discovery of a letter from a former boss.
Dan Mullins from 2GB chats about his late entry into the radio game, the pressure of working on the Alan Jones breakfast show and walking the Camino de Santiago for his 50th birthday.
Kelly Fedor from Channel 9 chats about going regional to get her start, being consumed by media and standing up to broadcasting great Alan Jones.
Jason Morrison from Channel 7 chats about his fascination with radio, his regret over reporting the death of Michael Hutchence and how to bring the magic back to radio news.
Mark Levy from 2GB chats about how fixing a computer lead to his start at Sky Racing, where he gets his work ethic from and how he deals with narks on Twitter.
Gavin Carmody from Sky Racing chats about what it was like working for Alan Jones, his love for horse racing and how he got the nickname Sparkles.
Brendan Jones from WSFM chats about how he almost got sacked in his first job, what makes his on-air partnership with Amanda Keller so special and why he missed out on hosting The Bachelor.
Gil Taylor from Macquarie Media chats about why he had to re-invent himself throughout his career, being a reluctant leader and discovering the band Ratcat.
Renee Smith from RACQ chats about what it took to get her big break in the media, the challenges associated with working in breakfast radio and developing her leadership skills.
Jacqui Maddock from Bluechip Communication chats about why she chose to specialise in finance, the challenges associated of working in Beijing and the shock result in the US election.
Anthony Maroon from Triple M NRL chats about cutting his teeth in the country, the changing landscape of radio and his love for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
Freelance voice over artist Rowan Barker chats about what makes a good newsreader, being on-air the night of the September 11 terror attacks, creating the news by being stabbed and the world famous wink off.
Georgina McKerrow from Channel 10 in Melbourne chats about getting her first gig the day after her graduation, adjusting to life and work in Sydney and her sea change year in Cairns.
Clinton Maynard from 2UE chats about where his love of radio comes from, the ups and downs of 2UE over the years and the drought breaking win by his beloved Cronulla Sharks in the NRL premiership.
Brenden Wood from Channel 7 chats about doing the hard yards in regional radio, using old school techniques to produce content and riding the wave of social media to advance his career.
Hugh Humphreys from Hustle Media chats about hitting the jackpot by scoring a paid gig in media while still studying, the advantage of being an early adopter of social media and his year from hell at the Parramatta Eels.
Laura Tunstall from Channel 9 chats about getting her start in Wollongong, what she loves most about live reporting and the training involved to get a ride in the Channel 9 chopper.
Freelance presenter Greg Rust chats about why he decided to chuck in a career in finance, what makes a good presenter and commentator and why Daniel Ricciardo could become a Formula 1 world champion.
Janyne Moore from Catablog and Publicity for Profit chats about working for radio legend John Laws, what makes a good producer and playing an April Fools' Day prank on Ray Hadley.
Tess Salmon is a media advisor for NSW Deputy Premier Troy Grant. She chats about what role Stan Zemanek played in the early days of her career, learning the ropes under the guidance of some radio legends and how she deals with the pressure of working in politics.
Natalie Peters from 2GB chats about how working in the snow opened her eyes to the media world, learning her craft under the watchful eye of a Sydney radio icon and hitchhiking her way to cover the Christchurch earthquake.
John Redman is a media advisor for NSW Minister Stuart Ayres. He chats about how a babysitting gig led to his start in media, working for Alan Jones and Ray Hadley and the challenges associated with a job in politics.
Adam Thompson from Cranky Health talks about how a random meeting in a karaoke bar opened the door to his media career, why work ethic is so important and the future of digital media in Australia.
Jim Dolan from WSFM chats about being the Jack of all trades during the early days of his career, working during the halcyon days of 2UE and the great Betty Margetson.
Mike Morrow from News Corp chats about why he left his hometown of Perth, how he ended up in the Austereo newsroom and the changing landscape of media in 2016.
We look back at some of the best bits over the past 27 episodes with Roger White, Murray Olds, Brian 'Sando' Sanders, Sarah Harris, Jodie Speers, Glenn Daniel, Rachel Corbett, Anthony Clark, Trevor Long, Edwina Bartholomew, Cassandra Wood, James Boyce, Sarah Forster, Geoff Field and Andrew Moore.
Ange Anderson from Nova Brisbane chats about the shaky start to her career, going broke in Sydney and falling into a toilet on the Kokoda Track.
Jess Pelliccione is a former journalist now working as a judge's associate at the District Court and chats about the rush of putting a radio news bulletin together, transitioning to TV and now pursuing a career in the legal fraternity.
Victoria Owens from Channel 9 chats about how she got her start in the media, the challenges of working on live television and her involvement in one of the all time great radio bloopers.
Brian 'Sando' Sanders was up until recently a traffic reporter with Triple M. He chats about his strange audition tape which sparked interest from Mike Walsh, working in a golden era of Australian radio with Andrew Denton and why he always saw his traffic reports as a performance.
Matt McDonald from Sky News chats about starting his career as a Black Thunder driver, what it was like being in charge during the final days of the 2UE newsroom and getting into strife as the Wests Tigers ground announcer.
James Boyce from Medicines Australia chats about how a prison riot led to his big break in radio, what it's like working for a prime minister and paneling for music legend Smoky Dawson.
Technology expert Trevor Long chats about how his media career started as a talkback caller, working with Ray Hadley, learning to become a better manager and building his own brand.
Melissa Femia from KIIS 1065 chats about the moment she knew she wanted to be an announcer, what she loves most about the job and her passion for health and fitness.
Cassandra Wood from Channel 9 chats about the importance of work experience, the rush of live television and the man who has had the most impact on her career.
Sarah Forster from WSFM chats about starting her media career as a receptionist, what makes a good radio journalist and her fascination with Ann Sanders.
Glen Lauder from Fox Sports News chats about how a bricklayer sparked his interest in media, what the Bali bombings taught him about journalism, the closure of the 2UE newsroom and how he got the nickname Estee.
Dan Ginnane from Triple M chats about the influence Ray Warren has had on his career, how he flummed his way into a couple of major sporting events and I inadvertently played a role in him getting a start in radio.
Edwina Bartholomew from Channel 7 chats about how she got her big break, the important role mentors have played in her career and how she cleverly deals with the haters.
Jodie Speers from Channel 7 chats about her disastrous start to radio in Sydney at 2SM, what it's like being part of a media couple, how motherhood has changed her and what role Mark Latham played in shaping her career.
Roger White is a media advisor for State MP Alister Henskens. He chats about his 30 years in radio, representing Australia as a Winter Olympian, surviving a mid-air plane disaster and the role he played in the establishment of the Illawarra Steelers.
Rachel Corbett is a lecturer at the Australian Film Television and Radio School, a columnist for news.com.au, social commentator on Channel 9 and Sky News among a host of other things. She chats about her life as a freelancer, how she stumbled into radio and why she never likes to talk about her appearance on Big Brother.
Brooklyn Ross from KIIS 1065 chats about his dream job on the Kyle and Jackie O Show, the risks he took to establish his career and setting up his own gay radio station.
Dean Ritchie from the Daily Telegraph chats about how he got his start in the media, what it was like reporting on the Super League war, who he thinks should be the new NRL CEO and how he got the nickname Bulldog.
Anthony Clark from the Rural Fire Service chats about how his career started in regional radio in Bathurst, covering the Bali bombings as a journalist, his job at the RFS and his role in the infamous Athens Olympics leaked audio blow-up tape.
Geoff Field is currently taking a break from the media industry after being made redundant by 2DayFM last year. He chats about his rise from ordinary newsreader to national celebrity, why he's so passionate about marriage equality and if he plans to patch things up with Kyle Sandilands.
Michael Pachi is the Canberra Bureau Chief for Macquarie Media. He chats about his rise through the ranks, the rapidly changing news cycle and why he thinks Malcolm Turnbull will be prime minister for a long time to come.
Emma Duxbury from Sky Sports Radio chats about her career to date, what Kyle Sandilands is really like and washing Wendell Sailor's on Parramatta Road in a bikini.
Craig Gabriel has been covering tennis for over 30 years for radio stations all over the world. We chat about how it all began, what it's like being on the circuit full-time, who his least favourite player is and why he thinks Nick Kyrgios cops a bad rap.
Murray Olds is currently hosting Sports Today on 2UE over summer. He's also teaching at 2SER. We chat about his extraordinary career which has taken him to all parts of the globe, how the media landscape has changed, teaching in South Sudan and how he got the nickname Buzzard.
Glenn Daniel from Smooth FM chats about his long and distinguished career as a radio journalist and newsreader, the diminishing role of radio newsrooms, what he enjoys most about teaching and his advice for young people looking to break into the industry.
Sarah Harris from Channel 10 chats about her difficult upbringing, how she deals with trolls and the paparazzi, working with the legendary Ita Buttrose and what sort of mother she hopes to be.
Andrew Moore from ABC Grandstand chats about his 30 year career in radio, how family has changed him, Alan Jones, social media and the Applegate family.