In days long gone by, those who dreamed of joining the radio industry did a course somewhere like AFTRS then went out bush, moved to a provincial market, then, if they were lucky, got a job in the big smoke. But now, due to a shrinking market, national networking and post Covid, we are far more mindful of where we lay our hat.
Some who do the radio course, like Misty Fisher who decided to embark on an audio career later in life, are elated to take up a breakfast radio role in the town, 2GF in Grafton NSW, that they came from. Others, like Abbey Cullen, get a job in Sydney but when she, at the start of 2024 saw that long running Triple M breakfast host Glenn Wilson was leaving to become the City of Kalgoorlie-Boulder mayor, she too returned to her hometown to take over his role and totally, like Misty, threw herself into becoming part of that community again.
I’ve had the opportunity, albeit briefly, to chat with Nova Network Late Drive hosts Ben, Liam and Belle (Ben Harvey, Liam Stapleton and Belle Jackson) at the 2023 and 2024 ACRAs post their win both years for Best Comedy Segment (Metro). By the way, one of the trophies is apparently missing….
Anyway, they’re fabulous humans. Ben and Liam started out on community station Fresh 92.7 in their hometown of Adelaide. Then they went and spent three years in Sydney on triple j where they were first paired with Belle Jackson as their producer. They went back to Adelaide and Nova 919 briefly, before the big, big smoke and to Melbourne’s Nova 100 breakfast as a trio, before Jase and Lauren arrived and took it over last year. They were moved to Late Drive where they rate well and broadcast across the Nova Network nationally from 6pm to 8pm.
Last month, quietly by media standards, the trio packed their bags and headed back to Adelaide. Being a national show it doesn’t really matter what studio they are broadcasting from. But being a dad now, the move offers Ben, and Liam too, closer ties to family. Having done breakfast radio pregnant, with a new born and then two toddlers without extended family near by I can tell you that there is a wonderful additional mental security, as a parent, knowing your mum and dad are 15 mins away, not 1500kms.
Radioinfo caught up with Ben, Liam and Belle about the move with an additional nod to Belle who is celebrating 15 years in the industry.
Radioinfo: What’s it mean to be back ‘home’ and closer to family?
Liam: For us being able to do the job we love from the city we love is a dream come true. We’re all great mates and have a close-knit team, but coming home and being around family and friends is so important to us. Our Mums are stoked.
As far as the show goes, it will be business as usual. It’s a show for all Australians and we try and keep things broad and fun.
Ben: With our second baby due any week now, the prospect of being around grandparents to help out is massive… mostly because they don’t charge babysitting fees.
Radioinfo: It’s pretty cool to be national from Adelaide right now when there’s a lot of things going well. What do you think you’ll do differently?
Liam: When we first moved to Nova we wanted to do a national show from Adelaide. It’s always been our intention, and we’re stoked Nova have helped us make it happen.
Belle: We are so lucky. Yes, nothing changes for the show or for our listeners, just from different studios is all!
Radioinfo: Belle, 15 years in radio. What’s been the highlight so far?
Belle: Wow, 15 years!!! That’s frightening. I started radio with the dream of being a producer and was stoked to have that be my career until I was 80. But, since day one of being on air with the boys as a trio, honestly that’s been the highlight. They’ll hate me saying that!
There is a lot that is positive here. Additional content from interaction with family, long time listeners, and a revival of old audio too builds on what this trio already offer.
Same show, different studio but a return home.
Jen Seyderhelm is a writer, editor and podcaster for Radioinfo.