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10 Questions with ... Cantore + Woods
December 1, 2015
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Cantore (cantore@fm949sd.com): I went to High School with Ice Cube in the Valley. In 1988, left for San Diego to attend college at S.D.S.U. After graduation, bypassed law school for a $5/hour job answering phones for a morning show on KFMB (then, Star 100.7) From there, spent the last 20 years (on-and-off) hosting morning shows on alternative stations 91X, KPRI, and now, FM 94/9. I've been very lucky.
Woods (woods@fm949sd.com): It's still a complete trip that I do radio. Much less major market morning radio. I got a call on January 1st, 2010 from a guy whose show I'd actually sold for KEGL in Dallas. He always thought that I'd be a great fit for the air and invited me to San Diego to be a part of his morning show in San Diego. We started at KBZT on February 1st, 2010. I've been there ever since, and now have just started this show, which hopefully will be the last show I'm ever a part of. I'm lucky enough to be able to work with one of my best friends every day. We're having a blast so far.
1. Congrats on the new morning show. Explain your role on the morning show?
Cantore: Thank you. My role is to cohost the show with one of my best friends, and stay employed as long as possible.
Woods: Cohost and the Felix to Cantore's Oscar.
When my old morning show blew up, many reached out, but mostly wanted gossip. Cantore reached out to see if I was doing ok and wanted to help me moving forward. He became a mentor and friend to me. We did a short segment on his UTTV show and found we had a real chemistry. We started a podcast that became pretty successful, as far as podcasts go, and began the arduous task of pitching our show to my bosses at 94/9. After three years they saw the light and here we are!
2. How would you describe your on-air style?
Cantore: I've been told I sound VERY San Diego, but I don't know what that means. Flaky?
Woods:: I'm the young calf to Cantore's old bull.
3. What is your show prep routine?
Cantore: I do 90% of my prep after the kids are asleep - around 9pm. My wife loves it. I spend most of my prep time perusing my favorite news aggregator sites, trolling social media, and pulling from my personal life.
Woods: I typically arrive about an hour before Cantore. It's because I'm psychotic about being planned and prepared. I'm not a real "fly by the seat of my pants" kind of guy. We're the odd couple. I'm Felix. We do most of our planning via email and phone call the day before the show. Every show is organic and fresh. We're making it a point to bring REAL RADIO back to the airwaves. Two guys (for now) talking about our personal lives, warts and all.
4. What do you love most about working for Entercom?
Cantore: After years of working for a small, independent radio station (that eventually sold to a Christian radio group), I'm stoked to work for a company with muscle and staying power.
Woods: For me it's nice to work for a radio company, finally. It's all they do. And I like their commitment to the alternative format.
5. What makes Cantore+Woods unique for morning drive in San Diego?
Cantore: We're the only male/male show in town - everything else is ensembles (or, music-intensive shows).
Woods: The fact that nothing is off limits for us. People tuning in can and will hear ALL of it. Too much sometimes, I'm sure.
6. What is your favorite part of the show?
Cantore: Awkward, uncomfortable conversations.
Woods: I love when I get to Cantore to belly laugh. For me, getting that belly laugh lets me know that I've done my job.
7. What annoys you most during your show?
Cantore: Not having a producer.
Woods: People who private message me ideas for the show....during the show. Stop.
8. What is the most rewarding part of your job?
Cantore: Knowing that something that started as a podcast between friends is now a bonafide radio show - important to note, after we get off the air, we record a daily podcast and recycle a lot of the content on the next day's show.
Woods: The listener reaction. Always. The people who listen to us are our friends and when we get a note saying "I had to sit in my car to listen to that whole segment" or "you guys make my mornings." well that's reason enough for me to get out of bed at 3:30AM every day.
9. Who is your favorite on-air personality not on your staff and why do you like them?
Cantore: Bean, of Kevin & Bean. In addition to being an amazingly talented, witty, and intelligent broadcaster, I find him to be a fascinating human being - I've been inspired by his awesomeness for two decades.
Woods: Stern. It begins and ends at Howard Stern for me. I often ask myself, What Would Howard Do. Then I try to do that. In San Diego, though? Darren Smith from The Mighty 1090 is a fantastic midday sports guy. I get to catch him on my drive home most days.
10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?
Cantore: holding my kids.
Woods: Coffee. But only one cup.
Bonus Questions
What may surprise people most about you?
Cantore: I'm starting a non-profit to help the husbands, or boyfriends, of women fighting breast cancer - it's called YouCanSir.org
Woods: I'm not sure I could surprise people anymore. I've pretty much laid it all out there for the past six years. I will say though, my dime sized nipples are pretty surprising to people.
What are your hobbies?
Cantore: Surfing.
Woods: My greatest non-human love is baseball. I play on three adult league teams in San Diego and I value that time on the diamond greatly. I also play guitar and have started collecting records again, which is a very satisfying hobby.
First record ever purchased?
Cantore: Led Zep I
Woods: The first record I bought with my own money was Van Halen 1984. I remember it like it was yesterday.
First concert?
Cantore: Rush
Woods: AC/DC
Favorite band of all-time?
Cantore: Radiohead
Woods: Hardest question to answer. It totally depends on mood but The Afghan Whigs and The Cure are probably my two favorites. Greg Dulli is my spirit human.
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