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10 Questions with ... Justin Cousart
August 2, 2022
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
My two-word answer would be “Bounced Around.” I interned at 95.1 WAPE, in 2012, while still going to school at Flagler College. From there I took up working some weekend shifts, helped dub commercials and worked with the promotions team. After two years I was lucky enough to land the morning show producer gig with Mark Kaye and Meghan Lane on 95.1 WAPE. While with them I got very involved in the station’s imaging and digital (social and web). After a few years CMG asked me to move to nights so I could get more involved digitally (social media and web development). Then a year later I was approached to help launch ESPN 690AM’s local sports show with hosts Brent Martineau and Austen Lane, but with a heavy live stream focus. While working on ESPN 690 I was still hosting nights on 95.1 WAPE. At the beginning of the pandemic, I got the opportunity to move my night show “After Hours” on WAPE to the afternoon slot. Shortly after moving to the afternoons, Jud Heussler became the PD on WAPE and presented me with the opportunity to work closely with him as the APD. Once I took the APD position I did have to take a step back from ESPN 690 and focus my attention on WAPE. This brings me to where I am today, about to hit my 10-year mark in the industry continuing to work at my first radio gig out of college. I feel like that is a big accomplishment and something to brag about!
1. How would you describe your first radio gig?
“Throwback”
My First radio gig was doing imaging and hosting a few morning hours at my college radio station, 88.5 WFCF “RADIO WITH A REASON.” This was back in 2009 and we still had to pick our own CD’s off the wall and switch between two players for the WHOLE shift. I’ll always appreciate Dan McCook for keeping it that way… It keeps me humble now that we’re using automation and computers.
2. What led you to a career in radio?
I’ve always been involved in music. Played the bells at church and started playing the drums in 4th grade. My dad has played guitar in a band my whole life, so being involved in an industry around music was always going to happen. When I was in high school, I started to love creating content. My friends and I created a series of videos. One of those videos may or may not have gotten us sent to the principal’s office, but that is a story for a different time.
After graduating high school, I determined that radio would be the route for me. In my opinion it is the perfect combo of being around music and still creating content.
3. You arrived in Jacksonville for school in 2009 and never left. What was about the area that made you feel so comfortable?
There was a 0% chance I was moving back to Lansdale, PA (no hate) after spending 4 years in college 5 minutes from a beach in St Augustine, Florida.
Aside from the weather, I met my wife during my time in school, and I had gotten my foot in the door at WAPE. I wanted to see where the opportunity would take me, before deciding if I wanted to move back home or not.
4. The BIG APE has been a Top 40 staple for decades now, covering lots of turf with 100,000 watts. What’s it like to be part of the programming team on one of the format’s heritage radio stations?
I love it. I feel like a historian anytime someone brings up listening to The Big Ape when they were younger, at a remote. I start firing off random facts about how “The Big Ape” was on the ticket for The Beatles at the Gator Bowl in the 60’s, or how we’ve always played the WAPE yell at the TOH every hour. There is pressure, and an expectation that you feel at times. We get asked to bring back “Jags Jam” all the time. I am honored to work for a station that has so much history in the city of Jacksonville.
5. You still get to rock the mic every afternoon on the air. What does that part of your day mean to you?
It’s the best part of the day, being live and interacting with callers to create content and breaks is quite literally my favorite thing about working in radio. Having a listener be the content always makes for a good break! I like to think WAPE afternoon listeners know I have the camera rolling all the time too. A good call will not only get quickly played back on air, but also turned into a TikTok/ Reel, or a YT short.
6. Who would be a “dream guest” to have on your show?
Selfishly, I think it would have to be Tom Segura right now…I’d love to pick his brain about all the podcasts he is involved with at YMH Studios, and his vision going forward in podcasts, and social media. I think there could be a potential blueprint there for how radio stations with local shows and local podcasts can approach their social game.
7. In addition to your duties at The APE, you’re the ‘UpNext’ host on your sister ALT stations in town and also Tampa, and cover nights on sister Top 40 WPUP. How do you juggle all of those balls?
The short answer, lots of energy drinks….just kidding!
A big thing that has helped me is repurposing content/break ideas, and always looking for talking points. If I talk about Britney Spears coming out with new music on WAPE, I know I can also use that on POWER 100.1. Same thing goes for any ALT topics on 97X I can use them again on X1065 that way I’m not having to make an ENTIRE new show. Just save a few breaks to plug some local stuff in-between!
From the always “prepping” side, scrolling on social media is like a treasure hunt for me. Instead of laughing at a meme, or reading the headline and moving on, I’ll save the link on a show prep sheet and use it for a topic on a break. That way when I walk in the office, I already have 5-6 talking points.
8. Tis the season—have we heard the ‘Song of Summer 2022’ yet?
I want full chaos and would love for it to be a song from the 80’s. So my vote is for “Running Up That Hill.” I think it could also be “As It Was,” or “About Damn Time.”
9. What was your favorite station(s) to listen to when you were a kid? Jock(s)?
Growing up in Philly I LOVED listening to Q102 and 96.5 (was called WIRED at the time I believe). My Dad always had on WMMR too!
Some jocks/shows I listened to that got me initially interested in radio, would have to be anyone on those stations between 2008 and 2013. I don’t remember all the names, but some (no particular order) are: Chio In The Morning, Buster, Bex. Carla Marie, TJ, Elvis Duran and DJ Bonics.
10. Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?
Got to start with Dan McCook at Flagler College for getting me familiar with radio. Once I graduated, I learned a TON from Mark Kaye, Matt Ray, Nick Figueredo, Aaron Schacter and Brent Martineau! Jenna Kesneck has taken me under her wing and has helped me learn how to work on an ALT format and make a show work in multiple markets. Jud Heussler has been my biggest advocate and has been the biggest influence in my career. Jud has pushed me, and helped me learn so much on air, event planning, programming, and content creation since he became PD of 95.1 WAPE.
Bonus Questions
With the venue of your choice at your disposal and an unlimited budget, which 5 acts would you pull together to throw a massive listener concert?
I’d LOVE to bring a big summer kick off beach party to Jacksonville. So, I’d use four of my acts to bring the 4 biggest artists that year, and then the last I’d use to get a celeb/big name content creator to come and co-host it with the WAPE on air staff. We’d have them create as much video content, and fan experiences to capture for social and hopefully create FOMO for people who did not attend.
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