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10 Questions with ... Don Megga
September 1, 2015
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Nineteen years of competitive broadcast experience with a strong background in promotional strategies and talent development.
- 1/3/11-Current - KFAT/Anchorage, AK - MD, afternoons and Imaging Director
- 10/09- 4/10 - KNLT/Anchorage, AK - Mornings, Imaging and Production Director
- 10/09-4/10 - KMVV/Anchorage, AK - Middays, Mixer, Imaging and Production Director
- 9/06-4/09 - KGOT/Anchorage, AK - Afternoons, Mixer, Imaging Director
- 1/05-1/06 - WMPW/Memphis, TN - Morning show host, Music and Promotions Consultant
- 1/03-Present - KXJM/Portland, OR - Syndicated morning show co-host
- 7/99-1/03 - KFAT/Anchorage, AK - Nights, Creative Imaging Director
- 2/98-7/99 - WBHJ-WBHK/Birmingham, AL - Morning show co-host; Assistant Production Director
- 9/97-2/98 - WENN/Birmingham, AL - Nights, APD, Production Director
- 2/96-9/97 - WBLX/Mobile, AL - Morning stunt guy; Weekends; Promotions Team Coordinator
1. What got you into radio?
My voice. Seriously, I was in the hallways of WBLX in Mobile,meeting an old girlfriend (DJ) for lunch after my mother suddenly passed in '96. As I was in the hallway shooting the breeze with the other radio personalities, the PD heard my voice and had to come see who I was and if I had ever thought about doing radio. I read a commercial and had never done anything so natural! Needless to say, Radio found me and never let go.
2. When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I wanted to be a doctor like my big brother, Sam, a dentist to be exact. Nothing like nice teeth, you know.
3. What was the biggest change in the move to Anchorage?
Besides the WEATHER, the city's diverse demographics were the biggest change I experienced when moving to Alaska. Mastering the art of communicating with a larger, more diverse audience was an experience with in itself. Anchorage is like a "little New York" with cultures and nationalities represented from across the globe. Learning to speak their language was instrumental in conquering the last frontier.
4. How do you adjust to the sun being out for 19 hours in June?
By putting aluminum foil over the windows. No, seriously.
5. What would probably surprise most people about Anchorage?
The amount of natural resources available at any given time. Outdoor activities truly never stop here. Try ice fishing in January, snowboarding in February, salmon and halibut fishing in May then moose hunting in June. There is literally always something to entertain yourself with ALL year round and it's always an EPIC adventure waiting!
Oh yeah, and the fact that moose and bears are walking around the city like stray dogs. Imagine seeing that while in 5 O'clock traffic.
6. What's your favorite song on the station right now?
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis "Downtown"
7. What do you like to do in your spare time?
Since there's so much to do all year round it depends on the time of year I guess. Snowboarding is hands down my favorite extra circular activity in the winter and fishing is what I do in the summer while spending time with my family.
8. If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?
CHOPPED!!! I'm a chef by design and cooking definitely helps me to explore the different cultures I encounter here in Alaska while introducing them to some of my southern favorites like Gumbo and Jambalaya. Restaurant coming soon so stay tuned.
9. What's probably the biggest challenge programming in a somewhat isolated market like Anchorage?
Keeping the city up to speed with the rest of the world musically and getting swag to giveaway for on -air promotions from labels! Being remote doesn't make this city any less in tuned to the rest of the world, if anything it makes the city want MORE! Since we are so "remote" doing a fly-away to larger markets or bringing in large scale artists for concerts helps us to break the small town mindset as well as a saving grace to solve cabin fever.
10. If you had to eat one type of meal everyday for a month, what would it be?
Soul Food, hands down! There's no substitute. Since I'm so far away from home, it's my way of bringing home to me.
Bonus Questions
Who are/were some of your mentors?
The late JB Lewis who found me in the hallway of WBLX in 96'...RIP brother.
Another cat that helped pave the way for myself and so many other DJ's/Radio Personalities down south is "Warm It Up" Chris Coleman. This guys was a superstar then and now! He believed in my talent enough to give me my 1st break with his morning show in Mobile and in Birmingham, AL alongside Rickey Smiley and the "Home Team Morning Show". You are a great mentor brother, thank you.
I most definitely wouldn't be where I am today without the "out of the box" radio teachings of Steven "Keke Luv" Kicklighter!!! He was the PD that brought my twin brother "KJ" and I to Alaska back in 98' to be a part of a now INFAMOUS brotherhood of radio FREAKS as well as the driving force to make us the 1st twins in morning radio with "Power 99 Nonstop HipHop" Memphis TN!!! Luv Daddy you are THEBOMB.COM.
I'd also like to say thank you to the amazing/genius Mark Adams for letting me be a part of my 1st syndicated morning show "PK's Playhouse" in Portland, OR. He went out on a limb choosing me to replaceE-Bro when he made his transition to New York. This experience changed my outlook on the world of radio forever, being able to work alongside an amazing group of broadcasters and the MOST INSANE masters of our craft, PK!!! That dude is a FREAK of nature and is still someone I look up to. Thanks for me letting into your world.
Finally I'd like to say thank you to my radio family here in Anchorage at Ohana Media group. These guys are a great team to work with daily and we vibe consistently to make Alaska dance. To Tom Oaks, Trila Bumstead, and Bill Sigmar thanks for believing in me for so many years and I look forward to many more to come! I couldn't ask for a better radio family to be apart of. Thank you, Ohana. God Bless.
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