10 Questions with ... Brian Haddad, Ali Mattacola & Justin Nettlebeck

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Brian This is my second act at WKQX. My first run was from 1999-2005 in Afternoons and as Creative Director under the moniker "Sludge." The job that got me to Chicago was Nights/Creative Director at WRCX, and before I left I did Mornings at WZZN "The Zone." Prior to returning to, Chicago I was at Sportsradio WIP in Philadelphia as a sports/talk host and Creative Director for 7 years. I also spent time in Mornings in Phoenix at KDKB and Detroit at WLLZ.

Ali Didn’t make the high school soccer team so I got an internship at the University Of MN at their AM station, 770 Radio K, doing “The Breakfast Club Show.” Then I spent five years at 92.9 KJEE in Santa Barbara. After that, I was in Los Angeles for two years working in music management, before returning to Minneapolis. I was in Middays at 93X, and then moved to the Half-Assed Morning Show. After 9 years at KXXR, I'm in Chicago!

Justin I was very lucky to start as an intern for the legendary radio station 99.9 KISW in Seattle. My internship actually stemmed from having KISW morning Host BJ Shea on my podcast as a guest. From there I was hired by Fitz In The Morning as an Associate Producer. I went on to become the Executive Producer for Marco, Jackie and Moote in Seattle. In 2016 I joined the Syndicated Rock Show The Free Beer And Hot Wings. Finally, Chicago! November 2018 I moved to Chicago to work with two strangers who quickly became family.

1. How did you first become interested in radio?

Brian Growing up I was always they guy that wanted to make people laugh. I also played guitar in bands. When I got to college the love of both those things found me in the lobby of my college radio station at Bowling Green State University. I had no plan. I tried it and was terrified with all 4 people listening and was instantly addicted. I went all-in pretty quickly.

Ali I used to call in and request Smashing Pumpkins constantly to the local alternative station. No doubt, I was that annoying kid. Radio was kind of like a perfect mix for me to fall into though, since I love live music, and performing.

Justin - When I was a little kid Tom Leykis had a radio show in Seattle and I was obsessed with him! I was once suspended in the 6th grade for trying to spread “flash me Friday’s”. I was always drawn to storytelling. Then when I saw the movie “Private Parts” I knew radio was my “purpose”.

2. Congrats on your one year anniversary as a morning team. Explain your role on the show.

Brian Thanks! It's crazy that we're a year in. I'm so blessed to be working with Ali and Justin, and I can't thank Troy Hanson and Marv Nyren enough for putting us together. I'm the "Quarterback" or "Mic 1" or whatever you want to call the driver of the show. My voice will be heard first and setup whatever we're doing in the break. We try to create great mic balance in every break so everyone has a chance to contribute. I put together the show plan every morning. I also produce bits and imaging for the show. A home studio is a must!

Ali THANK YOUUUU!! The voice of reason… usually. I also do trivia in KnowitAli and WTF news.

Justin I’m the problem child. It’s wild; I get paid to do the same stuff I got punished for as a kid. My job is to mix things up, I create original content and I’m the executive producer. My main job is to push the shows mantra “funny first!”

3. How would you describe your on-air style?

Brian I have a lot of energy lol. I would hope people would describe me as funny, compelling, and having a large presence on the mic. I always shoot to not waste a second and make something memorable every time I'm making some noise out of my mouth.

Ali Probably more laid back, with sneaky one-liners. I like to ask the question that people miss between the lines or find the viewpoint that we haven’t thought about. Every once in a while I can rant Lewis Black style if need be.

Justin Transparent. If I’ve lived through it, I share it. The good, the bad and especially the ugly. I’m also energetic; I try to bring a fun, funny vibe to the air. My number one goal is to be funny. I want listeners to forget that it’s morning because mornings can suck. Who likes to wake up?

4. What is your show prep routine?

Brian I think most morning people would say their whole life is prep and that's the truth. Making notes on my iPhone and screenshotting and making vids constantly. The final few hours of the night I'll be on my laptop copying links, as the whole show does, to go over in the morning to make part of the show plan.

Ali We all start every night researching and send links or ideas that we want to do or talk about the next day. Wake up around 3, get in at 4, and then prep for two more hours before the show.

Justin Prep is 24/7 and is everywhere. Our lives are prep, the world is prep. We all use the same prep sites. The hard work is finding a compelling/funny story line to go along with it the prep you found. I like to create original content to go with the stuff I find online or on prep sites. My goal is to take a national story and somehow make it “ours.” I like to look at my own life, the lives of my cohosts, and people on the train. I think the key to my prep is my imagination.

5. Let’s talk about The KQX Morning Crew Glossary. AHOY! Jabroni. Dat Ass! You’re not wrong. Listen. Respek.Yeah Yeah Yeah.

Brian These are the things that for whatever reason are memorable to the audience. "Nomenclature". Whether we say it or the say it. For some reason it resonates. "AHOY!" became our "hello" when Justin thought it was an Irish saying on St. Patty's Day. He said it once, we laughed, and now it's iconic. Who knew?!

Ali You’re not wrong. Listen. Respek.Yeah Yeah Yeah. It's our way of including listeners in on the private jokes. This time last year there was a giant snow storm and we named it “Jabroni” -- that was our first one.

Justin AHOY cracks me up! I blurted out “ahoy” on St. Patrick’s Day thinking it was an Irish saying. Turns out it isn’t. Our listeners grabbed a hold of it and they turned “AHOY” into how we say hello. That’s why when you listen you hear listeners say AHOY instead of hello. You’re not wrong. That originated from us never wanting to admit we are wrong.

6. What is your favorite part of the show?

Brian We have so many benchmarks and create new daily and weekly content. But honestly my favorite part is interacting with the audience on the phone. The power of radio to connect with people in real-time is powerful. It's one of our biggest assets! I still get the same rush as I did on my college show.

Ali Our producer Abe! He’s the man behind the scenes that creates a lot for us. I laugh every time I go back in his studio. He and our phone screener, Eddie, are a huge part of what we do. When I look in and I see them creating something, it makes me excited.

Justin My favorite part of the show is interacting with the listeners. Their involvement in the show is vital. Nothing feels better than working hard to create an original bit and have listeners love it. I live for that!

7. What annoys you most during the morning show?

Brian When you work really hard on something and don't get the reaction you were hoping for. What a bummer. The funny thing is something you do that's spontaneous and quick and then THAT turns into the biggest thing on the show that day! Insane right?

Ali Time. There’s never enough time to get everything done. I also hate the feeling of doing a bit then realizing a better way of executing it, after it’s over.

Justin The person who drinks all the coffee and doesn’t make more. I like coffee.

8. What is the most rewarding part of your job?

Brian I can't even describe how joyful the feeling is when someone comes up to you or sends you a message and says that we "get them through the morning. You guys are hilarious." Wow. The best feeling ever. People in Chicago have brutal commutes. And they have many choices. I'm honored they choose us.

Ali The hope is that we relate with people and make them laugh. I honestly, just want our listeners to feel good and maybe have a moment in the car where they don’t think about anything they have to do that day and instead just laugh with us. That’s what it’s all about, making a connection.

Ali The hope is that we relate with people and make them laugh. I honestly, just want our listeners to feel good and maybe have a moment in the car where they don’t think about anything they have to do that day and instead just laugh with us. That’s what it’s all about, making a connection.

9. Who is your favorite on-air personality and why?

Brian Obviously back in the day Howard Stern was it. And when I moved to Chicago I worked with Mancow and it was inspiring. Today I think Toucher And Rich are great. Dave And Chuck The Freak. I had a chance to work with Adam Carolla once and still listen to the podcast. I also worked with Woody and have a lot of respect for him. Who doesn't love Joe Rogan?! I think the things they all have in common is bringing creativity, and "the funny." And I assume they all embrace the grind. I love hosts that are compelling and funny and take chances

Ali Adam Carolla. I listened to Loveline religiously and I also loved his rants on KROQ with Kevin And Bean. I would cry from laughing at some of his lines.

Justin My all-time favorite radio personality is Free Beer (Gregg Daniels) from The Free Beer And Hot Wings Show. It used to be Stern or Kidd Kraddick but then I worked with Free Beer. That man is lethal! He’s the quickest, funniest and snarkiest human I’ve ever met. He’s beyond talented. He also does play-by-play which has always been an interest in mine.

10. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _________?

Brian In 2020 I've gotten back to playing guitar every day. Let's see if I can put the damn phone down long enough to keep that going til the end of the year!!! Also, my George Foreman Grill.

Ali COFFEE.

Justin Dr. Pepper. It’s so delicious I swear it’s made of angel sweat.

What are weekends like for you?

Brian I just got engaged. And with the weekday schedule being difficult to spend time together, on the weekends we go all out. Chicago is a wonderful playground.

Ali Friday nights I sleep! I'm so tired! I'll do yoga in the morning, and try to find a new restaurant to go to at night. There's SO MUCH to try in Chicago!

Justin I eat my feelings on the weekends. I have a dumb theory of if I eat healthy during the week I can eat whatever I want on the weekends. I love spending the weekends on my motorcycle going as fast as Chicago traffic allows.

What are your favorite places to eat in the area?

Brian How can I keep this brief?!! THIS IS CHICAGO! But I'll just say Portillos. Its home.

Ali No Bones Beach Club, Cruz Blanca, Bad Hunter.

Justin I swear that my neighborhood Albany Park has the world’s best tamales. Yes it’s a little shady buying food from a cooler on a street corner but they are delicious! And for pizza nothing beats Pequods!

Rank your sports teams in order of passion.

Brian Cubs and Harry Caray are what got me interested in baseball. Michael Jordan IS the GOAT. I witnessed live the second Bulls three-peat. I did work for the flagship of the Eagles for 7 years and the Super Bowl season was an extraordinary journey. But da Bears were first.

Ali USWNT, Blackhawks, Arsenal.

Justin Seahawks, Bulls, White Sox, Mariners, Michigan State Basketball.

First record ever purchased?

Brian Cheap Trick at Budokan

Ali No Doubt, Tragic Kingdom

Justin - Hootie And The Blowfish - Cracked Rear View.

First concert?

Brian Bulletboys HAHAHAHA truth

Ali Warped Tour! I saw Bad Religion, and Jurassic 5!

Justin - Bryan Adams and Leanne Ryhmes

Favorite band of all-time?

Brian Van Halen. Without question the greatest rock band of all time and I wouldn't be here today without them. My music tastes go from Rachmaninoff to Radiohead but VH was the spark that hit the gasoline.

Ali Beastie Boys

Justin - Soundgarden

Anything else you would like to add?

Brian The addition of Abe Kanan to our show as Production/Content Creator last year cannot go without mentioning. We have a secret weapon behind the scenes. NO ONE has anyone like Abe in their arsenal.

Ali We've had a huge support from everyone here at the station throughout the past year. From promo, to sales, to management, everyone has been stellar. We're really lucky!

Justin This past year has been amazing! It’s not lost on me that it took a lot more than Brian, Ali and myself to make it happen. It took the entire team! From our producer/content creator Abe to our dead inside phone screener Eddie, our amazing promo and marketing team, our management and of course our listeners! Thanks for a great year! Let’s do it again and again!