10 Questions with ... Justin Brown

1. Please tell us about your career journey?

I started in college radio in 1990 in Jacksonville, AL. After a year, I received a job offer at a local station doing weekends and being the color guy for Friday night football. After a year, I got the call to full-time doing Afternoon Drive. I had to get permission from the professors to leave class early to be on the air. They thought that was pretty cool. From there, I worked in Gadsden, AL for a CHR; Birmingham, AL for an AC; Amarillo, TX for a CHR; Rome, GA for a Country; back to Birmingham for Classic Rock, and finally landed the job at WDJC on July 21, 2003.

2. Share the most challenging part of your career.

Probably moving around the country. This youngest of the family never planned to move 1,000 miles away from home.

3. The best coaching advice you've ever received was…

Life my life out on the radio. When I first started, the GM said you either have a personality, or a voice. Not both. I had a good voice, so I was relegated to being a card reader. Getting to share my life really got me out of my comfort zone.

4. How do you continue learning and growing?

Always listen to other stations, listen to people that I admire who know a lot more than me, and basically, listen.

5. What’s one thing you wish you’d known about radio when you first started?

That everyone doesn’t make Howard Stern money. ;)

6. Tell us about someone in our industry who you really respect and why?

I really respect Chris Hauser. He has become more than just someone that I do tracking calls with. He has become a good friend and he is someone who will do life with you. He has prayed for me, listened to me gripe and complain, and he has celebrated with me in the wins. I told him that when I grow up, I wanna be Chris Hauser!

7. What would surprise people most about you?

I am an introvert. I get completely freaked out when I have to get on stage in front of crowds at a concert (remember those?) to introduce a band. Don’t even ask me to come speak to your group. I will find an excuse to get out of it so people won’t have to watch my face turn red and start dripping with sweat.

8. What’s on your nightstand?

Readers, the remote, and probably something that my daughter left there from her bedtime snack the night before. Oh, and probably a book that my wife wants me to read. I’m pretty sure there has been one there for the last four years.

9. What are you most excited about this year?

Getting to go somewhere for vacation.

10. What do you do for fun?

I love to fire up the smoker and cook ribs.