10 Questions with ... Rat And Puff

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

EMAIL: Puffontheradio@gmail.com & Ratontheradio@gmail.com

Hi friends, The Rat And Puff Show all began at the sixth grade lunch table where a very skinny boy named Jeff met a very portly handsome young man named Josh. The two instantly became best friends and wound up going to the same college together in South Jersey where they both did a Thursday afternoon show on a station called 91.5 WDBK "The Beat Of South Jersey." Neither of us expected to go into radio, it sort of just fell into our laps where we learned to absolutely LOVE IT. One night we heard a show come on the radio in Philly on Q102 (WIOQ FM) called "The Freak Show." The show (Tic Tak, Mikey & Big Bob) arrived from Detroit (WDRQ) and wanted interns so we thought why not! Once we were in the door we hustled to become board ops and made demo after demo. AND THEN IT HAPPENED, weekends, to swing, to fill in night show to our very first full time gig. After flying all over the country we got the call that changed our lives from WFLZ in Tampa. We became the longest running night show in the history of WFLZ. The show was always on go no matter what 24/7 and we branched out doing weekend/swing on stations like Power 96.1 in Atlanta, 103.5 Kiss-FM in Chicago and a national mixshow called "The Show" with our pal DJ Goofy White Kid. We were also honored with being on Kiss XM Channel 21. But with life there are chapters and our next was to go back to Philly and move to afternoons on Q102 (WIOQ FM). It felt amazing to be able to "go home" and not many get to do that. After afternoons in Philly it was time for the biggest step in our careers, mornings on 98.7 WDZH FM in Detroit where you can find us every morning from 5-10a and on everything social 24/7 @RatAndPuffShow.

1) How would you describe your first radio gig?

An intimidating adrenaline rush unrealistic dream that raised us. We were allowed to make mistakes, we learned to fall and get back up and found out we love giving a voice to everyone who listens to our show. We left a huge footprint on a city and the people in it because we never once felt bigger or better than anyone and hold that same philosophy today! We also learned we loved to tie in social in a different way and incorporate our station site where most people viewed it as a "chore." We truly became "Us" with our first full time gig at WFLZ in Tampa.

2) How would you describe the radio landscape in your market?

This is by far the most challenging market we have ever been involved with. Not to discredit any of the awesome cities we have been on, but the motor city is legit the motor city for a reason. Over 90+% of our listening audience listens in their cars to work or school and every point A to point B is a 30 minute commute (no, public transportation isn't as big). On top of that we have a number of heritage mornings shows. Detroit is however not like any other market and makes every person who cracks a mic here a warrior.

3) What makes your station unique? How would you compare it to other stations you've worked at?

Well we were blessed with always being a part of heritage stations. This however is a different chapter in our lives and has been a fight from day one. One thing that we love to preach is our station is live and local and we have a great social relationship with everyone who listens. The way our station touches the community is like no other station here in Detroit and sets us apart.

4) What's one thing that would surprise many people to learn about you?

Rat: Very cheap, and an admitted lover of most dollar stores.

Puff: A 350+ vegetarian but doesn't make it a point to tell people unless a fellow veg head breaches the topic thus eliminating the "every vegetarian loves to tell people" stigma.

5) Who would be a "dream guest" to have on your show?

Rat: Oprah, and I have loved her since the theme song on her show "I'm every woman." I however wondered why it would always change. I'd have to ask her why because it really motivated me at 4pm after school every single day.

Puff: Hands down and probably the corniest answer known to man but Howard Stern. To just get 5 minutes with that man would mean everything. To just talk "real" and pick his brain would be surreal. We actually got to eat dinner with Kevin Metheny "Pig Vomit" (if you don't know who that is please learn) in Cleveland and he was part of offering us nights at 96.5 Kiss FM with Bo Mattews.

6) Who were your mentors? Who would you say has influenced your career the most?

There truly are so many which we are very fortunate to be able to say. Tic Tak (Mark Allen) who is in Alpha Media along with Mikey & Bob who do mornings on (WKST) were all mentors to our early career and friends for life (yes actual friends). Tommy Chuck, iHeart Media SVP of programming Tampa/Sarasota was truly someone who helped light fire in us both on and off the air and is the definition of a true coach. Finally Tim Roberts (WYCD) radio hall of famer and OM has helped guide us through our life in morning radio here in Detroit .

7) Do you have a favorite hobby outside of radio?

Rat: Hands down obsessed with the game show network and 90's television as well as talking to my mom on a daily basis.

Puff: Hiking, beer festivals, concerts, traveling, cooking and sports, and also exercise and SPACE. We both love the WWE & eating a good cannoli.

8) What is the one truth that has held constant throughout your career?

Staying true to ourselves. Being brutally honest even if it makes us look bad and being able to laugh at ourselves all the time. Having strong integrity!

9) What advice would you give people new to the business?

Don't be a sheep! Stand out! Make noise and have a mind of your own. It is your career and often it's put in the hands of people no smarter than yourselves. STAY HUNGRY!

10) What is the current state of the radio 'talent pool'?

We have a strong talent pool with a ton of great talent in every market. We both believe it is currently stronger than television. There is so much talent that isn't in major markets that need to be heard! One thing that bums us out is the difficulty with interns and our industry. It was such an amazing door that is practically shut for so many. It's how we got started and how so many people reading this got started. Some of our biggest achievements are watching our old interns/people who were a part of our show grow and thrive in this crazy industry! So sending love to Corey B at B96 in Chicago, Lauren "Lo" at Live 955 in Portland, Tyler (Eggs! You'll always be eggs to us) at KRBE in Houston and Rachel Marie at 107.3 Cat Country in Atlantic City.

What was your last non-industry job?

We once worked together at an adult video store called Risque Video. We have seen it all and that's part of the reason why we are freaks. We had athletes come into the shop as well as our old vice principal come in and buy every movie and toy known to man. It's safe to say nothing weirds us out at all!