10 Questions with ... Matt Hirt

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

UCLA Radio, Los Angeles, CA (1997-2001) Night show host
KDON/Salinas, CA (2001-2002) Morning Show Producer/Co-Host
KKFR/Phoenix, AZ (2002-2020) Imaging Director/Morning Show Co-Host/Morning Show Producer/Production Director/Sales Executive
Tino Cochino Radio (2020-Present) Executive Producer/Co-Host

1. What got you into radio?

I used to do the morning announcements at my high school. Instead of just reading the announcements in a monotonous tone, I turned it into a "show". The KDON morning host at the time, Dr. Maimes, was on campus recording some audio and heard me. He invited me to hang in studio with him during his show, and that's where I caught the bug.

2. What did you dream of becoming when you were a kid?

I either wanted to play center field for the Giants or become a veterinarian. I sucked at both baseball and science, so that was a bit of a dream-killer.

3. Learn anything about yourself during the pandemic?

I learned to look at the silver linings in bad situations. Being able to be home with my wife and kids was certainly a blessing. Also, I learned my metabolism is slow AF!

4. What lead you from Prunedale, CA to UCLA?

An SAT score that was too sh*tty for Stanford, but just good enough for UCLA. I knew I wanted out of Central/Nor-Cal, and once I toured the UCLA campus, the decision was made.

5. Who are/were some of your radio mentors?

Bruce Maiman, Bruce St. James (a lot of Bruces), Dennis Martinez, Mark Garcia, Charlie Huero, Mikey Fuentes, Paul Holton and Howard Stern (never met him, but I learned a lot from "Private Parts").

6. TCR needs to field a team for Squid Game. Who's likely to carry the team?

Nobody, we'd all die.

7. If you weren't in radio, what do you think you'd be doing professionally?

Probably either a high-ranking Costco executive, or a teacher like my father before me.

8. What do you like to do in your spare time?

SPARE TIME? HAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA! I have 3 kids under the age of 9! Ok, but seriously, I'm a basic B -- Golf, Pickleball, and a nice Pumpkin Spice Latte (coconut milk, 2 pumps, no whip).

9. If you could be on any TV reality show or game show, which would you want to be on?

Double Dare from Nickelodeon back in the day. I'd watch that show every day after middle school. I always wanted to win those BK's!

10. In the Tino Cochino Radio family, who's the best dancer?

Tino, by far. It's on full display every weeknight on our IG live...6 pm PST. Usually, he's dancing to some 90's boy band, or my least favorite band of all time - Nickelback.

If you had to eat one type of meal every day for a month, what would it be?

That's easy. Mexican. Bean and cheese burritos all day, every day. Did I mention I was a basic B?