An interview with Matt Bradley

Hello Matt. Thanks for taking the time so we can talk to you.

You're welcome. I'm a big fan of your work.

Let's start with your background. Were you born here in NE Oklahoma?

As a matter of fact I was born less than a mile from the radio station at St. Francis. My 6 year old thinks that only girls are born there because it's pink.

How did you get into radio?

I got the bug when I was 12. I became obsessed with radio and wanted to be a late night DJ. When I was in high school, I heard that a radio station was doing a food drive less than a mile from where I was. I cut class and went to find them. I got invited to the radio station and started hanging out there. After a short time the manager started wondering who I was and asked me to leave.

Fast forward to my senior year in high school. I heard KRAV was looking for an afternoon DJ. I told the teacher I had to go to the bathroom and drove to the radio station. I was not hired for the position but I did get an internship. I faked papers to make it look like I was getting school credit. I learned a lot there. I then went to broadcast school and after that landed my first real paying radio job. I was pushing buttons on AM1430 for the Imus In The Morning show. I was doing that when the Oklahoma City bombing happened.

That had to be hard.

It was crazy. We were the closest station Imus had to Oklahoma City so he called and put me on the air! Coast to coast! What a way to start! After that I got interviewed by stations all over the country and even got job offers! We raised a lot of money and even have a nice memorial at LaFortune Park. I think it's still there anyway. I have not stopped to see in years.

Your personal life seems well organized.

Yes, I've been married for 13 years and have 2 children, one boy and one girl. They keep me busy.

You now are the afternoon DJ on K95.5FM. Did you ever think you'd be on the air there?

Never. I always thought I'd be Mr. Rock & Roll and Top 40 pop. However, todays music is just awful to me. Then you pop on K95 and you can actually hear what they are singing and you can relate to what they are singing about. Country artists get what life is like here in Oklahoma. I'll be honest, there are a few songs I turn down when they are on but for the most part I really enjoy the music. I also have a crush on Sara Evans, Martina McBride, Carrie Underwood and when she gets a bit older, Taylor Swift.

You are also a self admitted nerd?

Sure am! I still buy Batman and Star Wars comics. I still buy toys for myself from time to time as well. I have some loaned out to the boss of our rock station down the hall. She had nothing to put on her shelf so I brought in some toys for her. I love all the popcorn movies too! I have a sound system that will make me deaf someday and I love watching movies on it. I also love to go to midnight movies. There's an electricity in the air you don't get when you go other times. I also love trains! I can't explain it but I've always been a fan of the railroads. A good day for me is sitting next to train tracks watching the trains roll by. I take lots of pictures.

What about your music taste?

Oh, well, my music tastes are all over the place. I listen to anything and everything. I get a good dose of country music everyday thanks to K95 but I also listen to lots of other stuff from pop to classical.

Who are some of your favorite artists?

If I had to pick my favorite artist I'd go with Van Halen. I don't care who is singing for them, I love their music. I love Johnny Cash, Talking Heads, Maroon 5, John Williams, Huey Lewis, Garth... Lot's of different ones.

What's the last cd you bought?

Ouch. This is going to sound strange! I just bought the soundtrack to the first Crocodile Dundee movie! I love the love theme in that movie and have listened to it a lot over the past few days. It's classical and makes most people shake their heads.

First concert?

Cheap Trick at the university in Tahlequah. That was in 1988. I have all of my concert tickets still on my dresser in a Hard Rock Cafe hurricane glass. I also have my movie tickets from billions of movies I've seen.

With all that do you ever get outside much?

I have to go outside to get to work! (laughs) I'm not much of an outdoor person. I like to take my Dad's Vette for drives with the top down but I don't do camping and stuff like that. I'm weird that way.

Thank you for your time today. I hope we can do it again soon.

Whenever you want! I'm always willing to sit down and interview myself! Thanks self!