10 Questions with Mitchell Coombs

Mitchell Coombs has been chasing the radio dream since doing work experience at 2GB.

A recent graduate of AFTRS, Coombs has already got his first gig at KIIS 1065, working with the ‘Kyle and Jackie O Show’.

He answers 10 Questions from Radio Today.

What’s the Mitchell Coombs story?

Just some loser from the country that was a radio fangirl and wanted to get amongst it. Hung around the local radio station in Parkes NSW like a bad smell then moved to Sydney in 2015 to study media at TAFE and later AFTRS.

How did you land the gig at KIIS 1065?

One of my TAFE teachers passed by résumé onto DB (KIIS content director) and he called me while I was at home in Bogan Gate saying “Hey mate, heard you wanna be a jock.” 
I said “Nup, not really, but have you got any digital producer gigs going?”


Then I just low-key harassed ARN until they finally hired me in July 2017. I worked with Mike E & Emma at the Edge 96.1 from November which I loved, then moved into my current role with The Kyle & Jackie O Show last month.

What does the job entail?

Producing videos based on Kyle & Jackie O’s on-air show plus out-of-studio/behind the scenes stuff for all of their social media channels.

What’s been the biggest buzz?

I have a bit of a pinch-myself moment every day to be honest. The Kyle & Jackie O givebacks are always a highlight though.

Have you found a mentor

My first taste of radio was when I emailed Ben Fordham asking if I could do work experience with him at 2GB when I was 15. My Mum and I travelled to Sydney for the week so I could work on his drive show.

Nowadays I couldn’t see myself working at a news-focused outlet like 2GB but I was super fascinated by the whole experience. Ben is super supportive of all of his work experience kids and we’ve kept in contact to this day. Bumped into him at the ACRAS and he told me he’s proud of me which meant a lot.

You’re a recent graduate from AFTRS, how did you find the experience?

It was great. I did the Advanced Diploma in Radio Essentials which pretty much gave us a taste of all the different roles in radio (announcing, paneling, audio & digital producing etc.) 10/10 recommend it over university for people wanting a hands on, creative-ish job.

What would be the dream job?

I’m happy with where I’m at now, not really thinking about what’s next!

Is there any one person who has inspired you?

I owe a lot to my TAFE teachers Natalie Pozdeev & Verity Chambers, plus Jess Campanaro from AFTRS. When you’re an anxious little mess like me, the support of your teachers can totally make or break your self-esteem! 

If you weren’t working in radio, what would you be doing?

I’d probably be a bitchy receptionist or hairdresser somewhere. 

Sum up working in radio in three words.

“Not too bad”

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Good stuff
23 May 2018 - 11:16 am

Nice story. Props to Ben Fordham for taking work experience people in, that’s one of his big pushes and it’s so nice to see big wigs in radio have time for that. Onya Ben

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