Brad Wood: “Every single person at SCA Brisbane makes each day enjoyable”

Brad Wood takes enormous pride in the fact he has, for seven years now, held down a full-time metro announcing role in one of Australia‘s biggest radio markets.

Brad, the Mornings Announcer and Operations Manager at Brisbane’s B105, tells Radio Today “It’s astounding to me.”

Brad – who’s on the autism spectrum and previously battled ADHD – is refreshingly open when it comes to talking about the daily challenges that go hand in hand with being neurodivergent.

“It’s a very typical ADHD trait, but I do sometimes suffer from sensory overload.”

“I find that I work a lot better in a quiet environment than I do among lots of noise and energy.”

“It’s not that I can’t work among the liveliness of the world, but you’ll unlock my efficiency cheat code if I’m given the appropriate environment.”

Brad’s also a stickler for organisation and routine.

“If I’m able to keep my inbox close to zero, my work environment tidy and my daily duties in a checklist, I’ll be at my best,” he says.

Subsequently, calendars and task lists play a huge part in Brad’s efforts to keep everything under control.

Brad grew up in Melton, in Melbourne’s outer western suburbs.

As a Melbourne girl myself, I must say Brad’s local knowledge both amused me and floored me.

“Melton is most famous as the home of harness racing, and where the ‘M’ in ‘Big M’ comes from!” he enthuses.

“It’s the furthest you travel before Melbourne turns into ‘regional’ Victoria. We’re definitely a ‘heartland’ area.”

Brad was obsessed with radio from a very young age.

“I grew up on a healthy diet of three radio stations – the legendary 89.9 Hitz FM, 101.1 TTFM, and the mighty 101.9 The Fox, and that developed a lifelong love of pop music and 90s dance and urban tracks.”

But Fox was the station that won his heart.

“It has always been at the heart of Melbourne, and you can’t help but be roped into its infectious energy,” Brad says.

“I used to listen as much as I could and call the station to request songs from my bedroom.”

“The day I made Tracy and Matt’s daily promo in the 90s is something I’ll dine out on for the rest of my days!”

Brad also discovered very early on that he had a knack for bringing information to people.

“My parents tell me how I was a whiz guiding people with the Melway street directory, and I would sit in my room and emulate Barry Bissell‘s back announces on my Radio DJ unit.”

Having also dabbled in some child acting, Brad likes to think his career path in media was determined long before he even knew it himself.

When Melton got its own community radio station, it was a game changer for young Brad.

“I called the station one day, and simply asked for a show!” he remembers.

“I was kindly told that I should at least come in and learn some codes, do some panel training and all the rest.”

After completing an eight-week introductory course, Brad spent the next eight years learning the basics in between school and work.

Once he graduated, Brad truly started to believe radio could be his full-time job.

Through work placements with 3NE, 102.1 Edge FM and 102.5 Classic Rock, he was able to build an aircheck which caught the attention of 98.1 Power FM in Muswellbrook.

That commercial radio career he’d dreamt about was suddenly a reality.

Today, he remains immersed in the industry he loves, determined to make the most of the connection radio offers.

“Having my finger on news, traffic, what’s happening and what’s being talked about in town – it’s part of the thrill of live radio, and I try to emulate that in whichever location I have the chance the broadcast in,” he says.

Brad says the Operations Manager role is almost built for someone with ADHD.

“It’s very technical, you have the chance to work towards the building of the radio station’s on air sound, and it gives me a fantastic all-around view of the station, and how it operates from every angle – breakfast, workday, drive, weekends.”

Exceptional is how Brad describes the team at SCA’s Brisbane office.

“Every single person makes each day fun and enjoyable.”

“And the B105 content team are the most talented group of creators I’ve been blessed to work with. Every person in Content and Brand Experience who touches the B105 product are the best in their league.”

“We are very lucky here.”

More recently, sports-loving Brad has taken on an NRL role as Match Day host with the Dolphins.

“Joining the Dolphins was akin to starting a brand new radio station from the ground up and being given the opportunity to be a custodian of the club ‘s product in its foundation years,” he says.

“That’s incredibly exciting and fulfilling.”

“I’m the Ground Announcer, and will sometimes join the exceptional Annabelle Brett (pictured above with Brad) on-camera as a Game Day MC.”

“I’ll be the one booming through the stadium speakers, announcing the team lineups, tries, interchanges, and hyping up the crowd throughout the game.”

And working in radio has been the perfect training ground.

“Each day, you are bringing excitement and fun to your listeners, and the same goes for the game day experience.”

So, what is Brad’s message to someone with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) who wants to work in radio?

“If radio is your one passion in life, throw your everything into it!” he says.

“Neurodivergent people are known for having specialist subjects or pursuits they love to the level of total obsession, and I don’t think you’ll find another kind of person who will give you their absolute dedication like a neurodivergent person will.”

“Have the belief in your own ability – you might find you’re smarter than you, or other people, give you credit for!”

Brad observes that society is simply is not built for a neurodivergent person, and it’s important to better accommodate the needs of those who struggle with sensory processing in everyday life.

“Step outside at any time, and you’ll notice we’re all bombarded by thousands of smells, sights and sounds all at the same time.”

“For most of the world, this is what we’ve come to accept as everyday life, but for some neurodivergent people, a simple walk down the street can be absolutely terrifying.”

“If the world could turn down the volume in some small ways, like supermarkets have done with ‘quiet hours’ and employers have done by building ‘quiet rooms’ in offices, and even considering how much we visually bombard people within our public spaces, I think every single person could benefit.”

Catch Brad 9am-12pm Weekdays on Brisbane’s B105