Toni Lodge & Ryan Jon launch new podcast
KIIS Melbourne’s Mornings presenter Ryan Jon has a new podcast project alongside former radio producer Toni Lodge.
Lodge previously worked as the imaging producer on the Jase & PJ Breakfast show on KIIS and then moved on to become the EP of the She’s On The Money suite of podcasts, working alongside Jon.
The duo’s new project, Toni & Ryan, aims to capitalise on their recent viral videos on social media.
“We recorded a demo and decided to post it online,” Jon told Radio Today. “The clips have been viewed over 20 million times on Instagram and TikTok, and we thought ‘Well, we might as well make the thing’.
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“Toni is so much fun to be around. I end up in tears of laughter most times we hang out. Being allowed to sit in a studio with her is both an honour and a pleasure.”
The podcast description notes the two are “just friends”, which Lodge said shines through on the podcast.
“Ryan and I have formed a great friendship and I think you can hear that,” she said. “Everyone has been so supportive of the podcast and I’m super excited to see what we can do with it.”
Lodge previously hosted the One Trick Toni podcast solo.
KIIS’ parent company ARN has previously flagged its intentions to use podcasts as a way of vetting and sourcing future on-air radio talent.
Chief content officer Duncan Campbell previously told Radio Today he would be looking at ARN’s podcast lineup as soon as possible.
“There’s obviously a lot going on in radio and obviously as we move towards a digital future, podcasting and streaming – they have their own challenges – but they are in many ways exciting, because we’ll be looking this year at our podcast repertoire and looking at talent, podcasting talent, and seeing whether we can place any of those on the network,” he said back in March. “I think the future talent for radio will come from podcasting, so we have to have some plans in place for that this year.”
The iHeartPodcast Network will be responsible for sales and some other elements of the show, however it is billed as an independent production.
Great move by ARN.
They might not have a regional talent pipeline but this combo could easily be a radio show in the future.
You love to see it
Toni is the real deal. Have listened to her podcast for awhile now. Funniest women not on radio, so many breakfast and drive shows just aren’t that funny. She sure is.
ARN has 0 input in this show… seems someone in their team is pushing this HARD. Just another podcast to add to the mix.. there’s already plenty of radio talent floating around. Good luck to them and i listened to the first ep but its very green. Not ready for radio by any means
Lady Toni Lodge knows comedy.
I’ve been listening to her solo podcast since early this year now.
Guaranteed LOL’s that will make you laugh at inappropriate times.
hey Sssss – I didn’t hear anything that sounded remotely green on this pod. Toni is genuinely funny- she has all the trademarks of a metro breakfast host, and Ryan is the perfect foil for her. It’s all subjective but to my ears I think these guys are a winning combo.
Toni worked and learnt the ropes at ARN and Ryan works at ARN’s KISSFM in Melbourne. Good work ARN. I listened and it is a breath of fresh air. Much better than hearing “ influencers “ on radio. She’s bloody funny and I think all of us in Melbs can do with a lockdown laugh atm. Craigs right nothing green about this podcast.
KIIS 101.1 Breakfast next year?
ARN have developed some good names like Mitch, Brooklyn, Ryan, Will & Woody, Mike E & Emma, Toni and Gordie. They have done better than SCA’s pipeline what a joke.
I loved it ! Ryan is very impressive .