1.  How did you become a kid’s radio guy?  Did you always know you wanted to be a in radio?  How old were you when you became serious about your profession?

God has funny ways of working. And as long as you put Him first, He will put you where He wants you to be. One day I got a little green box called a Multi-Track Cassette Recorder. I plugged a microphone into it, and I could record my funny voices and sounds, and create a whole show, which  became my first radio program, FunLight Radio. I was one of the characters, and did the voices for Flower, Professor Vienersnitzel, Stickery D. Weed, Ageless Oak, and others.

I didn’t plan to be a kid’s radio guy. But I was always doing funny voices and sound effects with my mouth, and I loved music, and using puppets. Those all came together when I was 34 years old, and created my first radio show. Now I’m known as Bongo Rod on The Coconut Hut Radio Show. You can find out what stations carry the show, and even listen on-line Saturday mornings at www.coconuthutradioshow.com. I’m so glad God has allowed me to have so much fun on the radio, thank You Lord!

2.  What other jobs have you had?

Before I got into radio, I was performing with hand puppets, and I still do lots of puppet shows. That’s one way I get to do what I love to do: make people laugh! Other jobs I’ve had? Let’s see. Oh yeah, selling hot dogs in the park, looking through a microscope at little red electronic parts, washing big pots and pans in a cafeteria, and doing puppets on TV. As a kid, I didn’t know I’d be doing all that. But when you give your life to God, He turns life into an adventure.

3. How do you spend your days (or nights) at work?   What is your favorite part of your job?

When I’m working on The Coconut Hut Radio Show, I look for cool new songs to play on the air, I send emails to record companies to get new prizes to give away, and I put new images on the website. When I’m working on my new animated TV Show, The Brilliant Adventures of Captain FlashLight, I work with my artist friend Parker as he draws characters and storyboards, and I work on Pro Tools software to put the audio soundtrack together. It’s fun! See our first video at: www.captainflashlight.com.

4.  What kinds of materials or equipment is required for your job?  Any special training required to use the equipment?

When you produce audio and video, you need the one thing you probably already have: a computer! If you can learn a lot about your computer, you will better understand the world of radio, TV or film. Of course, you can start working in radio, TV or film right now! With your parent’s help, download free programs like Audacity to create your own radio show, and Windows Movie Maker or I-Movie to start making TV shows and movies. Get started today!

5.  What’s your work schedule?  Do you also have a hobby outside of work?

I work at the radio station Monday through Thursday, then Friday is my day for other projects like writing stories, making artwork, or making wacky music on Garage Band. Oh, yeah, I mow the lawn and clean up the garage, too! Saturday mornings I drive up to the radio station before 6AM, yikes, that’s early. I get home around noon, and can’t wait to eat lunch, and have fun with my family. Sunday are fundays, with church in the morning, and a short snoozer in the afternoon. :0)

6.  How long does take to write a radio show?

I work the whole week on the radio show, updating the website, asking for prizes to give away, planning the show, and doing audio production. For our three minute radio feature, “The Brilliant Adventures of Captain FlashLight,” I spend about one hour in production for each minute of finished audio. It takes even longer than that to produce one minute of video, it can take hours and hours!

7.  What’s the funniest experience you had as a radio host?

One time I asked a young child who was calling in, “Where are you calling from?” I was thinking they would tell me the city and state, but they answered, “The kitchen.”

8.  What advice would you give a kid who is thinking about your profession?

If you want to get into radio, or TV or movies, start now. Use what you have, don’t wait until you’re older. If you want to be a writer, start writing your story. If you want to be a musician, start working on your music. Ask your parents and then download free recording software, like Audacity, to your computer. You may have movie making software, like Windows Movie Maker on your computer already. What ever you want to do, don’t wait. Ask God’s help, parent’s advice, and go for it!

9.  Tell us your favorite experience as a radio host.

It’s hard to think of one favorite experience, but whenever I get to talk to kids on the radio, or after one of my puppet shows, or just anywhere, those are some of the greatest moments of my life. Especially if they laugh.

10.  In what environment do you work best?

When I’m going to write a story, or work on audio, or dream something up, it’s nice to be in a quiet place. But then sometimes, great ideas come along even in the busiest or noisiest moments! Other times great ideas come along when you are sitting around brain-storming with crazy friends. That’s really fun!

11.   Are you a Christian and how does your Christianity blend into your work?  

I asked Jesus in to my heart when I was in high school. That was the greatest day of my life! Since then, I’ve tried to always follow Him, and obey His Word. This is cool: when I ask Him to be the center of what I’m doing, no matter what it is, that something is always better. Always.

12.  Whom do you wish to emulate?

That’s easy. I want to be like Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate role model. You can never go wrong acting like Him! And what about this: when You spend time with Him every day, reading the Bible, praying, worshipping Him, you start to become more like Him. Wow!

13.  Do you read?  Who are your favorite author(s), including both children and adult titles.

Reading is one of my favorite things to do. First of all, reading the Bible. Here’s the cool thing about that: even if you’ve already looked at a Bible passage or a Bible story before, when you read it, there’s something new and fresh about it. Like God is saying something new through the same words. No other book does that! I also like C. S. Lewis’ series The Chronicles of Narnia, the Winnie The Pooh series, and junior novels from movies like Disney Pixar’s Up or Toy Story. Oh, and I like those “The Art of...” type books, like “The Art of Toy Story,” those big heavy books with lots of pictures that show you all the artwork that was made before the movie came out.

14.  How do you relax and recharge?

When I need to relax… and recharge my batteries… and get some rest… and find strength for another day… or pull back and just really take it easy… I… go… to… SLEEP!