Crunch & Roll

S02 E10 - Chris Brooks

We're always interested to hear how our guests get the radio 'bug', but it's fair to say if you gave us a million guesses as to Chris Brooks' story, we wouldn't have got it. WOW.
This episode is the inspiring story of Chris' single-minded determination to achieve his dream of saying "ninety-five point eight" on the radio. Along with obvious talent and resolve, there was some pretty amazing bits of luck on the way too, along with a heart-warming chat with *checks notes* Parky(?!)
Also hear how he first blagged his way on air, much to his bosses displeasure; a scary story from a stag-do in Vegas; and how he had a member of a boy-band review video games on his show.
And listen right to the end for a bonus George Michael story.
Contains strong language and adult content.
 
As well as being the big cheese at Radio Essex, he also presents The Big Drive Home: https://www.radioessex.com/bigdrivehome/
He also presents The UK Hot 40 Countdown on loads of stations around the world: https://www.theukhot40.com/
AND, somehow finds the time to present the excellent A-Z of Men Podcast: https://podfollow.com/1589076478/view
Chris is on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChrisBrooksDJ
And on the 'Gram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisbrooksdj/
 

S02 E09 - David Dixon

Nobody calls him David... unless he's in trouble. So from here on in, we'll use the moniker he's more commonly known by - Dixie.
Dixie is one of the rare breed who are still plying their trade on the radio, after a long and successful career. He must be good!
If you've not heard him on the radio before, then we reckon this episode might make you want to seek him out on Heart Yorkshire, where he co-presents the local Drive show with Emma Lenney. His stories are BRILLIANT.
Find out about the (luke)warm welcome he got when starting work experience at his local station; the madness of trying to broadcast to Brighton in a studio that maybe wasn't quite up to the task; and how he had his eye on a personalised number-plate for when he inevitably got his a gig on Kiss. Although, we don't ever remember hearing him on Kiss...
Contains strong language and adult content.
 
Listen to Dixie & Emma on Heart Yorkshire, weekdays 4-7 - https://www.heart.co.uk/yorkshire/ 
Dixie is on Instagram, like all the cool kids: https://www.instagram.com/dixieonline/

S02 E08 - Kam Kelly

The great thing about podcasting is we can see exactly where in the world people are listening.
Crunch & Roll obviously has a strong following in the UK, but we also have listeners in such far-flung places as South Africa, Indonesia and French Guiana.
But we also know there's a small but perfectly formed cohort of listeners about as far away from 'home' as it's possible to be: the Falkland Islands. And one of that number happens to be this episodes guest, Kam Kelly.
But how did he get there? (Don't say aeroplane.) Well, he went in hard, starting his career at Radio 1 and ended up on the station he had always dreamed of being on as a kid. You'll have to listen to find out the rest.
He chats about the biggest star in the world upset his co-host; bringing presenters four-packs of cider while they're on air; and why you should never say the word 'camel' to him.
There's strong language in this episode.
 
Listen to Kam on BFBS: https://radio.bfbs.com/presenters/kam-kelly
If you've listened and wondered about the camel thing... Sorry Kam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1DQMhWAh-0
Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/kamkelly

S02 E07 - Daryl Denham

For some people having two chart hit records would constitute a great achievement.
Others would be over the moon having written several successful musicals.
And plenty would rest on their laurels after giving stand-up comedy a bash.
Not Daryl Denham though.
No, no, no. Not content with taking the charts, theatres and back-rooms of pubs by storm, he also had an incredible career in radio. Well, it would be weird if he didn't, what with this being a radio podcast and all...
In this episode Foxy chats to Daryl about how he's not a radio geek (I KNOW, RIGHT?); the strange and unwieldly item he bought on his last day at Hallam; and how his adults-only, late night show didn't go down well in Newcastle.
Contains some strong language.
 
Daryl's Twitter: twitter.com/DarylDenham
 

S02 E06 - Martin Kelner

Listeners to Five Live's Fighting Talk will know each episode ends with the two highest scorers defending a controversial or unpopular opinion in order to win the episode.
So, in that vain: Martin Kelner knows nothing about radio and deserved to be paid less than a horse.
Of course he knows nothing about radio. He's only spent the best part of half a century in the industry. Radio 2? Radio Who more like! So what if he introduced Caroline Aherne and Jake Yapp to us? Victoria Wood was absolutely right to walk out on his interview with her. And Edouard Lapaglie has carried him for years!
Actually, that might be a Defend the Indefensible too far.
Martin is, as Foxy puts it, radio royalty. So we insist you be upstanding while listening to this episode.
There's strong language and we must warn you that this episode includes the funniest story ever told on this podcast, so spare undergarments may be required.
 
See Martin's Tweets here: https://twitter.com/martinkelner
Hear Extra Time with Martin Kelner on TalkSport, Friday and Saturday nights from 1am.
Martin's books 'Sit Down and Cheer - A history of sport on TV' and 'When Will I Be Famous - Travels through the dark side of show business' are available to buy now. And his new book, 'Screen Break', will be available in mid-2023 so keep an eye out for that.
 

S02 E05 - Emma Scott

Emma Scott is not a police officer. She wanted to be but ended up on a YTS at her local radio station instead.
The constabulary's loss is certainly radio's gain.
We LOVED our chat with Emma. It's honest, hilarious and FULL of showbiz encounters. She certainly made her feelings about a certain red-haired, Mancunian crooner absolutely clear!
So get ready to find out which station she found soul destroying; which boss she called the very worst swear word; and what she thinks about the presenter at every radio station who drinks from a big Sports Direct mug.
There's strong language and adult content as usual.
 
Find out about Emma's excellent showcase for new, unsigned acts is here: https://www.plugginbaby.com/radio-show/. And if you're interested in joining the growing roster of stations hosting the show, she'd love to hear from you.
And she's written a book! Get it here: https://www.plugginbaby.com/product/if-it-was-my-band/
All her other socials can be found here: https://linktr.ee/emma_scott
 

S02 E04 - Stephanie Hirst (Part 2)

This is part two of John Fox's chat with Stephanie Hirst.
Part one covered her early career, so we pick up here with her time at Galaxy 105, Hit40UK and generally taking over the radio world.
She chats about leaving Viking for Galaxy ("It was all a bit of a mess"); explains the on-air magic she had with JoJo and Danny; and presenting the chart from Alan Partridge's studio.
There's some strong language and adult stories in this episode.
 
If you haven't heard Steph's first episode yet, here it is: https://crunchandroll.podbean.com/e/s02-e03-stephanie-hirst-part-1/
Everything you could possibly want to know about what Steph's up to nowadays is on her website: https://www.stephaniehirst.co.uk/
Listen to previous episodes of Belters on Hits Radio: https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/shows/steph-hirst-belters/
And her Thowbacks show is here: https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/shows/sunday-throwback/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephanieHirst
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie.hirst/

S02 E03 - Stephanie Hirst (Part 1)

We could write anything here and it wouldn't matter because you just want the sweet, sweet Stephanie Hirst content. But I'm duty-bound to write at least a few words on the first of two episodes featuring one of UK radio's biggest and most loved personalities.
In this episode: Toolan gives a young Steph some sage advice; how she pestered her way into a gig on Minster FM ("I AM what you're looking for"); and how her first, illicit, on-air shifts were curtailed by an itemised phone bill.
So enjoy this episode, and keep an eye out for part 2 coming soon after. You could subscribe so you don't miss it. Just a thought...
There's some strong language and adult stories in this episode.
 
Everything you could possibly want to know about what Steph's up to nowadays is on her website: https://www.stephaniehirst.co.uk/
Listen to previous episodes of Belters on Hits Radio: https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/shows/steph-hirst-belters/
And her Thowback show is here: https://planetradio.co.uk/hits-radio/shows/sunday-throwback/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/StephanieHirst
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stephanie.hirst/
 

S02 E02 - Lucio

All aboard the latest episode of Crunch & Roll!
It features Lucio chatting to John Fox about his eventful radio career and what he's up to now. See if you can work it out from the subtle clues in this description...
He's been on pretty much every major commercial station in Britain - XFM, Absolute, Capital, Kerrang, Galaxy... Actually, he's been on every commercial station in Britain as presenter of Hit 40 UK.
In this episode he tells us the story of how he almost got himself and his group PD shot; How he would wind up some guy called Ashley (who just so happened to pay his wages) on air; And how he got sacked by an all-staff email - YAY! RADIO!
Would he choo-choo-choose to make a return to radio or has his broadcasting career permanently hit the buffers? You'll find that out too.
There's strong language and adult content.
Enjoy the ride!

S02 E01 - Joel Ross

We often get messages to Crunch & Roll Towers, suggesting guests that people would like to hear featured. And the one name that comes up more than any other is Joel Ross.
Those who know him will know exactly why that is. And if you don't know him, you'll understand by the end of this episode.
One person who DM'd us said "I hear a lot of Joel's stories, they impress and horrify me in equal measure".
Joel is a 100mph story-telling machine, and his stories all happen to be solid gold. And for the cherry on the top, he doesn't really have a filter.
So, after a little bit of geekery at the beginning, strap in for the story of an eventful trip to Amsterdam with a well-known former colleague; How he had to deal with a bailiff at the door during a breakfast show; And the real story about his departure from Radio 1.
There's some fruity language and adult content, which we know is the reason you're here.
 
Find Joel on Twitter: twitter.com/joelrossradio
And listen to him on the Rock FM Breakfast Show, Monday to Friday, 6-10: https://planetradio.co.uk/rock-fm/