Meet the new starters: Cal, Carlie, Matt and Dom
We’ve welcomed some more new, talented faces to the Audio Always fold recently as our team continues to grow! Meet Dom, Carlie, Cal and Matt.
Dom Stirling joined us in November as Producer of BBC Radio 1’s Life Hacks. He has previously worked at Virgin Radio and Bauer Radio at Rock FM.
What originally got you interested in the world of audio?
“It was student radio that really got me excited about audio. I owe so much to Spark in Sunderland who just gave me the chance to try things, see what I enjoyed and basically put up with me!”
How would your 10-year-old self react to what you do now?
“As a football fan, I reckon he would be asking why I’m not a professional footballer playing on the left wing for Blackburn!”
What song is guaranteed to get you on the dance floor?
“It has to be Five and ‘Keep on Movin’! Can we appreciate how good that song is? Anyone who doesn’t enjoy this song is lying to themselves, so that.”
Is there an inspirational quote that you live by?
“I take my inspiration in life from Michael Scott, from TV series The Office US, who once wisely said ‘Sometimes I start a sentence and I don’t even know where it’s going. I just hope I find it along the way’. Deep.”
We would also like to introduce you to Carlie Foster, who has joined us as Guest and Talent Assistant Producer. Carlie worked as a freelance reporter for Bauer, before joining the BBC to work on various TV and Radio shows.
What originally got you interested in radio?
“I felt a lot of pressure growing up, so listening to Ricky, Melvin & Charlie on KISSFM having a laugh in the mornings and interviewing A-list pop stars while I was in the car on the way to school and college was really exciting, and a nice escape from all the studying.
“At college, I had to do an extended project where I had to ‘achieve a goal’. I didn’t know what to do, but I knew I really enjoyed the radio. I decided to plan and produce my own live three-hour local radio show with my twin sister at Cambridge 105 community radio station – I completely fell in love with it.”
How would your younger self react to your career now?
“I would be amazed about how cool, exciting and fun my job is. I’d also be quietly proud of myself!”
If you could have a superpower what would it be?
“It would be to be able to teleport anywhere – I’m here working up North while my family are down in Cambridgeshire so this would definitely make the three and a half hour journey easier! Also, I have a tendency to be late for many things outside of work!”
What are you listening to at the moment?
“I really enjoy listening to Fearne Cotton’s Happy Place podcast and I’m a regular listener to Life Hacks and Elis & John. I love the music and mental health chat. There isn’t one episode of Elis & John that doesn’t make me laugh out loud, and laughter is definitely needed during these testing times.”
Next up is Cal Monaghan, who joins the Audio Always team as our Partnerships Project Manager, after spending the last few years living and working in Australia!
What originally sparked your interest in the world of audio?
“Music has always been my first passion, but discovering The Ricky Gervais Show really made me want to pursue a career in podcasting.”
How would your 10-year-old self react to what you do now?
“He would be disappointed I never scored a goal for Liverpool, then ask what a podcast is!”
What are you listening to at the moment?
“At the moment, my favourite podcast is Bandsplain on Spotify, where experts explain why people love cult bands and iconic artists. I’ll always have The Craig Charles Funk and Soul show on in the background too.”
Next, we welcome Matt Tasker to the Audio Always family who has joined as a Producer. Prior to joining the team, Matt worked at Manchester United for seven years, producing their official podcast.
What originally sparked your interest in the world of audio?
“Growing up in Manchester I’d listen to my local radio station Key 103 a lot; JK & Joel while getting ready for school in the morning and then I’d stay up listening to James Stannage tearing apart listeners on his phone-in. As luck would have it – Key 103 would be my first job out of Uni!”
How would your 10-year-old self react to what you do now?
“10-year-old me would be chuffed that I’m doing something fun every day for work! And as a childhood Manchester United fan I know I’d be buzzing that I get to work on the club’s official podcast and meet all my heroes along the way.”
What are you listening to at the moment?
“Outside of my weekly football-pod digest, I’m a big fan of comedy podcasts. Adam Buxton, Richard Herring and Conan O’Brien are top of that list
What is your karaoke song of choice?
“It has to be ‘Tiny Dancer’ by Elton John!”
And finally, do you have any pets?
“I have two cats, called Dinah and Lieutenant Columbo.”
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Thank you to all the new faces at Audio Always for answering our questions! If you haven’t met our previous new starters, make sure you read the article all about Natalie, Sophie and Pete here.