Welcome to Quick Q – Monday Media’s weekly Q&A series dedicated to finding out more about the personalities that matter most in the media landscape.
Every week, The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age ask key figures across corporate media, business, sport, federal politics, radio, television and culture to answer questions about their lives, careers, hobbies and news habits.
This week’s conversation is with Will McMahon, co-host of KIIS FM National Drive Show, which runs on weekdays from 4pm to 6pm.
How did you get your big break?
I wish I had a more glamorous story. But Monash Comedy Law Revue. Sketch comedy show in Richmond. Steve Vizard and my now manager Mark Klemens were in the audience that night. Afterwards, they just walked up to us and said, “you know you boys could do that for a living?” and that’s all she wrote.
What are your daily news media habits?
Too much Reddit. I also listen to 7am and (this is a sponsored bit) I trawl The Age feed daily.
Which living person do you most admire?
Wow. Such a tough question. Probably Sam Harris – not for his political leanings!!! – but for turning meditation from a sacred/secret art into an accessible tool which anyone can access. His app “Waking Up” is a masterpiece.
Your guilty streaming pleasure?
Anything fantasy or scifi: GoT, Lord of the Rings, Expanse, Severance, Wheel of Time (to name a few).
Which phrase do you overuse?
“You can’t teach your grandma to suck eggs” – not sure if she was ever any good at it or how one actually sucks an egg. Practically teaching her to suck an egg also seems a bit perverted. But I don’t think anyone knows what it means, so you can use it anywhere.
What did you want to do when you grew up?
Marine biologist.