Every morning, more than 500,000 West Australians wake up to the voice of Curtin Marketing and Advertising graduate Pete Curulli.
Spending 20 years building a career behind the microphone, Pete has become one of WA’s most-listened-to radio hosts as co-host of Perth’s Mix 94.5 Breakfast show.
But the confident radio host behind the microphone wasn’t always the outgoing personality listeners know today.
Growing up, Pete described himself as a shy kid.
It wasn’t until a drama class in high school that he discovered his passion for performing.
“I credit my Year 10 drama class for building the foundation of my career,” he said.
“It gave me an understanding that there was a place for me and gave me the confidence to perform.”
Years later, this passion evolved into a successful radio career – proving that no dream is ever too big!
How did you get your foot in the door in Australia’s highly competitive media industry?
Growing up, I would spend every weekend helping at our family fish business at the Midland Military Markets.
Sadly, the markets burned down in 2007.
On Sunday afternoons, we would cut prices on our fish toward the end of the shift, and I remember getting on a crate and yelling through the speakers that we were cutting the prices – I used to get creative (laughs).
Weeks later, I was listening to a local community radio station, Groove 101.7, and heard an announcement that they were looking for radio hosts.
After sending more than 30 emails without a single reply, I decided to visit the station.
Eventually, they gave me a chance and put me on the air.
They offered me a Sunday night slot for a relationship show, which wasn’t exactly prime time, but it became one of the station’s highest-rated shows.
It was crazy because I was only 17 years old, had never had a girlfriend and knew nothing about relationships, but just enjoyed creating entertaining content and connecting with the audience.
What were the biggest challenges you faced in your early career?
When I was 24 years old, I moved to Canberra to be the music director on a radio drive slot.
I was living alone and poured my heart and soul into this job, but I didn’t want to be on a music shift for the rest of my life.
Eventually, I scored a role on the breakfast show – but failed horribly.
I was young and didn’t know how to tell stories, so naturally the station’s ratings immediately dissipated.
I remember waking up in the morning with dread in the pit of my stomach, thinking about how I was going to survive the next few hours and show up for my team that believed in me.
So, I pulled out and landed a role for a major metro radio station in Brisbane.
I did this for two years, and it allowed me to rebuild my confidence, which eventually led me to kick-start my radio career in Perth.
After nearly a decade in radio, I only feel like my career is taking off!
What’s one of the best parts about being a Radio Show Host for Mix 94.5?
Bringing my life and vulnerability to the role!
As someone who’s been in this game for 23 years, I’ve done many breakfast shows where you feel like you’re just yelling into the void. Right now, we genuinely feel that when we say something, we know someone’s listening, so that’s very special.
Also, putting in the hard work and seeing our numbers climb has been so rewarding.
On a personal note, I also love it when my Mum tells me that she listens to the show!
Based on your experience, what makes a good piece of content?
Today, the number one rule of a good piece of content is authenticity. If you can be your authentic self, you will find your audience.
It might take some time to find your voice, but you’ve got to be consistent and work at it for a long time.
Burnout is also a real thing, so you need to have a balanced approach.
Finally, what advice do you have for those aspiring to break into Australia’s media industry?
Don’t wait for the opportunity to present itself – go out and find it!
We have so much technology available to us, so you don’t have to wait to get your foot in the door of the radio station to start growing an audience.
Look after yourself too, because if your entire identity is your job and it disappears, then what is your identity?
At the end of the day, focus on living a fulfilling life and leaving a good mark on this world, and that will get you far!
Pete Curulli, Radio Show Host for Mix 94.5 Pete & Kymba Breakfast Radio Show, Chief Content Officer for Podwave Studios and DineCASTER.
Graduating from Curtin with a Bachelor of Commerce, Marketing & Advertising (2010), Pete has spent more than 20 years building his career in broadcasting and presenting and is now one of WA’s most recognisable radio voices as co-host of Perth’s Mix 94.5 Breakfast show. Beyond breakfast radio, he is also a match day MC for the Fremantle Dockers at Optus Stadium and is a Chief Content Officer for Podwave Studios and DineCASTER.
