Links!
All of Marty's current work, including podcasts: https://weeklyhumorist.com/
Marty's archive of Z Morning Zoo bits, including the full Rick Wright tour of the Ostrom House: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/ascjv18c57ajw/Z_Morning_Zoo_audio
Marty D was best known at WJPZ for hosting the Z Morning Zoo, alongside Peterman and Emily Zizza (now Almas). But you'll learn much more about him in today's episode. You'll hear how he was a radio nerd like most of us, growing up listening to Baltimore and DC morning shows.
An illustrator and artist by trade, Marty looked at art schools but decided on going to a more general school with an art program. That brought him to Syracuse, and it was a sign on a dorm-mate's door that said "listen to me on the radio" that led him to Z89. Staring on the 4-6 stuff, he found himself sticking around to hang out with Spike and Nick B - these were college students doing morning radio!
Marty's creative chops were best suited for morning radio -as he found out in other dayparts, and eventually he was offered the show. Having learned from Baltimore radio, and having two cohosts who had interned in Boston radio, they quickly assembled the archetypal morning show - with the requisite "dick, dear, and dork."
We've spoken of the Ostrom house before on this podcast - Marty loved doing the show there his senior year. It was a house, and he quickly set up a coffee maker and made himself at home. And the myriad of equipment issues taught him how to overcome almost any obstacle - a skill set he's used in the time since graduation. Imagine figuring out how to get a show on the air, but you walk into the studio and there's no microphone. They figured it out.
One of the strengths of the show was their community interaction - doing live broadcasts everywhere they could, doing benchmark contest and games, and more. We asked Marty if he ever thought about doing it professionally. His answer may surprise you.
As for what he did do professionally, Marty takes us through his 20+ year career in New York, working for Mad Magazine, David Letterman and National Lampoon. Then, he leveraged his skills, experience, and network to start his own company - Humorist Media - doing everything from live events, to podcasts, and now even book publishing.
Marty is currently serving on the WJPZ Alumni Association Board, in addition to being the official illustrator of the Alumni Association and this podcast.
The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.
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Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag: jag@jagindetroit.com.
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Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/
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