Meet Matt Pelishek | Program Director at 88.3 Life FM & co-host of The Afternoon Joy Ride (with Aaron Perlman)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Matt Pelishek and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Matt, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
In any broadcast industry that is personality driven, I often see either a corporate standard that puts that personality in a box, or people who feel they have to be someone different than who they are to somehow appeal to others more. I think some of the success we’ve seen is from simply being uniquely us. The thing we offer that nobody else can, is our selves. Listeners don’t want more of the same, they want something that stands out that they can connect with.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
A big thing for me has been the freedom to fail. You always hear about great inventors who failed thousands of times before they got it right. When it comes to radio, so often there is a safety net (specific guidelines and structure) that may help prevent failure, but also very much prevent innovation and growth by creating a cookie-cutter personality. By being able to try things creatively, I have had the freedom to grow and innovate because if I try something and it flops, I learn and move forward. This process lets me find the things that do work well, and run with them.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Depending on where you are from, In & Out is always on the list. I grew up in the midwest where In & Out was like a distant legend, so anyone time people from that area of the country come out, I introduce them. I love going out to the Kern River Canyon which is beautiful, and we have some really fun shops downtown. It would probably also include ice cream from Dewars, and a dinner at Flame & Fire.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I have a hard time putting my finger on just one. What I do here is the culmination of influences that shaped me and my approach to radio. My radio professor Mark Seignious who encouraged creativity over set structure; my radio hero Brant Hansen who has proven time and again that being yourself with all your quirks is what connects to listeners and grows your show; and Brad Bales, the first guy to ever give me a chance to get on a mic, even though I was inexperienced and terrible.

Website: 883lifefm.com

Instagram: @afternoonjoyride

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AfternoonJoyRide

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/JoyRidewithMattAaron