Both Steve Price and John \'Sam\' Newman have both enjoyed illustrious careers in the public spotlight, working together again on 1377 MTR\'s morning talk back radio show on the am dial, 3008 spoke to Steve and sam to find out a little more about Melbourne and life behind the mike.

Sam: Despite years in radio, the public knows you best for your work
on television, how does a live studio audience compare with an on-air audience, do you find radio talk back more difficult to gauge audience response?

Radio is a far more intimate medium - it is more personal and less stressful than live TV. But whichever one is on, it is the chemistry between the combatants which is important Steve: Returning back to Melbourne breakfast radio after 8 years on Sydney\'s 2UE breakfast show, and I believe being one of only very few presenters to have enjoyed success in both cities, what are the most defining differences between Melbourne and Sydney listeners?

The big difference between audiences is that Melbourne listeners seem more engaged with current affairs. Sydney is such a hard place to survive in that people are very much wrapped up in their own lives.

Sam: Have you worked with Steve before and how do you find greeting the day with Steve, is it a labour of love?

Steve reminds me of myself - he is so different. The secret is not to prepare anything we speak about before we go on air - I think.

Steve: Working with a media personality like Sam Newman, who is renowned for airing his opinion in no uncertain terms, do you find working with Sam exciting or anxiety producing, how grateful are you for the 7 second delay?

Sam and I have worked together for a long time. I was more worried when I was working with him and Rex Hunt together I think Sam has mellowed a bit and I think he is genuinely interested in talking about social issues. The dump button gives me 10 seconds not 7.

Sam & Steve: As high profile personalities with high profile and varied careers, how do you maintain your ability to connect with \'real people\' the listeners?

Steve: Unlike Sam I still do ordinary things, I pick up my dog droppings in the park, catch trams and trains around the city, watch footy from the outer with a pie and talk to all sorts of people every day. Sam\'s only real contact with real people is probably Street Talk.

Sam:The mundane things in life are for the mundane. Life is too short to drift
too deeply into someone else\'s space and attitudes - be yourself which is probably the great problem I have had over the years.

Sam & Steve: You both are knowledgeable about issues of the day that confront our city and community, you are both also radio commentators because you have an opinion to share, what happens when your opinions differ vehemently on air and what happens when the mike is turned off?
Steve: Good radio is all about differences of opinion and we have plenty, when the mike goes off we have a laugh.

Sam: The beauty of me - is that I have a superiority complex. I am far more worldly and rounded than young Steve and know far more about life and its trials and tribulations. I tend to look at Steve as canon-fodder.

Sam: As an early resident of Docklands are you happy with how the precinct
has developed to date and as the state and local governments actively seek feedback from residents for the second decade of development do you have
any suggestions or comments?

I\'m very delighted and pleased that I moved to the Docklands, which is not
to say I disliked living in any other precinct in Melbourne. Dogs and skateboards aside, the Paris side of the Docklands is an enchanting place.
Steve: Returning to Melbourne after 8 years in Sydney, what is your opinion on the Docklands development thus far, do you believe it will live up to expectations as the Melbourne equivalent of the Harbour in Sydney, does Docklands have the potential to be the waterfront jewel in Melbourne\'s crown on completion of the development in 2020?

Docklands has developed more in my eight years away than any other part
of the city. The extensions of the major city streets like Collins down over the
rail yards draws Docklands toward the city and it gives our city such a brilliant new aspect. Could it rival Sydney Harbour ..no because that is possibly the greatest city harbour in the world.

Sam: What has surprised you most about working with Steve that you
didn\'t expect?

How excited he gets over trivial things. The expectation of speaking to a politician on air, live, consumes him to the point where his forehead starts to blow.

Steve: What would readers be most surprised to learn about Sam that
is contrary to his public persona?

He is a very generous and thoughtful man who I suspect would like his persona to be more about his intelligence than his antics on the Footy Show.

Sam & Steve: September is footy finals fever in Melbourne, who do you think will be holding the premiership flag on September 25th, which team should we look out for in the 2011 AFL season?

Steve: Geelong will win again and watch out for the young Tigers in 2011.
Sam: An obvious answer but either one of the top four sides. Injury and suspension play a huge and deciding factor in the fate of those top four.
Keep your eye on Melbourne in 2011
Sam & Steve: If you could change or commend 3 things about Melbourne, whether culturally, socially or politically, what would they be?

Steve:
1. The weather.
2. The ocean temperature.
3. Build a new airport the old one
is a disgrace.

Sam:
1. A larger and more effective lawful
hit squad (ie. Police) to deal with anti-social behavior.
2. Less of an obsession to be anal
and just generally knobbling
people for existing.
3. And the pernicious and insulting industry that has become
speeding fines.