What do you share with other people on the road or at work from 5 to 10 am? Most likely the number one rated morning talk show on radio: The Rocket and Teresa show on mix 93.3. Rocket, Teresa, and Ponch get their 250,000 person audience caught up on entertainment, music, and current events 5 mornings a week and have been doing it together for the past 9 years. 

You might wonder how each of them got their start in radio. Each started early; Rocket Ponch while in high school and Teresa directly after.  Internships were their gateway. Rocket started doing overnights in Dallas and moved to Oklahoma City after college for an afternoon show gig. Teresa was in OKC doing traffic in an airplane before moving onto a  morning show on a different show. Eventually, the two got hooked up and began the Rocket and Teresa show. They moved to Virginia Beach from 1998 to 2000 and then headed to Kansas City. They feel blessed to have not moved six or seven times which is pretty normal in this industry of morning shows. Ponch hooked up in 2000 here in Kansas City. Ponch dropped out of high school at 15 and was working at a taco shop on the overnight shift. His manager was giving him trucker speed to stay awake so when he would go home Rocket was on air. Ponch would call in everyday telling Rocket to put him on the radio. Finally, after Rocket was so annoyed he let Ponch do a couple of bytes and told him to get serious and come to the station. Ponch started at 16 and pretty much lived at the station and started as an intern in production in Oklahoma City. He then traveled to southern Oklahoma, Texas, and Mississippi all the while staying in contact with Rocket and Teresa. Once they formed the show in 2000 it was a hit! The synergy between the them is unreal and only once in awhile do they fight like brothers and sisters. “If there is something that comes up between us its over after 2 minutes,” said Teresa. The two can make jabs and poke fun of one another, allowing them to go places most shows can not because others might get offended. Their long-term relationship opens up the avenue…making it real and down to earth to their listeners. 

The worst part of the job? “Getting up so early,” said Teresa. Each typically sets their alarms at 3:45 and arrives between 5 and 6 to work, but the job doesn’t end after they get off the air. Each one works on production with Ponch producing for the entire station so he typically has a 10-12 hour day. Teresa also does all news and public affairs for the station and quarterly reports. None of them get much sleep since they usually hit the bed around 11 because of young children, excluding Rocket whose daughter will follow in his footsteps hitting journalism school at the University of Missouri next fall in TV…. when asked about how their kids respond to having “Local celebrities” as parents each had a different take. Teresa’s two boys are a little young to take notice yet, but like hearing their moms’ voice on air. Teresa loves that she is a working mom but because of the time can still be stay at home as she picks up her kids from ½ day kindergarten. Ponch’s children are reaching the age where they are appreciative of the perks. Rocket loves that he can get free items for his daughter. So speaking of perks what their favorites of the job: free movies, concerts, and their kids connecting with artists. 

Even though when you tune in you can hear them laughing, telling jokes, and having a good time they each have a cause that they believe in and have chosen as their pet charity. Rocket has taken on Children’s Mercy and the AIDS walk, Ponch does Autism Speaks, and Teresa does Aids walk, Race for the Cure, and Heart Walk. 

They love the community of Kansas City, so besides giving back through charities, they have also become experts in social networking. Each one has Facebook and Twitter, which has allowed them to stay in constant contact with their listeners. They love that this has taken them to another level and when they aren’t updating their pages their listeners are sure to remind them to post something. 

Of course they have great stories and probably should publish a book but there are too many to tell. So top interviews? For Ponch it was at tie between Burt Reynolds and Ray Manzarek from the Doors, Rocket loved Will Smith at the Grammy’s in NYC, and Teresa enjoyed Will Ferrell and Corey Feldman. Sounds like fun right. But maybe a little intimidating? “Not at all that’s what we do. We enjoy doing interviews,” said Rocket. They don’t get nervous? “The only time I feel a little uncomfortable is at movie junkets when you meet these celebrities in hotel rooms because its only 2 minutes at a time and its not the celebrities that make you nervous, it’s the situation of the handlers, and pr agents and how they handle it,” said Teresa. 

For funniest moments: Rocket and Ponch were driving in a car after an event and Ponch did a silent but deadly. Rocket freaked out stopped the car threw open the door and tried to jump out, but with his seatbelt on. Needless to say they were at the hospital after hysterically laughing because Rocket broke his ribs!

All three love their job and Kansas City. “We didn’t start out to be rock stars, we are not better, and we just love our job.” Said Rocket. So will they all keep doing this gig? Yes unless Teresa or Ponch was to win the power ball but if Rocket won he would still keep doing it. “I love coming to work every day. “