Brad Booker Hosts the “Booker, Alex & Audrey” Morning Show at Mix 94.7, KAMX in Austin. I’ve known Booker for over 20 years. Like many of my best friends in the business, we met when we both worked in New Orleans at the Entercom (now Audacy) cluster, home of the legendary B97. There’s something about that city that makes people bond in a way that makes them family forever.
My favorite Booker story (or at least one of them) happened on a return trip to New Orleans after we both left the city for other opportunities. We decided to gather for a little radio family getaway along with our “brother from another mother,” J Love, who also worked with us in New Orleans back in the day.
Of course, we all went out for the traditional Bourbon Street celebration with lots of booze and food. The two of them were planning to do some heavy gambling after, and because that’s not my thing, I decided to call it a night.
First of all, let me say that these two guys are more overprotective of me than my actual three older brothers. Secondly, they always took care of me and made sure I was safe. So, they summoned an Uber to take me back to my hotel.
As we patiently waited in the Vieux Carre for my car to arrive (we were all barely able to stand, much less see straight), a big, beautiful, black Mercedes with two giant football player-looking mofos in it pulled up to the curb on the street.
Booker and J were like, “Here you go!” Booker opened up the car door and shoved me in. About two blocks down the road, to my surprise, the driver asked me where I was going. And I was like, “The Sheraton, next block on Poydras…. How do you not know where I am headed?’
As they looked at each other and laughed at me, I was like… “Wait, are you not my Uber driver?” And they were like “Um…no.” Needless to say, I was MORTIFIED. They did, however, drop me off at the Sheraton.
The next day, and still to this day, Booker and J still get an earful when I bring that story up. Those guys could have been serial killers, or worse, like “Alvin Kamara or some other Saints player. “So much for taking care of me, boys!” But I digress.
So, Booker was hired at Mix in Austin to follow the longtime Mix morning show “JB & Sandy.” Already in-house were Sara Osburn and Alex Franco. “The three of us co-hosted for eight years until Sara left to pursue an opportunity outside of radio,” explains Booker.
“After a nationwide search, we brought in Audrey Allen, a former Kidd Kraddick intern. She was young and green, but incredibly promising. In just two and a half years, she has exceeded our expectations, and I believe she is one of the most dynamic personalities in the country.”
“I’m the quarterback of the show and drive all of the content, but rely heavily on Alex and Audrey,” says Booker. “Both are Texas natives: Alex is from El Paso, Audrey from Dallas. Alex is a lovable bro — simple, straightforward, and a guy’s guy.”
“His wife happens to be a lawyer for the Lieutenant Governor, which adds an unexpected dynamic. Audrey is the sharp, grounded voice of reason. She’s quick-witted, deeply intelligent, and her ongoing (and very real) quest to find love adds both humor and heart to the show.”
“Alex and I each have two kids (not together), roughly the same age. Our sons are even on the same soccer team,” says Booker. “They are our #1 passion projects! Outside of family, I quietly officiate high school football. Friday nights hit differently in Texas, and it’s something I’ve been doing for years and absolutely love.”
“Alex volunteers daily at his kids’ school. Both of his parents were teachers, so he’s especially passionate about supporting kids who may not have help at home. Audrey, who’s been open about her own physical and mental health struggles, has become an advocate for young women facing similar challenges. She also volunteers with animal rescue groups, which is so Austin. I couldn’t be prouder of them.”
“The show’s commitment to community comes in many forms,” adds Booker. “Just in the past year we held our Prom Project providing over 3,000 dresses and accessories so every girl could attend prom with confidence, our Pediatric Cancer Fashion Show, partnering with a foundation helping young patients celebrate their strength and individuality, our Literacy & Education commitment: As a board member of a nonprofit, we’ve donated 25,000+ books and renovated elementary libraries with $50,000 in upgrades, and our commitment to Broadcast Mentorship. We welcome high school seniors into our studio to introduce them to radio and inspire future media professionals.”
As a seasoned pro, Booker knows how important it is to be authentic and vulnerable in a city like Austin. “Audrey is the standout here,” he says. “She has a segment where she talks about her week in dating called Thirsty Thursday, and it’s one of the funniest, most captivating masterpieces that you’ll hear on any show or podcast. And it’s 100% real and authentic.”
It doesn’t escape Booker that the team is lucky to be in Austin, “It’s a rapidly growing, relatively young (and single) city that is becoming increasingly more racially and ethnically diverse. It’s still a live music capital, with a booming economy (thanks to Tesla, Dell, and Oracle HQs), and a vibrant, quirky culture that people love.”
As for AI, “It isn’t going anywhere,” says Booker. “So, instead of fearing it, we’re using it as a tool. It’s been exciting to experiment with how AI can enhance content. Our focus stays the same: make the best product possible, use every tool available to improve, and never stop evolving.”
That being said, “That is our focus!” Booker insists. “We are constantly analyzing everything we do to be sure we are putting out ‘Grade A’ content every single day. Good isn’t good enough anymore. If we continue to do that, God will take care of the rest.”
Follow Booker, Alex and Audrey: @bookeralexaudrey, @bradbooker, @alexdfranco
@audreyalllen (3 L’s — because two will take you to a porn star)
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Charese Fruge’ is an award-winning Content, Broadcast, and Marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, and Las Vegas. As the owner of MC Media, she works with radio brands and individual talent, especially young women, helping them grow their brands and negotiate on their own behalf. She is also a Voice Actor and Voice Over Talent as well as a Freelance Writer for International Broadcast Outlets. Find her at @MCMediaOnline or www.mcmediaonline.com.
