Pete Curulli: Absurdity has always followed co-host of Mix 94.5’s Pete & Kymba breakfast show

“How is this even possible that I get paid for this?”

These are the words Pete Curulli asks himself each and every single morning.

As one half of the duo behind WA’s most listened to breakfast show Pete & Kymba, the Mix 94.5 presenter knows he has to bring his A-game each and every day.

It’s what has led the 40-year-old to toe-wrestle Eagles forward Jake Waterman, re-create Chappell Roan’s nipple-clinging Grammys outfit and even attempting to break a balloon-popping Guinness World Record using only his butt — and that’s just this year alone.

With ratings this week proving that he and Kymba Cahill are still on top across Perth, Curulli told The Sunday Times the key to his success was loving what he does.

“There’s so many things that we do every single day where I think to myself, ‘How is this even possible that I get paid for this?” he said.

“It’s funny, as you go on and you build a big list of absurd things, they don’t really look that absurd anymore.”

Curulli, 40, has worked around Australia building a profile, though his start on commercial airwaves arrived rather eventfully as a 17-year-old after dabbling in community radio.

As the veteran puts it, “I won my job”.

The 92.9 network dangled the carrot of employment to a “street star” willing to complete a series of stunts, who by doing so, would prove they possessed the sheer grit and resilience required to make it in radio.

“There was one night where the stunt I had to do was pretend I was a door-to-door salesman, but I had amnesia. So we kept knocking on the same door all night,” Curulli recalled.

“And I’ll never forget it, this poor lady, she lived in Willeton near the basketball stadium there. We found out later that she was packing for a Europe trip the following day, and she called the cops, and I got arrested.

“I got thrown in the back of the paddy wagon. And then there was a massive conversation that had to happen between the East Perth lock up and and the station and all of that. And that was my first taste of it, (thinking) this is how far this can go, and possibly even further.”

Curulli’s commitment to the bit all these years later stems from that little voice in his head that reminds him how quickly it can all disappear.

At home, the dotting family man is a husband to Liz, and a dad to three kids aged 10, 8, and 5.

Proud of his Italian heritage, the second generation Australian enjoys sharing a window into his culture to listeners who might relate, but beyond that feels as Aussie as anyone — passing his loves of fishing and the outdoors to his kids.

For Curulli, an ideal afternoon entails sifting through Pokemon cards or Dungeons and Dragons books at home, managing his podcast studio, or picking the kids up from school.

“I live a pretty simple, quiet life outside of media,” he said.

Admitting his little ones have taken control of his Spotify account, the music Curulli leans into is as varied as the ‘mix’ playing between his own words on air.

Pushed to come up with one song that encapsulates his wacky personality, the former DJ offered niche 90s bop Jackie, by B.Z. Feat Joanne.

Otherwise, he’s as content blasting Olivia Dean as the R&B or dance music of his youth.

Joining Lisa Shaw as the co-host of Mix 94.5’s drive show in 2015, Curulli later formed a breakfast trio alongside Kymba Cahill and Matt Dyktynski.

In 2023, he formed a duo once more opposite running mate Cahill, or simply Kymba to listeners.

On Thursday, the latest GFK radio survey ratings confirmed 319,000 people in Perth tune into the show each week, in addition to listeners in the regions.

Pete & Kymba’s show also enjoyed the greatest growth of any local radio team between survey one and two this year, drawing an extra 41,000 pairs of ears week-to-week.

In the fellow veteran, Curulli has found his “perfect partner”. Someone who allows him to be entirely vulnerable on-air without fear of judgement.

“If you manage to stay in this game long enough, you will go through many partners until you find the right one, or you find the show that finally works,” he said.

“I’ve had many great co-hosts over the years, many who are good friends. But this is different.

“When you find someone who’s in your studio sharing that time with you and your relationship is that special, you’re able to take radio and the authenticity, and what makes radio great, to a level that you never thought possible.”