What happens when the person who usually asks the questions has to answer them? On this episode of It’s Your Break, Troy Yount takes over the interview chair, and Jonathan Mertz discovers that being the guest comes with a few surprises. There are cartoon voices, Kentucky loyalties, a very important Batman discussion, and questions that take sharp turns when you least expect them.
But this Jonathan Mertz interview goes beyond favorite movies and funny impressions. Between the laughs, the longtime radio professional and podcast host shares what draws him to a good story, why certain family traditions stick, and how he thinks about being a husband and father. Come for Shaggy. Stay for the perspective.
Kentucky roots and a Derby party worth keeping
For Jonathan, the Kentucky Derby means family. He describes an uncle’s party tradition stretching back more than 20 years, complete with cornhole, drawing horses’ names for betting pots, and a bonfire to finish the night. It’s the kind of gathering where the race gives everyone a reason to show up, but the time together is the real attraction.
His college basketball allegiance is clear: Louisville Cardinals. His favorite Kentucky place carries a different kind of loyalty. Lake Cumberland brings back memories of boating and camping with aunts and uncles, a tradition his brother is now continuing. These are the breaks that become family history.
Shaggy steals the microphone
Ask Jonathan for his favorite impression and Shaggy gets the nod. Mickey Mouse came first, but growing up with Scooby-Doo made Shaggy a lasting favorite. He talks about studying Casey Kasem’s performance and gradually developing his own take on the voice.
Troy puts that impression to work with a movie-quote challenge. Suddenly, lines associated with The Godfather, Star Wars, and Jaws are getting the Shaggy treatment. It’s exactly as ridiculous as it sounds, and a good reason to hear the episode instead of stopping at the recap.
The voice acting discussion also reveals the work behind the joke. Jonathan explains that landing a familiar catchphrase is easier than sustaining a character through new dialogue. Pitch, inflection, and practice matter. He talks about his original character Bubba and the advice he has received from voice actors including James Arnold Taylor, Bob Bergen, and Rob Paulsen. His voice becomes an instrument, even when he jokes that singing in key is another matter.
Batman gets a vote and nostalgia gets several
Jonathan’s pop-culture answers come with strong opinions and plenty of affection. Super Mario World and the Super Nintendo hold a special place in his childhood. Batman: Arkham Knight is a game he can return to, while Kevin Conroy is his favorite Batman. For live action, Michael Keaton gets the pick.
The movie and television conversation ranges from The Dark Knight and Denzel Washington to Knight Rider and, yes, the Twilight films. Jonathan doesn’t pretend that every favorite has to impress somebody else. Sometimes you want a great performance. Sometimes you want the comfort of a story you already know.
Through it all, he keeps coming back to the story itself. Spectacle can be fun, but he wants something to connect with. That instinct helps explain both his entertainment choices and his interest in hearing how other people think.
The best concert reached the back row
Jonathan names Jimmy Buffett at Riverbend in Cincinnati as his favorite concert experience. The detail that stayed with him wasn’t an elaborate stage effect. He remembers Buffett appearing near the back of the seated area to perform for the fans on the lawn, bringing the show much closer than Jonathan had expected.
That connection made an impression. So did a musical upbringing that mixed country, classic rock, R&B, and more. Working at a bluegrass station broadened his listening further. His stories make room for B.B. King, the Four Tops, and the Temptations, with the enthusiasm of someone who still enjoys discovering what makes a performer click.
The headphones that left with Kenny Wayne Shepherd
One of the funniest radio memories involves equipment with a decidedly modest price tag. When Kenny Wayne Shepherd came into the station, Jonathan lent him his inexpensive KOSS headphones bought at Walmart. According to Jonathan, Shepherd liked them so much that Jonathan gave them to him. Replacing a roughly $19 pair seemed like a reasonable price for that story.
Other memories include an in-studio performance by the Kruger Brothers and running syndicated basketball broadcasts at a local station. Jonathan is careful to distinguish that work from producing the network coverage. The appeal was being close to the sound, the interviews, and the craft of making a program happen.
The question that makes the room slow down
Near the end, Troy asks what Jonathan would tell his 18-year-old self. Jonathan’s first response turns into a time-travel problem: changing his past might change the life that brought him his wife and son. He would not want to risk losing either of them.
If those relationships were protected, his advice would be to stay true to himself and avoid becoming so consumed by a goal that there is no room left for family. When Troy asks about parenting, Jonathan speaks from raising his own son. He emphasizes adapting, listening, and learning to communicate, including recognizing the moments when he still had growing to do himself.
That’s a fitting place for It’s Your Break to land. A conversation that starts with absurd questions finds its way to the people and experiences that make life meaningful. Taking a break can mean laughing at a cartoon impression, revisiting a favorite game, or giving someone your full attention.
Listen or watch the full Jonathan Mertz interview on It’s Your Break for the impressions, the unexpected detours, and the stories in Jonathan’s own voice. Then give yourself permission to take a little break, too.