Mark Simmet

Mark can be heard hosting KUNI's weeknight "Night Music."

Email: Mark Simmet.

Phone: 319-273-7888 or 1-800-772-2440, ext. 37888

Listen to a WAV file

Take 5 Profile with Mark Simmet:

A little about Mark:
I was born in a southern Minnesota town founded by German-Bohemians (from which I am descended) called New Ulm. I later attended St. John's University in central Minnesota. My degree is a B.A. in Art. The art I produced ranged from graphic art and printmaking, to ink washes and watercolors, and even some oil painting. This was the late 1970's and career training was not uppermost in my mind. I'm married and have two kids, a girl and a boy. They are 15-year-old twins.

What is your favorite NPR/PRI Program?
This American Life is often transcendent! Also, whenever I listen to A Prairie Home Companion I hear the Golden Age of Radio (60-70 years ago) wonderfully kept alive in the 21st Century.

Why/how did you get into radio?
Listening to recorded music and to the radio has had a peculiar fascination for me from childhood on. I auditioned at my college radio station KSJU (10 watts) at the urging of my roommate. It was typical free-form college radio and great fun. Some time after graduating I became a professional broadcaster, working at a couple of commercial stations, each with a varied format. I played oldies, country, contemporary hits, polka, big band and contemporary hits. I saw an ad for the KUNI/KHKE producer position and immediately thought this was the job for me! Management agreed, and I've been here since June 1, 1987.

What is your most memorable moment with KUNI/KHKE?
The moment I realized that I will listen to anything in our vast, expansive music library- and that I've put a lot of it out on the air!

What do you do for fun?
We like to travel. In the past few years we've been to Yellowstone, the Grand Tetons, the Colorado Rockies, the Black Hills area of South Dakota, Ontario, the North Shore of Lake Superior, southern Wisconsin, and the City of Chicago.

What, in your opinion, is the best aspect of KUNI/ KHKE?
Like any great radio station, KUNI/KHKE lives in your imagination. We work in the theatre of the mind and we do it well!