Z100’s Josh Martinez inspires FTC students with real talk on radio, risk, and resilience

By Grace Bonamico

Z100 radio personality Josh Martinez visited Five Towns College this week to speak with broadcasting students about his career path, the realities of working in radio, and the importance of persistence, networking, and taking risks in the media industry. The discussion was the first installment of On The Record, a new speaker series hosted by the Broadcasting Club.

Born in Brooklyn and raised on Staten Island, Martinez originally wanted to work in sports television before discovering his passion for radio. He began his career at Long Island’s WBLI, commuting hours each day just to get on air. That early commitment set the tone for his future success. From there, he took a leap of faith and moved to Des Moines, Iowa, followed by positions in Cedar Rapids and later in Cincinnati, Ohio, before returning home to New York City as Z100’s evening host.

New York’s Z100 (WHTZ), which has been on the air for 42 years, consistently ranks among the top radio stations in the country. “Radio stations in Australia take note of what Z100 is doing,” Martinez said, reflecting on the global reach of the station that inspired him from the start.

Martinez has built a reputation for authenticity, energy, and work ethic. He currently hosts Z100’s 6–10 PM slot in New York while also heard on Chicago’s 103.5 KISS FM. Known for his humor and genuine connection with listeners, Martinez credits his success to constant effort and humility. “If you think you’re the hardest working person in the room, you’re not,” he told students. “Someone else is working harder.”

Throughout the talk, Martinez emphasized the importance of social media and personal branding in today’s media landscape. “You are literally shooting yourself in the foot if you don’t use it,” he said. “It’s one of the most powerful tools you have to build your name and connect with people in the industry.”

WATCH: Josh Martinez’ top tip on social media and branding

Networking, he later said, is just as essential. “Network, network, network,” he said. “Even if it means reaching out to the CEO or owner of a company directly, just do it. The worst thing that could happen is that you get ignored, and we get ignored daily.”

Martinez also shared a few memorable moments from his career, including hosting a Jonas Brothers look-alike contest on top of the Empire State Building and launching his Superstar Crossover wrestling podcast. But beyond the fame and fun, he said, giving back is what drives him.

“Talking to the kids at Five Towns is important because I remember what it was like being this age, trying to get any answer to any question, and nobody being there for me,” Martinez said. “So I’ve always promised myself that if I get to a particular level in my career, that I will try to… saying give back sounds a little corny, but I will try to do my best to kind of give back to the students that genuinely want to make it in the industry.”

The On The Record series was created by the president of the Broadcasting Club and Mass Comm student, Daniel Garcia. He said the event was the culmination of an idea he had been developing for some time. “On The Record is something I’ve been wanting to do as I’ve met a lot of people who want to give back to the next generation of broadcasters,” Garcia said. “I met Josh my freshman year after sending him a DM on Instagram. We have stayed in close contact since.”  Garcia interned at iHeart’s Elvis Duran and the Morning Show and got an in-depth look at the talent and professionalism of top radio hosts and professionals.

For attendees, the experience was both informative and inspiring. “I really liked how he has this ‘open door policy’ where you can DM him on social media asking for advice or sending demo reels,” said Mass Comm first-year student Janely Montgomery. “It’s a great way to get real insight into the industry.”

Martinez closed his talk by reminding students to take full advantage of their education and connections. “Take advantage of being here,” he said. “Take advantage of networking.”