Comedian Brian Moote brings laughs to Atlanta’s airwaves as the new co-host of Q100’s The Bert Show.

Now that being an on-air radio personality is his job, Brian Moote can look back and laugh—after all, it’s not exactly a gig he grew up aiming for.

In early January, Moote joined Q100’s popular “The Bert Show,” syndicated in 17 markets across the country, as part of a morning trio that includes host Bert Weiss and co-host Kristin Klingshirn. It’s a high-profile job that came together quickly last fall, yet the road there hasn’t been linear.

After growing up on a farm in Whidbey Island, Washington, from 2000-2004 Moote attended the University of La Verne, where he briefly played basketball and got his first taste of radio while hanging out on the set of a friend’s show. Ultimately, he earned a psychology degree but did so without any idea of what he would do with it.

For a while after college, Moote taught special education classes for at-risk youth, and at night started performing stand-up comedy. In 2007, he headed to Boston to get a master’s degree in social work from Boston College, but entertainment came calling once again and Moote moved to L.A. to do more stand-up and some television, including MTV’s “Money From Strangers.” In 2014, Moote found himself in the right place at the right time, performing on the road in Seattle, where he successfully auditioned for a co-host spot on what would become Click 98.9’s “Jackie, Marco and Moote” show.

But when Moote learned about the opening created by Jeff Dauler’s departure from “The Bert Show” last fall, he contacted Q100. “That kind of job just doesn’t come open,” Moote says. “It’s rare.” Soon after, he interviewed with Cumulus Media and “The Bert Show” crew. A few in-person visits followed, as did an offer. Moote accepted the job and made yet another move East.

Moote says his first day on “The Bert Show” was fun, albeit nerve racking. “It is a big show,” he admits. He’d been listening and getting used to the format and made sure he wasn’t too overeager that morning, and everything clicked immediately. “We have a natural chemistry, like we’re friends talking,” Moote says. “No one is trying to outdo anyone.”

Although he performed stand-up at Midtown’s Laughing Skull Lounge in 2011, Moote wasn’t overly familiar with Atlanta before moving here. Yet, he’s quickly taken to the city, and he has a partner—his new wife, singer and one-time “X Factor UK” star Katie Waissel—to explore alongside.

As lengthy as his days often get— it’s not uncommon for him to arrive for work at 5 a.m.—Moote still loves doing stand-up at night around town. Even when he does, though, he’s in bed no later than 10 p.m. so he’s rested and ready to bring his A game to Atlanta’s morning airwaves.

STORY: Jim Farmer