Debbie Abrams & Brent Farris

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beytbrdrm_brent_deb_fb

If you’ve spent any time around Sonoma County in the past decade, chances are you’ve heard the voices of KZST-FM radio hosts Brent Farris and Debbie Abrams. The lovable, dynamic duo has been bickering on the air for 27 years, often laughing, sometimes sparring–yet always having a blast. The two share The Bent Farris Morning Show, and Debbie hosts solo on the Debbie Abrams Afternoon Show. Brent and Debbie each discovered their passion for radio broadcasting in college.

“I worked at the radio station on campus at [Cal State] Northridge and thought, wait a minute, I get to talk and people have to listen? This is awesome! “

Brent, meanwhile, was attending College of Marin and working as a freelance photographer for a local newspaper when he accidentally walked into a radio station that shared the building.

“I saw the DJ playing the Rolling Stones, eating jelly beans and smoking something illegal at the time and thought: “That’s For ME!”

All these years later, both DJs’ moms and dads “keep asking us when we are going to get ‘a real job,’” says Brent.

While neither are North Bay natives, they both love living here and have no plans to leave. Debbie currently resides in Windsor with her husband, and together they have four children. Brent also lives in Windsor, has two children and two grandchildren.

Do you have any comfort foods? 

Brent: Chocolate chip cookies. Not the crunchy ones or the gooey ones. The ones that are slightly crunchy on the outside and slightly gooey on the inside with plenty of chunks of chocolate. A great chocolate chip cookie is a gift from the gods.

Deb: Pizza, Ice cream, sushi and anchovies. I craved them during both of my pregnancies!

What do you believe is the most important lessons you taught your kids? 

B: Never take away hope. You never know when hope is all someone else has left.

D: Be independent, be yourself, do what makes you happy, marry rich!

Brent, what qualities make a strong team?

B: Our show is just like any long-term relationship.  You must have the ability to set aside your differences for the greater good, which in this case is the show.  You need to respect the other’s talent and abilities and not worry about their shortcomings.  That, and always agree with anything that Debbie says and know that she has no shortcomings.

Debbie, what’s something that drives you crazy about Brent?

D: Every time he opens the microphone.

What do you love most about radio?

B: I love the optimism.  Think about it, as a radio DJ you are sitting in a small, track-lit room, talking to yourself hoping someone is listening. if that ain’t optimism, I don’t know what is.

D: The unique opportunity to convey ideas, concepts and stories and news… from a small studio, hoping someone/anyone is listening. I also love doing the midday show because I’m off at 2 p.m.!

What do you love to do outside of work?

B: I play bass guitar and I really suck at it. If I could do my life over, I would be a musician. Hopefully one who doesn’t suck, but you never know.

D: I enjoy shopping, movies, working out and hiking, trying new restaurants and wine tasting with friends and traveling.

Debbie, what’s your craziest travel story?

I was on a high school graduation trip to Europe visiting eight countries, when the unbelievable happened in Switzerland. The sightseeing bus I was traveling on lost its brakes in the Alps, and we crashed through a guardrail and plummeted 100 feet to the bottom of the mountain. I was thrown from the back of the bus to the front during the crash. We made news headlines all across Europe, and made it to a bunch of southern California newspapers. The good news is everyone miraculously survived!

Brent, If you drink, what is your drink of choice?

For me it is water, preferably with party ice. If that isn’t available, then Sonoma Brothers Bourbon. For Deb, its wine. Her favorite is Free, her second favorite is Free and, weirdly, so is her third favorite.

Debbie, What is something you still like to do “the old fashion way” despite modern advancements?

Banking. I still write checks, and don’t pay bills online!

Are you spontaneous or do you like to plan ahead? 

B: I really have to think about this answer. (Two days later, Brent responds) I can say spontaneity.

D: I’m a planner… by the way, I still use a paper planner.

What’s something you think is majorly underrated?

B: Passion, it makes all the difference in everything you do.

D: “The Debbie Abrams Midday Show.”

What’s the best thing about living in Sonoma County?

B: Not a day goes by when I don’t say the words, “I am living in the greatest place on the planet Earth,” and I mean it. Every day I am so thankful that I am living in Sonoma County.

D: I love wine!

Brent, addressing Debbie: That’s it? You mean you live here, have two kids who grew up here, and have worked here for over 20 years because you love wine?

Debbie: What part of “I really love wine” didn’t you get?

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