ELVIS DURAN

I had a little radio, and I listened to music in my bedroom when I was supposed to be sleeping. I was probably 6 or 7 years old, and I loved the DJs who would come on and talk about the artists and the songs they were singing, and they gave away prizes. I was like, 'This is a cool job!'

I love taking time with an interview. Time with an artist relaxes them; it makes them want to be there and answer all your questions.

I used to come to the gay pride parades in New York. I've been to a few down in Miami Beach, if memory serves.

I have no desire to spend my off-hours listening to other shows. Unless it's Howard Stern, of course.

I love Justin Bieber. There are times where people only report negative things about him, but everyone forgets how incredibly talented he really is.

I have no deep desire to hit the pavement and audition for TV projects or raise money to produce a show.

My voice was awkward. I had a deep Texan accent.

I don't think we have to make a big thing about being gay, except for when we get together for these gay pride events.

The magic to our show and, I think, any successful show, be it on the radio or TV, is every person being true to themselves.

I definitely don't ever see a time I want to retire. Ever.

I miss being able to pig out sometimes.

I was never hiding from being gay; I just never talked about it.

I happen to know personally that Donald Trump does not have a problem with gay people.

The only thing about politics I do discuss is, be into them: Read what's online. Read what the candidates are talking about. Try to understand why people are fighting over what the candidates are standing for.

Here at Z100, we're kind of famous for breaking new artists and watching their careers bloom.

I think it's a wonderful thing, turning 50. I think everyone should do it at least once.

Sometimes fame overshadows an artist's music, and we forget just how incredibly talented these people truly are.

I never interned. The first job I ever had was a very low-paying job, and the guy running the radio station was so poor, he couldn't pay us sometimes - so it's almost like an internship, right?

I've never been truly closeted on the air; it's just something I never really made a big deal out of because I never felt like I wanted to push an agenda or push it any further than I felt comfortable with.

I'm still me, no matter if I'm gay or straight or whatever.

Traditional radio is not going to die; it's going to evolve.

Social media has given us the world at our fingertips every morning. And we watch it change, live. In the morning, in the old days, we'd read the 'Post,' and that was what we had.

I really think there are many great organizations out there getting the word out about LGBT youth and bullying, but GLAAD has this way of making sure the stories about gay people are sent out and heard and not covered up, and I like that.

I think interviews are good when you are an actual fan of the person you are interviewing.

I was sort of a loner as a kid, so radio was where I turned for companionship. I loved the music and how the DJs talked about the artists and used words to paint pictures to evoke emotion.