For his 20 years in radio at Rythme FM, presenter Sébastien Benoit was showered with a flood of tributes from his friends and colleagues on September 21st, and also quite a surprise, as France Beaudoin personally announced his participation in the show Live from the universe!
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Photo: Valerie Blum / Echos Ve
In a world as competitive as that of radio, few presenters can boast of staying behind a microphone for so long. “I am very proud! Sébastien Benoit immediately states. I always had lunch or returned home. I still have so much fun doing this job.” To celebrate his 20th anniversary at the same radio station , the moderator was surrounded by colleagues with whom he shares the microphone at home, José Gaudet and his long-time friend Isabelle Racicot. His comrades and his loyal listeners showered him with honors on several occasions that touched him so much.
Photo: Valerie Blum / Echos Ve
“I’m not used to it. I’m a presenter and my job is to shine a light on others. When the spotlight shines on me, I get hot! (laughs) But I accept this love with great joy.” Sébastien even admits that he doesn’t like celebrating his own birthday. “Imagine today if people paid tribute to me like this! (laughs) »
Photo: Valerie Blum / Echos Ve
A highly anticipated invitation
When France Beaudoin showed up at Rythme to tell Sébastien that he would be one of the guests on the En direct de l’univers program this year, he was particularly touched. He had been waiting for this invitation for over seven years! “It’s one of the best shows on television! France has the ability to calm people down. This show is a masterpiece every week. I hosted La fureur, I’ve been doing radio for 25 years, I was wondering why I haven’t been invited yet!” And a favorite Sébastien song that we will definitely hear on the show? “Enjoy the Silence, by Depeche Mode!”
Photo: Valerie Blum / Echos Ve
A dream since he was still very small
His dream of doing radio is not new. On June 2, 1981, Sébastien Benoit broke his arm in one of the modules of his neighborhood park. Since he can no longer do sports, little Sébastien is very unhappy. “For some reason my mother bought me a large double cassette radio. So instead of going to the park with my friends and playing sports, I listened to the radio. And the radio became my friend. I loved listening to the radio. Presenting songs, news, etc. I started recording myself and thought I might want to do this for a living.”
Photo: Valerie Blum / Echos Ve
Sébastien then pursued his passion at CEGEP and at the university, working on student radio. “After hearing myself on the radio at Rythme FM, a woman asked me to audition for my first TV job. Despite my television contracts, radio will always be my first love. Although he studied law, Sébastien knew he wanted to make a living with radio.
Photo: Valerie Blum / Echos Ve
“When I realized that I preferred doing my music research rather than reading my case law, it was clear that my area of interest was there!” Sébastien completed another legal internship and was admitted to the bar in 1995. He even paid his legal fees until 2012. “I was afraid that everything would be over overnight. When I got my first job at Flash, at TQS, in 1995, I told myself in my head that if it lasted a year he would get sick. I never had a career plan. I was just happy to be there. In 2012, I finally trusted myself and told myself that being an animator would be my job for the rest of my life.”
Photo: Valerie Blum / Echos Ve
A REAL PASSION
Getting to know people is Sébastien Benoit’s true passion. “My 20 years are the sum of all these encounters. Presenting on the radio daily ensures that a real connection is created with the audience. I have never revealed myself more clearly in any medium than on the radio. And who are his biggest fans? “My parents are my biggest critics and my biggest fans. If I laugh too much or if it’s too crazy, they like it less. And my mother analyzes everything. When my voice is a little hoarse, she calls me and asks if I’m sick. My parents are also the first to congratulate me on my good performance.”
Sébastien Benoit, Isabelle Racicot and José Gaudet moderate It’s 4 o’clock somewhere Monday to Thursday, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., at Rythme 105.7.