Jim Wilson says he's "always loved a chat", which makes his career evolution from reporter to TV presenter to radio host as something close to kismet.
And Wilson, 52, has just taken on his greatest career challenge, taking over from Ben Fordham on 2GB's afternoon drive time show in Sydney and across the state.
He says the job is even more challenging now as the coronavirus pandemic continues, servicing a public trying to stay on top of the latest developments.
"In my 30-odd years of journalism, it's breaking news and rolling coverage that I love the most," he told 9Honey. "And I've had some great moments, including the Sydney Olympics, but there's nothing like the adrenaline-rush of news breaking in radio as you are going to air."
Wilson also says he enjoys being able to speak to Australians one-on-one, even when they disagree with him.
"My mother brought me up to be respectful of all opinions and hear people out," he said. "It sounds cliche, but it's how I've always gone about business.
Growing up Wilson was raised by a single mum and says he was surrounded by strong women.
"Mum was a school teacher and I had two older sisters and three aunts who all lived close by on the Gold Coast," he said. He says he had a close relationship with his dad, despite him being posted overseas as part of his work as a foreign correspondent.
"I didn't get to see a lot of him until I was in my late-teens," he says. "But when I turned 18 I moved to the UK for a year and that's when I became close to Dad. He passed away at 64."
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Wilson is no stranger to loss, not just losing a parent but his son Sam who died of brain cancer at the age of six and then sister Rebecca Wilson who lost her battle with breast cancer when she was only 54.
"Bec was my best mate and died way too young," he says of his sister's death.
While losing Rebecca left him reeling, the loss of his son ten years ago almost destroyed him.
"It feels like it was just yesterday," he says. "I think that Sam was an incredible boy, way beyond his years and incredibly spirited and determined until the end, but it's an insidious illness, brain cancer, and it is a huge killer of kids under the age of 10."
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It's no wonder Wilson is an advocate for medical research that not only develops treatments and cures for cancer but also for new diseases such as COVID-19.
"Sam's legacy for me is a passion for medical research," he said. "It made me more passionate than ever before to rattle cages, in particular when it comes to brain cancer research and peer-group-funded research. We need the best minds working on this and Government grants are pathetic. Our best scientific brains are going offshore and we can't afford to lose them."
He talks about the experts who devote themselves to medical research, pointing out that they "don't do it for the money" as it is poorly compensated, and cancers like brain and pancreatic cancer historically receive less funding than other forms of the disease.
"We need to improve survival rates and find a cure and if we don't invest in research we won't be able to do either," he says.
Wilson said the time between his son's diagnosis and death was short.
"To be honest, I still can't stand the anniversary of his death in April," Wilson said. "I was at home with Joey (Sam's brother) and we received a phone call near midnight (from Sam's mother) to say Sam had passed away. The next day Joey had footy clinic and after that we went to see Sam. It was a really tough time."
Wilson says he has a more positive association with Sam's birthday on November 17.
"It's not a happy day but I prefer it," he said, adding that he does what he can to keep his son's memory alive.
Joey was only nine when he lost his little brother.
"I was a grown man in my forties when he died but Joey was only nine, and one of the biggest things for the family was making sure Joey was okay."
Wilson has since added another strong woman to his life in wife and fellow journalist Chris Bath who he calls 'Bathie'.
She's a strong woman and I love strong women," he said. "I had worked with her for years before we even started dating and already had huge respect for her as a journalist."
Joey is now 18 and Bath's son Darcy is 19 and they are a tight-knit blended family, with Wilson describing both of the boys as "great young men".
"I'm super-proud of my modern family and I'm very proud of both boys," he said. "They are both respectful young men. You go through the teenage years and you worry about them getting distracted or led astray and we aren't all the way out of the woods yet, but they are two very fine young men."
You can listen to Jim Wilson on 2GB in Sydney and New South Wales from 3pm weekdays and follow him on Twitter.
