After more than three decades of waking up the country on The Morning Rumble, our very own Roger Farrelly is taking a rare moment to pause and reflect while sitting down with Dom Harvey. 

Rogee recently appeared on The Dom Harvey Podcast for a raw and honest chat - where they covered everything from burnout after The Rock 2000 Countdown - to the realities of ageing, mental health and the toll of 31 years in breakfast radio. 

It’s a side of Rog we don’t often hear: thoughtful, self-aware, and ready to rethink what life in the future will look like. 

During the chat, Rog reflected on decades of early mornings and says the last couple years have taught him a lot about burnout and mental health: “My wife said I’d lost my spark a little,” he said, “and she’s probably right. I just needed a break, and honestly, it’s coming at the right time.”

Of course, he’s speaking about his upcoming sabbatical, where he’ll return to The Rumble in 2026 after taking nearly three months off to rest. 

“It’ll be nice to kick back, feel a bit free, and just recharge. I’ve never had this long off before, so it’ll be interesting to see how I go without the routine.”

Even while taking a step back for a little while, Rog is thinking about what will eventually come next for him. The idea of an afternoon show appeals to him: “No early mornings, a bit more balance. It’d be a nice way to finish my career. I wouldn’t mind that at all.”

The Big Dog talked plenty about how important radio has always been to him, but for Rog, family remains at the center of everything. 

When asked what his wife and daughters would say about him, he doesn’t hesitate: “Caring. A good listener. Someone they can share things with,” he says. He clearly treasures those connections, and they clearly feel the same way.

“They leave messages on air for me on birthdays and Father’s Day, and they say some really beautiful things. That means a lot.”

Reflecting on his long career on-air, Rog says breakfast radio has been “incredible” and that 31 years has gone “so fast.”

Then, he nails it on the head: “Some days it feels like it was just yesterday I started. But you can’t do it forever, and family and health come first.”

Rog is quick to acknowledge the privilege of having this job, noting that he’s not working any harder than those who get up early and put in long, demanding days. But it’s not about laziness, it’s about Rog recognising his limits, and after 31 years of doing it every day, he knows when it’s time to take a break.

So, while The Big Dog steps back from the mic for a few months, it’s clear that his passion for radio hasn’t faded - he’s simply making space for family, health and a bit of reflection.

Elsewhere in the chat, Rog talked about how he met his wife Lisa, his very first job in radio and taking his mum to the interview, the wild ‘90s radio era, his favourite interviews, his co-hosts, health, and so much more. 

You can listen to, or watch Rog’s full interview with Dom Harvey here. It’s worth the watch.