Zan Rowe
Zan Rowe | |
|---|---|
| Born | Susanna Rowe Template:Birth year and age Melbourne, Australia |
| Occupation(s) | Broadcaster, academic |
| Years active | 1996–present |
| Known for | Double J presenter, Take 5 podcast and TV series |
Susanna "Zan" Rowe is a prominent Australian broadcaster recognized for her work on ABC's digital radio platform Double J and as the presenter of the podcast and television series Take 5. Additionally, she holds the position of Industry Adjunct Associate Professor at RMIT University.
Early life and education
Originating from Melbourne, Rowe pursued her studies at RMIT University, focusing on radio and film disciplines.
Radio and podcasts
Rowe's broadcasting journey commenced in 1996 at SRA FM, presently known as SYN Radio, where she hosted Run with the Hunted. Between 2002 and 2004, she presented Transit Lounge on 3RRR 102.7FM.
In 2005, she became part of Triple J as the weekend lunch presenter and advanced to hosting the weekday Mornings slot by 2006. She transitioned to the digital radio station Double J in December 2017, beginning her role as Mornings host there in 2018.
Her signature program and podcast, Take 5, showcases in-depth conversations with renowned musicians including Paul McCartney, Damon Albarn, Kylie Minogue, and Peter Garrett.
In March 2017, Rowe collaborated with Myf Warhurst to launch the podcast Bang On, which paused operations in November 2024. The duo earned the Best Host accolade at the 2024 Australian Podcast Awards for their work on this show.
Television
Rowe co-hosted a special edition of Rage in 2009 that highlighted the Triple J Hottest 100 of All Time. From 2015 through 2016, she led The Critics on ABC iview, focusing on film and television culture. She joined ABC TV's review program Screen Time in 2017 and co-hosted the New Year's Eve celebration alongside Charlie Pickering that same year.
For ten years, Rowe delivered a weekly music news segment on News Breakfast before stepping down in 2024; her role was subsequently filled by Triple J presenters Lucy Smith and Sosefina Fuamoli. Throughout her career, she has hosted various ABC productions including Double J programming and contributed written analyses on Australia's music scene. In 2020, she co-presented the weekly music show The Sound. Rowe also took part in ABC’s 90th anniversary festivities in 2022 alongside Tony Armstrong and Craig Reucassel. In 2025, she appeared as a contestant on Claire Hooper's game show House Of Games.
Rowe fronts Take 5 with Zan Rowe, a television version of her Double J segment and podcast, which debuted in September 2022. The second season premiered in October 2023, followed by a third installment in October 2024 featuring guests such as Dannii Minogue, Bill Bailey, Claudia Karvan, Neil Finn, Bernard Fanning, and Casey Donovan. Her interviewing technique is widely praised within the industry; Bernard Fanning has referred to her as "our beloved 21st Century Molly Meldrum".