Once he joined KROQ in Los Angeles, he said every other opportunity fell into place. "Just being in the L.A. market helped me get my foot in the door," he said. "I have been so selective in the things I have done. If something comes along where I can 100 percent be myself and have fun doing it, then that is the stuff I really like.
"It gets me out there a little bit in terms of my face, but not too out there."
Keeping a low profile may be difficult for Stryker, especially since he has interviewed celebrities like Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to name a few, as the host of red-carpet movie premieres for "The Dukes of Hazzard," "Mr. & Mrs. Smith," "Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life" and "Terminator 3."
He said hosting the premieres was a significant point in his career. "It is exciting, crazy, surreal, and makes me smile inside," he said. "I have been going to those theaters since I was 5 years old."
Stryker admits he has had some great experiences, but he hasn't allowed it to effect his life too much. "I appreciate the job I have, but at the same time, nothing was handed to me. I am normal, but not that normal," he said. "I am a guy on the radio in his hometown. I am a L.A. boy 100 percent."
He still isn't used to people recognizing him in public, but said, "I definitely feel the vibe that people know my name. It is not something I even think about when I am out and about."
More than two months ago, Stryker added to his resume co-host of the syndicated radio show, "Loveline," in which he and Dr. Drew discuss everything from "love advice to medical advice."
Stryker recalled an interesting call in which "a guy asked if his penis was broken." He laughs as he admits that "it was."
But, despite his experiences as a host and actor, Stryker feels most at home entertaining his listeners at KROQ. "I live the lifestyle of the listener. Most likely, I like about the same music as them."
As a deejay, he has seen an evolution of popular artists, starting from Warren G and Ice Cube, to Nirvana and Sublime, to the "Lilith Fair bands and the Limp Bizkit's of the world," to the "indie-rock scene."
For the music industry, Stryker believes it is an amazing time because "the best music gets on the radio, and it doesn't really matter the style."
"I definitely have an opinion, but I am not a music snob. There are some bands that are all right, and I think there are a lot of bands that are making some really good music," he said. "I definitely don't think music is sucky right now."
Among his favorite experiences is when Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters showed up to an on-air interview with an autographed flask filled with Seagram's. "We shared some drinks on the air while I interviewed him. We had a great vibe. It was so gratifying and cool," he said.
Stryker doesn't attempt to say what he wants for his future, and obviously seems to be enjoying the present. One thing he does know is that he is enjoying his life.
"I am definitely having a fantastic time, and I don't take anything for granted. I feel lucky and very excited."
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