That temporary job became permanent, and he ended up staying in Dunedin.
"They flew my cat down, then relocated me," he said.
But his first love had always been radio.
As a "kid growing up in the ’70s" he listened to the local radio station, trying to win records by phoning through to the station to be the lucky caller.
Later in 2001 he competed in one of the first radio reality competitions, Live or Die in New York.
"Six of us flew to New York and competed in a Survivor-type competition where one could win prizes one day, immunity the next, as every couple of days one of us was voted off by the listeners until the last one left won $10,000."
Mr Beban made it to the last three.
"It was the most amazing time and tragically six months before the attack on the Twin Towers, when the world changed," he said.
In 2005 he entered another radio competition called Prison Break.
"Six of us were chained to a radio host, and a friend, and had 48 hours to get the furthest from Mount Eden prison."
This time his team won and their prize was a trip to the set of the Prison Break television series, filmed in Dallas, Texas.
"With all my tattoos, I ended up being an extra in a scene where the car I was travelling in was pulled over by the FBI," he said.
About six months ago, he phoned Barbara Hamilton, who hosts a Sunday evening show on Radio Dunedin, and asked her how he could get into radio.
He was told to speak to long time radio announcer Lyndsay Rackley, and soon Mr Beban was given training and began hosting Feel Good Tuesday from 6pm to 9pm on Radio Dunedin.
A few weeks ago, he got a call from Today FM assistant content director Bridget Hastie, offering Mr Beban the opportunity to be an overnight talkback host to cover the regular host’s Christmas and summer break.
"I was like, ‘oh my gosh, what an amazing opportunity’.
"Here I am approaching 57 years old and my dream is coming true. Miracles can happen."
Mr Beban will shortly fly to Auckland to be given some training and will go live from midnight to 6am on December 19.
"It’s amazing who listens through the night.
"Overnight workers, truckies, people at home, people who can’t sleep, people like me who love listening to radio.
"It’s going to be wonderful talking to so many people from all walks of life, with different opinions."
MediaWorks director of news and talk Dallas Gurney said it was delighted to have Mr Beban join the team over the summer months.
"Mikey has been a long-time radio fan and talkback contributor.
"We can’t wait for him to get on air and connect with our Today FM audience between midnight and 6am. We know this has been a life-long dream of his, which we’re happy to help fulfil."
While this was a short-term stint, Mr Beban was optimistic about other work that may stem from the opportunity.
