Blog

When I’m listening to a radio show or podcast that rolls on too long with a monologue or back-and-forth dialogue, my mind wanders. Before I know it, I’m checking scores on ESPN. It happens to listeners, too. Hosts, especially in Talk and Sports formats, can easily get stuck in long stretches of unbroken talk. And […]

What makes certain radio and podcast personalities rise above the rest? Why do some hosts create instant connection, loyalty, and talk-worthy moments while others sound like background noise? After coaching talent for decades, I’ve noticed that the most successful personalities share a common set of creative habits, practices that sharpen their craft and deepen their connection […]

If you are one of the many air talents who have lost their jobs this year, an impressive demo package has never been more critical, as opportunities are limited. Our guest blog this week is from highly regarded programmer Kevin Callahan, former Audacy Regional VP based in San Diego, and now Pamal Broadcasting Corporate Director of Operations […]

One of the biggest reasons people listen to the radio isn’t for music or traffic updates, it’s for connection. I had the pleasure of being on a CRS webinar earlier this week with Jacobs Media President Fred Jacobs, talent coach Steve Reynolds, Pamal Programming VP Kevin Callahan, and CRS’s RJ Curtis. We discussed Fred’s research, which […]

Rich Shertenlieb is one of the most creative and talented personalities I’ve ever coached. We worked together on the 99X Atlanta Morning Show and with Kidd Kraddick. Rich won the Marconi Award for Major Market Personality of the Year, The Toucher & Rich Show set the record for the highest ratings share in Boston radio […]

Back in 2007, when PPM ratings rolled out, Jeff McHugh attended an Arbitron seminar that revealed something shocking. The presenter paused, like he was about to deliver bad news about a loved one, and said:“The point in any given hour when the most listeners leave a radio station is not during commercials. It’s when the deejay starts […]

A recent Gallup Survey and The Hollywood Reporter’s Morning Consult poll reveal what most of us already sense: public trust in “the media,” radio, TV, and newspapers has hit another low. Only 28% of respondents report trusting the media. The polarization of news into left and right viewpoints continues to erode overall confidence. But here’s the twist, and it’s […]

I once worked with a PD who would ask after every idea in a planning meeting: “Do they care? Do they care? Do they care?” It drove the show nuts, but he was right. All content must be relevant to the audience. The most successful shows pass every idea through a content filter before it makes it […]

“One man lost his life, and one man lost his job over free speech.” — Bert Weiss, The Bert Show Music station shows live by a simple rule: talk about what everyone else is talking about. But when gigantic stories like Charlie Kirk and Jimmy Kimmel collide, it gets tricky. Some shows avoided the stories. Others […]

Using only audio, great broadcasters and podcasters make listeners “see.” How can your show create more impactful theater of the mind when you have too many tasks and not enough time? A couple of weeks ago, I was running up a shady mountain trail here in Portland when through my headphones came the voice of […]