Sam Panayotovich: from Chicago sports radio to Boston TV

The last time I interviewed Sam Panayotovich, he was just getting his career started in sports radio. Now Sam is on NESN and Fox Sports TV. He talks about his journey from Chicago to Las Vegas to Boston, his sociability, sports betting, working hard and paying your dues, comparisons between Boston and Chicago, advice, locker rooms, covering pro teams, and more. This is from a livestream that we did in the summer (when the White Sox weren't doing so well and the football season hadn't started yet). Listen to the first interview that we did eight years ago here.

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG184.mp3

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

And thanks to the people who have contributed at my Buy Me a Coffee page! 

Charlie Meyerson - from radio to digital domination

Charlie Meyerson is publisher of Chicago Public Square. He talks about how he's become successful in digital media, what he thinks of the news business, his belief in independent pursuits, his podcast, and more. If you want to know more about his radio and newspaper career, listen to the interview that we did ten years ago. This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG183.mp3

This podcast comes from the livestream that we did, and based on Charlie's advice that independent creators should ask for support, I've created a Buy Me a Coffee page. 

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

Adam Wade: Pro Stage and Audio Storyteller, writer, performer

Adam Wade is from New Hampshire and has lived in New York for almost 25 years. He has won The Moth 20 times, and has appeared on Conan O'Brien's show, "Inside Amy Schumer," and Lena Dunham’s "Girls." He created the popular album The Human Comedy and was featured in The New Yorker. He teaches storytelling at the Magnet Theater and has popular content on Audible called You Ought to Know Adam Wade. He talks about all of those accomplishments, how making connections and being good to people are important, how he got into the NBC Page program, the nice people he’s met in New York, advice, and more. This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG182.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Radiogirl Twitter, Metrolingua Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

Neil Fiorito: from radio to movies!

I first interviewed Neil five years ago, and his work situation has changed since then. He is no longer at the hotel (where I interviewed him early in the morning), and now teaches broadcasting and radio, in addition to doing traffic at WBBM Newsradio. This interview includes breaking news: Neil is going to be in the movie, Never Stop Talking, which will be released at the end of the year. He also talks about his partying parents, his wonderful wife, Chicago, and more. This is from a livestream that we did; watch the full interview here.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG181.mp3

Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos at the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube (also live-streaming on Twitch, Twitter, and my own Fakebook page).

Bart Shore: from Chicago to North Carolina

Bart Shore was one of the early guests on this podcast 12 years ago, and he was my first livestreaming guest last week. He is still doing traffic in Chicago in the morning with Melissa Forman and hosts weekends at WLIT. Lately, he's also been on various music stations throughout the country.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG180.mp3

I interviewed Bart in 2010, so if you want to know more details about his career, you can listen to that interview here. 

p.s. My novel, Wicker Park Wishes, is available as an ebook at Amazon. Get the quality print version through Eckhartz Press, owned by longtime radio pro Rick Kaempfer (who I interviewed for this podcast in the early days). See the reviews and more about me at margaretlarkin.com

Pat Cassidy: retired from WBBM Newsradio after more than 50 years in the biz

Pat Cassidy spent more than 50 years on the air in news radio. Just before he retired from WBBM Newsradio, he talked about what he's learned over the years, why news is important, how he's maintained a good attitude, how he thinks news reporting and the media have changed, advice he has for broadcasters, and more. 

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG179.mp3

I interviewed Pat in 2013, so if you want to know more details about his career and even an embarrassing mistake he made on the air, you can listen to that interview here. 

p.s. My novel, Wicker Park Wishes, is available as a cheap ebook at Amazon. Get the quality print version through Eckhartz Press, owned by longtime radio pro Rick Kaempfer (who I interviewed for this podcast in the early days). See the reviews at margaretlarkin.com

Lin Brehmer: Successful Radio Fun

Lin Brehmer, who has a fantastic reputation for being a super-friendly, interesting, talented radio guy, is well-known in Chicago via his on-air work at WXRT, where he was previously Music Director. He talks about his baseball and music nerdiness; interviewing Mick Jagger, David Bowie, and The Replacements; creating the always-entertaining Lin's Bin; his professional writing and his mom; backstage adventures; meeting the Go-Go's, Aimee Mann, and Robert Randolph; why WXRT is different from other stations; his vague party details and how beer got him his WXRT job; the secret to his and WXRT's longevity; his hometown in Queens, and more! 

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG178.mp3

p.s. My novel, Wicker Park Wishes, is available in the very affordable digital form at Amazon. Get the print version through Eckhartz Press, owned by longtime radio pro Rick Kaempfer (who I interviewed for this podcast in the early days). See the reviews at margaretlarkin.com

Jill Urchak: radio fun forever!

I have known Jill Urchak for many years, but I did not know that she was married before (though now I know, not just because she told me, but because I searched online after we did the interview; I should have searched before). She is probably the only person on this podcast who has discussed personal topics on the record, such as marriage and work. Of course, she also discusses her radio career, which has included talk and traffic on WGN, WBBM, and other stations that she didn't name because she had some challenging experiences. She has a great attitude and is a strong person, who has persevered through the years. In addition to radio broadcasting, she hosts her own podcasts, and is a total fan and passionate participant of radio.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG177.mp3

p.s. My novel, Wicker Park Wishes, is now available in digital form at Amazon! You can still get the print version through Eckhartz Press, owned by longtime radio pro Rick Kaempfer (who I interviewed for this podcast in the early days). See the reviews at margaretlarkin.com

Steve Dale: still passionate about radio

For several years, Steve Dale has been hosting Steve Dale's Pet World and more recently Steve Dale's Other World on WGN Radio, in addition to writing and lecturing all over the world. He talks about his extensive radio experience, advice he's followed, how he got into the radio biz and why people shouldn't work in it, working with the grand masters of radio and what he learned from them, how being an expert is beneficial, dealing with setbacks and how he stays motivated, how TV and radio are different, how he writes, how to get on a show, being in the COVID vaccine trial, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG176.mp3

And listen to the previous podcast with Steve about his media career and being a pet expert.

p.s. I've been getting good responses to my novel, Wicker Park Wishes. Published by Eckhartz Press, owned by longtime radio pro Rick Kaempfer (who I interviewed for this podcast in the early days). 

John Siuntres: Happy Sweet Sixteen, Word Balloon!

Everyone seems to have a podcast now, but John Siuntres is one of the very early podcasters, and has been going strong since 2005 with his very popular Word Balloon podcast. He talks about how he started podcasting, how he built his audience, boxing, what he thinks of the proliferation of podcasts, how he’s been able to podcast for so long, comics and animation, nerd culture, Star Trek, his hosting style, the North Shore and New Trier, how he gets guests, why he’s into comics, what he thinks of video-casting, advice for podcasting, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG175.mp3

And listen to the previous podcast with John about his radio career and more.

p.s. My novel, Wicker Park Wishes, is now available! Published by Eckhartz Press, owned by longtime radio pro Rick Kaempfer (who I interviewed for this podcast in the early days). Order at the Eckhartz Press site.

Hannah Stanley and Fred Weintraub: Hannah and Fred Show

TV pro Fred Weintraub and radio pro Hannah Stanley host the Hannah and Fred show on WCGO and WIMS Radio, and they talk about how they host live while Fred is in London and Hannah is in Chicagoland; how he got interested in the British Royal Family and discussed them on Hannah's WGN Radio show; how they are different yet use their strengths; working in TV and radio; how Fred and Hannah created their show and are able to work together easily; their TV and radio careers; why Fred lives abroad; advice for being a guest and working in the media, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG174.mp3

p.s. My novel, Wicker Park Wishes, will be published by Eckhartz Press, owned by longtime radio pro Rick Kaempfer (who I interviewed for this podcast in the early days). Pre-order here.

Gary Wordlaw: Black News Channel exec and incredible person

Gary Wordlaw is a very experienced TV pro, and is now the Vice President of News and Programming at the Black News Channel, which can be viewed throughout the country, including Chicago. He talks about how he got into TV; what the South and Chattanooga, Tennessee were like when he was growing up; working in TV in the 1960s as the first African American hired at the Chattanooga TV station (after Martin Luther King Jr. was killed); how his family, the community, and God helped him get through challenges; the NAACP and what the 1960s were like; what he thinks about how the news biz covers stories about African Americans; why he is glad and proud to be part of the Black News Channel and how he chose the broadcasters; why the channel is located in Tallahassee, Florida and what that city is like; what it’s like to work in different parts of the country (from Chattanooga to Bellingham, Washington, Baltimore, Maryland, Washington D.C., Syracuse, New York, Seattle, Washington, New Orleans and Baton Rouge in Louisiana, and Tallahassee a couple of times) and how moving around has affected him; what being a Southerner means and his family background; what “it” is; why he thinks TV covers certain stories; the importance of telling the deeper story of individuals; important stories for the African American community; why he went into management; what he thinks of social media; how to effectively fact check; how to stay objective in news; advice for working in news, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG173.mp3

p.s. My novel, Wicker Park Wishes, will be published by Eckhartz Press, owned by longtime radio pro Rick Kaempfer (who I interviewed for this podcast in the early days). Pre-order here.

Brent Payne: Bald SEO a Decade Later!

Brent Payne, the "Bald SEO" who I interviewed ten years ago when he was doing SEO (search engine optimization) at the Tribune Company, gives an update about his company, Loud Interactive, moving out of the city into the North Shore with his family, why he likes working from home instead of having an office downtown, being intense and motivated, why a plan is important, spending half a million dollars on a mistake and how he deals with mistakes and setbacks, working with solopreneurs in his Loud Consortium, how he gets clients, work/life balance, why he's so happy and what's important in his life, how SEO has changed over the past ten years, how he leads a company after working alone, what he's learned, SEO tips, why Google matters, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG172.mp3

Jennifer Keiper: more reporting and anchoring

Jennifer Keiper now works at WBBM Newsradio in Chicago, where she is an anchor and reporter. She talks about working during the pandemic, how she came back to WBBM, working at WLS in Chicago (where I interviewed her before) and WKRS/XLC in Waukegan, being a traffic reporter in the Sears Tower, working at B96 with News Director Karen Hand, traveling around the country and the world as a Midwest Bureau Correspondent for Fox News Radio, dealing with being fired or laid off, the media business, how she developed her writing and broadcasting skills, why being objective is important, doing concise interviews and preparing for them, writing and rewriting news, how to work on deadline, how to get people to talk for a story, working in the suburbs and city, difference between reporting an anchoring, difference between reporting locally and traveling, what kind of experience is important, how journalism has changed, why reporters should focus outward, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG171.mp3

Michele Fiore: having fun in TV

Michele Fiore is a reporter at Fox 32 Chicago and talks about why it's a great place to work; what a desk assistant does; how they choose stories to cover and what makes a good story; how journalism has changed; the difference between working in TV and radio; working in Decatur, Illinois; working in Chicago at Metro Networks, WMAQ radio, CLTV, and WBBM Newsradio; working in Milwaukee at WTMJ Radio and WTMJ TV, and CBS 58 TV as a reporter and at the news desk; her work at WAND TV in Springfield; how to get work in the media; why getting along with people and being a team player are important; how social media affects reporting; how TV stories are put together and why TV is fun; how they check sources; what Milwaukee is like; how to find people to interview for stories; how radio stories are different from TV stories; how to create a compelling story; how she likes doing both reporting and anchoring radio; advice for getting into broadcasting; what makes good writing, and more. See videos at Michele's YouTube page. 

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac). http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG170.mp3

Steve Scott: from successful news guy to new college grad

Steve Scott is an anchor at WCBS Radio in New York. He provides an update on what is going on with his life there (I interviewed him about his news radio broadcasting career in 2012), including what it's like during the coronavirus lockdown and challenges the city is facing; how they report the news through audio and writing; finding positive stories; what makes a good story, how they get big-name politicians on the air, reporting the news on WLS when 9-11 happened, advice for getting into journalism, how to know when to quit, why he considers himself lucky, and he also reveals his own incredible news: after 40 years, he has finally graduated from college! He wasn't able to go to his graduation in California (San Jose State) due to the virus shutting events down, but his diploma is on the way!

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG169.mp3

Rob Martier: from Chicago to Canada and back

Rob Martier is a news and sports broadcaster at WLS Radio, where he covers Illini teams. He previously worked at WGN Radio after spending several years in Montreal, Canada covering sports at CJAD radio. He talks about what Canada is like, why he considers Montreal home, being a beat reporter for the Montreal Canadiens hockey team, getting started in media at Glenbrook South High School, interning with Robert Murphy at Q101, what Robert Murphy was like, why he likes doing radio more than TV, how to create a concise, compelling story; fact checking; the Jussie Smollett story (which allegedly happened pretty much below the NBC Tower, where WLS Radio is located); how journalism has changed; working in sports journalism; why he loves covering sports; working in Canada vs the U.S.; how he went from sports to news; why news shouldn’t be biased; advice for getting into journalism and media; why you should not major in journalism; Illini football, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG168.mp3

Jim DeRogatis: very smart and interesting

Jim DeRogatis is a co-host of Sound Opinions and has been a music critic and music journalist for several years, and is also an author. He talks about what he teaches at Columbia, what he thinks of “dead tree journalism” and how journalism has changed over the years, how he was able to write the Buzzfeed article about R Kelly, how to write and fact-check articles, why journalism is expensive, why reading is important, what he reads and what he thinks about reading, how to write well and persevere in it, why criticism is important, pizza, why being creative is important even without pay, why he cares about mentoring, hard work and perseverance, interviewing Lester Bangs, playing in a punk rock band, if he gets cool invites around town, getting banned from Lollapalooza, reporting and mentoring, how he stays motivated, why he thinks Chicago is the best city in America, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG167.mp3

Rob Hart: third time's a charm

Rob Hart is an anchor and reporter at WBBM Newsradio in Chicago. He talks about why he likes doing both reporting and anchoring, hosting the Noon Business Hour, what makes a good show guest, what is good reporting, why news radio still matters, how to write and find a good story, why talk radio is so difficult (he did it at WGN and WLS), how to deal with the volatility of the radio biz, advice for getting work, working at WLUP The Loop with Maxwell, working at WTMJ in Milwaukee, what Milwaukee is like, why he likes doing radio more than TV, how he’s dealt with challenges, advice for working in the media, what he thinks journalism is, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG166.mp3

Andrea Darlas: newsworthy career

Andrea Darlas was an anchor and reporter at WGN Radio for several years, and is now the Senior Director of Constituent Engagement for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. She talks about how she got her current job and her long radio and TV career, which started at WPGU at the University of Illinois, then WGBO-TV in Chicago, WDWS in Champaign, as a news director at WJOL in Joliet, then WGN radio, plus CLTV and WGN-TV. She also talks about if someone who does publicity should work in the media first, "fake" news, how the media has changed since she started working in it, what she learned from news anchor and reporter Dick Sutliff and news pro Tom Petersen, who were both at WGN Radio for many years, what she's learned over the years, how technological changes have affected news reporting, how she separates doing straight news vs talk radio, why you should never leave a meeting, why she chose radio over TV, why working in a small market is important, advice for getting work, how she got into TV, and more.

Click the link below to play, or download it by right-clicking (on a PC) or holding down the CTRL key and clicking on it (for Mac).

http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG165.mp3