This month we are joined by Mike McVay, president of McVay Media, a full-service consulting firm and former Executive Vice President of Programming for Cumulus Media, overseeing hundreds of radio stations all over the nation. Mike’s story began just 30 miles south west of Pittsburgh where his father worked on the Pennsylvania railroad as an engineer. That vessel literally and figuratively led Mike to WHJB, where he landed his first radio job and ultimately turned that opportunity into a 40 year ...
Sep 07, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Episode 15 - This month we are joined by Derek Jones, Director of Creative Services, Chief Engineer and Producer at Megatrax. Picking up his first instrument at the young age of 11, Derek details his early interest in music and how his childhood hobby of playing the drums ultimately laid the foundation for his present-day career. Hear all about his theory that music can enhance learning capabilities, his time at Berklee College of Music in Boston, the intricacies that go into creating an album, ...
Aug 02, 2021•39 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Episode 14 – Jon Thomas: This month we are joined by Jon Thomas, Owner of JS Audio Works, your audio production specialists. In addition, he is the contracted longtime producer/ imager for West Virginia Radio Corporation. Learn how Jon landed his very own night show at WVAQ at only 20 years old, the advice he gives to businesses trying to stay afloat during Covid, his take on the current radio landscape and presently leading his own company as a renowned audio engineer. Sharing that he “Wouldn’t...
Jul 13, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 14
This month we are joined by Chris Nicoll, Creative Director and Founder of WizzFX, a custom imaging service for radio and digital products including podcasting. He shares his journey as an audio branding expert and how it essentially led him to creating this ultimate custom imaging tool. Chris credits his positive mindset and curious nature to his New Zealand roots as he reflects on his start in radio, his desire to help others create through his webinar series, suggestions for upcoming imaging ...
Jun 11, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Valerie Geller, President of Geller Media International, shares the reason she fell in love with radio. She explains how her passion led to her becoming an international broadcast consultant and conference speaker. Learn what Valerie, renowned author of Beyond Powerful Radio, means by "preaching from scars, not your wounds," and the importance of using humor to be accessible, which is a massive key to success in the radio industry. Discover why Valerie believes merely having a great voice is not...
Nov 20, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 12
Rob Greenlee, VP of Content and Partnerships for Libsyn, explains how to get started with your podcast concept, and shares tips to take your podcast to the next level. Learn the essential data skills you'll need to get your podcast to the next level, and how to remain authentic - the key to success - throughout the process. Whether you're a seasoned podcaster or not, learn all about Rob Greenlee's role in The Podcast Academy. This podcasting trade organization has significant plans for podcaster...
Oct 01, 2020•40 min•Season 1Ep. 11
In this episode, we chat with Gary Scott, Chief Executive Officer at Inside Voice, a podcast company in Los Angeles, California. Gary, a graduate of UC Berkley, began his career as an investigative and political reporter. He transitioned into radio, eventually becoming the program director of KCRW, one of the most influential NPR stations in the country. Gary shares the behind the scenes scoop on some of his most successful podcasts, including LongShots, a political podcast hosted by famed inter...
Jun 26, 2020•54 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Join us as we talk to Paul Kaye, VP of Product & Talent Development at Rogers Radio, Canada. Learn how a degree in coaching serves him in developing his on-air talent and how COVID-19 has granted his team the freedom to be more creative. Describing our current situation as a snow globe, Paul brilliantly teaches us all a lesson that applies to life, not just radio.
May 21, 2020•48 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In this month’s episode, listen to veteran Radio Personality Barbara Blake from KTWV The WAVE in Los Angeles discuss why and how she built Citizen Planet. This multi-digital platform community connects the world through multi-culturalism, unity and more. Learn how to create an idea of your own and follow Barbara’s steps so that you too, can create an innovative community as she has. Also, find out how inviting friends of different cultures is beneficial and how you too can become a great citizen...
Apr 13, 2020•43 min•Season 1Ep. 8
This month's guest, Matt Cundill, is owner/operator of The Sound Off Media Company - an audio solutions group providing voiceovers, radio programming strategies, and podcast solutions. Matt, based in Canada, launches podcasts for businesses, entrepreneurs and performers. He is also the host of the Sound Off, Hot Air and Stand Up Speak Up podcasts. In this episode, Matt explains what it takes to be a podcaster, and shares the one thing that taught him the most, which turns out to be a common them...
Mar 04, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 7
The latest episode of Trailblazers contains a wealth of wisdom from Raul Torres, Vice President of Production & Imaging at Univision. Not only does Raul share valuable insight on how to succeed in life, he gives a day-to-day overview of managing a national radio network and explains why we should all be willing to embrace failure in 2020.
Jan 08, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 6
Executive VP of Content at Alpha Media, Phil Becker, manages and directs over 200 radio stations nationwide. In this episode of Trailblazers, Phil aims to inspire you, while sharing critical strategies he uses to manage his hectic schedule, including: · Phil’s three time-management filters to ease your day. · What an idea emergency looks like. · Why he gave up on a mindset of wins vs. losses. · Why you should always hire stars. · Why he doesn’t want to be remembered just as the guy who wrote tha...
Aug 29, 2019•47 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Vice President of programming for the largest urban radio network in the country, Colby Colb Tyner shares what are some of the things he does as a VP to help build his talent pool. A self-admitted political junkie, Colby shares personal stories of success and lessons learned along the way to get him to where he is today. Always rising up to the occasion, Colby is the epitome of a TrailBlazer, paving the way for others who are right behind him.
Jul 03, 2019•44 min•Season 1Ep. 4
This month we're joined by Rich Boerner, VP of Programming and Director of Operations at Cadence 13. With a wealth of knowledge and a unique panache for storytelling, Rich imparts advice for the podcasters of tomorrow; giving tips for taking a podcast to the next level; the skills podcasters need to develop continually; and how to monetize podcast brands. Rich also shares a fascinating account of recording the inaugural episode of Goop - the podcast extension of Gwenyth Paltrow's lifestyle brand...
Apr 30, 2019•58 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Program and Creative Services Director for Zimmer Radio Group in Missouri, Josh Ryan, shares his passion for radio, things he loves about his job, gives advice to someone trying to break into radio and shares his priceless experience in his local community in Columbia, Missouri and a very special relationship he developed with an adorable 10 year old little girl with Cerebral Palsy and her parents after a station fundraiser his station conducted to help raise funds for the disease.
Mar 01, 2019•30 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Correspondent and Host of Planet Money, Robert Smith, shares a deep and personal story while covering the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana and his boat ride with local Louisiana fishermen who went out to earn their living despite it being illegal in the days following Katrina. Smith also shares the backstory of when he and his story partner set out to buy 1,000 barrels of oil with $10,000 in cash in order to teach his listeners how the price of oil impacts them at the pump every day.
Jan 23, 2019•27 min•Season 1Ep. 1
