Seems there is some speculation as to why I love doing my
radio show from a Clear Channel AM station 75 miles from my house every
week. So, I thought I’d let you in on my
thinking and how it’s going.
First, to listen to past shows, you can download any and all of the
podcasts. Each is 1 hour long and
contains stuff that is perhaps a reason NOT to love AM talk radio – ads,
weather, news, and sport. BUT, I think
that there is also a lot of cool stuff with very interesting people; so, just
fast forward through the stuff you don’t like and listen!
Over the past 17 weeks, I’ve interviewed Richard Schwinn (yes THAT Schwinn)
from Waterford Precision Cycles and Grant Petersen from Rivendell Bikes. I’ve talked with PhD researchers for
Parkinson’s disease research and Cerebral Palsy patients who put on a bike ride
every year. We’ve talked about Safe
Routes to Schools and Junior Bicycle Racing in the U.S. In fact, we’ve run the gamut from cartoons to
training and the people who make it all happen.
So, the question remains – why would I prefer a conservative, AM talk radio
station (owned by what some have termed the evil empire - Clear Channel - when
perhaps the show might be better received and more widely circulated via
non-commercial air time?
Here is the most compelling answer to me:
I get to talk to people who might NEVER have had an interest in cycling;
but, because they regularly listen to this station, they are exposed to the
show’s content. And you know what? It’s working!
I know that people are listening and talking about cycling because they
are calling me and asking me questions about issues we raise on the show!
Another really important reason is that THIS Clear Channel station came to me
to host the show and has gotten behind it.
They assigned a great co-host – a veteran of radio and television – who
has been both helpful and patient. It
has allowed me to learn the ropes while being in the trenches. The engineers are patient and helpful in
getting the guests, who mostly are on the phone with me, comfortable and ready
to chat.
We have two more shows for the 2010 season; Bicycling Today
will go on hiatus after the August 30th broadcast. Perhaps with some luck and a few new
sponsors, we will be back at 570WKBN in the spring.
In the meantime, if you have comments, questions, or suggestions about Bicycling Today – please don’t hesitate
to make them. If you like the show,
please contact Larry Ward at Clear Channel.
He’s the one who needs to know! (larryward@clearnchannel.com)
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