Radiogirl

Margaret Larkin
  • 4.5 (12)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE

It's about people not politics: talking to interesting folks in and around radio (and the media) in Chicago and beyond. Theme music by Panda Riot.

  1. NOV 26

    Justin Kaufmann: Axios Chicago and radio

    Listen at http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG203.mp3 I'd never met Justin Kaufmann before, but he quickly responded to my interview request and was very friendly and smart in this interview. He talks about a lot: why news stories are like radio shows; producing and being on the air at WBEZ; working with producers; working during the pandemic and broadcasting alone; radio challenges; building subscribers; user-generated content vs journalistic context; how comedy helped him for broadcasting; his show "Schadenfreude," which led to Hollywood; challenges of processing information and being timely; Chicago crime and audience response; getting on the air and advice; why producers should focus on supporting the host; communicating with listeners; dealing with pressure and setbacks; newsletters and online relationships; public radio vs commercial radio; WGN and format changes; social media stories; why daily content helps get more exposure; doing Reset on WBEZ and Extension 720 at WGN (reboot); dealing with setbacks; how he got into news; why Axios is great; the writing process; improv and preparation; journalistic discipline; and more.  This is from a livestream that we did. Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG203.mp3

  2. NOV 13

    Tom Shaer: Legendary Sportscaster

    Tom Shaer is part of Chicago radio history. He was one of the first broadcasters hired at The Score, WSCR. He starts talking about Rich King and a Crain’s Chicago Business article 1982; why ego is important; being and having an agent: wins, lies, challenges, advice; how the biz has changed; treatment of Mark Giangreco; sports staff issues; working in news and sports; the importance of working in different media; writing and editing; going from sports to news; pre-Internet show prep; Larry Bird and access to athletes; going from TV to radio; working at NBC 5 TV, WBBM Newsradio, and The Score WSCR; doing sports talk in the early days; issues in sports media; why The Score did well; broadcasting and adjusting to Chicago; sportscasters reporting news; being square and the drama at The Score; Mike Ditka, Jack Brickhouse, and Harry Caray; why The Score is a good station with past mistakes; how he got into the media; and he talks about several people, including Ron Gleason, Mike North, Rick Gieser, Dan McNeil, Dan Jiggetts, Drew Hayes and Michael Damsky, Chet Coppock, Howard Cosell, Jerry Reinsdorf, Mitch Rosen, Ron Magers and Carol Marin, and more (let me know who else I should list). This is from a livestream that we did. Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG202.mp3

  3. AUG 16

    Stefan Holt - TV news anchor

    Stefan Holt is from Chicago and started at NBC 5 Chicago in 2011. He talks about reporting, anchoring, and working in Florida and at WNBC in New York; why reporting is challenging; what he learned from his dad, Lester Holt, when he was growing up and visited CBS 2 Chicago/WBBM-TV; why he likes working in Chicago; how his bosses and his dad helped his growth and on-the-job training; the importance of journalism and local news; working at a national vs local level; the Today Show, radio news, advice, and his love of flying: he is an instrument-rated private pilot. This is from a livestream that we did. Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG201.mp3

  4. JUN 27

    Joe Donlon - Living the Dream at CBS Chicago

    Listen at http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG200.mp3 Joe Donlon is an anchor at CBS News Chicago. He was on the air at WGN-TV and NewsNation in Chicago, and was at KGW-TV in Oregon for several years before coming to Chicago. He talks about why he loves Chicago and feels relaxed; how he's been living the dream; how he got to WGN-TV from Oregon; having fun at work; the journalism profession including: demo reels, challenges in the business, prepping for a newscast and speaking spontaneously, how to be effective on the air, working in national news vs local, why writing is important, how experience helps develop your skills, editing audio and video, advice for structuring a story, reporting and anchoring, changing technology and advice, interviewing and reporting, and working in cable news. He also talks about his Chicago Unscripted podcast, dealing with criticism, why ambition is important, and more.  This is from a livestream that we did. Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG200.mp3

  5. APR 27

    Molly Jirasek - advice from a TV News Director

    I interviewed Molly Jirasek at the Illinois News Broadcasters Association convention six years ago, when she was Assistant News Director at Heart of Illinois ABC in Peoria. Now she is News Director at ABC57-TV in South Bend, Indiana. Molly explains what she looks for in a journalism professional, and gives advice on topics that include: appearance, demo reels, reporting, applying for jobs, important skills for working in TV news, attitude, what to look for in a school to get experience, multimedia journalism, how she runs a newsroom, and more.  This is from a livestream that we did. Click this link to play the interview - http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG199.mp3 And click this link for the previous INBA interview. Molly is hiring, btw.

  6. 12/20/2024

    Jerry Agar: 14 years later!

    http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG198.mp3 Jerry Agar has been on the air since October, 1973. I interviewed him in 2010 when he was starting at Newstalk 1010 CFRB in Toronto. He went back to Canada after spending 25 years in the U.S. (he's originally from Canada), and is still at Newstalk 1010. He talks about a lot in this update: what he thinks of the radio industry and talk radio; why he switched from music radio to talk; his experience including WGN and WLS in Chicago, and smaller markets throughout the country; Kevin Metheny and his father, Terrell Metheny; his struggles, advice, the importance of being authentic, and a lot more. This is from a livestream that we did. 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/RG198.mp3

  7. 08/30/2024

    Ron Gleason: The Score, WBBM, Sports

    Listen at http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG197.mp3 Ron Gleason worked in sports for many years before switching to news at WBBM Newsradio. He talks about Sports Phone, doing play-by-play, sportscasting, being the boss at WSCR The Score, Mike North and Dan Jiggetts, radio before and during the Internet, how radio can be effective and entertaining, being management vs on the air, starting his radio career in his home state of California, doing sports in Joliet at WJOL, the end of WMAQ news station in Chicago and WCBS in New York, revenue declines, talented broadcasters, going from The Score to WBBM as an anchor then boss, his workflow, advice for getting a job, how sports helps news, how the radio biz has changed, and much more! This is probably the most extensive interview that Ron has ever done and is from a livestream that we did. "I loved it and I just I knew radio was all I ever wanted to do." 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).  Listen at http://radiogirl.us/audio/RG197.mp3 Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos on the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube. If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

  8. 08/23/2024

    Rafer Weigel: getting personal

    I first interviewed Rafer Weigel 11 years ago when he was at WLS-TV in Chicago. When I did this livestream with him, he was at KUSI-TV in San Diego. Now he's Chief Communications Officer at VetComm, so but I want to post this anyway because Rafer talked a lot not just about his professional experience, but his personal struggles as well, which is pretty rare in the few-hundred interviews I've done so far. He also shares his opinions about the media biz and news broadcasting. Topics covered: acting, his famous sportscaster dad Tim Weigel, sports broadcasting, breaking the Jussie Smollett story and losing his job, mistakes he's made, mental health, pressure and competition, advice for working in the biz, and much more. This is one of the longest podcasts I've done; it was first posted at the INBA website.  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/RG196.mp3 Watch the Radiogirl livestreams and videos on the Radiogirl FB page and on YouTube. If you like what I'm doing, Buy Me a Coffee...thanks!

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4.5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

It's about people not politics: talking to interesting folks in and around radio (and the media) in Chicago and beyond. Theme music by Panda Riot.

Information

  • Creator
    Margaret Larkin
  • Years Active
    2009 - 2025
  • Episodes
    25
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2009-2022. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    Radiogirl

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