Dan Mandis interview

Jeremy Levy here with you to bring you my interview with Dan Mandis.This interview was fun to do, and I learned a lot from him.Jeremy Levy: I know that you were Dr. Laura’s producer in the late 90’s, but is this how you got your start in radio? If not, could you please give a brief history of how you got your start in radio?Dan Mandis: My journey in radio started at the College radio station and fell in love with the records, and all of the equipment. . It always fascinated me. So, I started working at the college radio station. I started doing behind the scenes things like producing shows. I had a love of radio for a long time because my Dad would often have the radio on in the car, and he would often listen to talk radio while we were in the car together. After college I started working as a talk radio show producer I started working as a traffic reporter, and then a newscaster. When I started working with Dr. Laura on over nights on KFI.JL: What are some of your favorite memories of working in radio either as a producer, or as a talk radio show host, or as a program director?DM: I feel like I’m still making amazing memories still. My favorite memories so far are meeting the talk radio show hosts that I had grown up listening to and then working on the same radio stations as them. For example, Peter Boyles. I had heard of Peter Boyles, but getting a chance to work with Peter was a wonderful experience for me. With working with some of these amazing broadcasters would somehow rub off on me. That is the amazing part of working in radio for me.Jl Note. That’s exactly how it has happened for me. When I meet these radio talk show hosts, or people that have been on the radio it is an amazing experience for me.Another wonderful memory with the Dr. Laura program was finding radio stations for her show to be on. That was an awesome memory as well.Jl: I know that you are the program director and a radio talk show host. How do you balance your time, and your family?DM: It is difficult sometimes, but I love the radio industry. Sometimes you need to make decisions. Sometimes you need to make a decision about moving your family. Radio is a difficult career to navigate. As far as being a program director and a radio talk show host I told the company I work for that my first passion was to be a radio talk show host. I am fortunate that at the station I am working for now these hosts at the station have been in the market for a long time. The morning guy knows what he is supposed to do. The mid-day guy knows what he’s supposed to do, and my afternoon guy knows what he’s supposed to do. This job is pretty easy because everyone knows what he’s supposed to do.JL: What are one or two strengths of Colorado radio and what are one or two weaknesses of Colorado radio today?DM: One of the strengths of talk radio is that talk show hosts get to share ideas with their listeners. Music radio you just to share music with the listener. For example, on my show today I mentioned the Brady Bunch house, and I asked is that house still around? I got some phone calls telling me the history of the Brady Bunch house. I had 7 or 8 phone calls right in a row of people telling me if the Brady Bunch was a 1 or 2 story house. The thing I love being on WTN radio is that I get to do a show that is interactive but it’s just for Tennessee. We had a shooting here at one of the movie theaters a couple of months ago, and I had people calling in who were there and giving accounts of what they heard and saw. These examples are special memories for me because it reminds us how connected we are on this side of the microphone, and how connected the listener on the radio is. Podcasts are great, but they can’t connect you to the callers that call in to the show like the radio can. One of the weaknesses is that you do have a lot of people that are doing amazing things with podcasts, and face book live streams. That’s a problem that radio is going to face. You do have a lot of new media that is with a lot of newer technology.JL: What would be your advice for someone wanting to get into radio?DM: DM: My advice is to do what I did start out as a producer, and work your way up. You might not be able to get your first opportunity in a big city. You might have to move to a smaller city to get your start. Then learn all you can about the radio in the radio station. Weather it is running the board or answering the phone when people call into the shows. If you want to be a talk show host, there are many different avenues to doing that. You don’t need to be someone like Mike Huckabee to do that.I really appreciated Dan’s insight into the radio industry, and I agree with him. I listen to talk radio because of the different ideas that the hosts and callers bring to the different shows.Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy

Dan Mandis

Jeremy Levy here with you this week to write about one of my favorite talk radio personalities, and a person I consider a mentor in Colorado radio- Dan Mandis. I first started listening to the work that Dan Mandis did back in 1998 or 1999. Back then, he was a producer for the Dr. Laura Schlesinger program. He engineered and orchestrated the music for that show. This was a pretty difficult title to live up to. My favorite moment on the Dr. Laura show was when she did a Thanksgiving joke show. She invited listeners to call in and to tell a funny joke. I can’t remember off hand any of the funny jokes, but she told a couple to Dan, and Dan laughed pretty hard.One day I was listening to the Dr. Laura Show, and Laura announced that Dan was leaving the show. This was pretty hard for him, but it was for the best. One of his kids was sick, and the treatment that they had to go through was in New York. It must have been hard for him to say goodbye. He thanked all of the listeners, and that meant a lot to me.Dan and I are very similar in that he and I were introduced to talk radio at an early age. Dan’s father would often have talk radio on in the car, and Dan was hooked from an early age; just like I was.  After Dan left to move to New York, I thought I had heard the last of Dan Mandis. In the transition program at the Colorado School for the Deaf and the Blind in 2007, I was looking for a job in Colorado radio where I could develop some research skills. My teacher and I called around to different radio stations, and we called KVOR 740 on the AM dial. My teacher asked to speak to the program director, and luck would have it the program director was Dan Mandis. He told my teacher, that he had a teacher who was blind when he took some radio broadcasting classes. Dan was very delighted to hire me as a research assistant at KVOR radio. I would look on the internet with my lap top using a screen reader at news websites, and pick out important news stories for the news anchors and talk radio show hosts to put on the air. Then I would print them out and get them from the printer and give them to Dan.  This was a really fun job for me because I felt like I was helping Dan Mandis out, and I was in the radio environment where I could interact with different radio people. Dan seemed very happy to have my help. One day while working at KVOR, I got to meet Laurie White who was the co-host of the news program in the mornings. This was a really big thrill for me. After a couple of years in the transition program, I moved back to Parker Colorado and my time at KVOR was finished. I will always be grateful to Dan Mandis for giving me a chance and hiring someone who was blind to help with researching current events.After moving back to Parker, I tried to keep in touch with Dan Mandis, but after a while we lost touch with each other for about a year or so. Then I read in an internet news article that Dan Mandis had moved to Denver Colorado and was programming 630 KHOW, and AM 760 radio. He was also doing a Saturday afternoon or morning show at 850 KOA radio. When I heard this, I e-mailed him to let him know how thrilled I was, and that I knew KHOW and AM 760 radio would be in great hands with his programming abilities. He was excited to hear from me. I always enjoyed listening to his Saturday shows because he wouldn’t talk about just political topics. He would talk about fun and serious topics. He would talk about bullying at school, and he would also talk about himself, which I thoroughly enjoyed.Dan believed in listening to the listeners opinions. He didn’t shout them down, or talk over them like some of the hosts do.After he took over at 630 KHOW, and AM 760, there was an incident with one of the hosts at 630 KHOW, and Dan Mandis being the program director had to decide what to do about the host and the incident. This was very difficult for him because he considered this particular host a mentor to him, and someone who he always wanted to be on the radio with. I sent him an encouraging e-mail about how much I really enjoyed the host, and that I hoped that things would work out. I also recommended a different host for the morning show, and that would be Mandy Connell. In a way I feel like I played a part in bringing Mandy’s show to Colorado. Dan appreciated my suggestion. Some people might think that this decision wasn’t a good one, but I really think that Dan had really good programming skills. It seemed to me that KHOW was going through a transition period when they were trying to find the right host to take over the morning show on the station. One of the shows I really enjoyed was when Lois Melkonian, a previous favorite of mine, auditioned on the station. I appreciated Dan making that happen, even though she did not become a regular host.One Saturday morning I tuned in to KOA radio expecting to hear Dan Mandis on the air, but Ross Kaminsky was on the air. Ross explained that Dan Mandis would no longer be on the air on KOA radio. Dan called in on that show and he explained that he had taken a different job in Tennessee. He would be moving to Tennessee to take a programming and an on air job on one of the big talk radio stations in Nashville Tennessee. I did some research a couple of weeks later and found his show on WTN radio 99.7 FM radio. That’s where Dan is now.I have always considered Dan Mandis to be a genuine, and a gentle person as a radio talk show host. He has a wonderful personality.Thank you Dan Mandis for giving me so many wonderful memories, and for giving me the wonderful opportunity on KVOR radio. Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy

Nancy Merrill interview

Today I am going to share my interview with Nancy Merrill from the cooking show. Nancy invited me to her house to conduct this interview.Jeremy Levy: Thank you for meeting with me today Nancy. Nancy Merrill: You are welcome. I am looking forward to this.JL: I remember first starting listening to you on news talk 63 KHOW back in 1996, but is this where you got your start in Colorado radio? NM: Yes it was . It was on KHOW back in 1993. Tina Habas and I were both Lawyers at the time, and we were practicing law in her office at the time. I have always loved anything culinary. One day my husband came home and told me that there was a radio show dedicated to food. I just thought that was fantastic. I went to talk to Tina Habas down the hall, and I told her about this show dedicated to food. Tina said that if you get the radio show I’ll do it with you. She was kidding. She thought there was no way. I happened to know some people at KHOW because of my law back ground. Three phone calls later we had a radio show. I held tTina to her word. Jl: That is a really interesting story. By the way, what ever happened to Tina?NM: Yes, Tina became a district judge which is one of the highest levels of judges in the in the state of Colorado. Then she moved into her own practice. This is why she left the show. JL: Do you miss doing the show? NM: Yes, I still miss doing the show. I would love to do it again, and so would Tina. We both have been so busy with me raising kids. Johanna my daughter is now in school in Los angeles.JL: What would be your advice for someone wanting to get into Colorado radio? NM: It depends what you want to get out of Colorado radio. The radio business then and now just like other business has done a huge shift. There are so many radio shows that are done over the internet anyone can have a radio show. Can you make money at it is the question. You need to ask yourself is it for a job or do you want to do it for money. It is very difficult to get into radio for a job. JL: That is interesting advice. I would have to think about that question. I know that you have done your show from the Taste of the Nation, and the Colorado festival from Food and Wine in Aspen Colorado, but are there any interviews that stick out for you as being your favorites? NM: I remember one show we did from the Aspen Food and Wine Festival with Jullia Child. I was so excited to do the interview with her that Tina had to do the interview. Tina asked her a very interesting question. You are a tall chef, and I am a tall chef. Why do they make kitchen cabinets for only short people? Another memory that I have is when we interviewed Emeril Lagasse. He was a very interesting person to interview. JL: Thank you again for talking with me today Nancy. Nancy was a fun radio talk show host to interview. I really miss her show, but I will always have wonderful memories of her and her show. Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy

The Cooking Show

In 1996 I started listening to talk radio. The third show that I got introduced to was The Cooking Show. This show was hosted by Tina Habas and Nancy Merrill. They were on News Talk 63- KHOW 630 AM from 3-4 PM on Saturdays, right before the Mike Boyle Restaurant Show. The Mike Boyle Restaurant Show was on from 4-6 PM back then (it is on 710 KNUS now on Saturdays 3-5 PM and Sundays 10-Noon.) Nancy and Tina were an excellent team. If Tina didn’t have an answer to a question, than Nancy would and vice versa. They loved to cook and talk about cooking. They would get a lot of phone calls asking questions and giving recipes. Cooking wasn’t their main careers. They were attorneys at the time. I used to get hungry just listening to them.Tina loved being on remote, as did Nancy. One of my favorite remotes they did was from the Aspen Food and Wine Magazine Classic back in 1997. They had some very popular chefs at that event like Emeril Lagasse and Julia Child , and it was something that I looked forward to every year. Another fun remote they did in 1996 was the Share our Strength Taste of the Nation in Denver. They had different restaurants come to their booth to bring them food. In 1997 The Cooking Show moved to KEZW 1430 on the radio dial. KEZW was building their Saturday talk line up of shows, as they played music during the week. They still have some of these talk shows on Saturdays. The Cooking Show at the time was on from 7-8 AM. In 1999 they moved the show to 9-10 AM on Saturdays. In 2002 or 2003, Nancy had a kids cooking show where she invited three or four kids to come into the studio to help her co-host the show and to be guests on her show. I e-mailed her to be on the show, and it seemed like it took her for ever to respond to me. A couple of days before the show she picked me to be one of the kid co-hosts. It was thrilling to be asked to be a guest on a show that I had listened to since I was a young child. Nancy was very encouraging to me before the show telling me that if I was feeling nervous to not worry about it because the host that comes right after their show got really nervous before his show also.When I got into the radio studio it was very enjoyable and I felt like I was a real radio host. We made a delicious chocolate cake that could be done in the microwave. It tasted absolutely scrumptious. While we were cooking it, I could smell the chocolate. It smelled so tasty.After we cooked the cake, Nancy had a cook book author on named Judy Bird. Judy was a very engaging author. I had a question for her -Was her book available in audio? She thought it was an interesting question. She said that she would have to think about it. Maybe that book made it to audio. This cooking show isn’t on any more and I really miss it. Sometime down the road another cooking show might come along. Next week, my blog will talk about my recent interview with Nancy Merrill.Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy 

College football season

2016 college football season is here in Colorado.“Touch down! Touch Down Colorado”!That’s Mark Johnson, the voice of the CU Buffalos.Yes, it is time for College football season again. My favorite team to listen to is the CU Buffalos. I listen to them on either AM 850 KOA or AM 760 KDSP radio. In 2004 Mark Johnson became the voice of the CU Buffalos. Before that Larry Zimmer was the voice of the Buffalos. When Mark Johnson took over, Larry Zimmer was the color commentator who often had interesting comments. My favorite example; “I lost it on the air that day, ... The Buffs all took a knee and pointed straight up.” I, as well as many others enjoyed Larry Zimmer on the broadcasts.This year there will be a new color commentator for the CU Buffalos because Larry Zimmer retired at the end of last year. Garry Barnett is the new broadcaster. I will still miss Larry Zimmer, but I am looking forward to hearing how Garry Barnett does. I hope that Mark Johnson uses that “Touch down!” quote a lot this season. If the first game is any indication- he will! Mark Johnson asked good questions before the game. He asked the Quarterback Sefo Liufiu: “What does CU Buffalos Football mean to you?” Sefo’s answer was: “It means everything to me.” He seemed very thankful to be playing the game. I have heard Andy Lindahl and Mark Johnson on Prime Time sports talk about how the CU Buffalos have a lot of veteran players this year. Mike Macintyre mentioned this as well when Mark Johnson did an interview with him. Veteran players might mean that the players might have learned from their mistakes from previous years. This might mean that the CU Buffalos might win more games this year. During the game last night, the defense had already made some unbelievable plays on their way to a huge victory.Another one of Mark Johnson’s phrases that I like is:“Holy cow!”Mark Johnson is already using this phrase in the very first game! Garry Barnett’s comment was “That was a great call from Leavitt on that play.” The Defense stopped their opponent, CSU, cold on a big play. Jim Leavitt is the Defensive Coordinator. One thing I observed is this Buffalos offense had a lot of momentum in the game. I was so looking forward to hearing the game last night and I certainly wasn’t disappointed!Thanks for tuning in. Jeremy Levy

Mike Boyle interview

Today, I am going to share more about Mike Boyle. I have been listening to Mike since 1996, but he actually started his radio Restaurant Show in 1991. He still owned a restaurant at the time. I really enjoyed meeting Mike at different hamburger places I visited through the “Meal Deals” he offered. I also enjoyed when I was on his show in the studio. I had a chance to observe and learn so much from being on the air with him in just that one show.  Jeremy Levy: I know that you were in baseball management before you ran a restaurant, and before you were on the radio, and I have heard your philosophy before that running a baseball team is similar to running a show on the radio, but what are the similarities with baseball, and running a radio show? Mike Boyle: Back when I was in Baseball management Jeremy there was a manager named Bill Veeck, and he would always have something going on at the park every day. He would have a promotion going on every day so, when people would come home from work, or whatever they were doing they would ask what does Bill Veeck have going on that particular day at the ball park? When I owned my restaurant I used to have promotions so when people would come to my restaurant they would ask, what does Boyle have going on that day? It could be a meal or some entertainment. Now that I am in radio, I think of it the same way. When people tune into my radio show, I want them to ask What does Boyle have going on that particular Saturday or Sunday. It could be a guest that I might have on, or it could be an event that I am going to be at. That is my philosophy on that. JL: I really think that is a wonderful philosophy. I would do the same thing. MB: It has really worked well for me over the years. JL: I know that you started the Mike Boyle Restaurant show because Woody Page helped get you your start but you still had your restaurant. What made radio more fun than running a restaurant? MB: In 1995 a couple of gentlemen came in and wanted to buy the restaurant, and so I sold it to them. After that, a radio station owner called me and asked me if I would like to do a restaurant show in Colorado Springs. Then I went to a TV station in Colorado Springs, and asked them to do a show, and did the same thing in Douglas County. It has really been a fun experience.   JL:I know that you have broadcasted from different restaurants all over the world, but are there 1 or 2 memorable broadcasts that stick out? MB: I have done shows from Mexican, Italian, Indian, and all of these restaurants, and yes Jeremy I have traveled all over the world, and did Shows from Mexico, Hawaii, and from South America. But one of my favorite broadcasts that I did was from the front porch of the Field of Dreams in Dyersville, Iowa. The reason this was my favorite was because I got to share some experiences about how the movie was filmed, and I was also with my daughter, Kaylee, taking her around to all fifty states. JL Note. This is something that I would love to do. Mike doing this has really inspired me to do this as well.I was listening to that show, and that was a fun show to listen to. I have heard you interview many authors on your show. Are there any memorable author interviews that stick out? MB: I have interviewed many authors on my show from J Gordon Liddy to Sean Hannity and Janet Evanovich. One that really sticks out is Vince Flynn. JL: What would you say are one or two strengths and one or two weaknesses of Colorado Radio today? MB: I think that radio is very strong because of the stations we have in Colorado radio. I really enjoy working for Salem Communications. I think that Salem Communications has grown with in the past couple of years. I can’t think of any weaknesses Jeremy. JL: What would your advice be for someone wanting to get into Colorado radio? MB: Don’t do it. Here is why. Radio is a hard industry to get in to. There are a lot more national shows now than when I first started on the air in 1991. It is really difficult to get in to the industry. I always tell people to go for your dreams, but be prepared to work hard. I always enjoy Mike’s sense of humor, and it was a fun interview to do. I learned more about Mike, and I think Mike learned a little more about me. Thanks for tuning in. Jeremy Levy 

My next interview- Bobby Irwin

Bobby Irwin has been in radio for many years in Colorado Springs. He hasn’t always worked in Colorado Springs. He worked in Seattle as well. Bobby is currently the Station Manager of 6 different radio stations, and he is also the program director for 3 of them. I recently interviewed him.Today, I am going to share some of his answers with you.Jeremy Levy: How did you get started in the radio industry, and was Colorado Springs your first radio job? Bobby Irwin: No, Colorado Springs wasn’t my first radio job. My radio career first began when I was eleven years old. As far as balancing my time thank heavens for technology because a lot of the things that I used to be here for in past years can now be done electronically using computers.I was walking home from a movie theater and there was a radio station in the mall in a Denver suburb called Arvada . I got to watch the DJ for a little while, and quickly fell in love with the business. They gave me a weekend job filing records. I just worked my way up from there. I have been with Cumulus here in Colorado Springs for eighteen years. Before Colorado Springs, I worked in such cities like Seattle Washington, Milwaukee Wisconsin, Tampa Florida, Omaha Nebraska, Des Moines Iowa, and Las Vegas NevadaSo, I have traveled a lot quite a bit before I ended up here in Colorado Springs. Jl: Wow, that’s a lot of traveling!BI: Yes it is. JL: I know that you are the program director of 4 or 5 different radio stations, but how do you balance your time between the stations and your family?BI: Actually, I am the station manager for 6 different radio stations.I am directly responsible for the programming of 3 of them. I am directly responsible for the Peak 92.9 FM, KVOR radio 740 AM and 98.1 KKFMI am only here at the radio station from 9 in the morning to 5 in the afternoon. When I wake up in the morning, I check in with my e-mails .  But, I work from home from 5:30 to 7:30 in the morning.JL: What are 1 or 2 strengths of and what are 1 or 2 weaknesses of Colorado Springs radio today? BI: One of the strengths of Colorado Springs radio is that there the stations don’t really change a lot. There are some morning shows that have been around for a while that are local. For example the Goose and Woody Show on the peak they have been around since 2010. Another one is Cutter and Alisha on NASH 95.1 FM in Colorado Springs. On I Heart Media you have Captain Dan and Tammy on Sunny 106.3 radio in Colorado Springs. Colorado Springs has some good local talent which is a good thing. Another strength is that is easier to go out and be a part of the community easier than in a Seattle or a Tampa. For a weakness, smaller markets tend to play more commercials than in bigger radio stations. Another weakness is the remotes they are a little bit harder to listen to.JL: I do remember Tammy when she was on the Peak, and I try to follow her on sunny as well. Are there any special memories that you have in working in radio?BI: I do have quite a few. A special memory I have is right after 9/11 our group of stations asked people to raise money for the Red Cross. Our goal was to make $10,000 that day, but we ended up making $500,000 that day. We were very fortunate to have so many generous listeners that donated that money that particular day.JL: What advice would you have for someone wanting to get into the radio industry?BI: Be very flexible, and be prepared to do everything from on air work to loading up vehicles for promotional broadcasts, to working on social media (websites and Facebook)JL: Thank you Bobby.This interview was informative for me and it confirmed some of the things that Sharon Hogg told me in my previous interview. Bobby Irwin said that he would bring my resume to his next Colorado radio board meeting. Thanks for tuning in. Jeremy Levy

Sharon Hogg interview

I am doing a job search in Colorado radio, and as part of that search, I am doing interviews with people who have been or who are in radio.I talked with Sharon Hogg last week. Sharon Hogg was my radio broadcasting teacher at Pikes Peak Community College. Sharon was in radio before she became a college teacher, and then an advisor at the college.  Sharon is currently an Associate Dean at Pikes Peak.Here is the interview:JL: How did you get your start in radio?Sharon H: I started at my College radio station. I went to college in Pennsylvania and all of my friends were communications majors. They all worked at the College radio station, and I thought that would be fun to do. Jl: That sounds very interesting. SH: The station was called WNFT radio that was short for Nittany radio. JL:What are some of your favorite memories of working in radio? SH: My favorite memories were introducing bands when they came to town. Also meeting listeners at remote broadcasts were really fun as well because you got to talk to the listeners live instead of just talking to a microphone. Also giving prizes away was really fun also: In radio you need to be a people person. Jl: I am a people person as well and that is one of the reasons I want to be on the radio is so I can interact with people.JL: What would be your advice for someone who wants to get in to Colorado radio? SH: I would advise them to get as much experience as possible which is difficult to get if you can’t get a job. And to be very flexible, and versatile. You would need to know not just how to be on the air, but you need to know about sails, and how to write news and weather, and about websites and other formats that are in radio as well. Have the passion for the industry, talent can be taught, but you can’t teach passion. If you go in to work for a radio station then the program directors can train you exactly how they want you but, they can’t teach you passion. Jl: That is great advice Sharon. Jl: What would you say are some strengths of Colorado radio, and what are some weaknesses in Colorado radio? SH:They will change. You can hear radio change from regular radio to satellite radio. Some people are going away from radio. In the past radio has changed. Radio stations are changing with keeping talent, and getting great talent. One weakness is they don’t get payed enough and I think they work the people too hard. Another weakness is that big corporations are owning so many stations that the smaller stations can’t make it any more. So it’s really hard to get in the door. JL: Yes, I understand that. I have noticed that a lot of the radio stations have been getting bigger and that they are owned by big corperations. How do you think Colorado radio will change within the next 1 to 2 years? SH: I don’t think they need to Jeremy. I think they will stay as they are. They already play a lot of music. They will not change a whole lot. Jl: If you had a magic wand, what would you change about Colorado radio? SH: Sometimes I think I do have a magic wand. What I would change is play more music and the people on the radio getting paid more.  Jl. I am interested in working in Colorado radio as a career what advice do you have for me? Also do you have any connections for me in Colorado Springs in radio?  SH: Somehow you need to get your foot in the door. They might have to create a position for you . I know that you enjoyed your work at KVOR. I do have some connections for you in Colorado Springs. Sharon gave me the name of Bobby Erwin, and I plan to write about that next week. Thanks for tuning in, Jeremy Levy

More Broncos training camp

Jeremy Levy back with you with some more thoughts about Bronco’s training camp. I was so excited to get my thoughts of the day out that I forgot some things that I wanted to share. I was very impressed with how easy it was to get in to our seats. They were very accommodating with people with disabilities. Thank you Broncos and the UC Health. We didn’t have to wait on a big line like I thought we were going to . I also got to meet a former Indianapolis Colt Matt Ulrich at the Bronco’s store. He was sitting next to me at one point, and when we were at the store, he came over to introduce himself. His hand felt very large when I shook it. The Bronco’s first pre-season game was this past Thursday. I think that the Bronco’s looked good. I am looking forward to listening to 850 KOA the flagship  radio station that covers the Bronco’s. I am looking forward to listening to Ed McCaffrey and Dave Logan calling the action. A couple of things that I am looking forward to hearing about this season are:1: What the quarterback situation will look like this season. We have some pretty talented quarterbacks in Mark Sanchez, Trevor Siemian, and Paxton Lynch. I am not sure which quarterback I would like to see get the start for the regular games. 2: I am looking forward to hearing how the receivers do at returning kicks. I have heard on Altitude Sports radio this week that Jordan Norwood has done a great job with this. I have also heard from Andy Lindahl and Ed that Jordan Taylor has been a good receiver. He has made some unbelievable catches. Andy Lindahl and Ed were wondering if the Bronco’s are going to keep 6 receivers. 3: Will Capri Bibbs makes the team?4.  The defense wass looking good this first pre- season game.I am looking forward to football season. Thanks for tuning in.

Bronco’s training camp.

 Today was my first experience going out to Bronco’s training camp. My dad and I got to the Bronco’s training camp at about eight thirty this morning. In case you don’t know the Bronco’s training camp is not in the same place where they play the games. This Bronco’s training camp was about ten or fifteen minutes away from my house. I had my thoughts about what training camp would be like. I thought that I would get to meet some radio people that I have been listening to for years. For example, I might get to meet Scott Hastings, Dave Logan, Susie Wargin, Sandy Clough, Charles Johnson, and Brandon Stokley. This is what I thought a great Bronco’s experience would be like for me. I am blind, and these radio announcers are how I listen to the game or think about sports.  I thought that I would get some autographs as well. It took a while for the practice to start. Once the practice did start, the stands were loud and buzzing with excitement. My dad described what was happening to me. I learned that football players and baseball players have numbers. My dad explained to me what some of the player’s numbers were. Everyone seemed like they were having a great time rooting for the Bronco’s. I could hear the excitement when one of the receivers caught a ball from one of the quarter backs. I also wanted to see if the store that they had at the facility had any Bronco’s shirts or mugs because I am a collector of these things. I did get a large Bronco's mug from the store. One of the women at the gate told us that the Bronco’s had autographs. I was excited about this because I thought I was going to get to go down on the field and meet some of the people that I have considered my sports ears over these ten or twelve years. When we were walking down the ramp, I realized that we were not going down on the field. The players were going to come up to the rail to give autographs. I was a little bit disappointed about this, but I got an autograph from Cody Latimer. I still would have loved to meet some of the radio people that I have considered my sports ears, but I enjoyed going to my first Bronco’s training Camp. Maybe I would go again if I could meet some of the radio people. Thanks for tuning in. Jeremy Levy 

Sandy Clough

If you have followed sports radio for any length of time you probably know Sandy Clough. Sandy has been with The FAN 104.3 FM for years! He has been paired with Mark Moser, Mike Evans, and others. He has also done shows by himself. A lot of Denver sports fans consider him a legend. Sandy knows a lot about the sports radio seen. He also knows a lot about the history of Denver and sports. He could talk for hours about either subject. I think he does a wonderful job. I especially like the adjectives that he uses. My favorite adjective that he uses is blatant. Some of my favorite memories were when he did shows with Mark Moser. They were pretty tough on callers that would call in. I wasn’t listening to this particular show, but I read in an article that was published back in the early 2000’s that when Sandy first started, a quote from him was,“Sir you are an idiot.”He has toned it down since then. Some of my other memories were when Sandy and Scott Hastings were working together. I really thought they complemented each other nicely. The shows they did with Drew Goodman were wonderful as well. Recently Sandy has been missing from the FAN’s lineup. There has never been a clear answer as to why. Tomorrow, Sandy will be starting a new time slot by himself from 10-12 on 104.3 The FAN. It will be so good to hear him again, and maybe we will hear where he has been. I have missed his presence on the air. He is a fun host to listen to.What will happen to the Cecil Lammey show that was in that time slot? Rumor is that Cecil will be doing some analyst work for the Fan.Congratulations on your return Sandy Clough! A lot of people have been missing you. Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy

Staff Changes

I have just learned that Joe Bevilacqua has been let go from his programming duties as IHeart FM’s program director as part of a restructuring deal for IHeart media. Joe programmed 106.7 KBPI, and 103.5 The Fox in Denver. I really thought that Joe was a good program director. He has been with IHeart media for almost 20 years. Before that he did some programming work in Rhode Island and other places on the east coast. I really enjoyed listening to his interviews with different radio hosts about the music people he has met. Two weeks ago, Joe filled in on the Mandy Connell show while Mandy was taking a vacation. He did a wonderful job. I hope he gets to fill in again. I will miss you Joe. You were a great program director.Brian Hatfield was on KYGO radio for 3 years. His time with the station has just come to an end. Before KYGO, Brian worked for KCYE in Texas radio, and WYCD radio in Detroit Michigan which is where he met the current program director, Eddie Haskell. . I thought he did a decent job on KYGO. There are rumors that Paul Donavan might be taking over afternoons on KYGO radio. Some people might be very happy about that. I will certainly keep you posted.Josh Everett was the program director of 630 KHOW and 760 KDSP for about a year. I may be a little off on my timing, but Josh Everett is moving on to a bigger job as the president of Spoken Word for IHeart Media in Louisville Kentucky. Josh used to live in Kentucky, so it is a home coming for him. There is no word yet on who his replacement would be. Good luck Josh. I will miss you. You did a great job programming 630 KHOW, and 760 KDSP. Thank you for tuning in.Jeremy Levy 

Reggie McDaniel

I would like to honor a special radio host that I started listening to since 1998 Reggie McDaniel. Reggie first started being on 850 Koa radio back in 1996. He did an entertainment show. He talked about movies and entertainment like plays and restaurants. He started on the air with Dave Logan and Scott Hastings on the Sports Zoo talking about restaurants, and the strange food that he liked at these particular restaurants. Reggie was from St. Louis. He had that St. Louis accent. Reggie had a great attitude and was always so enthusiastic about his show. In 1996 the program director at 850 KOA at the time, came to Reggie asking him if he had his own show what would he talk about? Reggie responded that he would like to talk about movies. That’s how his radio show got started. When I first started listening to Reggie the talk show hosts would comment that he was a stylish dresser. He had a lot of different suits. I met Reggie at the Home and Garden show in 2006. He was wearing a fancy black suit that my mom and dad told me about. Reggie really liked horror films. He would always say that he wasn’t a good judge of horror movies because he liked all of them. Reggie used to be on other KOA radio shows ( the Mike Rosen Show, The Ride Home with Dave Logan and Lois Melkonian) just to name a few. I remember Reggie filled in on the 4thof July back in 2007. When he was asked if he liked fireworks, he said, “I hate fireworks”! I agreed with him because I don’t like fireworks as well. Reggie used to make up rhymes for the traffic reporters on KOA which was a lot of fun. Reggie McDaniel’s birthday was always Father Day weekend. Unfortunately Reggie passed away in 2010. I really miss his show, and nothing has come along on KOA since that has been like his show.Thank you Reggie for all of the fun over the years.Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy

Mike Boyle restaurant show and Crave Real Burgers

A couple of weeks ago I did a blog about my favorite radio restaurant show(the Mike Boyle Restaurant Show). I said in my blog that I hoped that Mike would have a hamburger event that I could go to and taste a delicious hamburger. Well, last Sunday Mike had such an event at Crave Real Burgers in Down Town Denver on Blake. It was a beautiful day, and since we stayed downtown the night before it was easy walk to Crave Real Burgers on Blake Street. When we got there Mike saw that I was there.. He mentioned on the air (I listened to the podcast afterwards) that his official hamburger taster and reporter for the Mike Boyle Restaurant show was there. I had the Plain Jane burger which was a just a hamburger with lettuce, and French Fries. Both the burger and French Fries were scrumptious and excellent. The French Fries were crispy- just like the way I like them. If you are ever in the downtown Denver area I would highly recommend that you give Crave Real Burgers a try. They have 3 other locations in Metro Denver and Colorado Springs , and I have now been to 3 out of the four. Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy

Mr. Fix-It Paul Macgregor

When I started listening to talk radio back in 1996, the first show that I listened to was Mr. Fix-It Paul Macgregor. One Sunday afternoon, I got back from skiing (yes, blind people can ski), and I was sitting in front of my radio looking for something to listen to. I was flipping the dial of my boom box, and I found a talk radio station which was called news talk 630 KHOW. This station would eventually be called Talk Radio 630 KHOW. The Mr. Fix-It Show with Paul Macgregor was on Sunday’s from1-4. Since then, he has always been an interesting host to listen to. I have learned many things from listening to Paul Macgregor. For example, I learned how to fix a toilet if a toilet is clogged- get up there with a garden hose. Use the hose like a snake. Turn the hose upside down. Then you would run the hose up and down the vent stack. If that doesn’t fix the problem, than you might have something stuck in the vent stack of the toilet.Paul Macgregor has moved all up and down the radio dial. He first started on 850 KOA, and then he moved to KHOW. In 1998 he moved to 1430 KEZW. He then moved to KNUS, 560 KLZ, and 1060 the Radio Colorado Network. Paul also has a good sense of humor. If he doesn’t know the answer to the home improvement question, then he can point the listener to someone who can answer the question. My Mom called in one time to his show, and he gave her some good information. Paul has done remotes before, from different home improvement stores and from different events like the Parade of Homes. Those shows were always fun to listen to. I have met Paul before at a wood working store. He really appreciated meeting me, and thanked me for being a loyal listener.  Now that Paul is older, he doesn’t do as many remote broadcasts. His show still has the same energy though. 2 years ago in March I found his show again on 1430 KEZW at 9 o’clock in the mornings on Saturdays. Paul has a co-host with him named Debbie. She owns an insulation company, but she also can chime in on other questions as well. The show is better with a co-host IMO. Listeners can win different types of gift certificates by calling into his show.The gift certificates are usually to a chain restaurant. I am glad that Mr. fix-it Paul Macgregor is back on the air, and if you are looking for some good home improvement advice I would suggest the Mr. fix-it show on Cruisin 1430 from 9 o’clock to 10 o’clock on Saturdays.

Mercedes Howard "Ya Girl Cedes"

Mercedes Howard "Ya Girl Cedes"  is moving to San Diego from 107.5 in Colorado. She will be doing mid-days at Jam 95.7 jamz fm. They flipped KSSX to Jamz 95.7. I am not a fan of hip hop music, but I think it is a good tip for those of you that are.Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy

Mike Boyle Restaurant Show

I started listening to Mike Boyle and the restaurant show since 1996. I have been a loyal listener ever since. I have followed him to 3 radio stations. In 1998, I met him at one of his Boyle Supper Clubs. A Boyle Supper Club or Lunch Bunch is where Mike invites you to join him at a restaurant for a meal, and the meal is a lower price than you would normally get if you just went to the restaurant normally. He used to do them for the call letters of the station. Now he just does them for a reduced price. The words “Supper Club” is a misnomer. Everyone is welcome to come to these events. These Supper Clubs are a wonderful chance to meet new people. I usually go to a deal when a restaurant has good hamburgers. Mike considers me his official hamburger taster and reporter for the Mike Boyle Restaurant Show. I have been on the air with him in the studio to talk about this topic, and we have very similar tastes when it comes to a tasty and delicious hamburger and French Fries. I hope he does another hamburger restaurant event very soon.Mike doesn’t always talk about restaurants. He also talks about travel, books, movies, and anything else that people do in their spare time. I enjoy it when he also talks about travel.  I really enjoy Mike’s attitude about his show. There might be a chance to win gift certificates on his show by calling him on the air. There might also be some other prizes as well. I would highly recommend that people tune into this fun, entertaining, and exciting show.You can listen, and or tune into Mike’s show from 10-1 on Saturdays on 1460KZNT The Answer in Colorado Springs, and from 3-5 on Saturdays on news talk 710 KNUS. Also you can tune in or call in on Sunday on both stations from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.Thanks for tuning in. Jeremy Levy

Radio tip- Brad Hansen

I just learned in an inside radio blog that Brad Hansen has left the station KWOF 92.5 country radio, and has taken over the programming of 3 radio stations in Albuquerque New Mexico.These stations are:"NASH FM 92.3" KRST, "NASH Icon" KBZU and "eD-FM" KDRF. I sometimes listened to KWOF radio, and I really think Brad Hansen was a good program director. I will miss him. Congratulations to Brad on his new job. Before programming KWOF radio, Brad worked in the fort Collins market. What does this mean for KWOF radio? Does this mean that KWOF radio maybe going in a different direction? Could it be flipping formats? Well, there is only one way to find out. Stay Tuned.Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy

Colorado Rockies opening day

I really enjoy listening to the Colorado Rockies on the radio. I get excited for the season to start. I also relish listening on opening day for all of the pregame festivities. This year was no exception. I was so eager that I had trouble falling asleep the night before. I woke up at 5 o’clock and I tuned into the flagship station for the Colorado Rockies and one of my favorite stations to listen to -850 KOA. I adored listening to Steffan Tubbs and April Zesbaugh on Colorado’s Morning News. I thought they did a wonderful job with the interviews and telling us what was happening at Coors Field. Steffan Tubbs and April Zesbaugh always have fantastic information in the mornings. After their show was finished, I tuned in to KOA radio to hear Mandy Connell and Mike Rosen. They were also broadcasting from the ball park. This was new for the both of them. Mike Rosen has filled in for Mandy before, but they had never done a show together. I thought that they made a great team. If you are not as tuned to Colorado like I am, you should know that Mandy Connell took over for Mike Rosen after Mike Rosen’s semi-retirement. I thought that the most interesting question that Mike Rosen asked of Mandy was“Which team did you grow up with? Also which team did you grow up to hate?”Mandy said that she grew up in Florida, but I don’t remember what her 2 teams were. Mike and Mandy had some of Mike Rosen’s baseball material as well. Mike Rosen likes to play who’s on first by Abbot and Costello. At noon, Dave Logan and Susie Wargin took over for the early afternoon shift.  Dave Logan and Susie Wargin are my 2 favorite sports radio personalities in sports radio. Dave and Susie interviewed one of the TV voices of the Colorado Rockies, and they also interviewed one of the players. I thought these were great pregame festivities and I am looking forward to them again next year.Thanks for tuning in.Jeremy Levy 

Radio tip about Ryno from KYGO’s morning show

 Ryno from the Ryno and Tracy show has left KYGO radio after 3 or 4 years. Ryno is doing radio for KKMJ radio in Austin Texas. I have heard his show, but I wasn’t a loyal listener. I just wanted to wish Ryno good luck with his new radio job in Austin.Thanks for tuning in. Jeremy Levy