The Podcast About Sports Radio : Chats With Industry Leaders

How about being 18, well on your way to a career in business, only to run into "The Godfather" James Brown and decide business wasn't for you? (now, THAT is a good tease!) Doesn't sound real, does it? But, that happened to Cody Stoots. Stoots decided that radio was the path he took, gave himself a deadline by which he needed to be a sports talk host in his native Houston before he decided he'd take a new path. He got there years in advance. At 26 years old, Stoots is the driver for a daily midday show on Sports Radio 610 in Houston. Find out how he got there and a whole lot more on this episode of The PASR.   Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible

Lachlan McLean knew the "New York businessman" lifestyle wasn't for him.  So much so that he had zero problem taking a 67 percent pay cut.   All to get into what he was doing in college... something he loved... sports.   After a lengthy stint in television, which included following his then-girlfriend-now-wife from smaller markets, McLean is now one of the most respected sports radio voices in the Louisville, Ky.--one of the few markets that has, as he puts it, "built-in conflict" everyday on the air. McLean is in his 12th year as a host there, now with ESPN 680 in the Derby City.   Hear more about his journey which includes networking his way into ESPN, how he went from a solo host to a two-man show, what makes a college sports market so much more interesting than a pro-heavy market and more in this episode of The PASR.     Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible

Tim Benz has been an outsider on the radio, even in the city to which he was born. Benz, born in Boston, made a name for himself in Pittsburgh sports radio and television, before giving it a successful, albeit it taxing, go at WEEI in Boston. Now, back in Pittsburgh, with the exception of his regular gig as pregame show host on the Steelers Radio Network, Benz has pulled a "Kornheiser." He's gone to the internet! Hear about how to host in a market outside your hometown, how to successfully host a pregame show, how to succeed in podcasting and much more in this episode of The PASR. Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible

It's true that many of the stories of how one gets into a career in sports radio is quite unorthodox. But this one may take the cake. Sean O'Connell was an aspiring mixed martial arts fighter. That turned into co-hosting an MMA radio show that was self-admittedly just for fun. That turned into a daily radio show--one of the most successful in Salt Lake City... and that radio show, one could argue, turned into a career into the UFC for O'Connell. And that story is a good one, too. Hear that story and a ton about the career(s) of O'Connell on this episode of The PASR. Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible

RJ Choppy didn't know exactly what he was going to do with his life. But, it sounds like it was definitely going to be something in sports. An aspiring golfer, Choppy took to a radio station gig at a fairly early age and the rest is history. He worked as a board op, producer and update anchor before finally beating down the door enough to be given an opportunity to be the Dallas Mavericks pre- and postgame show host. Since then, Choppy has made a name for himself working alongside Shan Shariff mornings on 105.3 The Fan in Dallas. He's also made a name for himself in other realms as well. Hear about those, plus the day his boss knew the combo was going to work and much more on this edition of The PASR. Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible

*NOTE: This is Part 2 of our interview with Sarah Spain.  If you haven't yet, go back and listen to Episode 071.   Sarah Spain has done it all... and not just in the sports media world.   The once-aspiring comedian has also dabbled in being a restaurant server, a ring girl at a boxing match where no one spoke English, a character in a Chinese video game and more.   Spain knew where she was most comfortable and authentic in the working world, and that was sports.   And then she jumped onto eBay, and everything changed (you'll just have to listen).   As with most guests on the podcast, her road to success in sports radio, TV and writing is a very original one, but this one is easily one of the most fascinating.   And in the end, her endless talent shone through. Her comedic style, intelligence and humility are on display in many places, including here on this edition of The PASR.   This is Part 2 with Spain.     Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible

Sarah Spain has done it all... and not just in the sports media world.   The once-aspiring comedian has also dabbled in being a restaurant server, a ring girl at a boxing match where no one spoke English, a character in a Chinese video game and more.   Spain knew where she was most comfortable and authentic in the working world, and that was sports.   And then she jumped onto eBay, and everything changed (you'll just have to listen).   As with most guests on the podcast, her road to success in sports radio, TV and writing is a very original one, but this one is easily one of the most fascinating.   And in the end, her endless talent shone through. Her comedic style, intelligence and humility are on display in many places, including here on this edition of The PASR.   This is Part 1 with Spain.     Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible

Mike Wickett has always loved radio. In a previous life, his goal was to spin tunes and be a Top 40 DJ. Until that one time he became a sports radio call screener. The rest is history. Now Wickett is part of one of the most popular morning shows in all of Wisconsin, regardless of format. Milwaukee's "Chuck and Wickett" on 105.7 The Fan is as popular for their off-the-board segments as they are with their "Green And Gold" Mondays in Packer Country. Wickett, a decade-long mainstay in Milwaukee now (originally from Michigan), talks about how tough it is to breakthrough in a non-hometown market, the differences in sports radio now compared to when he began, his biggest turnoffs about the sports radio industry and much more in this edition of The PASR. Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible

With many of our guests, the "breakthrough formula" is fairly simple. Have talent, work hard, catch a break. And for Gavin Dawson of 105.3 The Fan in Dallas, it's no different. Dawson got a shot while in Portland filling in for Jim Rome. Before long, he was packing his bags for Dallas. Of course, he was a telemarketer first (and we just have to ask about that). Dawson's incredible flow, mix of sports and humor, and ability to give touches to everyone on a five-man show make him one of the best show drivers in the country. Hear his Jim Rome story, the importance of social media, his telemarketing days, doing a five hour show daily and a lot more on this episode of The PASR. Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible

Chris Duncan is one of faces that sports radio fans in St. Louis notice immediately. His place in St. Louis sports lore was cemented after being an important part of the St. Louis Cardinals' 2006 World Series run. But these days, it's not just his face that is recognized. It's his voice. 'Dunc' went from dugout to radio studio and became an instant hit in the space, not only taking what he knew from the baseball field and putting it in digestible terms for the common baseball fan, but also immersing himself in other sports to make him a very well-rounded, respected voice in St. Louis. Hear about the transition from sports to media, how he prepares, how he handled the loss of the NFL Rams and much more in this edition of The PASR. Grab a free audiobook: aboutsportsradio.com/audible