Thirteen years of weeknights doesn’t happen by accident. I’m marking a personal milestone and telling the behind-the-scenes story of how a sports reporter finally gets the chance to host a real talk radio show, not a tiny weekend slot, but a Monday through Friday nighttime run that becomes the longest-tenured evening show in station history.

Along the way, I walk through the moments that made the difference: the program director meeting that opened the door, the early years of doing sports and a three-hour talk show at the same time, and the day I finally asked to stop doing sports so I could pour everything into the broadcast. If you’re curious about radio careers, local media, and what “no producer” really means, you’ll hear the unfiltered version of that grind.

I also rewind to the earlier chapters that shaped me, from working at Musco Olives in Orland, California, to getting my GED, betting on school at Butte College and Chico State, and learning practical skills that still matter in broadcasting. Plus, I nerd out on audio branding, including the theme song debate, why “She Sells Sanctuary” by The Cult stuck, and how listeners end up associating a song with a voice and a community.

If you’ve ever felt late to your dream or underestimated by someone else’s first impression, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share the episode with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review telling me what leap you’re considering next.