-
10 Questions with ... Dan Sheldon
August 19, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. I worked as a busboy for many years. Then I worked in a factory that made safety lights for places like prisons, stadiums, subways, pretty much any place where you don't want people to mess with the lights. I've also run a mobile DJ business since 1989. However, my dream was always to be on the radio. If it weren't for radio, I don't know what I'd be doing. I mean, I'd love to be a color-commentator for pro wrestling (I'm so serious)
-
1. Could you share in a handful of sentences your career path that led to your current gig at WCTL?
I started at WXTA Country 98 in 1996. At one time or another, I have worked at almost every station in the Erie market. Before WCTL, I was working at Rocket 101 (New & Classic Rock). While working there, God told me it was time to quit. I didn't listen to Him because I didn't know what else I would do.
As time went on, we started playing a song called "Porn Star Dancing" and started airing commercials for a porn store. I had just come out of porn addiction (I'll get into that in a bit) and didn't like that I was kind of promoting this stuff as the jock on the air. I still didn't quit. Eventually corporate decided all weekenders would voice track their shows. That left me with one hour a week. That was not even worth the gas it took to get me to the station. I told my boss that I could no longer work there. He understood. It was a good split-I still love the people I worked with there. I had no idea what I was going to do. However, the very next Sunday I bumped into Adam Frase (program director at WCTL at the time) at church and he said he had some work for me at the station if I was interested. I asked him how he knew I quit Rocket and he responded with "I didn't know you quit." I knew right then that this is where God was calling me to be.
2. Who were the people most instrumental and influential in your development as a radio personality and programmer?
Growing up, I loved the Rick Dees weekly Top 40 show. I dreamed of being on radio because of Rick Dees. I would take my radio to church. When church ended at noon, I would run to the car so I wouldn't miss the "hit bound" song which started at noon. Locally there was a guy named Night Norb Anthony on 1400 WJET (later Jet-FM 102), that I listened to nonstop. I would call in every night to talk to him. He was so nice to this annoying, little, middle school kid. He made such an impression on me. I have since found him on Facebook and left him a long, private message on what he did for me when he probably had no idea. As for programming, Adam Frase pretty much taught me everything as I took over for him when he became general manager.
3. Did you ever consider any other line of work? What would that have been? What do you think you would you be doing if not in radio now?
I worked as a busboy for many years. Then I worked in a factory that made safety lights for places like prisons, stadiums, subways, pretty much any place where you don't want people to mess with the lights. I've also run a mobile DJ business since 1989. However, my dream was always to be on the radio. If it weren't for radio, I don't know what I'd be doing. I mean, I'd love to be a color-commentator for pro wrestling (I'm so serious).
4. What are the benefit and challenges of working in a media market like Erie, PA?
The benefit is clear, I was born here, I was raised here, I have lived here my whole life. I know the city, I know the craziness. I know the people. The challenge is it is a pretty small market that keeps getting smaller as time goes on.
5. What are the five artists throughout Dan Sheldon history that best make up the music-related whole of who you are?
Five? I could sum this up with one artist: PRINCE! I have been collecting Prince records since 1984 when I bought the 45 for "Let's Go Crazy."I currently own over 200 12" singles from 12 countries. Some are extremely rare. I continue to buy every Prince record and CD that comes out. When my friends hear the name Prince, I am the first person that comes to their minds. I even have three Prince related tattoos (all B.C. of course).
If I had to come up with others it would be pretty hard. I love a lot of different stuff. I guess I would say some of my all-time favorites include: Stevie Wonder, Kraftwerk, Stylistics, George Strait, The Art of Noise, Johnny Cash, Run-DMC, New Order, and Ramones.
As far as Christian music is concerned, I love Crowder, Unspoken, Zach Williams, and We Are Messengers. I really only got into Christian music in 2011, when I started at WCTL.
6. As an on-air personality-but even simply as a human being-what would you say are the core platforms you identify with most passionately?
Most of my adult life, I was addicted to sex and porn. To the point it was all I ever thought about. In October 2008, I heard a voice say to me while looking at hardcore porn: "This isn't how you are going to be a good husband or father someday." I clicked off the Internet that day. A few days later, I went on a train ride with a couple of friends who are born again Christians. On our way home, we stopped at a place to eat and I unloaded on them all about my addictions. My friend Debbie said, "All you have to do is confess your sins to Jesus and accept Him as your savior." I looked at her and said "I think I just did."
From that moment, I have been fighting against my porn addiction. It is now in my heart to help men with the same struggles. I go to weekly meetings of Celebrate Recovery where I have become an accountability partner to a couple guys. I do prison ministry twice a month with many men who are in on sex charges. I did a mission trip to a porn convention in Denver with XXXChurch where we talked to people in the industry and convention goers about how much Jesus loves them. We made shirts that said "Jesus loves porn stars" and handed them out.
More recently, I went to Cambodia with my church where we worked with Extreme Love Ministries. They help get people in Cambodia out of human trafficking. One thing I did while there was talk to guys in bars who were Johns. I plan on going back in January 2020. I also have a vision for Erie where I go in to porn shops and strike up relationships with those who work there. I want to help people who are in the shops that want help, like I did when I was going to those places. That isn't happening right now, but it will in God's timing.
7. You seem pretty open about all of that now. Was there ever a fear of this other life being exposed-especially as an on-air personality?
My biggest fear was when I was in secular radio while in the midst of the addiction. Would I still have this job if people knew what I was doing in the dark? I had more fear before I knew Christ. After accepting Christ and admitting to my biggest sins, the fear started to disappear. I was a new creation.
2 Corinthians 5:17 - "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: the old is gone, the new is here."
Romans 8:1 - "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."
John 8:36 - "So if the son sets you free, you will be free indeed."
I openly admit, even on the stations website, about my past addictions. That way, if anyone ever says "How can he be on Christian radio? Do you know what he used to do?" the answer is "Yes, we know what he used to do because it's in his bio on the website."
8. Have you had meaningful connections with WCTL listeners due to your openness about your personal history?
A couple comes to mind. I had a nice email exchange with a guy who read my bio on the WCTL website. I walked him through some things. We also have a gentleman who sends us Christmas cards every year written specifically for each jock. Every year he thanks me for being so open on the air about past struggles. He says my story makes him think a lot about where he goes online. Most of the guys from my first accountability group are listeners as well.
9. What have you learned about yourself through these years of recovery? What have you learned about humanity through your recovery?
I've learned I've come a long way but still have a lot more to go! I've learned we live in a fallen world, as long as we live in this world, there will be porn and human-trafficking going on. I've learned I'm not going to change the world by myself but I sure can help change others one person at a time. If I have helped even one person, it has all be worth it. I've learned Jesus is our only hope!
10. Are there artists or songs that you've particularly connected with in light of your journey? CCM or otherwise?
The first Christian song I ever connected with on a deep level was Brandon Heath's "I'm Not Who I Was." I thought of all the people I hurt through my selfish addiction. Especially the ones I truly loved. When I heard the line "I wish that you could see me now," I thought that would be great if they all could see the changes in my life. I have apologized to many of the people I have hurt but there are still some God has not given me the green light to talk to.
Bonus Questions
Considering your Erie, PA roots, you must be a fan of the classic film That Think You Do!, right? What's some insider info from that movie that you'd know but outsiders might not?
I've seen it. Which, if you know me, is really something, as I don't watch many movies. I liked it.
Just a couple of small facts: Arkay IV was the local band that the movie was loosely based on, I have a couple of their records in my local groups collection. I also know Erie-ites were a little upset that the DJ voice you hear in the one scene is not "The Morning Mayor" Frank Martin. Frank is a legendary Erie DJ. He was waking people up on WLEU and WJET for decades (40s through the 90s). He would have been perfect for the DJ voice, not sure why he wasn't used. I had the pleasure of working with Frank at the end of his career on Froggy 94.7.
-
-