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10 Questions with ... Mary & Josh
October 19, 2020
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1. Would you please provide a brief synopsis of your radio journey?
JOSH: I was fortunate to have an actual radio station at my high school. I was able to broadcast some basketball games,and that gave me the itch. After going to Mount Vernon Nazarene University for broadcasting, I was hired at a Clear Channel cluster of stations in Mt. Vernon, OH. After a year-and-a-half doing afternoons on a CHR/Rhythmic station, along with a lot of time in the production studio, I was hired back at my high school to work at the same station that started it all! When that station’s GM left, I took over that post for 5 years with on-air, production, fundraising, underwriting, and teaching classes as my key responsibilities. In the fall of 2010, I was looking to branch out and learned of an opportunity at 104.9 The River in Columbus. I started as Production Director and as part of the afternoon team with Mary O’Brien. Three months later, we found ourselves doing The River’s morning show! We saw many successes during our first stint on the show together. I did afternoons at the station for 3 years after that, but in the summer of 2017, we got the band back together for another run of Mornings with Mary & Josh, and it’s been an incredible blast. Off the air I’ve continued to grow as well, becoming Chief Content Officer and Program Director in the fall of 2017.
MARY: Besides internships in college and working at the local Hispanic station, the bulk of my career has been at The River in Columbus. In 2006, I joined The River as a part-time promotions assistant and a few months in was approached about doing overnights and that pretty much sold me on being on the air. After making a lot of mistakes and learning a ton, I was moved to afternoons and took on the role of Production Director. In 2010, when Josh was hired, we launched an afternoon show. As we were launching this new show, we decided to change things up with our off air roles – I took over as Promotions Director and Hooper assumed the role of Production Director. Three months later, we were asked to do the morning show. Eventually, Hooper went back to afternoons for a bit & I had a baby and moved to middays. We are now on year 3 of doing mornings again and are loving it even more this time around.
2. What are the personality dynamics that have kept you successful as a team for so long?
JOSH: First and foremost, we love Jesus and strive to do right by Him every day, with every show. Secondly, we LOVE to goof off and have fun. Our show is high on entertainment and laughter, and being able to perform a show like that, while still hitting on the heart and faith of what God has done for us, is extremely fulfilling. Working directly with Mary for 6 years has allowed each of us to know so much about each other, our preferences, personalities, body language and all of it. We are heavy on grace with one another, because that’s what EVERY person needs, regardless of job role. We strive to think the best of each other, trust one another and always remember our goals are the same – to have the best show possible!
MARY: I’m the sister Josh never wanted. We say it all the time. Besides loving Jesus, we couldn’t be more opposite. Josh grew up in a Christian home, Christian school, currently lives just minutes from where he grew up and still attends the church he was raised in. And then there’s me—a little rough around the edges. I didn’t really get to know Jesus until a few years into my career at The River. Josh prefers to stay inside the lines where things are predictable and safe. I, on the other hand, have mostly lived life challenging and crossing those lines. When we first launched the afternoon show, our differences sometimes felt like a huge hurdle to tackle. Thankfully, we’ve grown over the years and have come to a place where we both respect & appreciate how our differences help us connect with our listeners.
3. Mary, what impresses you most about Josh as an air personality?
There aren’t many good guys out there anymore, but Josh is by far one of the most solid dudes I have ever met. His passion and commitment to his faith and family continues to blow me away and I love watching that play out during our show.
4. Josh, what is something you have to constantly remember about Mary when relating to her on-air?
Expect the unexpected – and I mean that in a GOOD WAY! So often Mary will have an amazing line, something funny or profound, and that needs to be the new exit out of the break. And so often, I’ll miss it because I’m still going with something I had in my head as the out. She’s witty and has incredible instincts, so I gotta be ready on the “out trigger” at all times!
5. What is one of your most memorable on-air moments?
JOSH: There are MANY memorable moments, but I would say one that sticks with me is when Mary shared that she and her husband, who had been fostering a little boy for many months, had to let him go to extended family. It was like losing their own son. And even though Mary and her husband knew their little guy should be with family if at all possible, they had given themselves completely to raising and caring for him, and it was heartbreaking to lose him from their everyday family. Mary was open and honest, she cried and shared, she didn’t hold back. And she made such an incredible impact!
MARY: Josh lost a very special childhood friend many years ago and it really rocked his world. His honesty and transparency on the air, even diving into how challenging the relationship was at times, was such a precious moment and I’m grateful I was there to be a part of it.
6. What is the greatest piece of coaching advice you’ve ever received?
JOSH: Put simply, “you’re a good show. Believe it. Trust each other.” We had so many voices speaking into our growth it almost became paralyzing. So that tip helped us slow down, breathe, and own our show to make it better and better.
MARY: “It needs to be done, not perfect.” As a perfectionist and over thinker, you can waste so much time preparing/analyzing/critiquing every break until it almost becomes paralyzing at times. Trust your skills and talent and GO FOR IT.
7. Where do you find inspiration for your show?
JOSH: My favorite phrase is, “life is show prep.” We draw a lot of topic inspiration from what happens in the day-to-day, but also from the lives of others we’re close with and others we observe on social media. There’s a story in the mundane, and there’s a story in the outrageous. We’re always trying to look at topics at multiple angles to stay relevant and top-of-mind with our listeners and community.
MARY: The answer sounds too easy, but it’s true--life (and social media). I look at the relationships and people I’m surrounded by and there’s never a dull moment. And honestly, struggling with an anxiety disorder and OCD for close to 16 years. It gives you access to feelings/thoughts/emotions that feel incredibly scary at times, but when you finally learn to trust yourself and can gently look deep down inside at what’s going on, there’s a sweet spot where you can pull some of it to the surface to deliver it to the listener in a place where she also may secretly share some of the same worry, fear, anxiety and madness.
8. What is one thing you’d wish you’d known about radio when you first started?
JOSH: I don’t believe knowing this would have changed my decision to pursue this career, but from the beginning, I wish I would have known and understood there will be days when you can’t make ANYONE happy. Especially in a year like 2020, I’ve found listeners on both sides of any issue are upset with how we handle a topic, no matter how fair or neutral we handle something, no matter how factual and even Biblical we handle something. There will be days when it feels like all you do is lose. Be prepared for those days, and know they, too, shall pass.
MARY: Take in ALL the advice and have an open mind when it comes to input from the experienced radio people around you (program directors, coaches, consultants, etc), but at the end of the day, go with your gut and be confident with your decision.
9. What are you most looking forward to in the coming year?
JOSH: I’m looking forward to the continued growth for The River in many areas of content consumption. We’re working hard to be wherever the listeners are consuming media, and the more eyes and ears we can have on The River, the greater the impact we can have in the community. Faith, hope and love are so needed right now, and that’s what we’re sharing each and every day.
MARY: I’m excited for our show to have more life & texture – we now regularly feature a rock star counselor along with a cast of characters. They’ve been sprinkled throughout our show for years, but now we’re being even more intentional about consistency and highlighting them when it makes sense.
10. Outside of work, what do you like to do for fun?
JOSH: We’re a big sports family, so we enjoy watching our kids participate in soccer, baseball and cross-country. We also enjoy watching our teams on the TV when we get a chance. My wife and kids bring me such joy, so being with them is what I look forward to.
MARY: Nature and playing sports are my anti-anxiety meds.
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