10 Questions – The Best Quotes Of 2020

This week, we look back at 2020 with the best answers to some of our best questions.

Brant Hansen:

When I first started, I think I was trying to be something, or become someone, or something. I wish I would have been more aware that the key question is, "How can I serve the listener in this exact moment? What does he/she really need?" That's the key to good radio because empathy is the key to any effective communication."

Andy Youso:

"BE YOURSELF. For years, I thought like I had to act like I had it all together to be able to help others in their time of need, but I am now understanding the power of vulnerability. A great book that helped me in this journey is Scary Close by Donald Miller."

Sarah Taylor:

"A young gal, Natalie, called in on her way to Seattle Children's Hospital for an MRI scan and she was nervous. I remembered you can listen to the radio during an MRI, so I told her I'd play Overcomer by Mandisa. Her parents sent me a text when she went in the tube, and I gave her an "Atta girl, you got this!" on the radio on behalf of our audience, so she knew she had a whole tribe of people praying her through. That's something Spotify can't do!"

Doug Hannah:

"The amount of concern I have had over the years about what other radio people think is inversely proportional to its importance. In plain English, it doesn’t matter what other people in the radio industry think, even though I really, really, really like it when they think well of me, if ever."

Josh Hooper & Mary O’Brien:

[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]"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."

Lisa Barry:

"I wanted to be a professional singer so bad and that's what I was going to Northwestern for. But in a dorm room during summer school, I was reading my Bible and dreaming about how God was going to use me in music, and a question popped into my head. "What if that's not what I want you to do?" I didn't actually hear it, but it was there. I ignored it. A few minutes later, there it was again. I ignored it again. Then a third time...and I thought sheesh! I told God that for the next 6 months I would look seriously at any career opportunity that came my way. After 3 months, nothing. I thought woo-hoo, singing here I come! Then my roommate that fall asked me if I would like to read news on her student radio show? (You could only get it through the outlets on campus). I said, "I could NEVER do that!" She said, "Don't worry, nobody listens." While working at the student radio station, someone from KTIS asked me to help with kids programming and the rest is history."

Steve Sunshine & Amy Byrd:

"We’ve put 10 years into Spirit 105.9 and it is sad to have something you put that much time and heart in to shut down. We’re also mourning the loss of relationships with our listener family. On the other hand we’re excited to see what God does next."

Neal Hopson:

"I definitely could do radio on other formats, but I believe wholeheartedly in the mission and vision of BOOST. It's not so much the what (music), it's the why (purpose). My job is to be obedient to God, and use music to connect, unify, encourage, and share good news of Jesus with the world!" Rob Croft:

"My grandparents were farmers that founded KDUV in 1991. My grandpa was even a night DJ when it started, he used to give five year-old me shoutouts and play my favorite Carmen & dcTalk songs in the evening. I grew up around it. In college, I got involved with video and media production; so about eight years ago, KDUV called me up and said they needed somebody to make video and web content part-time. Around the studios, I started picking up production, voicetracking, and eventually took on more and more responsibility until I became PD a few years ago."

Bill Sammons & Denise Harper:

"Denise is the producer of the show. We both do prep and suggest content, but she decides what we are going to do and when. The same part of her brain that makes her great at choosing the music we play also makes her great at making sure our show has a good mix of content and, as I said earlier, that we use different colors to paint with throughout the morning. Jason Sharp has been coaching us a few years, and he encourages us to bring our personalities to the show and weave them into the breaks, so I feel free to question things or poke fun at stuff that some people would avoid, and Denise reacts with her natural compassion and role as the wiser one."

Steve Swanson:

"The best views come after the hardest climbs. It is certainly a "hang on for the ride" period of time. I am totally confident that God is in control. He is using this event in human history to shift and shake people. Priorities are being challenged. Relationships stretched and re-framed, and people are pondering the truth of God’s word. Does God REALLY love me? Can I trust HIM? Is he listening? It’s common for people to ask "Why God?"

I am encouraging people to ask these questions: What do you want me to learn about YOU Lord? What should I be discovering about my faith during these days? What should I learn about my family? What do I need to see with new eyes about my priorities? What’s REALLY important to me? What REALLY matters when I have life and breath for another day?"

Kenny Fowler:

"Along with radio, I’m also a minister at a unique local church (we’re located on the beach. The Gulf of Mexico is our baptistry). Beyond the radio and church, I’m just trying to navigate being a present father and husband for my family. I’m learning as I get older, how important those roles really are and I’m doing my best to not miss any moments together.’

Therese Romano:

"I think the golden age of Christian radio has been over the past 10 years or so. More stations are making a greater impact in their community by doing research and meeting the actual needs of their listeners than ever before. More people are listening to Christian music radio and that means more people are hearing the gospel message. And in my opinion, that is the goal that we all strive for - taking Jesus to those who need Him most."

Joy Summers:

"There is a certain amount of pressure I feel to be genuine and authentic with this job. Being a radio personality has made me quick to dig into what I am struggling with or dealing with so I can articulate it and use it as content for those who may feel the same way."

Jim Galipeau:

"I was in high school and found the music of Amy Grant and the Imperials that helped propel me into Christian music and the hope that someday I would be on Christian Radio."

Laurie Davidson:

"I Really (capital ‘R’) struggle with self-doubt when it comes to my own thoughts and opinions. Still, I honestly feel like this job has taught me to value my own opinion and to listen to my gut more in this arena. However, it’s also taught me not to live and die by those opinions and instincts. It’s so hard to know what causes the stars to align perfectly for some songs to become hits and not others. I guess I value my instincts but hold them loosely. It’s also taught me it’s ok to say no. The world will not end. There’s always another song."

Stacey Stone:

"In 2018, Johnny had a pacemaker/defibrillator inserted into his chest after suffering sudden cardiac arrest while we were on air in December 2017. (We now call him Iron Man). At about 4:30 a.m., when we were driving to the hospital, Matt Maher’s "Hold Us Together" came on WGTS 91.9. As I am singing along, I realize that the words were perfect for our current storm, "Love will hold us together. Make us a shelter to weather the storm … this is the first day of the rest of your life."

His surgery was a success and we went home that afternoon. I went to get the car, pushed the button to turn it on and Matt Maher sang, "This is the first day of the rest of your life." I just put my head on the steering wheel and cried. God had it all along but he used our radio station to remind me how much control He truly has. Every time I hear that song, it takes me back to that feeling/reminder that God cared that much about our storm."