10 Questions with ... Carl Bliss

Share a moment in your career that you’ll always remember.

In one of my early years, I was asked to join the radio production team at the Amsterdam 2000 conference hosted by the Billy Graham association. I saw Church leaders from around the world identify and strategize how to reach the remaining unreached people groups. I felt like I had a front-row seat to watching the Great Commission fulfilled.

If you weren’t working in radio what else do you think you’d do?

I’d probably be working for a marketing or PR agency. I love getting into the place where creativity and process are in an energetic tension.

Some great advice you've received is…

There are few things a leader faces that are problems to solve. Most are tensions to manage. Be cautious of “either-or” decisions.

How do you continue learning and growing?

Working for a radio group owned by a University (Northwestern) has provided some amazing opportunities to keep learning. I certainly have taken advantage of their tuition benefit to further my education. On a daily basis… it’s just reading. Most days start with the Bible, Wall Street Journal, and Harvard Business Review (is that sufficient virtue signaling?) I’ve also found value in learning from those in other/adjacent industries. I feel like most of us in radio and Christian communication are reading much of the same content. I try to be intentional to look beyond that.

What’s one thing you wish you’d known about radio when you first started?

It’s more important to study how to communicate, than how to produce in a specific medium.

Tell us about someone who you really respect and why?

I don’t know their names, but I pass photos of them every day in the halls at Northwestern Media. We have black and white photos of students, pastors, and engineers putting studios and broadcasts together in 1949. They had no experience and no proven success model. But they used a new technology and their faith to creatively bring the Gospel to more people. I want to be like them.

What’s something about you that would surprise most people?

Last year, I ran across the Grand Canyon and back in a day.

What’s your favorite room at home and why?

I love my home office. It had been a messy collection of old bills and computer parts until COVID required me to turn it into a workable space. It’s in the basement with no natural light. But I’ve set up my home music studio, Hammond Organ, and work space. My daughter helped me string some cool LED lights.

Finish this sentence: My day doesn’t start properly until I...

Write about my plans for the day, and general attitude.

What do you to unwind and chill?

My wife and I are at that precious time in life where our kids are old enough and we are young enough. We get to have some adventures. We love to travel to places where we can run, hike, explore God’s creation. We enjoy getting out on dirt trails. It may not be a physical “chill”… but it puts my heart and spirit in the right place.