10 Questions with ... James Rapien

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I host a daily show on ESPN 1530 and various weekend shifts on 700 WLW. I also produce and hosts two podcasts: Locked on Bengals and Locked on Reds. I also write for multiple websites and maintain a blog for iHeartmedia.

1. What drew you to go into radio in the first place? Why radio?

I've wanted to work in sports since I was a kid. Radio was just one of the many platforms I tried in college. I enjoy giving my opinion and radio seemed like the best place to do that. I do enjoy television and writing, but radio is tough to beat.

2. What kind of sports town is Cincinnati – is it a year-round football town where you're going to be talking Bengals all year, a baseball town, college basketball, split? What are you most likely to be talking about most of the year?

Cincinnati fans love the Bengals, but deep down it's still a baseball town. There's nothing like Opening Day for the Reds. It's also a big basketball town: UC and Xavier are two of the best college basketball programs in the country. On our station, we talk about the Bengals and the NFL the most. The NFL is king for a reason; fans love the season, but the enjoy the offseason as well. The NFL Draft, training camp, and free agency are all things most fans have an interest in. Baseball is a close second, and everything else is behind it.

3. You write for various websites as well as host and produce. How important is it, would you tell someone starting out in the business, to be able to do multiple jobs? Or is there value in specialization?

There's certainly value in specialization, but you have to be versatile in this business, especially if you're just starting out. I want to be able to do it all: talk on camera, write a story and host a three or four hour radio show. Part of it is for job security -- I don't want to be expendable. There's certainly value at being great at one of those things. Ideally, you want to be great at one and competent in the others. That way, you can always hang your hat on the thing you're most talented at.

4. As a Cincinnati guy all the way through school and career, how important do you think it's been for you to be a local on the radio? What edge, if any, do you have over someone who comes in from outside the market?

The only edge I can think of is knowing the ins and outs of the market. It's one thing to read about Marvin Lewis coaching here since 2003, but it's another to remember the day they hired him. I remember reading about the Bengals interviewing Lewis, Tom Coughlin and other candidates. It helps, but it isn't the be-all-end-all. Most people switch markets in this business. It's something you have to be open to.

5. Who have been your influences, inspirations, and/or mentors in the business?

Mo Egger is someone I work with on a daily basis. I'm blessed to have him around. He's offered guidance and advice, and I'm lucky to call him a friend. Once upon a time I was an intern for Artrell Hawkins on Fox Sports Radio; I learned a lot from him during the year we worked together. Others who have had an impact include Lance McAlister and Dave Armbruster. I know I'm missing some, but there are so many talented people I've had the privilege of working with.

6. How do you prep for your show and podcast? Where do you get your material and topics?

The moment one show ends, I'm thinking of different angles, topics, materials, etc for the next day. Obviously, there could be new developments from one day to the next. I'm fine with scraping topics -- I'd much rather have too much than not enough. Mo and I usually meet hours before our shows and discuss topics. We'll also communicate via email or text each other if we have a new idea. I enjoy the preparation that comes with the job. I love having to come up with a Bengals topic -- for the podcast -- on a Wednesday in February. It's a challenging but fun process.

7. Of what are you most proud?

I'm happy that I went for it. Usually when people have a dream or a goal, they lose sight of it -- especially when it's something as competitive as sports radio. I could've made more money straight out of college. Heck, I could be making more money now, but I wouldn't enjoy my job nearly as much. Hopefully, I can continue to grow and have success in this industry. Some people go through their life and have no idea what they want to do for work. I was lucky to know what I wanted to do at a young age.

8. If you hadn't gotten into radio, what do you think you'd be doing right now?

If I hadn't gotten into radio, I'd probably be writing about sports or covering sports on television. If I didn't work in sports, I probably would've gone to law school. That was something I thought about in high school. I even earned an Associate's degree in prelaw, while I was taking journalism courses at the University of Cincinnati. Ultimately, I ended up with a Bachelor's degree in journalism with a minor in communications.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ____________.

...listening to the radio or a podcast.

10. What's the most valuable lesson you've learned in your career so far?

That hard work pays off. It sounds cliche, but it's something I believe in. There's a reason why I host two podcasts, manage two websites, host and produce daily on ESPN 1530, and host on 700 WLW on most weekends. Not only do I want to make it in this business, but I want to be great. I believe hard work can bridge the gap with those who are more talented than me. And if I work my tail off and things don't work out, at least I have the piece of mind of knowing I did everything I could accomplish my goals.