10 Questions with ... Marty Lenz

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

25+ years in radio, television, and multimedia, working locally in Columbia and Myrtle Beach, SC; Colorado Springs and Denver; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Sacramento and San Francisco. Nationally for Jones Radio Network (now Westwood One) and the Business Radio Network (defunct). Now back home in Denver for KOA News Radio.

1. You've done a million things in your career, but it started with radio. How and why did you get into radio? Why radio?

As young as 11 I was transfixed by radio, and as a lover of music and coming of age, I just wanted so badly to be a disc jockey. I mean, working only 4 hours a day playing the music I wanted, and getting paid to do so.... LOL. Nothing seemed better, more fun, or perfect for me than that (I'm guessing all our stories have that similar fantasy start and inspiration!). As a high school freshman, I wrote a paper on getting into radio, becoming a disc jockey/announcer; got an A, and still have it. :)

2. You've been on TV, you've been on some big stations in big markets and nationally, you've been on several stations in Denver, but now you're doing mornings on KOA, which is, by any measure, a prime job on one of America's heritage stations. What does returning to Colorado and being on KOA mean to you? (I suppose another way to phrase it is: "How cool is THIS?!?")

It is the ONLY station I would return to Colorado and Denver to work on and for! I was working for KCBS in San Francisco for the past 8+ years; I loved the people there, loved the job, loved the Bay Area, but when KOA and the role to co-host on "Colorado's Morning News" revealed itself, I knew it was my opportunity -- and time -- to return home. To work on the station that is synonymous with Denver in our industry, the station that has so much heritage, that legends have worked at/for, and called home... I had to pursue it, and land it, as these opportunities are beyond rare! So fortunate I did!

3. Let's go back to the widely varied nature of your background. You've done sports, news, music, TV, radio, streaming, writing, hosting, programming, kind of a little of everything. Was it the plan from the beginning to be that versatile -- did you consciously not want to be pigeonholed in one job/format/medium for your career?

It was not a conscious plan, However, I learned, after being a part of a few station flips and ownership changes, the more flexible, skill-diverse, and willing to take on things outside of my comfort zone and knowledge base I could be, in the long run, made me such a better broadcaster. I'm fully convinced that had I not been so varied in my skills -- had I not been forced to reinvent myself a few times over -- I would not have survived this long in media, and our industry specifically, nor would I have been able to or be good enough or skilled enough to work on and for some of the great stations, call letters, and brands in our industry, in particular in the News/Talk realm.

4. One of the things that's changed a lot since you (and I, and most of us) started in the business has been the rise of social media. How do you use social media -- is it a prep source, a place to engage listeners, a promotional tool, or something more personal? What do you find are the pros and cons of social media as they relate to your job?

I have a love/hate relationship with social media: It is wonderful to engage instantaneously (in many cases) with listeners without any middle barrier. However, it also is a place that allows for too much unaccountability -- anonymous accounts, fact free assertions -- which infects much of what we do in News-Talk. I often engage (respectfully) with folks as we repurpose our content on-line via our web page (KOANewsRadio.com) on our Facebook and Twitter feeds; Instagram, too. However, I find many folks already make judgements about a topic we cover without consuming the content we put forth. I truly want to understand their perspective, but it seems some just want to rant without listening or consuming anything counter to their world view.

I work towards dialogue, not conversion. I take that part of my job very seriously. It wasn't until I was hired by KOA that I had a Facebook page (sort of compelled to have one for obvious reasons) and at times I'm still reluctant with it. Twitter is still more my "go to." Bottom line: As "Audio Content/Creators/Providers," we have to leverage thar audio everywhere and every which way we can so we have to be as present on social media as we are with our signal(s).

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

I know I will forget some names, so I apologize to those of you in advance, because everyone I have encountered (good, bad, bosses, colleagues, listeners) have left indelible marks on me. I will start at the very beginning, with my college station KCSU at Colorado State University (Go Rams!): The late Bob Terrell hired me, and he was just a funny brilliant man. My second daym he put me in the studio and said "I'm leaving, good luck. Just don't knock us off the air. 'Bye!). He allowed me to screw up plenty, which is what college, in some part, should be about, making mistakes and learning from them! Carl Miller was our student advisor; He was also very supportive. My roots were wonderful!

Professionally: Brent Johnson and Doug Spets from my overnight/weekend/fill days at B106 in Columbia SC. Then, later, Brent helped me land the night shift at Sunny 106.5 in Myrtle Beach. Being a young 20-something in the south and along the "Grand Strand" was remarkable; they helped me shape who I was on the air, letting me grow into me. When I returned to Colorado, Dan Cowen at KKLI in Colorado Springs -- he was a great PD and even better person. He always supported me, encouraged me, and scolded me when necessary (and I need that) ; more clay molding by him.

Then my greatest professional growth came at the hands of Jim Teeson, a consultant and still a dear friend, and who I consider my mentor. He saw in me things did not see in myself, and always cajoled me to do and be better, I learned tremendous amounts of programming and leaderships skills from him. Scott Taylor (formerly of KOSI) is another I learned tons of programming from as well. As for on-air, I idolized Dan Mitchell. I listened to him growing up in Denver when he was on the old KAZY -- I loved that station! Then I got to work with him... so surreal, and to this day he is dear a friend, which is so unreal! Lois Todd is another I owe much to as well, I was her MD/APD on 99.5; She was so good as a jock and PD. Many of the folks at Jones Radio (now Westwood One) like JJ McKay, Jon Holiday, Steve Hibbert -- all had a hand in my growth and success. John St. John is another from my Smooth Jazz days on 104.3, a good man, a good leader. My radio co-hosts like Dennis Glasgow -- still a great friend -- really honed my sports talk skills, Tim Spence as a sports PD, the legendary Doug Westerman, too.... so many people... Christopher Gabriel, a classically trained actor of stage and TV, now radio pro, taught me about the "theater of radio." I've been in the biz longer, but his skills are most valuable. Ed Cavagnaro, the legendary leader of KCBS.... I get goose bumps to think "he hired me" to be a part of KCBS, and Jack Swanson when Ed retired -- to work for two of biggest names in N/T in the same lifetime? And, presently, my co-host April Zesbaugh on KOA's "Colorado's Morning News": she is unbelievably smart, savvy, tough... she elevates my game on a daily basis, as do all involved at KOA and CMN like Greg Foster, Kathy Walker, and Jerry Bell.

I'm sure I missed someone or somebody...to all the above mentioned, I owe them everything.

6. Of what are you most proud?

I'm most proud of the relationships and friends I made along the way of my over 25+ year media/radio career. Seconded by some of the places and legendary calls I worked at and called home for time as well: KOSI, KFAN, KKFN, KFBK, KCBS, KOA. Being relevant and doing so at those stations does put me in awe from time to time.

7. Who's the most interesting/best interview subject you've ever interviewed? The worst? The one you haven't interviewed but would most like to get?

Still one of my favorites is Michael McDonald. I interviewed him twice; he is so thoughtful about not just music, but life in general. We were having such a great conversation on-air, about 16 years ago, and his rep interrupted, saying Michael had to go, but Michael said "NO." He was enjoying the discussion, and insisted that we continue. The late Brad Delp was another; Our chat was not on air but back stage at Red Rocks prior to a Boston show put on by our station (99.5 The Hawk), and myself and Dan Mitchell were treated to about an hour of stories and reflections from Brad... I mean, it was deep, nothing weird, just a very thoughtful human. When he took his life, I immediately thought of that moment and conversation, and I cried, thinking, what a loss for humanity.

We interviewed James Comey a few months back and we asked a battery of questions that he answered pretty well. I feel April and I covered new ground as opposed to regurgitating what had already been hashed out, which was our aim -- to move the conservation forward...

Worst? Most politicians:) But I have to say a former U.S, House Rep from California was one of the worst: He always wanted to be on with us to peddle conspiracy theories, and each time, I kept wondering "how the hell did this guy get elected?" In fairness, most politicians I've interviewed are okay, but some only want to push a platform, not solve hard problems or take hard questions.

I would love to interview Robert Mueller.... regardless of how one feels about the Russia investigation, he knows more than anyone else. I would love to pick his brain!

8. What do you do for fun? What's fun/relaxing for you?

I listen to my iPod! I workout regularly....read good books :)... and, of course, I love time with my wife and 3 kids!

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

...hearing one of my kids or wife laugh... hopefully, all of them!

10. What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career?

Humility! And to take what I do seriously, but DON'T take myself too seriously!