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10 Questions with ... Jack Armstrong
May 21, 2019
Have an opinion? Add your comment below. Social media stuff, I definitely consider a supplemental side project. There are successful shows that emphasize their social media presence a lot, and others that pretty much ignore it. Our listeners seem to really enjoy it. Podcasts are their own thing; Scary for radio but also an opportunity. It certainly has shown that an enormous appetite exists for spoken word entertainment. It's amazing to me how many of our listeners take in our show through podcasts on their own schedule. There is a lot of crap out there, though
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BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Kansas radio, 1980s; met Joe in Salina, KS and began working as a team in 1992 in Wichita, KS, then Charlotte, Sacramento, and syndication.
1. How did you get into radio, and why? Why radio?
I was always a radio nut, but... Working in cattle feed lots in Western Kansas we always listened to the radio. It was hard, dirty, cold/hot, and the person talking on the radio sounded like they had an easier job than me. I thought I could do it better, too.
2. What prompted the move from music radio morning DJs to talk? How did it come about? Was it something you planned all along or a surprise turn in your careers?
It was pretty clear that in music radio ratings were closely tied to how popular the music format was. Didn’t like that. And, we always talked too much. Easy solution was talk radio.
3. Your show takes a different approach to talk radio, which means that you're not always talking about politics, your political talk isn't the doctrinaire party line talk that's all over the dial these days... how would you describe what you do, and how it differs from what else is on talk radio?
For better or worse we’ve mostly just talked about what interests us. Maybe some people like to talk about politics for 4 hours... I’m not one of them. As far as point of view? I think I just say what I think. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do?
4. What do you do for show prep every day? What's your routine?
Show prep is basically just living my life. I do the same thing on vacation as I do on work days. Strange. Watching, listening, reading everything... I probably need therapy.
5. Who have been your influences and inspirations in the business?
I started listening to Imus every day in ‘84. Huge impact. Letterman impacted everyone of my generation. He invented snarky.
6. You do podcasts on top of the regular show; how do you see podcasts and social media fitting in with what you do? Is it all supplemental to the show, are they "shows" in their own right, are they for engagement with listeners or a management edict... how do you, as veteran radio hosts, see these things -- the future or a side project?
Social media stuff, I definitely consider a supplemental side project. There are successful shows that emphasize their social media presence a lot, and others that pretty much ignore it. Our listeners seem to really enjoy it. Podcasts are their own thing; Scary for radio but also an opportunity. It certainly has shown that an enormous appetite exists for spoken word entertainment. It’s amazing to me how many of our listeners take in our show through podcasts on their own schedule. There’s a lot of crap out there though....
7. Who is the best guest you've interviewed? The worst?
Favorite guest: My dad on his 80th birthday. Worst: any guest that doesn’t want to talk about what they are most famous for... Tonya Harding, Monica Lewinsky, some chick Tiger slept with. “Why do you think we had you on?!”
8. Of what are you most proud?
Most proud of my two boys and being their dad. Professionally? Probably being able to make a living doing something I really, really enjoy. I hope the same for my sons.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without ____________.
...eating crap. Apparently. You want to see me with my shirt off?
10. What's the most important lesson you've learned in your career?
It took me a long time to figure out that having enough talent, or having a good enough show, was maybe half the battle. At least 50% of the radio success puzzle is career management, luck, and timing. But the show still can’t suck.
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