10 Questions with ... Carrington Harrison

1. What was the impetus for you to go into radio in the first place? What attracted you to do radio?

Radio was always attractive to me as kid but more on the music side. I loved the energy and personality of genre in between the songs and seemed like a fun job to have. One day, my mom’s boyfriend (who later became my stepdad) picked up from school when I was in 6th grade and there was a man on the station talking about the Chiefs and I had never heard anything like it before, hell I didn’t even know this format existed. I asked him what it was and he explained it to me and at that point I knew that’s what I wanted to do.

2. You're an example of someone who got in as an intern, moved up to produce full-time, and proved himself to get on the air and ultimately move up to a major role on the station and a national show on CBS Sports Radio. How did you do that, and what do you think you did to earn that rise from entry-level to a key player on a major station to national work?

I honestly don’t know if I did anything special per se. I think everyone’s story in this aspect is very different. I just tried to prove my value to the station in whatever capacity it was early on. Whether that was cutting sound, going to a press conference, pitching ideas, whatever was needed I was down to do. I did a Big 12 football podcast in college that had gained some traction and the PD at 610 Sports listened to it and one day, he gave me a shot and I made the most the opportunity. I tried to study people who I felt were much better than I was and much more experienced and I think early on, you take parts of them and parts of yourself to develop your own sound and style. Patience is key. The progress doesn’t come overnight, it comes with sacrifice, hard work and all the things people preach and I feel like the more you work and put yourself in the right situations eventually you will get your shot and you just gotta kill it when you do.

3. Your first co-host on 610's "The Drive," Danny Parkins, moved on to Chicago, and you're currently working with Sean Levine. How are the two similar, how are they different, and as for Sean and you working together now, how would you describe your individual dynamic -- do you each fit a particular role, who if anyone takes the formatic lead, what do each of you bring to the table?

I think more than anything my role has just changed. Everyone host is different, style etc. but working with Danny, I was the #2 and started off very inexperienced working with someone who had hosted for a few years and had a great broadcasting background (Danny went to Cuse). Danny really taught me radio and how to take my ideas and form them into topics and how to develop them in a way people would respond to. He was really critical in my development and growth. Adjusting to the #1 when Danny left forced me to develop skills I didn’t really have such as setting up teases, coming in and out of breaks and learning how to set up others to put them in the right situations. Those are the things I try to focus on most now.

4. You've hosted podcasts and guest on a lot of podcasts and radio shows; more recently, you've been doing YouTube videos, and I'm curious about what prompted you to go more with video than your own podcasts. Was that a conscious, deliberate decision? Is another podcast a possibility, or are you finding video more to your liking?

I wanted to exist in more spaces. A lot of people I really look up to and admire in this profession do multiple things. Whether it’s TV and radio or TV and write etc. so that was a focus of time. I wanted to have a space in more than just my traditional radio show. I also think that’s where the profession is heading. I remember during the ESPN Layoffs, I read they laid people off who didn’t have multiple skillsets so I wanted to learn how to cut videos and get better/more comfortable in front of a camera. I’ve really enjoyed the medium, it’s something I want to keep getting better at.

5. You managed to create a viral sensation a couple of years ago with your Kanye Madness bracket. How did that come about? Was its success a surprise to you? And how do you top it -- is there anyone else you could do a bracket about that would do as well?

I was driving home listening to music and the idea just popped in my head. I tweeted it out that I was thinking about it and my timeline responded really well to it so I started putting it together with my friends to create a committee similar to the actual tournament. It was definitely a surprise. My goal was just to get in the local paper and have people in KC talking about it. I never imagined it would take on the life that it did. I’m most proud of the fact I got to share the experience with so many of my close friends and we got to see something we created enjoyed by so many people. I know I’m the face of it per se but it really was a group effort so it was really rewarding in that sense. It was just the perfect storm, I don’t think I’ll do another musician again. I want to find the new idea. The next idea.

6. Who are your influences, inspirations, and/or mentors in the business?

Nick Wright, he’s been such a big inspiration to me. He’s like my big brother. I can’t thank him enough for everything he’s done for me. Danny Parkins as I mentioned earlier. People I would consider inspirations: Bomani Jones. Bill Simmons. Charlamagne Tha God.

7. Of what are you most proud?

The proudest thing I’ve done is I had the opportunity to sit in the Buck O’ Neil Legacy Seat at a Royals game and to be able to take my family and my sister on her 16th birthday was really special. Just having the ability to use the medium, platform whatever you want to call it to try and better my community and where I live is really important to me.

8. What has it been like to be a sports talk host when the local team wins the Super Bowl? Do you expect that the tone of radio talk about the Chiefs will ever return to the usual griping, or does Andy Reid and everyone else with the team now get a permanent pass for everything? (I'm asking as an Eagles fan who saw the post-Super Bowl high eventually go back to the usual frustration reasonably quickly, but that, of course, is Philadelphia. Do you expect Kansas City to be different?)

Honestly, it’s nerve-racking. You want to do the perfect show for 3-4 weeks straight. The people of Kansas City deserve that. You want to have the sharpest takes, be as technically sound as possible, have the biggest and best guests everyday. I wanted to give people the content they deserved during that time. To answer the 2nd part, Patrick Mahomes walks on water, turned water into wine and parted the Red Sea, you didn’t know?!

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

I’m a big FOMO person. I’m constantly trying to stay current on what’s going on, what people are saying, what’s trending, what are people saying. I feel off when I’m not in the know. Like I’m not doing my job to the best of my ability. It’s hard to shut my brain and my mind off in that aspect.

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

Before Nick left for Houston he told me, everything you go on the radio be yourself 100% of the time. If you’re not, people will know. I always try and keep that in mind and whatever the topic or discussion is I want to give people an authentic perspective, view, opinion on whatever the issue is no matter how unpopular or polarizing it may be. That’s my responsibly to the listener.