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10 Questions with ... Robbie Johnson
September 2, 2008
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NAME:Robbie JohnsonTITLE:Host of "The Goin' Home Show" / Promotions AssistantSTATION:WHBYMARKET:Appleton/Oshkosh/Green Bay, WICOMPANY:Woodward Communications, Inc.BORN:Decorah, IARAISED:West Union, IA
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Many stations in LaCrosse, WI (I truly sucked); KRDI radio in Decorah IA; KOEL in Oelwein/Waterloo, IA; KMFX Rochester, MN. I was out of the business for 12 years and got back to it in 2006. I have never done talk radio until my current stint at WHBY in Appleton, WI.
1. How did you get your start in radio?
My little brother and I were making tapes of 'radio shows' from the time I was 6 years old on an Emerson recorder. (My kids recently discovered them and think they are cool) But just out of high school, I was working at a teen center/skating rink as a DJ and moved to LaCrosse, WI to be closer to a girl... dumb idea. I begged for and finally got a job at WKBH, bounced to several other stations as a board op and promotions assistant. I then eventually ran out of money, couldn't pay my rent and had to move back home. I started working PT at a local FM station, KRDI in Decorah, IA then moved to a full time gig at KOEL in Oelwein, IA (Waterloo market) doing overnights and then 7 to Midnight. Country was just getting its start. I jumped the bandwagon knowing nothing about country. I learned quickly.
2. About what are you most passionate these days?
My kids... 3 awesome girls ages 11, 7 and 5. I love them to no end and am doing my best to raise them as a divorced parent. Sometimes that is hard, as many people know.
I try to be very involved with my community and the greater Fox Valley area by working with different charities including Children's Hospital Wisconsin. My brother has a couple of disabled kids that have needed a lot of care over the years. Some of my friends got me involved many years ago and it was one of the best things that ever happened to me. It makes you appreciate what you have and realize that life could be worse and there are stronger people out there than you. I also am a big supporter of breast cancer research. My ex-wife is a survivor (7 years) and because of the type she had there is a 1-in-4 chance my daughters develop it before age 30, too. I want a cure and I want it now.
One other main thing I am passionate about is getting people to take care of themselves. I try to encourage people to do that whenever I can and have been accused of being harsh, crass and uncaring. I grew up dirt poor on a farm in Northeast Iowa. I know what it is like to be that poor and climb out of it. My parents raised 4 good kids and imparted their faith and work ethic into each of us. Every time I think I have it bad, I look back and know that they did more with less and made it through life just fine. Family takes care of family. We cared for our 'mentally retarded' aunt after my grandmother died. I was young, but I remember mom telling us, "You take care of yourself and you take care of family, because nobody can do it better."
3. You have a varied background of various jobs before doing this one; what perspectives do you think you've gained from that experience that contribute to your show today?
A lot of my life has spent doing MANY things. I worked in radio from 1990 until 1994, then got out for 12 years. I have owned/managed several businesses and, until having kids, worked at least two jobs at the same time. Besides radio, I have done live sound, repossessed cars, sold real estate, managed bars/restaurants, worked in factories, worked in the fraud department of a phone company, managed a call center for the "Help, I've fallen and can't get up!" phone, opened and trained new franchise offices for a major transportation company, and ran a bakery among other things.
All of these things have given a wealth of experience and insights, which I relate on my talk show. A mentioned my passions above, but my other passion is helping people being responsible for themselves and taking charge of their lives. You can wallow all you want about your bad situation, but only you have the chance to make your life better. Get on with it. I have little time for pity parties.
4. Speaking of jobs, if you hadn't gone into radio, what would you be doing today?
I would probably have ended up in the hospitality business long term and as an owner of at least one or two places. I love the bar/restaurant business. It is usually people out having a good time. There is money to be made if you do it right and hire good people.
Indirectly, as a server, bartender, manager or on-site owner you get to join their party and their fun, even when you are at work. It is still a lot of work behind the scenes, but it seems to be a business that comes naturally for me. Done right, it is a lot like talk radio... a conversation with someone here, someone there, someone there... then your shift is over. Who knows, down the road I may be able to get back into it.
5. How much do you concentrate on local issues as opposed to national news? How important is that to your show's success?
I interview community leaders, local and state politicians as well as our Congessional Representatives. My focus is mainly local, regional and state issues as well as human interest stories. I like finding stories from other places that could easily happen here. In my opinion, and I think the reason why our 3 to 6 PM numbers have gone nuts in the upward direction is that if you are focusing on national news, you aren't talking about things that you can have influence in that will affect listeners daily lives. Now that we do that, things are on an upward trend.
I also try to stay away from nation politics for several other reasons. I don't really subscribe to one party over another. I have voted for Republicans and Democrats alike. I campaigned for Richard Gephardt in 1988, fresh out of high school. But what has driven me away from both parties is the "The _____ are evil and the _____ are the good guys" mentality that a lot of people have. Hard core, partisan people suck, in my opinion. Another reason is with the time of day I am on. In this market we have a Rush, Hannity and a host of other national hosts. Our station also has a local guy on from 9 to 11 that is great on national issues. By the time 3 pm rolls around, people that are interested in national news have their fill... and me too.
Besides, where else can you hear someone call out the idiots on the local city council about why our water treatment plant is costing taxpayers an extra $20 million. Where else can you rail on people for dumb decisions?
6. Who are your influences, mentors, or inspirations in the business?
I grew up listening to Bruce Williams. I love his candor and style. Straight talking and to the point. He is not scared to say what he thinks nor is he scared to listen to other opinions, but he doesn't roll over and he will explain why he thinks you are wrong -- politely and intelligently. His show isn't based in a political ideology. I really like that. Unfortunately, it seems like those days in talk radio are long gone.
7. Who and what makes you laugh?
My kids, definitely. I have raised them to be fun and care about people. They make me smile a lot with their little quips. My oldest floored me one day when I was frustrated with someone by saying, "It's OK Dad, sometimes people are just dumb!" They took the divorce hard, but they have a great attitude. We try to find something positive or funny in every situation.
I like being harmlessly goofy in public. Things like walking like "Rain Man" behind people in the grocery store. Or when you are browsing at a store and the sales associate comes up to you to ask if they can help you find anything you yell a loud AHHHHHH and then smile at them. Or when the server comes up to you at a restaurant and asks "How are you tonight?", in a loud voice, I say "I LIKE TOAST." Harmless, yet unexpected things. It keeps people on their toes and does put a smile on their face.
I also like going to our local comedy club. I spend a lot of time watching Comedy Central, too. Over the years I have laughed my butt off to Carlos Mencia, Andrew Dice Clay, Lisa Lampanelli, Eddie Murphy, RIchard Pryor and Jeff Dunham. Quite a wide range, but most of it is irreverent humor. Not everything in life is serious and if you can't laugh at life, dig a hole and ask someone to cover you up. I like "Cops," too. It makes me realize that life could be worse.
8. What do you do when you're not working?
I spend time with my kids. I have them half time and that is "Daddy Time". They are blessings and mean the world to me.
When I don't have them, I help out my friends that own bars by bartending. It is something I love to do and it gets me in a position to meet a lot of people and listen to their conversations. It is more entertaining than going to most movies and I get a few drinks for free, too.
I also spend time with "Trixie," my 'very serious' girlfriend. That is her radio name, not her real name. I get a lot of questions about that... go figure.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without __________.
...Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke.
10. What's the best advice you ever got? The worst?
Two pieces of good advice that I hold very close: 1) Never stop learning, nobody can ever take away your experiences and your education; and 2) you are never going to get rich working for someone else. That is why I have had my fingers in some businesses along the way and will continue to do so. I don't necessarily want to be RICH, but I want to be able to take care of my self. Working in radio is never going to get me there.
The worst advice? Thankfully, it was advice we never took. When I was married, my wife was one month pregnant with my middle daughter is when she diagnosed with advanced breast cancer. We had several people, doctors included, tell us that she should seriously consider terminating the pregnancy and fight for her life. After seriously considering it, we met an oncologist that encouraged us to keep the baby, do the mild chemo drugs and then after she delivered go hard core on the harsh chemo treatments and radiation. We were told the risks and felt it was worth it. Alexis is fine and so is my ex, knock on wood. Even though she is my ex for a reason, I am very happy and very proud that she is making her 4th trip on the Breast Cancer 3-Day, this year in Minneapolis. I have done this 60-mile, 3 day event once with her, the year after she finished her treatments. It was the experience of a lifetime that I would encourage anyone to do.
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