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10 Questions with ... Ralph Bristol
September 19, 2006
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NAME:Ralph BristolTITLE:Talk Show HostSTATION:WORD-WYRDMARKET:Greenville-Spartanburg, SCCOMPANY:Entercom CommunicationsBORN:Valentine, NERAISED: Valentine, NE
BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:
Planned to be a newspaper reporter, but got interested in broadcasting while in the Air Force in 1973. After Air Force and college, I worked in small market radio and TV news in Sikeston and Hannibal, MO and Quincy, IL as reporter, anchor and News Director. I moved to Greenville/Spartanburg in 1993, joined WORD in 1995 and started my talk show in 1997.
1. How did you get your start in radio?
I discovered talk radio (KMOX, St. Louis) while stationed at Scott AFB, IL and decided I wanted to be a talk show host. I did an internship at KMOX in my last year at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville and tried to follow the footsteps of the late Bob Hardy, who was the afternoon host at KMOX.
2. What are you passionate about?
Capitalism and the U.S. Constitution.
3. What makes your show different from the typical local talk show? Your background (military, reporting), your political views, your research?
First, I love red meat on the grill and hate it on the radio. I detest bandwagons, parades, and populists of all stripes. I try to derail parades, not jump to the front and lead them. If I happen to be going in the same direction as the parade, I just smile and look elsewhere for a problem that needs my attention.
Second, I embrace the fact that real people are not embroiled in politics. My target audience is embroiled in his job, his family, his bills, his home, his commute to work, his hobbies and life's mundane irritations. I search every day for interesting stories, whether in the news or at the water cooler, that trips one of those triggers.
Third, because I love to write, I write a daily column for my P-1's (The Daily Dispatch) and integrate it into my show.
4. If you hadn't gone into radio, what would you be doing today?
I'd own a corner bar and a taxi service.
5. It's unusual to have a prominent talk show host in a market this size choose to sell for the station as well. Why did you do that? What did being on the air do for your ability to sell the time, and what did being out on the road selling do for your talk show?
I no longer sell for the station. That took more time from my show prep than I was willing to give up. But I do actively seek leads for the sales staff, including participation in a "leads group" that meets over breakfast weekly. That and golf are my most productive connections to the outside world. My leads group is my water cooler. It is my best source for the personal stories that produce the best show hours.
6. Who are your influences?
The most influential person in my life right now is my faithful female companion of 8 years, a woman well out of my league in terms of intelligence, appearance and sophistication, but who motivates me to be better, work harder and learn new skills. The person who inspired me to be a broadcaster was the late Bob Hardy of KMOX-AM in St. Louis and, to a lesser degree, Paul Harvey, whose voice mysteriously occupies my pipes on occasion. But the person without whom I would likely be useless was my dad, Everett Bristol, the most humble and capable man I've ever known. There was nothing that needed done that dad couldn't do. He's been dead for about 13 years, but I'm still learning from him.
7. Of what are you most proud?
My patience and temperament.
8. What do you do for fun?
Golf, pool, woodworking, and hanging out with aforementioned faithful female companion.
9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without _____________.
...checking my stock portfolio.
10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?
Best – Don't buy that new Camaro, Ralph. (from my sister, about 6 months before I quit college and entered the Air Force)
Worst – I think you would like being a stockbroker. (From my first and worst broker -- I tried it for a while after moving to SC – most depressing job in the world).
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