10 Questions with ... Bill Meyer

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

• Started in 1980 at KIOT, Barstow CA.
• Stops in KFIV in Modesto, KPOP Sacramento.
• Several years as late nights at KPLZ, Seattle.
• In the 90's programmed and hosted mornings for KBOY, Medford, KZZE, Medford, KFGO-FM Fargo.
• Since 2001 I've programmed and hosted morning talk at Newstalk AM-1440 KMED, Medford.

1. How did you get your start in radio? Why radio?

I was working at a record store/CB radio repair shop in Sandusky, OH in the late 70's, when a local weekend soul DJ named Dudley invited me down to the station to watch him do his show. I watched, listened, and thought "Hey, this looks like a lot of fun... I can do this!" Went to radio school in Cleveland, moved to San Jose, CA... bummed around until a thrilling call from KIOT Barstow came through... Ta-Da! 30 years later and still having fun. Radio was a natural progression from spinning records at my high school dances. Early on I had planned on switching careers... you know, radio was fine "until I found a real job." But the "play" job just kept getting better!

2. About what are you most passionate these days?

Given my talk focus, I'm really passionate about current issues and the human condition. If I I had to encapsulate my point of view, it's to remind folks that government is hired help. It's there to serve you. So many of our problems today stem from Americans being overly respectful to authorities and politicians who richly deserve being shown the door.

My secondary passion, which keeps me sane, is repairing and rebuilding antique radios. There's something about that tradition and craftsmanship which is very comforting. Unlike radio work, there's a real tangible quality to the hobby. First it was broken, and once again, the Zenith Transoceanic is ALIVE!!! (Insert maniacal laugh)

3. Doing mornings in a market like Medford, do you end up talking more about local or national issues? What works for you and your station in reaching a large audience in that market? How much local vs. national talk do you do on your show and why? And do you perceive that being different from larger markets in which you've worked (albeit not doing talk there)?

I really mix up the topics. Some days there isn't much local going on, or it's just not that interesting. My secret to success is to do local as much as possible, but only when it counts. Who cares if you're doing local subjects if no one else cares, so I bang the national topics too. Southern Oregon listeners don't get through to Rush or Hannity very often, and I offer them a forum that the big boys never will. Overall I'd say half local/regional, half national.

4. What topic category are you finding is getting the biggest response from the audience right now -- the economy, health care, terrorism, something else?

Economy -- unemployment combined with government over-reach, and the lockup of our natural resources.

Why do you think that's the case?

Unemployment is through the roof in Oregon, and the only response by our government has been to raise taxes, plunder the remaining productive people & businesses, and continue to hire several thousand state employees. Folks are a bit touchy about this. A never-ending source of conflict is Portland's penchant for turning our southern Oregon forests, rivers, and coasts into a theme park which they can visit when they like, while working people suffer. Our state laws, in tandem with Washington D.C.'s policies, empower and exacerbate these tensions. That's why being local means really paying attention outside the area, too.

5. You spent a long time in music radio before moving into talk; how did you make that transition, and how hard was it to go from playing music to talking non-stop?

At first, I was terrified to make the switch to talk, even though I knew it was the right thing to do for the station. My crosstown competition at the time reportedly cracked up when they heard I was going to do talk. "Oh c'mon, Bill Meyer, the rock jock? You gotta be kidding!" But I worked it hard, built an audience and stable of guests and topics. It took a couple of years for it to really start kicking in. I was fortunate to have management that believed in what we were doing. The real transition technique was to read as many books and as much material as possible, get self-educated about what was important, and express a principled point of view.

6. Who are your mentors, influences, and heroes?

My most memorable mentor was KPLZ's Casey Keating. He gave me the freedom to be myself, allowed me to put on a short overnight talk segment on KPLZ back in the 80's. I learned a lot from that experience.

My modern day influences are very liberty-oriented people such as Lew Rockwell, Congressman Ron Paul, and Chuck Baldwin. In a sea of GOP talk radio sameness, I feel I'm able to stand out a bit -- you know, throw barbs and atta-boys at either wing of our two-party bird of prey. Sure, I swing right, but callers know I'm fair.

My hero? Inventor Thomas Alva Edison. I grew up in Milan, Ohio (His birthplace) and was steeped in the Edison lore. His tireless work ethic is something I took to heart.

7. What's the most embarrassing thing that ever happened to you?

Going on Seattle radio in 1984 for the first time, and spending a 5 hour shift screwing up the pronunciation of the "Puyallup" fair. No matter what I did, it just didn't come out right. They kept me on anyway.

8. Of what are you most proud?

Continuing to grow in an industry I love, while being a respected voice in the community. Talk radio is such an intimate form of communication. Every time I meet our listeners, I'm amazed at what ownership they take of my show and KMED, and how important it is to their lives. It really makes you take it seriously, and drives you to perform.

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

My TouchPro 2 Smartphone - When you're a one-man-band, you better be accessible.

10. What's the best advice you've ever gotten? The worst?

Best advice - Don't worry about trying to make everybody happy. (Still struggling with that one)

Worst Advice - Sure, Bill, go ahead and marry your morning partner.... What could go wrong?