10 Questions with ... Norman Goldman

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

Began in politics at age 15, with a high school internship in the Queens Borough President's Office, New York City. Worked as a college intern, then part-time paid staff, then full-time paid staff, for Congressman Ted Weiss (D-NY) 1979-1982. Worked on many political campaigns. Began in radio at age 16, at WNYU-FM (89.1) in New York City. Held 3rd class FCC license; some on-air, a lot of production and board work. Moved to LA in 1982, attended Loyola Marymount University law school. Deans' List all three years. Graduated just outside top 10 percent, in 1985. Passed Bar exam first time and practiced law until recently.

Re-started radio career in 2004, on KLSX (97.1 FM) in LA on Saturday mornings, doing a Progressive talk show. Met Ed Schultz at Democratic National Convention in July 2004, became part of his show, as "Senior Legal Analyst". Guest hosted over 90 shows for Ed starting in July 2006 and created Pro Radio Productions L.L.C., owner of "The Norman Goldman Show," which launched September 8, 2009.

1. You spent part of your youth in orphanages after the loss of your parents, yet were able to overcome that situation and excel in school. To what do you attribute your success in those years? What drove you to succeed?

My Mom (for the short time I had to be with her - she died three days after I turned 5) and my Dad (who died when I was 11) were always very encouraging. I was in three orphanages from age 11 to 17. My Dad especially spent a lot of time and energy with me; he was my team's Little League coach; helped me with homework; read to me; took my two older brothers and me to ballgames; and talked about life and hard work, honesty, etc. My Dad was a political junkie and got me hooked on politics very early. My childhood was in the 1960's; a very interesting time to experience the world! My parents instilled in me the desire to excel and the recognition that hard work and education were keys to success. I was also fortunate to have teachers and other adults along the way who encouraged me and helped guide me on a good path.

2. From lawyer to talk show host -- how did that come about? What led you to get into radio, both in school and later, returning to it as a lawyer? Why?

It's actually from radio, to lawyer and then back to radio!

I have always LOVED radio. From the time I was a little kid, staring at that AM box on the kitchen table, wondering, "How do they get the music and sounds out of that thing?," to showing up at college station WNYU while still in high school (on an invitation from a friend) and learning just how they DID make that sound come out of the box! I thoroughly enjoyed my years at WNYU (and have friends from there still) and my career choice was either radio or law. I chose law due to my poor financial circumstances, and I thought being a lawyer would give me flexibility for whatever I wanted to do in life. I got a lot out of practicing the law; it made me tougher, sharper and certainly better off financially, but I never enjoyed practicing the law. The legal system, sadly, is a cesspool of bitterness and greed. To my observation, the quality of the judges is poor; they are often simply politicians in robes. From what I saw, lawyers are unethical (for the most part) and the entire system is totally broken. Clients pay a heavy price for a system that does not serve them. The public hates and fears the legal system (a shame and yet, justified) so I decided to return to my first love and worked at radio over the last seven years.

3. As a progressive, what do you see as the proper role of government in people's lives? Are the present Congress and administration on the right track in that way? Are you optimistic or pessimistic about the near future for America?

Government has a real role to play in society. In my case, and many others, it gave a hand up, not a hand out. From supervising and regulating the food supply - keeping us safe from salmonella and terrorism - to building roads, bridges and sewers; protecting us from those who would do Americans harm; and helping care for widows and orphans (a subject dear to my heart), government is necessary. We should have a mixed economy; Social Security, Medicare (and I prefer Medicare for all) unemployment insurance, worker's compensation and yes, even welfare are all needed for a secure society. We should remain a capitalist society, with business being pre-eminent, but government must police the marketplace and enforce the antitrust laws. Look at what happened when government oversight disappeared in the years of George W. Bush. In his own words, "Wall Street got drunk" (because he and his party were the bartenders) and we replayed the Great Depression. Government needs to prevent the marketplace from growing into mega-conglomerates that swallow us all alive and steal all the money.

Government must also look out for the public interest -- like stopping the outsourcing of jobs -- so that we still have jobs here in America, even though it is in the corporate interest to send all our jobs overseas. The present Congress is hobbled by absurd rules that are being terribly abused (the filibuster, for one) and is rife with corruption. A "pay to play" culture exists and serves the powerful more than the public. This is true for Democrats as well as Republicans. The Administration so far is timid and unsure how to use power. It is not leading; it is following a Congress too caught up in squabbles. Chasing a few Republicans to end filibusters has given out-sized power to a few Senators and totally tilted the power of government to a handful of people. As a result, the public is outraged, and quite rightly so. Only when the community is fully engaged and sends bold progressives to Washington will we break out of the mess we are in.

4. What makes you different from other talk show hosts? What do you bring to the table that others don't?

Having practiced the law for 24 years -- all litigation, all in California, including high dollar, complex commercial and insurance litigation -- I can explain how the law works, both from a theoretical and a practical perspective. There is so much of the law in our daily lives, whether it's the latest Supreme Court case, new high profile court cases involving gay marriage, Proposition 8, the Michael Jackson molestation trial, or the former Gov. Rod Blagojevich trial, that being able to explain to listeners how the law works in practical effect makes this show stand out. Also, having been a political junkie my whole life, I bring the broad base of knowledge about political, American and world history to the show. Our fast growing audience has responded strongly and positively, as have our affiliates.

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

My Dad is #1. He did a lot of good for me in the short time we had together. I also had many teachers and "house parents" in the orphanages that believed in me, encouraged me, told me I had a chance and helped steer me properly in life. Watching Martin Luther King, Jr. do what he did while I was a little kid inspired me, as did John and Bobby Kennedy. There were a few lawyers who helped me learn that craft, and Ed Schultz has been tremendously helpful and supportive; without him I would be nowhere in radio. I would also be amiss to not acknowledge Bill Figenshu for being a fantastic radio advisor, without whom I could never have gotten to this place.

6. What's your process -- how do you prepare for each show? What resources do you use?

I am online so much, I feel like the character Neo of the "Matrix" movies -- just constantly plugged in! I start early each morning with MSNBC, CNN (and yes, even Fox!) and stay connected to the news cycle constantly. I listen to all kinds of local talk radio here in LA; look at both sides' websites; from Drudge to Huffington Post (where I am a blogger) and lots of newspapers and magazines. Topic selection, of course, is crucial because "playing the hits" is everything. I choose topics that people have opinions on; that are in the news now and generate debate. I have no qualms about going after Democrats -- even the President -- when I feel it is justified. Although I am hands on, I am fortunate to have an excellent, experienced staff of major market radio professionals working along with me, and our affiliate stations, in order to put out the best radio product possible every day. On air, I just speak my mind and tell the truth plainly, as I see it!

7. About what are you most passionate these days?

First and foremost, I am most passionate about creating compelling, must-listen radio; growing ratings, and generating revenue for our growing list of affiliates around the country. I have traveled to Seattle, Portland, NYC, and next month to Chicago at my own expense on behalf of Compass Media and the stations that carry us. I love meeting the listeners, advertisers, and of course, the station personnel that carry our show.

Content-wise, the Republican Party has totally lost its mind. While I was never a Republican, the current version is so extreme as to have fallen off the table. Whether it is tearing down the President and the country to return to power, or using racism and fear to scare people, these Republicans are shameless and horrible. Educating people to how dangerous they are is a huge passion for me! Getting the Democrats to be strong and not spineless, to act as they feel and as the country needs, is also key for me!

I believe the "war on drugs" is lost. We need to legalize marijuana now, if only to stop making drug lords rich, reducing law enforcement and prison expenses and putting tax money into local and state coffers, since governments at all levels are broke. I absolutely HATE waste, fraud and abuse - especially when our tax dollars are being ripped off! The Iraq war, in my opinion, was a gigantic money laundering operation; corporate welfare and unfair tax breaks for the top 2% also get me riled up! My wife and I also rescue animals and I encourage people to adopt homeless animals, especially older ones. A space on our website and air time on the show is devoted to this very worthy cause.

8. Of what are you most proud?

In addition to our growing daily radio show, I am very proud that I have worked hard all my life and made myself the best person I can be after starting with very little. I have made plenty of mistakes -- and I remind myself of them constantly in order to keep me humble -- but I have a pleasant personality, a good sense of humor, an excellent memory and a good mind; I am affable on the phone, on the air and in person; and I try to use my skills for good every day. I believe I am a good, sincere, caring person and that comes across to everyone who hears me and meets me.

9. Fill in the blank: I can't make it through the day without______________:

...my wife, my two rescued dogs, one rescued cat, my staff, our affiliates and the Internet!

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

The best advice, from my Dad and mentors along the way: Work hard every day, educate and improve yourself and be honest. The best advice from a close lawyer friend: Don't believe your own B.S. -- and keep yourself humble.

The worst: Over the years, people have said; "You're not good enough to (fill in the blank)"...be a lawyer; be a radio talk show host. I learned to use that as motivation. And so far, it has worked!