10 Questions with ... David Leach

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

SOCIAL:

• Facebook: TheStridentConservative
• Twitter: @stridentconserv
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/davidlleach

I began my radio career over eight years ago at a small-market public radio station (MPR) in the heart of Colorado ski country, where I did weather and traffic on weekends. After proving my mettle to the owner, I advanced to co-hosting the morning drive with him and eventually grew to running the station after the owner move to another Colorado city to start a new station.

My radio experience from MPR led to an opportunity with Crawford Broadcasting in Denver (670 KLTT / 810 KLVZ / KLZ 560), where I was hired as a producer/board op for a variety of talk shows. Eventually, I would become the fill-in for several shows, which led to me becoming the producer/on-air talent as a part of Rush to Reason afternoon-drive program. I also provided a daily two to three-minute political commentary for broadcast on a host of Crawford stations.

After Crawford, I developed my daily political feature into a brand under The Strident Conservative. For the past two-plus years, I have voiced and produced a two-minute feature hosted by Salem Radio Network for national distribution.

1. How are you occupying your time, besides looking for a job?

I'm am pretty involved with writing articles that corollate with my daily Salem Radio Network feature. I also spend a good deal of effort keeping up with others in the talk radio world through networking and studying their methods.

2. Do you plan on sticking with radio?

Absolutely! With my current Salem Radio feature, I have managed to refine my style while keeping up on trends and building my brand.

3. What's the best way to get your foot in the door?

There's an adage that holds true to getting where you want to go in this or any other business; it's not what you know but who you know. Networking with others in the industry has been a great way to moving in the direction of my dreams.

4. What has been your best resource for finding out about job openings?

Of course, AllAccess.com is a fantastic resource. I also participate in several discussion groups on my social accounts. And a friend of mine in the industry has recently launched RadioHorn.com. While it's still in its infancy, he posts job openings on his Facebook account several times a week.

5. What is the next job you'd like to obtain?

I want to host my own Talk radio program. In my time with Crawford Broadcasting, my fill-in opportunities really wetted my appetite for having my own platform where I can educate and entertain a loyal audience on issues important to freedom and liberty in America. As a conservative, I see my ideal position being something that can grow and eventually reach syndication.

6. How are you finding the "courtesy level" at places you've applied? (Callbacks, e-mails, rejection letters, etc.)

This remains the greatest frustration of looking for a job. Job opportunities are handled almost exclusively online now with no opportunity to follow up with the employer. Even if I am not being considered, it would be nice to be able to have a few moments to find out what was lacking (if anything) in my application. At the very least, it would be great to establish a new relationship with someone in the industry.

7. Are you finding salaries/benefits lower than you ever thought, about the same, or have you seen some pleasant surprises?

Salaries and benefits have remained basically the same as they were the last time I worked for a local station. While it might sound a bit cliché, if I'm doing what I feel in my heart, I don't concern myself as much about such things. I know the money I need will follow if I follow my passion.

8. What's the most unbelievable on-air bit you were allowed to do?

I wouldn't call it "unbelievable" as much as I would call it a flat-out blast. I was filling in on Rush to Reason on Earth Day a few years ago where I used it to "honor" Vladimir Lenin because April 22nd is also his birthday. Using that connection, I built a show where listeners were invited to question the true motivations behind the environmental movement using comedy and education. The phones were full the whole show.

9. Are you spending as much time listening to radio as you used to?

As I mentioned in an earlier question, I work at keeping up with the Talk radio industry, so I listen to several hours of the genre either live or via podcasts.

10. If you were offered a similar position to what you were doing for considerably less money, would you seriously consider taking the job just to stay in the biz?

Yes. I mentioned above how following my heart is more important to me than how much money I can make. I have lived my life on the belief that if I keep doing what I love, the money will follow.

Any books you can recommend to people who need something inspirational to read?

While it was a few years ago that I first read it, I recently re-read a great biography on the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer by Eric Metaxas called, "Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy."

In the time of Adolf Hitler, the Nazis seduced a nation and attempted to exterminate the Jews. Even though he was a pastor, Bonhoeffer became a part of a small number of dissidents and saboteurs who worked to dismantle the Third Reich from the inside.

His effort would eventually cost him his life as he was hanged for treason near the end of Hitler's reign. But his courage to stand against evil knowing that he might be killed is an incredibly inspirational story and serves to challenge us today as freedom in America is threatened with extermination.