10 Questions with ... Rich McLaughlin

BRIEF CAREER SYNOPSIS:

I spent much of my early career ruminating over what I wanted to do and who I wanted to be. Finally, I came to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am. On good days, I recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment. On bad days, I'm stuck in the past or anxious about the future. Every day, I'm grateful. 

1. How did you become interested in radio?

I heard the voice of Mets play-by-play radio announcer Bob Murphy declare, “The sun is shining, the sky is blue, and it’s a beautiful day for baseball” on WFAN in NY. I heard the voice of disc jockey Cousin Brucie front sell Freddy “Boom Boom” Cannon’s smash hit “Palisades Park” on CBS-FM in NY. I heard the voice of DJ Meg Griffin go toe-to-toe with Howard Stern during a crossover break on WXRK in NY. Meg is my favorite DJ of all-time. Meg's voice and delivery is a song of its own, and she has the best taste in music. I became interested in radio thanks to those four legendary voices.

2. Who were your mentors? 

Rita Houston, Marco Collins, and Meg Griffin were my earliest and most influential mentors. Daniel Glass is a valued mentor. Walter Sabo and Teddy Zambetti were mentors at Sirius XM. Tim Herbster and Alissa Pollack provided mentorship at iHeartRadio. Adam Block was a mentor at Amazon Music. Paul Cavalconte and Lenny Bloch have provided mentorship for decades now.

Mike Tierney is my mentor-in-chief. Mike's been providing career guidance and support ever since I met him as an 18-year-old programming intern at VH-1 in the late-90's. He became a big brother in the biz over time (a result of me following him around a lot). I checked one off my career bucket list the day Mike joined our Amazon Music team (in Seattle, no less) as Global Head of Music Programming. His impact on my life and career was immediate and profound. Mike created a framework for rebuilding my foundation as a programmer. He sets a high bar, backed by experience. He's also fiercely loyal. I respect Mike's creativity and point-of-view and admire his passion for music and music programming. Earning Mike's respect as a programmer felt like crossing a finish line for me. I'm looking forward to the next race.

3. It must be exciting for you to come full circle and be back WFUV! Tell us about that experience.

I’m thrilled to be back at WFUV. I once read an interview with Jon Bon Jovi where he was asked for the secret to his career success and longevity. His reply was, “You just stay the course, and do what it is that you do, and grow while you’re doing it. Eventually it will either come full circle, or at least you’ll go to bed at night happy.” I'm with Jon Bon Jovi - life is all about full circles and peaceful sleep...and Bad Medicine is what I need. That's what returning to WFUV is all about for me. I'm grateful to WFUV GM Chuck Singleton, Mike Henry, and Ann Blinkhorn for the opportunity.

4. How are you keeping the legacy of Rita Houston alive at the station?

The opportunity to forward Rita's legacy at WFUV was a big part of the reason I chose to return to the station. I view the opportunity as a "we" thing and not a "me" thing. WFUV's commitment to keeping Rita's legacy alive is shared by the entire station - from our GM Chuck Singleton on down. Our entire Content Team shares in the responsibility. Laura "Houdele" Fedele (Digital Director), Russ Borris (WFUV's MD), Eric Gottlieb (Programming Ops Dir), Sarah Wardrop (Audio Content Director), Eric Holland (AMD), Kara Manning (Digital Editor), George Bodarky (Sr. Director of Content Strategy) and our entire on-air staff partnered with Rita in some capacity (over two decades in some cases) to drive WFUV's growth and success. For that reason (and many others), I'm 100% confident in the team's ability to safeguard Rita's legacy, and ensure it continues to evolve and grow.

5. What areas of the station’s mission do you plan to expand on?

A few mission-driven priorities we're planning to expand on: Focusing on WFUV's Programming & People (staff and listeners/members) Championing a wider array of artists and styles to engage a more diverse audience Developing the station's student training initiatives to cultivate the next generation of media professionals. WFUV's student training initiatives are in great hands with WFUV News Director Robin Shannon, Sports Director Bobby Ciafardini, and our Head of Content Strategy, George Bodarky.  Again, this is all in collaboration. Alexis Harrigan leads our development team w/ Morgan Mackey, Kathleen Allard leads our amazing Membership department Janeen Shaitelman heads our Promotions & Marketing, our Finance Director Michelle Tomlinson, Bruce Ellerstein, Lisa Smith, Amanda Bale, and the rest of our fantastic staff at the station. The entire team is driving towards these priorities. They're built into our Strategic Operating Plan.

6. What do you view as the most prominent issues facing public radio today?

Three important issues facing public radio today that immediately come to mind: 

1. Staying true to public radio’s mission and values in a media landscape that doesn't always reward it (at least to the same extent it once did)
2. Successfully engaging a more diverse audience
3. Developing additional revenue streams without sacrificing content quality

7. What new artists are you most impressed with?

WFUV's MD Russ Borris, AMD Eric Holland and I are all into Christone "Kingfish" Ingram. Russ and Eric were early supporters before I even joined the team. Arlo Parks, too. Arlo's first North American performance ever occurred a couple of months ago, and it was an exclusive show for WFUV's marquee members. WFUV Writer and UKNY show host Kara Manning recently introduced me to Black Country, New Road. Pretty psyched about that find (thank you, Kara). I'm also a fan of Gang Of Youths, Geese, Little Simz, and Fontaines DC. Our Programming Ops Director, Eric Gottlieb, plays drums in a fantastic band called Brandi and the Alexanders

8. If you wanted to completely change careers today, what would you do?

I’d submit my application to study the field of psychiatry as my therapist's apprentice. Dr. Hammel is one of the most brilliant, wise, and empathetic humans on the planet. As an aside, he also has outstanding taste in music. If I were to completely change careers today, I'd like to be his protege. To be honest, I'm not convinced Dr. Hammel would go for the idea. In the end, I'd probably be more like Bill Murray to his Richard Dreyfuss in "What About Bob?"

9. What would surprise people most about you?

I'm a proud graduate of the Gettysburg Civil War Institute

10. Fill in the blank: I cannot make it through the day without _________?

Lately? Apologizing to WFUV's Tech Ops Team for breaking something in the name of programming advancement. Many thanks to George Evans, Jim O'Hara, Jose Ozoria and our Traffic Director Kevin Verga (a rising star on WFUV's team). They've built and currently safeguard WFUV's solid foundation and platforms. 

First record ever purchased:  

Sam Kinison, Louder Than Hell

First concert:

The first concert I heard was Johnny Cash At Folsom Prison, on vinyl. The first concert I ever attended was NIN at Nassau Coliseum

Favorite artist of all-time:

2Pac

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time away from work?

I spend time with my family, suffer with the Mets, Jets, and Islanders and run long(ish) distances.