Radio Show Content | Audio Breaks

Zach and George, The Anderson Journal, WHBU-FM, Anderson, IN with George is a Lousy Driver

January 18, 2026

If you’re in a moment with high emotion, grab that phone and get audio of it. That audio will aid you in telling the story on-the-air in a way that simply recounting it won’t. Case-in-point is what was done by Zach Johnson and George Bremer, The Anderson Journal, WHBU-FM, Anderson, IN. George is flawed as he’s a lousy driver. The team was out on a remote. Driving back to the station, Zach and the promotions/video team started to rib George about all his driving mishaps. It was very disarming and exceptionally funny. Which is why, instead of just re-living things on the next show, Zach got audio of the post-trip conversation in real time from the group. Listen to all the emotion and laughter in this exchange and hear how much differently the break was because of it. Always think: is there an oppotrunity to get audio here because it wil make the break on our next show when we tell it better?

Karen, Johnny, and Anthony, WNEW-FM, New York with Maury Povich and the Baby Announcement

January 11, 2026

Coaching a new show this past week, they asked an important question: how do we become our listeners Netflix? When I probed what they meant, they told me they want to be top-of-mind when people wake up, much like many of us default, when wanting content on TV, to wonder what’s on Netflix. It’s a fair ask. My answer was Netflix has generated so much unique content that they occupy space in our heads for top shelf shows that must be watched. What does that mean for you? Once you identify the right topics for your show, focus much of your attention and creativity on what you will do with the topic that will create an experience for those listening where you accrue those images, too. Intern Anthony and his wife are having a baby. This is good character development content. Now the question is how does Karen Carson in the Morning, WNEW-FM, New York City do the gender reveal to the audience so it’s talked about and remembered? Well, they invite Maury Povich on to do the deed.

Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield with The Bowl of Confessions

January 4, 2026

Character development comes in many forms. When you share a story of something going on in your life, when you’re honest about your take on whatever topic you’re engaging on, and when you are completely vulnerable with the audience. Strategic character development is the primary instigator of the connection you must form with the audience to build that relationship which leads to loyal listening. “I feel like I know them,” is a powerful statement any listener can make which proves the connection is happening. Here’s a unique character development bit as done by Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield, MA called the Bowl of Confessions. They brought into the studio a co-worker who pulled a slip of paper out of a bowl, which contains a statement he had or decide if it was true or a false. All of it leading to me learning about Chris or Dina. Listen as the chemistry drives the fun.

Zog and Ivy Unleashed, Power 96, Miami with Trends with Benefits

December 14, 2025

I’m a fan of trivia games that allow the audience in cars, driving to work, to play along. I’ve featured many on these pages over the years. This one works not just because it accomplishes that but because its name is memorable and the trivia questions are cut from today’s headlines so it helps the show be contemporary. I also preach let’s be about now. Every trivia game must have its genre of trivia and this is about current events. Zog and Ivy Unleashed, Power 96, Miami play Trends with Benefits twice each morning to accrue those images and help define Ivy as the one on the show who’s tapped into whatever is going on in the world and in the market.

Karlson and McKenzie, WZLX, Boston Scared Straight Santa

December 7, 2025

This is one of my favorite breaks ever as done by Karlson and McKenzie, WZLX, Boston. We were looking to find an edgy way to connect with the audience. The show, when on, had attitude and swagger and we wanted to channel that sense of humor into a holiday idea that would be much different than the standard fare phone topics most shows do around this time of year. Enter Scared Straight Santa. Everyone knows of the “scared straight” concept where prisoners scare kids into towing the line so they don’t end up in jail. We used that to keep misbehaving children in line for their parents or else Santa won’t show up. The first break was a call from a parent who told us how their kid was misbehaving. The next break (the one below) is when Pete McKenzie called back as Santa and challenged the kid to promise to be good. This hits all important images you should have: it’s fun, it’s real, it’s innovative, and it’s relatable.

Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

Zach and George, The Anderson Journal, WHBU-FM, Anderson, IN with George is a Lousy Driver

Karen, Johnny, and Anthony, WNEW-FM, New York with Maury Povich and the Baby Announcement

Chris and Dina, WMAS-FM, Springfield with The Bowl of Confessions

Zog and Ivy Unleashed, Power 96, Miami with Trends with Benefits

Karlson and McKenzie, WZLX, Boston Scared Straight Santa

Some of the Great Radio Stations I’ve Helped...