Radio Show Content | Audio Breaks

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.

Matt, Gabe, and Captain Ron, KKWF (The Wolf), Seattle with Operation K-9 Companion

November 30, 2025

You might be doing a community service project now to show your heart. That’s a smart move to rally the audience to help you reach some goal to make the community a better place. Listeners are searching for any reason to feel better about their town, those less fortunate, and themselves. Your event probably does all of that. Matt, Gabe, and Captain Ron, KKWF (The Wolf), Seattle just wrapped up their annual effort called Operation K-9 Companion where they ask the audience to help them buy and train service animals for soldiers who are home with PTSD. Lots of country stations do this – it’s a great event. This year, the team rallied their listeners to help them raise over $400,000 in one week. That number is outstanding. I reminded them that this week-long effort is not a fundraising event. It’s a story-telling event. Tell stories and you’ll motivate more people who are inclined to give to do so. You’ll also elevate the images of your show with those who won’t. Below are two stories told that showcase two very different emotions. In the first, they surprise the woman who runs the organization with her mom, who beams with pride. In the other, a soldier tells a tough story about how his service dog passed away. Both stories have intense emotions, elevating things for the team.

Kick-Ass Audio Breaks

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

Matt, Gabe, and Captain Ron, KKWF (The Wolf), Seattle with Operation K-9 Companion

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