“The Hard Truth: Most People in This Business Only Care About Themselves”

 

What I’ve Learned After 41 Years in Broadcasting

What I’ve discovered after 41 years in this business is that most people in entertainment only care about themselves. Very few are unselfish or genuinely concerned about others. This industry is full of ego, and if you’re not careful, you’ll get your feelings hurt trusting people who don’t have the same heart you do.

Sometimes it may not be wise to meet your heroes:

They’ll disappoint you almost every time.

Learn from how people have treated you — and make it your mission not to repeat their mistakes. But also remember this: it’s not fair to put our own expectations on others. They can’t live up to what we imagine them to be. Give them grace for not being who you wanted them to be.

Instead, take it upon yourself to be what the world is missing.
Be the friend to those who have no friend.
Be a father or mother to those who never had one.
Be a pillar in your community when others sell out their people for money or fame.

Be the person people can count on — the one who won’t lie to them.

Where are those people today?
What if you were chosen to be that one?
Why is it so hard to believe that you have been singled out? Yes You!!

Think about that.

“After 41 years in radio, here’s the one thing that still makes me nervous before I go live"

HAVE I PREPARED ENOUGH?

People that really know me in the radio industry, know that I am a show prep junkie. Each show we would produce what I would call manuals of show prep material. Each day we had a 30-page script of show prep for ideas and conversations. On top of that, I would ask my team to bring at least 10 ideas from the last 24 hours that interested them, or happened to them. Family, TV show, interesting conversation you overheard—just anything was on the table that was interesting. I myself was loaded with at least 15 solid things out of what I wrote for the show. Tom Joyner once said that there is comedy all around you. He said he would take a conversation he had with Doug Banks at night, and would be doing a bit on it the next morning.

If we would concentrate on doing a lot of observing on what you are being exposed to everyday, you would have a list of 20 things every day. Everything won't make it on the air, because they need more development, or you can just chuck it for later. Just keep writing and developing your own thoughts and marry them with facts to make your content strong. The things you have strong opinions about, bring it on air. You can do anything you want to create energy and excitement on your show. Just prepare, prepare, prepare. The more prepared you are, the more spontaneous you can become.

I was never one of those radio personalities who just got to the station in the nick of time before the show started. I was a 3am guy. I was the 4am guy for the 5:30am or 6am show start. That to me was a sin to show up right before your shift. One of my mentees in radio, Shay Moore, arrives at her morning show at 3am in Kansas City, MO. She is a one-woman wrecking crew and she is successfully dominating the market. People who want to be great and impactful every day adopt this type of mentality. Some personalities, because they work at the big stick in the market, will win by default because the signal affords them the luxury of exposure, so the ratings gap may make you think something that may not actually be true. Winning by default is real. I have seen giants slayed by the hard work and dedication of a team on an inferior signal
producing great content every morning to dethrone a market staple.

So in closing, yes I am always uneasy if I feel I did not prepare well according to my standards. So I put more thought into what I want to say. I spend time alone with me and my notepad and come up with my content. So if you care, be careful in preparing for your show.

I’m Doing This For The Ones Who Are Looking For Me..I Will Explain

I’m doing this blog for that one person out there who is trying to find me.

When I started the Black Radio Talent Blog, I thought about myself as a young black child growing up in Goldsboro NC who got bitten by the radio bug when I was around 14 or 15 years old. When I got home from school I would go in my room in my makeshift radio station and begin practicing and pretending I was on the radio all afternoon. That was my daily ritual. I would be in there till my mother said dinner was ready. I duct taped a studio together and made it work. I would make cassette tapes of myself and play them for my classmates and they would not believe it was me. So at 15 I knew I was onto something. I spent my mornings before school eating breakfast sitting in front of that green am radio that sat on the dryer, listening to the morning man give the weather and the school lunch menu. Wow I have a lot of memories on how I got to where I am today. 

This year marks my 41st year in radio broadcasting. So this blog, the written version of myself is my next level of communication connecting to the people who want to have a career in radio. The people who spend time in their rooms like me alone thinking about being behind the microphone. People who have the dream embedded in their soul for this. I tell my radio friends all the time, that we are not the only people on this earth who want to be on the radio. So I pledged not to be a gatekeeper and withhold what I know that can help someone  grow. I am unapologetic in naming this blog Blackradiotalent.com, because that’s what I am. Yes I am a human on the radio, but I wanted to specifically identify myself for people looking for a voice in our community that is talking to them. But anyone who reads my articles, no matter what color or ethnicity you are, you know I know what I'm talking about.

 So I don't spend time worrying about who didn’t like a post, who didn’t comment, or who didn’t acknowledge what we put out. None of that matters. What matters is this: if I don’t keep showing up, the people I’m meant to serve may never find me. That's why I have to continue to learn how to be vulnerable in revealing who and what I really am. I only want to be discovered by the people who are looking for me. When they see my work, they will know I am who they have been looking for. So the more we are being ourselves in our expression of who we are, it will be easier for your people to find you.

I’m not looking for everybody—because everybody isn’t looking for me. But there are a few who are. And for those few, I’ll keep speaking, writing, creating, and showing up for you. I want you to know that you are not alone in your ambition to be a communicator. We all get here on different paths, but the common denominator is that this is something I must do. Radio. Podcasting. Communicating and connecting with people. If you would like to connect with me. email me at podcastlikeaproclass@gmail.com

Rambling Kills Interest: Trim The Fat And Respect Your Audience’s Time

Hey I have been doing this Radio for 41 years and I am still trying to get better at delivering my message. I want to be clear and concise. The more you read, learn, and explore, the more richness you’ll bring to your craft. Here are some tips on how to stop wasting precious moments on the mic. We call it Rambling and Gambling. Wreckless conversations that are going nowhere that's causing your audience to instantly tune you out. If you have never been taught about word economy, you need to learn it, if you want to be interesting to listen to.

1. Build Emotional Connection

If you want people to stick with you, stop trying to sound like somebody else. Your authenticity is your edge. Let your real voice, your personality, your life experience show through. People don’t connect with people being fake—they connect with realness.

And if you’re interviewing? Don’t just march through your notes like a robot. Listen. Respond in the moment. Let your curiosity pull you into the conversation. Your listeners can hear when you’re truly engaged, and that pulls them in too.

Don’t be afraid of vulnerability either. Share the struggle, the lessons, the scars you picked up along the way. That’s what makes you human, and that’s what makes people relate and connect with you.

2. Deliver Value Every Time

Every episode has to leave people with something. Maybe they laugh. Maybe they learn. Maybe they walk away inspired. What should they feel when they finish listening?

Respect their time. If you’re rambling, you’re losing them. Trim the fat, stay on track with good stuff.

3. Master Presentation Skills

Your voice is your instrument—so play it. Energy matters. Tone, pacing, pauses—they all shape how your message lands. Even the best content will fall flat if you deliver it flat.

Radio and podcasting is theater of the mind. Paint pictures with your words. Tell stories, give vivid examples that let people see what you’re saying.

Hook them at the start, build and be memorable.

4. Create a Unique Listener Experience

Don’t just echo what everyone else is saying. We don’t need another voice repeating the same headlines. Bring your own lens, your own perspective. That’s what makes you stand out.

Talk with your audience, not just to them. Shout them out. Answer their questions. Weave their feedback into your content. When people feel included, they feel invested.

5. Keep Improving

Don’t get comfortable. Play your own shows back and listen with a critical ear. Where did your energy dip? Where did you shine? Where did you ramble on with no end point? The art of communicating better is never ending. Always remember, You can always say it better and shorter.

What AI Can’t Do

Yes AI can copy a voice, write a script, and flood Spotify with shows. But it will never replace the soul. It can’t catch the crack in your voice when a caller shares something painful. It can’t match your rhythm when you’re vibing with a guest. It can’t recreate the life you’ve lived that shapes how you respond when that mic comes on.

That human element—your realness, your emotional connection, your lived perspective. It’s the only thing that cuts through the noise.

The Opportunity for Black Radio Talent

For us, this moment is bigger than just survival—it’s about stepping into leadership. Black radio has always been more than music and chatter but the bank boys came in and gutted it. Now it is just a shell of it's former glory. It is now longer a lifeline for the black community as it once was, It has now become a complicit weapon in the dumbing down of the black community, but that's another article. Sorry I got off point for a minute...Back to AI, LOL.  We’ve been the interpreters, the translators, the voices that take headlines and make people feel them. AI will never be able to step into that role. But we can, if we lean harder into being ourselves. Being human. A Black Human Unapologetically.

That means:

• Tell your stories. Machines don’t know your block, your grandmother’s wisdom, your neighborhood jokes. You do.

• Bring your own flavor. The pauses, the laughs, even the slip-ups—they make you real.

• Lead with perspective. Don’t chase what mainstream is saying. Be first with your lens on what’s happening. That’s why people tune in.

From Fear to Advantage

So instead of stressing about what AI is taking away, flip it. Let the bots handle the generic, soulless content. That just clears a lane for you to shine brightly.

Because the future of radio and podcasting doesn’t belong to whoever sounds the most polished—it belongs to whoever connects the deepest with the souls of other flesh and blood beings. That’s where the power is.

So while the machines get better at being machines, you commit to getting better at being human. Every day. That’s how we win.

Independent but Professional: The Standard for Black Media

When we say independent but professional, it’s a blueprint for survival and success in Black-owned media.

Independence means ownership — but professionalism is what earns trust, builds credibility, and unlocks revenue. Both must live side by side if you’re serious about making a living in this space.

Principles of “Independent but Professional”

1. Own the Mic, But Respect the Craft
   Independence gives you control of your voice, your platform, your schedule. Professionalism means mastering sound, visuals, timing, and delivery so your product competes with any corporate outlet.

2. Operate Lean, Deliver Big
   Roland Martin runs Black Star Network with a fraction of CNN’s budget — but the quality still feels like prime-time. Small team, smart equipment, big results. That’s the model.

3. Everywhere Distribution
   Professionalism demands that your content lives on YouTube, TikTok, IG, podcasts, and beyond. If you’re not showing up in the feed, you don’t exist.

4. Being Who you are, Anchors You
   Independence means you can speak unapologetically to your people. Professionalism ensures that authenticity is packaged in a way that’s sharp, clear, and accessible to wider audiences.

5. Revenue Beyond Ads
   Independence gives you freedom from gatekeepers. Professionalism means building sustainable models instead of begging corporations that don’t value us.

This is our Agenda

For Black media entrepreneurs, the mission is: we can’t wait for BET-style budgets or ad agency favors. We must own our platforms, sharpen our skills, and demand respect by being excellent at every level.

Independent but professional is how we build trust, grow audience, and prove that Black-owned media is unstoppable if done right

.

Because independence without professionalism is ignored. Professionalism without independence is exploited. But when you put the two together? That’s power.

Black Media Can’t Wait on Permission — Neither Can You

Every independent broadcaster, podcaster, and digital hustler building platforms in your own name read this article.

Revolt TV is proving that you don’t need a celebrity mogul at the helm to survive. Under Detavio Samuels, it’s now employee-owned — a model that puts power in the hands of the people who actually create the content. That’s rare in media, but it’s exactly the type of bold experiment we need to pay attention to.

Roland Martin’s Black Star Network is another case study. He was told “Black news won’t work online.” Fast forward — he’s pulling millions of views on YouTube and generating nearly $2M a year in advertising revenue. How? Consistency, professionalism, and staying unapologetically Black while distributing everywhere. He didn’t wait for CNN or TV One to come calling. He built his own.

Robert Johnson, the founder of BET, puts it plain: advertisers and streamers know Black people are the heaviest consumers of media. They just don’t want to pay Black-owned outlets fairly. That’s the challenge. They’ll use our audience to sell their shows, but not invest in our platforms. That’s the economic apartheid we’re still up against.

So what does this mean for you as talent?

It means:

1.Don’t wait for a gatekeeper. Press record. Publish. Flood the zone with your voice.

2.Look beyond just ads. Monetize with merch, Patreon, memberships, live events, and small business partnerships.

3.Own your distribution. Put your content on YouTube, TikTok, IG, podcasts, newsletters — anywhere people are already scrolling.

4.Stay authentic. The culture is your anchor. Speak to your people first, but invite the world to listen.

The future of Black-owned media won’t be handed to us. It’ll be built by those of us willing to grind without a corporate safety net, willing to invest in our own equipment, willing to stay up all night editing a podcast or clipping a TikTok.

That’s our advantage.

Because when you own the mic, you own the message.
.

Being Real Is the Currency: Why Execs Keep Missing the Point of Podcasting

 

In both radio and podcasting, being a real person on air is what sells. Listeners don’t stay tuned because of your microphone or your intro music—they stay because they feel you. They hear the passion, the humor, the truth. That’s the bond.

But corporate execs have spent the last 20 years proving they don’t get it.

In my genre of urban radio. The powers that be decided the best way to represent Black America’s voice was to handpick a few comedians and syndicate them across the nation. Steve Harvey. DL Hughley. Rickey Smiley. Others. Now, this isn’t about disrespecting those brothers—they’re talented and they carved out their lanes. But let’s be clear: this was a business decision, not a cultural one.

Corporate execs told legacy Black radio talent, the people who carried our stories for decades, to take a seat. They decided for us who gets to speak for our communities—and apparently, they think it should be comedians.

Now ask yourself: Have you ever seen this model applied to white America?
Are there five or six comedians syndicated across the country as the “voices” of white radio? Of course not. White radio still allows space for political commentators, storytellers, cultural critics, even everyday personalities to rise. But when it comes to Black America, execs boiled our voices down to comic relief.

That’s not authenticity. That’s a business model.

And if you think it can’t get worse, here comes the next wave: AI-generated radio. Imagine waking up to The Fred Sanford Morning Show, complete with Esther’s voice as the sidekick and Lamont and Grady chiming in—every joke programmed by a machine. Funny? Maybe. Authentic? Not at all. That’s the future corporate America is cooking up.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to play that game.

Podcasting is the long game. It’s the antidote.
Because podcasting isn’t about who corporate America picks. It’s about you choosing to share your voice, your journey, your perspective with the world. Nobody can tell you to sit down. Nobody can silence your story. Nobody can AI-generate your soul.

And that’s why execs keep missing the point: the very thing they undervalue—authentic human connection—is the one thing AI and big-box business will never be able to fake.

So, the question is:
Are you going to wait for corporate radio to replace you with an algorithm?
Or are you going to claim your own mic, your own lane, and build your own audience—one authentic conversation at a time?

Because in this game, BEING REAL
is the only real currency.

Podcasting: The Lifeline for Radio Personalities

 

A new study from Linkee puts three critical roles in radio at the top of the automation risk list:

Add to that the fact that 77% of air talent in the Jacobs Media AQ6 survey said they worry about losing their jobs to AI — and the picture is clear. Radio isn’t immune.

But here’s what I think: Podcasting is the insulation.

Podcasting lets personalities own their voice and community directly, without corporate filters. It breaks the dependence on stations, PDs, and national ad buyers. It’s the path to control, creativity, and independence.

Here's Why I think Podcasting Beats AI in Radio

1. Human Connection – AI can automate playlists, but it can’t recreate your stories, humor, or lived experience.

2. Local & Niche Focus – Hyper-serving your city, culture, makes you irreplaceable.

3. Revenue Diversity – Ads, sponsorships and live events mean you’re not at the mercy of one paycheck.

4. Content Ownership – Unlike radio that vanishes after airtime, podcasts build a lasting archive and legacy.

5. Brand Expansion – Clips, newsletters, and video turn one podcast into a multimedia presence.

What DJs Can Do Right Now

• Build your personal brand outside the station. Don’t just be “the voice on 103.7.” Be a personality across platforms.

• Sharpen storytelling skills. Anyone can play a song. Only you can make people feel.

• Learn the business side. Sell your own ads. Build your own partnerships. Own your value.

• Collaborate locally. Become the media partner for small businesses, nonprofits, and events.

• Upskill in production. Audio, video, editing, live events — become the creator AI can’t replace

The Work Behind the Scenes Is What Makes the Show

Every good show—whether it’s radio, TV, or podcasts—runs on prep, timing, and emotional connection.

Different formats, same ingredients. That’s the secret to holding someone’s attention.

Anybody can repeat headlines.

Anybody can regurgitate the same tired phrases you hear on cable news or social media.

But when you take time to think—to find a fresh angle, a new metaphor, a perspective nobody else has—you stand out.

That’s when people call you saying, “I was thinking the same thing.”

The question is: how many angles can you see in one story?

What lens are you looking through? Are you giving your audience a reason to lean in?

Prep is the difference. Prep is what separates noise from connection. And the only way to stand out—always—
is to be yourself.

Radio: The Business of Meaning

Radio and podcast hosts aren’t just in the business of entertainment—they’re in the business of meaning. Corporations often want you to play a watered down role. Your words, and everything you do on your show are surface-level. But audiences are hungry for the opposite. They crave personalities that cut through the noise with honesty, clarity, and realness. In a world where too many people feel like extras in corporate radio stage play, radio has the power to be the platform where real life is spoken about openly. This is the opportunity for broadcasters: speak directly to the emptiness people feel in their daily grind. Don’t just spin records or recycle headlines—position your show as a hub for dialogue. Where the corporate radio world offers scripts and slogans, you can offer connection. Where the daily grind offers performance, you can offer truth. Remember truth is comedy. Truth is connection on all levels.

And where so much of media feels manufactured, your platform can be the one place where people find engaging conversations about what really matters. That’s the lane. That’s the power. That’s the business we’re truly in. Meaningful Connections with Humans.

The Temptation of the Microphone

Some people love the sound of their own voice. Once they have the floor, they’re reluctant to let go. But communication isn’t about holding the stage—it’s about delivering value. Don’t be the person who mistakes airtime for effectiveness. The skill of brevity takes practice. Talk to yourself in the car. Run through how you’d explain an idea to someone in a sentence instead of a paragraph. Ask yourself: How can I say this faster, with more depth? Each time, trim the fat and refine the core. The Reaction Factor People respond differently to clear communicators. When your words are sharp, intentional, and sincere, you become more interesting, and memorable. The fewer words you use, the more each one resonates. Less is always more. Words, once wasted, cannot be reclaimed. Practice word economy in your speech, and you’ll find that people lean in, listen longer, and remember what you say, and will want you to talk more.

The Deep Connection We Are Longing For

The deep connection we long for with others is built on a series of silent agreements. How many great things—big and subtle—do we share in common that allow us to say “yes” to each other? That “yes” creates trust. And trust is the glue that bonds us together, sometimes in an instant. It only takes a microsecond to feel safe enough to be vulnerable in the presence of sameness. The vibration matches. The frequency tunes perfectly. And suddenly, the bond is like a favorite song you never get tired of hearing. Human connection is sacred. To find a bleeding heart, a spirit full of humility, and a soul that shows genuine gratitude—that’s what we all want. To be loved back by the people you love is the most beautiful thing. This is the experience I chase every time I open the mic. I’m speaking to the people I love. I’m sending love in the pitch of my voice. You can hear it in my throat, moving like spiritual electricity, searching for the hearts that are ready to receive it. What I offer can only be received by those tuned to the same frequency. And when they hear it, they know. I am me. You are you. The only way to connect with those who are searching for me is to show up fully as myself—every single time I speak. The truth of who I am is a homing device, calling out to my tribe scattered across the universe. They may not know me yet, but when they finally hear me, they’ll know: I belong to them.

The Boston Bombing and the creation of New Black Media

All throughout the media coverage of the Boston bombing did you notice that something was missing?Where was the Black media's reporting on this massive event? I am not pointing fingers at any media outlet, I am just saying what was our take? I am positive that people did cover it the best they could, and if you work for a mainstream media outlet, you were definitely restricted in what you could say. As I looked at the story with so many holes in it, it was a time to question some of the evidence especially about the how the man who found the suspect in his back yard (Tsarnaev, 19, who was charged with one count of using and conspiring to use a weapon of mass destruction resulting in death and one count of malicious destruction of property by means of an explosive device resulting in death, according to a statement from the Justice Department) in his boat. He looked inside and saw the suspect and you mean to tell me he just sat there and waited for the police to come? Really?

Dzhokhar Tsarnaev

Since we do not have news departments in Black radio stations anymore, we have to get back to reporting what is happening around us. Since we have the Internet we should use that medium to create news organizations that can compete with any news outlet in America.

I have some suggestions for alternative news gathering businesses we could start today.

1. An IPhone news gathering team. With this device and a great production person, you could create a news gathering team in any city that would knock the local 6pm news cast out the box. Create a website or a blog that is the go to site for news in your city. With your IPhone or Android reporters out in the field, you could get instant audio and video. You could have a daily newscast (video) that you upload everyday at 6pm or 7pm that people can watch at their leisure. Hyper local news reporting that goes deeper into any story your local TV stations cover. Example...if there was a police shooting in your city and people say that the youth who was shot, did not have a gun and there were witness's. You could interview each witness and get all the details. Mainstream media can't and won't do that. "If you want the truth about the (blank) story go to www.mynewscharlotte.com.  Create a mynewsChicago a mynewsDetroit a mynewsMiami a mynewsPhilly website and kill'em!

2. All newscast are determined by an editor that chooses which stories should be important for us to consume. Who said so? Why do you get to pick what is important for us to know? See this Internet has leveled the playing field. You want to be relevant in your radio career, then get busy doing something as simple as this. The days of waiting for a phone call for a job is OVER! (I will write more on that topic later).

3. Creating content is the business you want to be in. You and I should do this! Buy a domain name, build a website that you can update and upload content yourself!  Create a staff of creative people and teach them how to gather information.

4. Marcel who use to work with the popular Russ Parr show is pioneering on the web. He is creating his own media company called (www.wmarmedia.com).We will be creating a video blog soon so he can teach us how to capitalize off what he is learning how to master.

Marcel

5. Videocasting is the new radio!
Marcel is doing it! Check him out here (Marcel Video show).
YouTube is replacing TV watching, blogging is the new news source, especially twitter which gives you instant news within seconds. Podcasting is also the new radio without brick and mortar and radio towers. People are making a living off these pre-recorded shows that are uploaded for people to consume at there leisure.

Missed opportunities?

I hope this article is inspiring you in some way to begin your new media career online. Just like you were the hottest thing on the radio in your city, you can reinvent yourself and become even hotter, and best of all no one can tell you how creative you can be. Don't miss an opportunity to do something for yourself in the new media space!

To All of my radio friends out there I believe in you and I want you to use the God given talent that you have and shoot off like a rocket!!


Please if you have any creative ideas leave a comment!

Please Subscribe today!!!