It began as a crazy idea. DJs would get bored with music and start talking to the audience. They would take calls, tell stories, and even talk a little politics, sports, and pop culture. Early on, it produced some enduring national personalities like Jean Shepherd, and Brad Crandall, Long John Nebel, and Larry King, and Barry Gray, and Joe Franklin. It was known first as Spoken Word Radio. Later, it would give way to an even more colorful and cantankerous cast of characters. People like Joe Pyne, Alan Berg and Morton Downey Jr..
Talk radio moved to the big cities with folks like Don Imus and Howard Stern. In New York, Bob Grant would redefine the formula beginning in the early 70s. In fact so much of Trump on race, comes directly out of the Bob Grant playbook. Grant was the soundtrack for the New York that Donald Trump came of political age in.
The Fairness Doctrine would be repealed in 1987 and suddenly radio would be set up to have political power. Then in 1988, a little known Sacramento newscaster and talk show host named Rush Limbaugh would be let loose nationally. He took the freedom of being untethered from the Fairness Doctrine, combined it with the formulas that had already proven successful in talk, added conservative politics in a sardonic and entertaining tone, and the rest is radio history. It began 30 years ago last week, and it certainly changed our entertainment, news, and the political landscape.
To bring this all into focus, I'm joined by Michael Harrison, the editor and publisher of Talkers Magazine, the "bible of the talk radio industry."
My WhoWhatWhy.org conversation with Michael Harrison:
We Have No Democracy Without Good Citizens: My conversation with Richard Haass
We each have the personal answer to our divisions: A Conversation with Pico Iyer
Citizenship Is Just A Commodity: A Conversation with Atossa Abrahamian
In Spite of Many Problem, Flying is Safer Than Ever...Why?: A conversation with John Nance
Another New Year, and More Promises to Sweat: A conversation with Bill Hayes
Art vs. Cable News: My Conversation with Amy Herman
How Much HBO Did You Watch This Holiday Break? A conversation with Felix Gillette
How Governance Was Saved During the Trump Years: A Conversation with David Rothkopf
The New Age of DNA Investigation: A Conversation with Edward Humes
Presidential Words Matter: My Conversation with Cody Keenan
The Life and Death of Anthony Bourdain: A Conversation with Charles Leerhsen
When Legendary CEOs Can’t Find a Successor: A Conversation with William Cohan
War As A Nonviolent Struggle: A conversation with Thomas Ricks
Democracy Will Likely Be Voted Out on Tuesday: A Conversation With Robert Draper
Of Boys and Men: A Conversation with Richard V. Reeves
Where Immigration and Education Come Together: A Conversation with Jessica Lander
National Conservatism Is Coming for Us: A Conversation with Professor William Galston
Why YouTube is Different: A Conversation with Mark Bergen
How The Universe Works and Why It Matters: A Conversation with Sean Carroll
We Live in a Golden Age of Ignorance: A conversation with Andy Borowitz
Join Podbean Ads Marketplace and connect with engaged listeners.
Advertise Today
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
Jim & Bill (It‘s Another Day)
Pharmacy Podcast Network
HauntingLive
The Tucker Carlson Show
The Ben Shapiro Show