Straight From the Mouth

That's so wrong. I'd much rather hear what a female has to say about something I care deeply about. One of my best friends, Jennifer Stevens, works in Chicago radio. She and I are a lot alike and I call her for her opinion on a number of things. I seek out women for opinions on most things. Men are the same way. If they want to talk sports, they talk about it with men. I don't care for women sportscasters. I think if a guy wants to hear about sports, they're not to listen to a chick. I don't care how dyky she is.

Do men and women discuss sex differently?

Women are detail-oriented when it comes to story telling. So the mixture of that and sex, we could go on for hours about one little experience, whereas I guy would say "Yeah, I nailed this chick..." Women are very in-depth with ever detail, we have drawings, we do charts, graphs... it's a completely new meaning to the the term 'spreadsheet.

You mentioned the need for having a tough skin, what other tips do you have for women who are interested in talk radio?

You've got to be fearless. You've got to quit protecting this self-image that know one cares about. So many people come over from music radio--I know, I was one of them--and worry about everything they say, "Oh man, I sound so crude, like such a pig..." They have this image of who their female audience perceive them to be and are afraid to go beyond this point. Until you open yourself up, and it's hard, but until you get past this and open up, you won't achieve the kind of success you want.

Next, you've got to be able to take criticism. Talk listeners are extremely active. You'll have people that hate you. You'll get scathing emails that you never saw at music radio. You just have to be able to suck it up and move on.

Last year your show went through a change. Something was said on the air, next thing you know you're off the air for a few days, awhile later you're back on with a new partner. Did I leave anything out?

We were actually suspended. My partner was let go, we were just starting things are moving along well.

What did you learn from that experience?

Getting sued is not a cool. Not edgy either. Litigation is not cool, plain and simple.

What's are your thoughts on breaking in.... I mean, "taking on" new partner?

Oh boy. Uhhhh, there can't be anything that you don't voice to each other. I always said that, but never did it. Now I do it. Also, if you're going to stay with this partner, always be a united front. Don't do this meeting stuff behind your partner's back.

Do you want to go national?

I don't know that I want to. I know some people who just have to do this. I've made lots of friends along the way---thanks to Morning Show Boot Camp, and I mean that. It's true. But I've always been afforded lots of great opportunities. And right now is a great time for female talkers. I just want to have fun on the radio, so going national is not something I'm pursuing.

People you want to thank?

Jim Davis. He's down in Florida. Owns some stations, lives on the beach; happy man. Then there's Jerry St. James (of Jeff and Interview Jer'). He's always been such a good friend. I have to thank Terry Lieberman. He's the guy who brought me here to Detroit. He's not here anymore, but he did bring me in. Also, I need to thank my current PD Craig Schwalb for keeping me grounded

Any guest in the world, who would it be?

I'd say the Pope. Foreign accents are always funny. Love to get the Pope in.