WTN Super Talk 99.7 in Nashville was conducting a nationwide search for a new midday host. The station plugged several people into the timeslot, including Pamela Furr, President of the Tennessee Radio Hall of Fame. A few months in, Program Director Dan Mandis received a message from Chris Hand inquiring if the position was still open.
Hand had previously worked as a producer for Mandis and considered him a mentor. At the time, Hand worked as a media director for Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA organization.
Hand had a successful radio career primarily focused on music formats, spending ten years with Rhythmic CHR and Hot AC. However, during his last run with SuperTalk from October 2022 to April 2023, he began to consider transitioning full-time to news/talk. He saw opportunities for himself in this format, as other radio personalities such as Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, and Todd Schnitt have flourished in music and news/talk. It’s a move that’s been beneficial for many in the industry.
Hand’s top priority was being an excellent father. When his wife secured a job at a music company in Nashville, he gladly took on the role of staying at home to care for their children. During our conversation, Hand’s son was present, and he shared his hopes to have his kids experience the same America he did growing up. Hand believes that it’s crucial for his kids to have access to the best possible opportunities. He views his work at Turning Point as critical and comparable to hosting a talk show on the radio every day.
Chris Hand is a valuable member of the SuperTalk 99.7 team, bringing creativity and fresh ideas. He demonstrated his skills in a Thanksgiving promotion he created for the station last year, featuring his four children discussing the potential next President while gathered around a table.
The tagline “We even discuss politics at the kids’ table” was used in the promo. Chris has a passion for writing and enjoys the creative process. Although he lacks experience in hosting conservative shows, he sees it as an advantage to bring a fresh perspective. In an interview with Barrett News Media, Chris shares his experience in his first week at SuperTalk, his involvement with Turning Point USA, and his effort to make his first show on time.
Ryan Hedrick: What was your impression of Turning Point USA before joining SuperTalk 99.7, and what was the biggest takeaway from your experience with them?
Chris Hand: Turning Point is amazing. There is such a great staff there. It’s a young staff; everyone is hungry and always willing to learn and try something new. It was weird because I felt like I kept having dream gigs popping up one after another there for a little bit.
RH: Did you learn anything from the principles that Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk instilled in the organization, even though you didn’t work side-by-side with him?
CH: One thing that was sent through the organization was grassroots humility, a warrior spirit, and persistent innovation. Those are the core values that they want to instill in everyone who works there. Charlie’s fearlessness and positivity are infectious.
RH: How did your first week of shows at WTN go? Can you share some insights on how you prepared for your role as a full-time talk host?
CH: Luckily, I had done it [hosted shows] before, so I knew what the process would be like going into it. The preparation will evolve as I get more comfortable with this shift. The first week, I was worried about formatics. I worked on trying to get down the flow of my show. While the other hosts are so well-versed and so experienced, I wanted to try and make sure not to be like anybody else. That was key for me.
Last week, I tried to live in a bubble and not listen to anybody’s takes to make sure I didn’t accidentally steal anything. I tried to make my bumper music different and my intro music different. I also tried to read everything that I could read.
RH: How did you catch the attention of SuperTalk 99.7’s Program Director, Dan Mandis, for the talk host position?
CH: I had done some shows for them prior to my stint at Turning Point USA. I had been a producer, and I had done some imaging here and there, and Dan and I had known each other for a while.
RH: Why is it crucial to discover your unique niche in talk radio and avoid getting pulled toward the echo chambers that some hosts tend to fall into?
CH: I was at ACTCON (Turning Point Action Conference) in West Plam Beach, Florida, and I watched Tucker Carlson’s speech, and he said something that resonated [with me]. He said he doesn’t watch the news; he reads. He also said he’s very careful of what he reads because he doesn’t want to internalize bad information.
It was very important during the first week, especially trying to get my feet wet and show everybody who I am; I thought it was important to not listen to anybody. I listen to a lot of media, but for the past couple of weeks, I’ve just tried to shut it all down.
RH: What was your first show on WTN like? Do you have any unique experiences to share?
CH: I was traveling back to Nashville one day before my first show. I arrived at an airport in Florida and got stuck there for six hours. Finally, I arrived in Atlanta, but my flight got canceled, then got uncancelled, and then the pilot argued with the flight attendant at the gate about whether the plane was going to take off or not. It ended up being around midnight when they decided to cancel the flight.
I ran downstairs to the car rental place, and I learned that all the cars were sold out, so I thought I was going to miss my first show, so I took an Uber from Atlanta to Nashville. The ride was a few hundred bucks. It was my first show, and I couldn’t miss it. The radio station had been promoting me for four or five days at that point.
When I arrived at the studio, I slept probably five hours over two days. It was chaos leading up to my first show, and then once I hit the air, it was everything I thought it would be.
RH: What makes the Nashville radio market appealing to you?
CH: Nashville is so cozy. Because I live in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and I’ve been here for so long, I’m just trying to talk to my friends. I’m trying to talk to the parents of my kid’s friends, and I’m trying to talk to my neighbors. Because I have been here for so long and know these people, I can easily envision who is listening to my radio station. I’m trying to be who I would be if you bumped into me at the mailbox.
RH: Do you have any tips based on your experiences for individuals seeking jobs or trying to advance in this industry, as it can be quite challenging to secure a position?
CH: Once I decided I wanted this gig and sold myself on it, I was persistent. I’m sure Dan [Mandis] didn’t want me to have his cell phone number at a certain point anymore. A couple of times, I said to him, ‘If I’m bugging you, texting you, just tell me.’ I just stayed persistent and positive.
Luckily for me, there was no downside because I already had the Turning Point gig. I was blessed; I had a great job either way.
At the end of the day, I didn’t want to leave this area, so when the job at SuperTalk 99.7 became available, I didn’t go for it at first. It wasn’t until a month later that I reached out and expressed interest. From there, it was off to the races.
RH: What inspires and drives you?
CH: I want to be a good dad. I love the country, want my kids to have the same life growing up that I had, and want my grandkids to have that life. Pushing American values and being at the forefront of the debate and the conversation is something I was doing off the air anyway, sometimes a bit too much for my wife’s liking (joking). It’s not much of a transition [hosting a show]; I get a wider audience to do it with.
