Radio is about reflecting your audience. Most news/talk stations are a 65ish-percent male station. Sunday’s Super Bowl shenanigans will be prime time for your P1s. How do you approach the mayhem without sounding like a moron?
I swear to you, if I hear another idiot complain about Colin Kaepernick again, I will scream. Kaepernick has been out of the league for years. He was a below-average quarterback who was coached up by Jim Harbaugh’s coaching staff. Kaepernick is poison in the NFL. Teams hate him. Coaches hate him. Jay-Z confirmed that Kaepernick is not a team player. Are you a team player? Remember, the worst lie that you can tell is the one that you tell yourself.
Taylor Swift is a loathsome harlot. Perhaps not, but it was a cool way to start a paragraph. Now, the defenders of Taylor Swift are a confusing lot. I have heard 70+ male talk show hosts gush over this woman. Swift will be at the center of the Super Bowl because the stupid lout dating her at the moment is Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. Taylor Swift is not Mozart or even Prince. Her gift is that she can mimic the sound of the moment. This is quite a skill. No one will say that Taylor Swift is a trendsetter. She is a musical chameleon. I don’t have a hatred for her. I also am not a defender. She is a billionaire. Obviously, worthy of sympathy.
Brock Purdy is one cheap man. While San Francisco is an expensive place to live, Purdy has a roommate. He makes nearly $1 million a year. The fact that this dope has a roommate makes him relatable for some reason. He is either really cheap or a Dave Ramsey disciple, which could be an oxymoron. Uncle Rico can throw a more convincing spiral. He seems nice though. Brock Purdy’s humble life is something that we can all learn from.
I appreciate coach Andy Reid of the Kansas City Chiefs. Seems like a nice guy. Probably not the best father. Is it his fault that his kids seem out of control? Perhaps. More time spent at home would have been a good idea. There are many amazing parents who have had a child go a little crazy. Reid’s walrus look is pretty impressive. He owns it and has not changed it up in decades. No matter what you think of the Chiefs, respect. Are you to focused on your career that you are ignoring the most important things in life?
Kyle Shanahan is the coach of the San Francisco 49ers. Kyle’s father, Mike, was a Super Bowl-winning coach for the Denver Broncos. Kyle is considered an offensive genius. Yet, Kyle cannot seem to get it done. Are you living in shadow of your perceived brilliance? We have all worked with or have known people who are living off perceived abilities that are often cited but rarely achieved. Look in the mirror if you are that individual. We all have just one life. Do not live your life with a bunch of “What ifs.”
Patrick Mahomes serves as a lesson in overcoming distractions. Mahomes will seemingly be in every other commercial on Sunday. His wife seems like a trip. Meanwhile, his father got popped for his 3rd DUI a few days ago. Mahomes’ brother, Jackson, allegedly choked a restaurant owner a year ago, yet Patrick Mahomes is able to stay focused on his career and the Super Bowl. Are you able to remain on point?
We have all things go wrong. How do you manage it? Hey, I went through a divorce a few years ago. I never mentioned it on-air. While I was going through it, I rarely mentioned it to my friends. I almost never talked about it. Never mentioned the divorce proceedings on my social media. Heck, I have been divorced for over four years and only referenced being single in the past few months. Mahomes uses this stuff for fuel. We all have had dreadful things happen to us. We have all had pain. Do not use your pain as an excuse for failure.
One of the most versatile players in the NFL is Deebo Samuel of the San Francisco 49ers. What can’t this guy do? Fantastic receiver, and can be a running back. Totally an impact player. Does not mean that this guy has always had it smooth. Deebo broke his leg in college.
Many times, players cannot return to their high level of performance after an injury. This is not a physical problem. It is a mental issue. When you are wounded or hurt professionally, are you timid? Are you scared to reach for your potential? Deebo Samuel must have had moments of doubt. We all do. We have all had failures. People consider an awesome player named Deebo. You can overcome this.
The Super Bowl should be a huge part of your on-air discussion. Your audience will be watching it. Do not ignore the one thing that most Americans can agree on. Men, women, children, churches, and civic groups will be focused on this cultural phenomenon. If you are not making this front and center, you will sound like you are out of touch. Watch it, discuss it.
By the way: Usher is awesome.
Peter Thiele is a weekly news/talk radio columnist for Barrett Media, and an experienced news/talk radio programmer. He recently served as program director for WHO/KXNO in Des Moines, IA. Prior to that role he held programming positions in New York City, San Francisco, Little Rock, Greenville, Hunstville, and Joplin. Peter has also worked as a host, account executive and producer in Minneapolis, and San Antonio. He can be found on Twitter at @PeterThiele.
