Borna & Mandy host Afternoons for 102.9 “The Hog,” WHQG, in Milwaukee. Borna is also the Program Director of the station and the PD of sister WKLH, while Mandy is the Programming Assistant for WKLH and Oldies Music Programmer for Saga Communications. Mandy also has a side hustle; she makes her own dog stews and sells them at farmers’ markets.… “I love dogs more than people!” she says.
Borna began his career at his high school radio station, a 250-watt community transmitter, WDGC, in Downers Grove, IL. “I went to college at the University of Illinois, the home of WPGU FM, which was so much bigger than most traditional college radio stations,” he says.
“I worked with some of the most incredibly talented people there! I then moved to Wisconsin to do nights at WAPL, eventually added Music Director at WAPL and sister Active Rocker, Razor 94.7, then moved to “The HOG” in Milwaukee as Music Director and co-host of Afternoon Drive. I eventually became the Program Director of the station and added PD duties at our Classic Rock station.
“My father was a big talk radio fan, and growing up in Chicago, there was no shortage of legendary hosts,” says Borna. “He always had “The Loop” on in the car, whether it was Steve and Gary or Jonathan Brandmeier. I always thought that seemed like a really cool job. When my best friend’s older brother got his FCC broadcasting license (remember those), I knew I wanted one myself. I took the class in high school, and I was hooked.”
Mandy started her career with an internship at WZZN in Chicago. Over the years, she worked at WRXW Jackson, MS, KQCH Omaha, NE, and WNRG, Milwaukee. Currently, she works for WHQG Milwaukee, WKLH, and WRXS (in programming) and voice tracks WLRW Champaign Middays and KSTZ Des Moines Nights.
“My high school had a radio station, and it was over from there!” she says. “I started my own show at Valparaiso University and was working with Chicago bands while pursuing my degree in Science and Education. I decided to go for the radio thing after graduation, and look at me now!”
“Real life is most of our show prep,” explains Mandy. “I have a list in my phone that I will constantly add to when I’m out living life on things that are hilarious/relatable/interesting. We check out the local news and what people in Milwaukee are gabbing about on social media. Then, we will often prep out a whole show and let the listeners veer off with their calls…the show is super interactive with calls/texts. The vibe of the show is Willy Nilly. Nonsense. Fun. Ridiculous. Sometimes Informative. Relatable.”
“Our show is out broadcasting live at least weekly, so we are literally in front of our listeners, where they live, quite often,” she says. “Lots of face time, and lots of people saying we have faces for radio. Every year, we host a 414 Day Show (414 is the area code of Milwaukee) and feature prominent community guests like the Mayor, Police Chief, and people who have made news headlines during the year. I also work with the Humane Society to feature an adoptable pet every week, which, over the years, has united hundreds of animals with their forever homes.”
“Our parent company, Saga Communications, prides itself on live, local, and community-oriented events,” adds Borna. “‘See a need, fill a need’ is our mantra. We’re always looking at ways to positively impact our community. At “The HOG,” we’ve launched our annual Lend A Helping Ham campaign. We raise money for the Hunger Task Force to help local Milwaukee Families in need. Our morning show, Bob & Brian, does year-round fundraising and awareness for the MACC Fund (Midwest Athletes Against Childhood Cancer).”
“On “The Hog,” we play a handful of currents, but we’re primarily a gold -based Rock station,” says Borna. “As for the Rock format, it is certainly alive and thriving here in Milwaukee,” he insists. “You can check out multiple Rock shows in town on any given week. And we have two viable Rock stations in our building that co-exist and complement each other. There is a strong appetite for the format.”
“We’ve put on ‘HOG Fest’ the past couple of years in the Spring, and we added a fall show this year, HOG Havoc.’ Both have done well… Look, we can always use more new music to keep the format growing. And it’s cool when we see a new band breakthrough, but it seems tougher than ever these days with the new stuff. But Bad Omens is a band that’s been fun to watch their ascendence in the past few years. Going from smaller rooms to selling out venues. We had Sleep Theory at our recent ‘HOG Havoc’ show, and they clearly have a following.”
“My goal as the Program Director for “The Hog” (and WKLH) is to continue to evolve our brands in the best way possible,” says Borna. “It’s a fast-paced, constantly changing media landscape. I’m looking to find ways to meet our audience where they are. It’s so much more than the terrestrial radio signal. It’s social media, podcasting, community involvement, etc.… It’s the total package.”
Follow Borna & Mandy @1029thehog on all platforms. Facebook/Instagram/TikTok/X
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Charese Fruge’ is an award-winning Content, Broadcast, and Marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, and Las Vegas. As the owner of MC Media, she works with radio brands and individual talent, especially young women, helping them grow their brands and negotiate on their own behalf. She is also a Voice Actor and Voice Over Talent as well as a Freelance Writer for International Broadcast Outlets. Find her at @MCMediaOnline or www.mcmediaonline.com.
