There’s a difference between news/talk radio and talk radio. Jason DeRusha does talk radio on 830 WCCO, and I’m thankful for that.
Talk radio — whether it be on AM or FM — doesn’t always have to be about politics, the latest happenings in Washington or the state house, or why Senate Bill #69 shouldn’t be up for discussion and the only reason it is is because I dislike the other party.
Not everything in life is the serious, life-or-death topics that we often try to make it out to be. Which is why I enjoy listening to DriveTime with DeRusha on 830 WCCO when I get a chance. Because while the show is serious when it has to be, it often features a more lighthearted approach to engaging with the audience. That was on display in a recent interview I sampled between Jason DeRusha and a local television producer.
To open the interview with WCCO-TV Executive Producer Tracy Perlman, DeRusha shared an anecdote about how frequently — or maybe more precisely how infrequently — he washes his blue jeans.
The interview didn’t begin with a question from the 830 WCCO host, but rather a statement, with the expectation of a response from the guest. Which isn’t exactly how you’re taught to begin an interview. But as I mentioned recently in this feature, there’s a difference between a hard news interview and a talk show conversation.
And to start a conversation, stating that you don’t know the last time you washed the jeans you’re wearing is a hell of a way to jumpstart the discussion.
That revelation by the Minneapolis news/talk radio host led to a discussion about what life is like inside a sorority house, and reaction from listeners about how “gross” both DeRusha and the guest were for failing to wash their jeans regularly.
The conversation was nearly five minutes in before DeRusha shared why he even broached the topic. A recent plea from the French government — not known for being the cleanliest, best-smelling nation on the planet, by the way — to its citizens to spend less energy and water by washing their denim less frequently.
But what a creative way to introduce a topic and use it as an interview subject. It was conversed about at just the perfect length before even bringing up “Hey, the reason I’m asking you about this is because…” Instead of just the boring “How often do you wash your jeans? Text us at 555-5555,” DeRusha created engaging, and entertaining, radio with an interview subject about a relatable topic that you’re not likely to ponder all that often.
I think this segment, which likely drew more reactions from the audience than anything else presented that day, shows the value in talking about things other than politics.
As for an interview, it wasn’t a great “by the book” interview. DeRusha never really asked questions of the guest. He held her for two segments, using her almost as a co-host more than an interview subject. There were no hard-hitting questions, no well-thought-out “really makes you wonder” queries that resonated with the audience. It was the final two segments of a show before he took a day off.
Was DeRusha phoning it in? I can’t answer that. Have no idea, to tell you the truth. So, as an interview, this was a borderline disaster.
But you know what? It was a fun, interesting, and engaging segment in a show that doesn’t take itself too seriously. It was entertaining as all get out. And I could go for more of that in the news/talk radio space.
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. To stay updated, sign up for our newsletters and get the latest information delivered straight to your inbox.
Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing bi-weekly industry features and a weekly column. He has previously served as Program Director and Afternoon Co-Host on 93.1 The Fan in Lima, OH, and is the radio play-by-play voice of Northern Michigan University hockey. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
