Ahead of the BNM Summit, we sat down with Phil Boyce, the Senior Vice President of all Spoken Word Formats for Salem Media Group.
We spoke with Phil Boyce as the Salem Radio Network has undergone many changes in 2025. First, Dr. Sebastian Gorka left the radio network to join the Donald Trump administration. That departure led longtime morning host Hugh Hewitt to return to mornings. The network, in a corresponding move, elevated Chris Stigall to national syndication in morning drive.
Additionally, the network has added Scott Jennings in a one-hour afternoon window to air after The Charlie Kirk Show, which was added to dozens of stations with the news that longtime host Dennis Prager was not going to be able to return to the network after suffering a spinal cord injury during a November fall last year.
To say Phil Boyce is busy would be an understatement. In advance of the BNM Summit, he gave us a small taste of what he will be talking about, plus some insight into his outlet’s latest moves.
Krysitna Carroll: Can you give us a teaser about what your main focus will be when we hear you speak at the Barrett Summit?
Phil Boyce: The future of spoken word radio and podcast. Where is this thing we love headed?
KC: Salem recently added Scott Jennings and Chris Stigall – What made them right for the Salem brand?
PB: Both Chris and Scott stand up for the values that all conservatives love. They are fearless, courageous, and unafraid. We have a major culture war going on in America today, and these two are on the right side.
KC: What would you like to see happen with them in the future?
PB: Getting them cleared on as many talk stations as possible is our first goal. Second, we want them both to be influencers for good, so we are working to get them both noticed. We have a unique ability in Salem to do that.
KC: You also brought back Larry Elder. What went into making this decision?
PB: Larry has made a true difference in one of the country’s most difficult markets: Los Angeles. We felt that if he could do that there, he would deserve a national platform. He’s killing it for us in LA and all over the country.
KC: What can Salem Media Group expect from Larry in the future?
PB: We want to find more ways to use his expertise. We recently launched his latest podcast on the SalemNow platform, helping his audience understand “Electric Vehicles, the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly.”
KC: Dennis Prager is navigating some health issues. What do you keep in mind when it comes to managing expectations from great talent, like Prager, and keeping the proverbial ship afloat?
PB: Dennis is a pioneer in talk radio, and we miss that voice dearly. He’s continuing to recover from his injuries, and we hope and pray for the day when we can once again hear this man speak. Imagine hearing what he thinks about all the changes since the Trump election. I can’t wait.
KC: Managing a lot of different personalities is key in your role. What is your secret to keeping it all together and making sure Salem stays the course?
PB: The secret is to find the right hosts to begin with. If I have the right talent, the rest will fall into place. I look for hosts who are driven to succeed, and who wake up every morning with a show screaming to get off their chest. If they are smart and articulate, the rest will take care of itself.
KC: What are some of the challenges to building news outlets today?
PB: The internet has changed everything. People still consume what we produce, but sometimes in a very different way. The secret it to make your product visible and available on every platform possible.
KC: What are the challenges you foresee for the media industry in the future?
PB: I have always been concerned that if the wrong powers come to be in this country, there will be an existential threat to what we do in this business. Fortunately, the right powers seem to be running the country now, and that fear is lessened. But just because things are good today, it is no guarantee that we won’t have to fight for our rights to talk about the things we believe in. This thing called “freedom of speech” is a hidden value that we should never take for granted, and we should always be willing to stand up for.
KC: In your eyes, what is the current state of news media, and what direction would you like to see it go in?
PB: I think the mainstream media has done great damage to its image. People no longer trust the media to tell the truth, regardless of what they believe. It’s a matter of telling the truth, and if they do that, they could repair the damage. If they refuse to learn from these mistakes, that damage will never be repaired, and will only get worse.
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Krystina Alarcon Carroll contributes features and columns for Barrett Media. She has experience in almost every facet of the industry including: digital and print news; live, streamed, and syndicated TV; documentary and film productions. Her prior employers have included NY1 and Fox News Digital and the Law & Crime Network. You can find Krystina on X (formerly twitter) @KrystinaAlaCarr.
