It’s been nearly two years since Spike Eskin re-entered the doors of 94 WIP in Philadelphia, a place he called home for nearly ten years before departing to program WFAN in New York City, along with overseeing CBS Sports Radio. When he returned to take over the afternoon drive timeslot with Ike Reese, Eskin was no longer the manager he once was.
Instead, he was embarking on a new challenge: fortifying himself as a full-time sports talk radio host for the first time.
“Being a program director made me a better host,” Eskin explained. “I don’t ever get the itch to be a program director ever again. I’ve been around long enough to know it’s impossible to predict the future. This job I have now provides me enough of what I loved about being a program director, but it’s also more fun.”
It wasn’t that long ago that Eskin was tasked with managing one of the most iconic radio brands in the country, complete with a roster full of successful talent. During his time as program director at WIP, he hired and elevated a majority of the on-air lineup that remains in place today.
Working for Your Successor
Eskin said he felt welcomed upon his return to the station and appreciated the opportunity to work under his successor, Rod Lakin. He credited Lakin with reinforcing the culture Eskin helped build during his previous tenure at WIP, especially at a time when many organizations can struggle following key departures.
“A lot of sports radio stations can be shark tanks. We’re not competitors, but we sort of are. It’s easy for a sports radio station to not be a fun place to go to,” noted Eskin.
While both men have served in the same role, they maintain very different approaches to management. Eskin admitted he tended to be louder, more aggressive, and more emotional during his time as WIP’s programming head. In contrast, he described Lakin as someone who leads with a consistently even tone.
“It was good that the person that followed me was not some other version of me. It would have been more difficult for that person, because they would have been compared directly to me,” says Eskin. “My aggressiveness and emotions benefited and hurt me in some ways. I find it much easier for me to work for Rod [Lakin] than work for me.”
Content Criticisms
94 WIP has long been the market’s top sports talk station, attracting large audiences and significant revenue. It also serves as the radio flagship of the Philadelphia Eagles. Eskin notes the Eagles are the market’s most popular team for several reasons.
In recent years, the content approach across much of WIP’s lineup has drawn outside criticism. Its direct format competitor, 97.5 The Fanatic, even launched a campaign last summer encouraging Philadelphia sports fans to “make the switch.” That effort followed criticism from several WIP hosts toward Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, which some Fanatic hosts labeled cheap engagement.
For Eskin, however, he said he pays no attention to the noise from rival stations or any outside criticism regarding content philosophy.
“When you say competition, I know you’re going to think I’m lying. But I don’t even know who you’re talking about,” said Eskin. “I don’t pay attention to anything locally aside from our show and the people we talk about on our show.”
His reasoning stems from the belief that listening to other shows could influence how he approaches hosting his own program alongside co-host Ike Reese and lead producer Jack Fritz.
“We don’t tell people what to care about. Instead, we have to find out what people care about and talk about it,” explains Eskin. “We are reflective, and not directive… The way to look at it is at a base level, the Eagles are just by far the biggest deal. That’s just the base, and not the day-to-day.”
Just as Eskin noted that being a program director made him a better host, he believes the opposite is also true. He said his experience hosting in both talk and music radio helped him navigate the responsibilities of a program director. While programming at both WIP and WFAN, Eskin was constantly thinking about how to best support talent, recognizing that different personalities required different forms of direction.
Lessons From New York City
Recently, former WFAN host Brandon Tierney revealed that he experienced some difficulty with guidance during his time working with Eskin. Tierney said he struggled to understand Eskin’s mandate that hosts deliver a statement or hook within the first 10–15 seconds of each program. He believed the directive disrupted the natural flow of the show.
After the comments made headlines across sports media circles, Eskin said he felt honored that his coaching style became a national talking point.
“I’m honored that my name is ‘click-baity’ enough to take an off-hand comment from BT [Tierney],” joked Eskin. “Every host is different, and their needs are a little different. Their [BT & Sal] were following the most popular show on the station, and they didn’t take a commercial break before their show began… Brandon has a habit, and he would acknowledge this, of not getting to the point. I just wanted Brandon and Sal to capitalize on the audience they had.”
During his time programming WFAN, Eskin also oversaw CBS Sports Radio. Following the network’s merger with the BetMGM Network to form Westwood One Sports, Eskin reflected on both the experience and its unique challenges.
“I really enjoyed the few years that I got to work with the staff at CBS Sports Radio. It’s a much different job than being a local sports radio host. Being a local sports radio host, you get a lot more direct feedback and figure out what your north star is. With national, I felt it was much more difficult, and they all handled it extremely well,” noted Eskin.
He credited the staff’s creativity and energy. It was his first chance to work on a national product adding that he considers himself fortunate to have had the experience.
“I would like to hope that all those folks would say that they are better for having worked with me, because I am certainly better for having worked with them,” said Eskin.
Legacy
Looking ahead, Eskin said he is excited about what 2026 and beyond may bring for both himself and the team at 94 WIP. After nearly three decades in media, he has built a footprint across nearly every corner of the industry.
From transitioning out of music radio into sports talk, Eskin has programmed two of America’s most respected sports radio brands. He also hosted a successful podcast for 13 years. Now, he is enjoying the evolution into a lead on-air role. While many chapters have already been written, Eskin believes his story is far from finished.
“I feel very blessed that my career is going on nearly thirty years and I’ve been lucky to have some very good jobs,” said Eskin. “My talent story is not fully written yet… There’s a lot more to write.”
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John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.
