Dave Ryan retired from 101.3 KDWB after 33 years. Falen Bonsett and Colt Parkey will take over Minneapolis mornings starting Tuesday, May 26.
What We Know: iHeartMedia made the move quickly and cleanly. Rather than searching outside, the station promoted its own afternoon duo straight to drive time. Falen originally co-hosted mornings with Ryan from 2012 until 2023, so the slot isn’t new territory for her. Colt joined her in afternoons in February 2024 after a stint at KHKS/Dallas.
What They Said: Falen didn’t hold back on the significance of the moment. “To lead mornings on such an iconic station and become the first woman to hold this role is incredibly special,” she said. iHeartMedia Minneapolis SVP of Programming Rich Davis added that replacing a legend isn’t easy — but the right person was already in the building.
What Remains Unclear: Producer and co-host Bailey Hess’s status is still unresolved. Meanwhile, Jenny Luttenberger stays in mornings alongside Falen and Colt, and Vont Leak moves to afternoons.
What It Means: This transition signals a smart, low-risk succession strategy. Instead of importing outside talent, iHeart built continuity from within — rewarding patience over flash. The move also reflects a common pathway developing across radio: grow talent in nights, season them in afternoons, then elevate them to AM drive when the moment is right. For Falen specifically, the promotion carries historic weight as KDWB’s first female morning host, proving the pipeline works on every level.
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David Hill serves as a Music Radio Editor, Columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. A radio lifer with more than 30 years behind the mic, in the control room, and in the program director’s chair, David’s career spans influential stops at brands such as WIYY 98 Rock, WBAL-AM, and 99X. He has worked across multiple formats and ownership groups, including iHeartMedia and Cumulus Media, developing talent, breaking music, and navigating every major industry shift from diary to PPM and terrestrial dominance to streaming disruption. When he’s not writing or analyzing the industry, Dave runs The Tune Farm, a marketing firm built to help artists and brands grow audience the same way great radio always has—by creating connection, not just impressions. He can be reached at David@BarrettMedia.com.
