A brief conversation with Jodi Koontz of the syndicated Murphy Sam and Jodi radio show makes it clear why the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation selected her for a 2026 Gracie Award. The award recognizes exemplary individual achievement and representation in media. Jodi is also quick to note that while she was the one honored. But, it reflects a team effort shared with her two co-hosts — one of whom is also her husband.
As she shared in her remarks at the award ceremony. And the road to this prestigious accolade began with an important life lesson about being willing to chase your dreams.
It started when Murphy and Sam were hosting a two-person morning show. While they had instant chemistry with each other, Murphy says the show just wasn’t resonating with the audience. “We were having fun, but it really wasn’t moving the needle.”
The decision was made to add a female voice to the mix. They hired a woman named Amy who didn’t work out and left the show two years later. But over that time the guys learned a lot. “I think Sam and I realized (having a female co-host) adds something to the show that he and I couldn’t do. Without it we’re just two dudes clowning around, and to be successful the show needed a different dimension,” explains Murphy. “After two years with Amy we understood our show’s appeal had shifted in a very different way and we embraced it.”
That’s when Jodi, who was already a producer on the show, decided she knew the perfect person to take over for Amy. “I knew from the first day I was in this room with them that we had chemistry. I immediately felt like I had found my people in these two guys.”
Asking for the Seat
She knew they were looking for someone with morning drive experience. She didn’t officially have it — but she didn’t let that stop her. “I decided I’ve got to ask for this. I’m right here and while they don’t see me, I want this.” She talked to Murphy and asked for a chance to sit in as a co-host for a couple of days. Murphy agreed, and the rest is history.
“The reason I think it’s important to tell that story is because that’s the day I learned you have to ask for what you want,” Jodi says. “Do not assume people know what your wishes are, professionally or personally. I learned to ask for what I want and if I hadn’t I might not be here.”
Since that initial audition, Jodi’s role on the show has grown from being the new person joining an established two-person show to being “the anchor of the show,” according to Murphy. That’s a significant change considering that while shows led by women are becoming more common, overall, they are still rare.
To Murphy, it makes perfect sense. The show is built on authenticity, and that is what connects them to the audience. “In my opinion, for every show, the lead needs to be the closest to the target demographic because that’s where you find relatability.” Jodi echoes that sentiment, adding that “women do love to hear men on the radio, but they relate to other women.”
When the Professional Became Personal
Over the years, as Jodi grew into being the leader of the show, something unexpected occurred — Murphy and Jodi fell in love and got married. She says that being in the same room every day led her to quickly realize Murphy had become her best friend.
“I knew he felt the same way when he started inviting me to lunch,” Jodi says. “He’d say, ‘Let’s go to lunch and talk about promotions.'” That also tipped Sam off that something was going on. “Before that, Murphy used to invite me to lunch to discuss promotions,” Sam says. “The difference was, we actually talked about promotions.”
Working together as a married couple presents unique challenges that Jodi feels are easier to navigate because the professional relationship came first. “That level of respect preceding the marriage has helped us get through the toughest moments in the studio. And we’ve had some tough moments,” says Jodi. But, she adds, “they are outnumbered by the great moments a hundred to one.”
What people might not realize about working with your significant other is that the challenges aren’t only when your personal life comes to the office — the reverse is also true, which Jodi thinks is tougher to deal with. “If I’m laying on the sofa watching a documentary and petting the dog I don’t want to talk about some new way to manage something at work. I’m in my bubble.”
Three’s Company — Even in the Studio
For Murphy, that meant learning there is a time to put things down. “I’m a troubleshooter by nature. I want to tackle things in the moment, and I’ve had to learn that not everything needs to be discussed right now.”
Regardless of any difficulties, Jodi firmly sees the marriage as a strength for the show, making them more relatable to listeners. “I think it works in our favor. Our job is to be the listener’s best friend and sharing our marriage with them is so personal it brings it to another level.”
Of course, the happy couple aren’t the only ones facing unique challenges due to the marriage. Sam is in the studio with them every day — good or bad. He says it’s easier now, but the show’s previous studio was small and his seat was trapped between Murphy and Jodi, so if things got rough between them he couldn’t escape. “When it would start I would often be like ‘ok, that’s going to take ten minutes to iron out, what am I going to do now? Hey, let’s check out the internet.'”
All that said, Sam mainly focuses on staying out of the way when it comes to marriage-related issues. “I usually don’t get involved unless I know I can help resolve something or push us forward so we can get done what we need to do that day. Mostly I stay out of it.”
Sam’s Own Story Adds to the Show
Sam also added his own contributions to the show’s relationship-related content, having weathered divorce and co-parenting challenges of his own over the years. “Some of Sam’s changes over the years have added an extra dose of authenticity and reality to the show that we might not have naturally embraced,” Jodi says. “We might have incorrectly thought the audience wasn’t interested.”
And if the dynamics of a three-person morning show and a marriage weren’t enough, after five years together, in 2002, the team took the show into syndication. They partnered with June Colbert, President of Colbert Media Group. “She was our life changer when it comes to syndication and the first person to take a chance and go into business with us,” Murphy says.
Over the years, the show has teamed with several syndicators and at the start of this year joined forces with Premiere Networks. “It’s such an exciting new chapter for us,” Murphy says. “We still own and operate the show but we’re growing into the Premiere Model and it’s so exciting for us.”
Grateful for the Journey
The team behind the show doesn’t stop there. Over the years, the show has benefited from many great coaches, a great agent, and others. “I’m always concerned about leaving somebody out when we start talking about people that have helped along the way,” Murphy says. “I know we can’t name everybody, but we do want to thank everyone who has helped give us the opportunity to be successful.”
And while that is a very humble sentiment, the real story of the show comes back to their chemistry. “It’s a gift and you either have it or you don’t,” says Jodi. “If you are lucky enough to have it, then you have to pair it with hard work and the desire to succeed. You have to keep showing up when other people would quit.”
Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.
Mike Stern is a Classic Rock columnist and Features writer for Barrett Media. He has been with Jacobs Media consulting stations in the Classic Rock, Rock, Alternative and AAA world for more than a decade. Prior to that he programmed stations in Chicago, Detroit, Denver Las Vegas and other markets. He also worked as News/Talk Editor for Radio and Records, wrote about Top 40 Radio for Billboard Magazine and had his own radio talent coaching business called Talent Mechanic.
