For Kristen Kurtis, radio has always been about more than just playing music. “It’s about connection,” she says. From her first student shifts at Emerson College’s WERS-FM to her current role as Morning Show Host and Assistant Music Director at WXPN in Philadelphia, where she’s celebrating ten years this month, she’s built a career on authenticity, adaptability, and a passion for helping artists and audiences find each other.
Kurtis got her start in 2003 hosting a world music show at WERS. She quickly moved to mornings before landing her first paid gig at WBOS-FM in Boston at just 20 years old. Honing her craft across multiple formats and markets is how she spent her next decade. She worked in Top 40 in Spokane, and AAA in Austin, before returning home to Philadelphia in 2015. “Frankly, making it back home, and to a top 10 market, is something I’m extremely proud of,” she says.
The spark that set her on this path came years earlier. At 13 years old, Kurtis scored passes from her favorite DJ to see a private show with her then favorite band Fuel “Don’t judge!” she interjects. “While I sat there at my first concert, I realized, this is what I wanted to do,” she recalls. “I want to help deserving artists get airplay, and help people who need music to survive this life discover it.”
At WXPN, Kurtis wears multiple hats. She’s not only the Morning Show Host, but also her own producer. That includes prepping, scheduling music, recording interviews, and managing the flow of the show with her co-host Bob Bumbera. As Assistant Music Director, she reviews new music, contributes to weekly programming decisions, and communicates with colleagues across the industry.
Her listeners often tell her that she and Bumbera give them the energy they need to start their day. That community connection is central to her approach. “It means a great deal to me that we can provide some sense of normalcy in 2025. It gives our audience a smile alongside the latest music and information.”
Of course, live radio always brings its share of challenges. Kurtis recalls times when the station’s digital system crashed and she had to improvise with long songs from CDs, or the moment she accidentally coughed hot tea onto the touchscreen, sending sounders into chaos. Through it all, she’s leaned on quick thinking, humor, and a calm presence to keep the audience engaged.
Philadelphia, she says, has been a perfect fit for her. “No one likes us, we don’t care,” Kurtis laughs, referencing the city’s well-known mantra. “This city is VERY loyal to its local media stars. I’ve been all over this country. I never found another city that lets their TV and radio hosts stay on the air for decades and celebrates those milestones.”
Among her proudest career moments: historic ratings success in three different markets and interviewing her musical idol, Tori Amos. Among her biggest challenges: navigating a polarized political climate while maintaining a welcoming space for listeners. “I let the music do the talking for us and try to be attentive to our audience’s need for a friendly voice.”
Kurtis is equally passionate about the future of radio, especially when it comes to representation. “Be aware you are entering a male-dominated field,” she advises young women looking to break in. “Find other women: mentors to guide you through it, colleagues to go through it with. They will keep you sane.”
She believes the industry can do better by hiring more women and rethinking how radio integrates with changing listening habits. “I think we are too stuck in old-school modes of operating sometimes. The way people consume music has changed, it continues to evolve alongside technology. It may behoove us to examine how their current habits could be incorporated more into radio programming.”
When she’s not on the air, Kurtis pursues creative outlets like songwriting, stand-up comedy, and voiceover work, or she simply enjoys baking, traveling, and taking care of her cat and fish.
Two decades into her career, she’s still guided by that 13-year-old’s revelation: that radio has the power to change lives. And every morning at WXPN, Kristen Kurtis makes sure it does.
Follow Kristen on Facebook at facebook.com/kristenkurtis, and on Instagram & Threads at @kristen_kurtis.
Charese Fruge’ is an award-winning Content, Broadcast, and Marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, and Las Vegas. As the owner of MC Media, she works with radio brands and individual talent, especially young women, helping them grow their brands and negotiate on their own behalf. She is also a Voice Actor and Voice Over Talent as well as a Freelance Writer for International Broadcast Outlets. Find her at @MCMediaOnline or www.mcmediaonline.com.
