Chris Krok has become one of the hardest-working people in news/talk radio. Since leaving WBAP in Dallas in January 2025, the veteran host has quietly built one of the most in-demand fill-in careers in the genre.
He’s filling chairs at stations like KTRH in Houston, WIBC in Indianapolis, KFYI in Phoenix, WBT in Charlotte, and AM 560 The Answer in Chicago — and the list keeps growing. What started as a handful of favors between colleagues has evolved into a full-blown operation, complete with a custom-built home studio and a relationship network that stretches from San Antonio to Indianapolis.
None of it happened by accident. Krok invested early, hustled constantly, and built the kind of genuine friendships that keep program directors calling back.
The groundwork began while he was still at WBAP. Cumulus allowed him to fill in at non-competing stations, and he seized every opportunity. That initial wave of assignments set the stage for everything that followed.
Building a Studio Worth Talking About
Before Krok could fill in anywhere, he needed a place to broadcast from. He didn’t cut corners.
“It started about five years ago when I was at WBAP,” Krok said. “They were very gracious in letting me fill in around the country for stations that weren’t competing with the Cumulus talk station.”
The early setup was far from glamorous. Krok dropped roughly $7,000 on broadcast equipment and initially broadcast from his bedroom — an arrangement his wife tolerated, but barely. Eventually, the demand justified a real investment.
“We built a 400-square-foot addition onto our house specifically for a state-of-the-art studio,” said Krok. “It has sound-dampening drywall on every wall and the ceiling, sound insulation throughout, triple-pane windows, a solid wood door, professional lighting for video and podcasting, and a custom-built desk.”
The studio isn’t just a selling point — it’s a signal to stations that Krok takes the work seriously. Still, he’s quick to clarify what program directors actually care about.
“Stations will ask about my setup, and I’m happy to tell them I have a very professional studio,” Krok said. “But ultimately, they care most about the quality of the talent and the product you’re going to deliver. As long as your audio sounds great and your connection is reliable, that’s what matters.”
Word of Mouth Helps, But the Hustle Matters More
Krok’s reputation has spread organically, but he doesn’t leave his career to chance. He treats every fill-in opportunity like an audition and every producer relationship like a long-term investment.
“Word of mouth is important, and sometimes it helps get your foot in the door,” the former WBAP host shared. “But to me, hustling is even more important. You have to keep reaching out, offering your services, and making connections. Sometimes you’ll connect with someone and not hear from them for six months before they suddenly call and ask if you’re available.”
That patience has paid off. He now fills in for Premiere Networks on both The Jesse Kelly Show and Your Morning Show with Michael DelGiorno — two programs with completely different formats. Jesse Kelly’s show runs on strong opinion and storytelling without callers, while Your Morning Show invites listener participation throughout. Krok thrives in both environments, largely because he prepares differently for each one.
His approach to producer relationships is deliberate. Rather than showing up and taking over, Krok calls the producer a week in advance to learn how the show runs.
“I ask what they’re comfortable with. Whether they use sound bites. And how much production they want,” Krok said. “I don’t come in trying to change everything. I come in trying to make the show run smoothly. Just as importantly, I try to make them laugh off the air. If we’re having fun together behind the scenes, that chemistry carries over onto the air.”
He’s built genuine friendships with producers like Chris Little from The Jesse Kelly Show, and producers from Your Morning Show. He calls them “brothers.” That dynamic, he believes, is the real engine behind his growing list of stations.
Going Hyper-Local in Every Market
Perhaps the most impressive part of Krok’s fill-in game is how aggressively he localizes his content — even in cities he doesn’t live in.
“I am hyper-local,” the former WBAP host shared, “and I’ll say it again: I am hyper-local.”
That philosophy demands real preparation. When Krok filled in at WIBC in Indianapolis recently, he spent four days monitoring local news before his first show. He tracked a story about the murder of a 14-year-old boy in a downtown parking garage, followed the controversy surrounding Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears after the local Fraternal Order of Police issued a vote of no confidence in him, and dug into a proposal to hike vehicle registration fees to fund road repairs.
“I’d estimate that 70% to 80% of what I talked about that week was local,” Krok said. “That’s always my priority. Even if I don’t live in the city, I’m passionate about what’s happening there because that’s what the audience cares about.”
He spends at least four hours preparing for every show, even a two-hour program. Chicago requires two to three full days of research despite his having grown up there. Phoenix demands similar effort because of how much is happening politically and locally.
Ultimately, Krok believes preparation and relationships are inseparable. He visits station teams in person when he’s in their cities — not because he has to, but because he wants the connections to feel real.
“Those kinds of relationships don’t happen by accident,” said Krok. “They’re built over time through trust, respect, and genuinely enjoying working together.”
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Garrett Searight is Barrett Media’s News Editor, which includes writing daily news stories, features, and opinion columns. He joined Barrett Media in 2022 after a decade leading several radio brands in several formats, as well as a 5-year stint working in local television. In addition to his work with Barrett Media, he is a radio and TV play-by-play broadcaster. Reach out to him at Garrett@BarrettMedia.com.
