We radio hosts are like sheep, but we would do well to be goats instead. Sheep graze on grass and that’s pretty much it. When we show prep like sheep, we tend to find the same kind of content in the same kind of places with the same kind of result. But a goat will eat grass, hay, weeds, grain, and sometimes even tree bark! Goats don’t get much love in the Bible, but they are the best mascot for better show prep. I’d like to give you some new ideas for show prep that have the potential to increase your show prep by more than 500%. So here we go.
Rearrange and repurpose.
There are a lot of sweet letters that moms write to their kids, to their spouses, to their friends and others. If it touches us, we read it on-air. It’s a brilliant moment! Then, we put an asterisk on it and save it for next year. Unfortunately, that leaves a lot of prep on the table, unused and forgotten. Here’s an example from the ForEveryMom.org website (a great site to follow, by the way).
BACK TO SCHOOL PRAYER:
Dear Heavenly Father,
Teach me to number my days.
Teach me to count the joy in the delightful and the disgusting, to count the beauty in the hard and the happy.
Teach me to hold on — and to let go, but always to lean on You.
Teach me to love them, Lord, the way you love me.
Teach me to rest in your peace, even when I’m standing in chaos.
Teach me to remember your Truth, even when we face lies and loss.
Teach me to keep my eyes on you, God — and to point my girls to you as well.
Teach me to redeem this time, this season, this phase – to remember that you are in this, with me, holding up my arms and holding them, too.
Teach me to be humble and to learn, even as they learn this school year.
Teach me to be strong and to persevere, just as they will press on this year.
Teach me to number my days and give me a heart of wisdom, Lord.
Teach me to love you and to love them every moment, every day, every season, every year.
Amen
Most of us would edit that to be a little shorter and read it as is. Beautiful. But if we rearrange and repurpose that, we can squeeze out a lot more value.
- Turn it into ramps.
- WQQL, it may have been a rough morning getting the kids off to school, but you rocked it mom, because you found joy even in the chaos! Way to go!
- WQQL, let’s just agree that mornings do not go according to plan most of the time! But you’re finding joy in the delightful and the disgusting, and that’s not easy. Well done.
- WQQL, you may be replaying some of the less-than-kind things you said this morning, but just so you know, you’re not doing this parenting thing alone. It’s hard but you’ve got someone to lean on who understands.
- WQQL, it’s not always easy to raise kids but I hope you recognize that you’re learning! You’re loving them better every day.
- WQQL, was it World War 3 at the breakfast table this morning? You brought some peace to that chaos. And that’s tough to do. Give yourself some credit.
- WQQL, you might feel frazzled as a parent and failing because your life feels chaotic, but you’re letting God redeem this season way more than you think.
- WQQL, well, the kids made it to school in one piece and they’re learning all kinds of stuff. But, you know what, so are you. I hope you’re giving yourself grace to learn new things.
- WQQL, I know mornings can seem like a tsunami of chaos and you feel overwhelmed, but you are stronger than you think. That’s perseverance.
- WQQL, you might feel alone in your parenting and the one carrying all the weight, but God has given you a heart of wisdom and you’re using it.
- WQQL, doesn’t it seem like every day there are new challenges your kids find their way into that you never even thought of? It’s exhausting. But God is loving you through it all and helping you love them through it all too.
- Turn any of the lines of that prayer into a complete break and a phoner:
- “Teach me to number my days.” People always warn me, “I know parenting is hard now but you’re gonna miss this!” I know they mean well but it doesn’t help. I know I’m going to miss this someday, but it doesn’t mean it’s not hard now! How do I respond to that? How do I make sure I’m not squandering these days when the kids are young? How do you talk yourself down off the ledge when parenting is hard. Or how do you respond in grace when people want to give you advice and make you feel like you’re doing it all wrong? Call now.
- “Teach me to count the joy in the delightful and the disgusting,” I love my kids, but they are…how shall I say…little piggies! Their rooms are a disaster, and I found a burrito under my son’s bed that had been there for at least a month! I know I’m supposed to find joy in both the delightful and the disgusting but how? What’s your strategy? Call now.
- “Teach me to hold on — and to let go, but always to lean on You.” People keep telling me to hold on and to let go and to lean on God, in my parenting, but I can’t even find 2 minutes to open my Bible much less figure out how to apply it to my parenting. How do you find time for God? Right now, it seems impossible. And forgive me, but any free time I have, I need it for myself. Is it just me? Or do you experience this too?
- “Teach me to keep my eyes on you, God — and to point my girls to you as well.” My daughter is obsessed with Instagram. She used to be so confident and now I’ve watched her shrink smaller and smaller to the point where she doesn’t even want to try out for anything at school. She’s so self-critical and she won’t believe me when I tell her she’s beautiful because she says I’m her mom and no one else sees her that way. How do I help her thought this and believe what God says about her? How are you navigating that?
So there’s one piece of prep that turned into 14. That’s a 1400% increase. And that’s not even including the breaks you get from the caller that expand that even more! And the great thing is, you can do this with any piece of content to deem worthy of airing! The result? You’ll be a goat! The Greatest Of All Time!
P.S. This is just the tip of the iceberg. I’ve got many more ideas to share at the upcoming On-Air Momentum Summit in Nashville on November 10 so I’d encourage you to sign up. This is the stuff that makes your job easier, and your PD wants you to know. It’ll be so worth it!
Lisa Barry
Lisa Barry Media – On-Air Host
lisa@lisabarrymedia.com
Life 102.5 has a heart for Madison! For the 4
Spirit 92.9 continued its commitment of blessing the central Minnesota community through intentional service projects. As the pandemic affected another year, station listeners rose to the challenge of uplifting and encouraging those feeling loss, loneliness, or burnout. Thanks to the help of generous listeners and business partners, Spirit 92.9 raised more than $8,000 in an online tip jar that blessed the staff at 19 local restaurants returning to work full time with huge tips during the Big Tip promotion. The restaurant workers were grateful for the visibility and appreciation. Numerous area teachers nominated by their students and families received special honor at the end of the school year with flowers and $500 VISA gift cards as part of “Thank A Teacher” organized by Spirit 92.9. In the fall, Spirit 92.9 partnered with two local ministries and provided free holiday meals to the community. During the ‘More Than A Meal’ event, the station worked with community members who donated enough to provide 6,000 meals and give help to people in need. Station team members also prepared and served meals together at the local homeless mission. At Christmastime, 11 community members wrote Spirit 92.9 and shared the story of someone they believed deserved some extra joy due to personal hardships. The individuals received $1000 to bless that person during Spirit 92.9’s Share The Joy promotion. Phone calls were made to hundreds of listeners to offer prayer and encouragement. Prayer support and a personal response is offered all year long.
Jim Campbell, Founder & Network President of Radio Training Network, Inc. began his radio career in commercial radio in Tennessee in 1964. In 1966 he moved his family to Lakeland, Florida to attend college, and upon graduation he joined the staff at First Assembly of God Church where he and the church launched in the mid 1970s the first Contemporary Christian Radio Station in the nation, WCIE-FM. The station grew in both market impression and influence not just in Lakeland, but around the country inspiring others to follow Jim’s lead. In 1989 Jim left the church and founded Radio Training Network, Inc. (RTN) and over the next 30+ years, he oversaw the acquisition and development of 40+ stations plus translators. With 130 team members, RTN stations serve the Carolinas, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, and Missouri. These stations are well recognized in their respective markets thanks to the servant leadership of the staff, aggressive marketing, and a commitment to a strong emphasis on Jesus first. At present RTN has some two million listeners each week on air and approximately the same number online.
Andrea Kleid is a 24-year veteran of radio and records. She began her career working in Christian radio at WNLT in Cincinnati, and then moved onto WAY-FM in West Palm Beach working in programming and promotions. Her next stop took her to JOY-FM in Tampa where she served as the Promotions Director. In 2004, Andrea moved to Nashville to begin her music industry career in radio promotion under Grant Hubbard at Capitol CMG. In 2008, Andrea became the Vice President of Promotion at Word Label Group where she led one of the most successful and influential radio promotion teams in the Christian music industry. Through her signature brand of honesty, passion for Christian music, and focus on relationships, Andrea developed a reputation for successfully launching new artists’ careers including for KING and COUNTRY, NEEDTOBREATHE and Francesca Battistelli. This year, Andrea celebrates her fifth year as the President of her own company, Boxer Poet. An advocate for both radio and artists, Andrea continues to zealously host conversations around further representation for women and people of color on Christian radio.
Jason Sharp has a rich history with CCM radio and leadership. His early years at WONU/Chicagoland and The Bridge/Delaware gave flight to his passion for great programming and innovative promotions. As Program Director of WCQR/Johnson City and eventually the network PD for Positive Alternative Radio, Jason’s influence grew across the industry. In 2007, Jason joined the team at Northwestern Media as Program Director and then Station Manager of KTIS, Minneapolis/St Paul. In 2015, Jason furthered his formal education and earned his master’s degree in organizational leadership. Applying his leadership knowledge and skills to work, he now serves as Senior Vice President of Broadcasting at Northwestern Media’s 23 stations in 14 markets across ten states that service 1.5 million listeners each week. Jason also served Christian Music Broadcasters, first as a charter member and eventually as the lead of CMB’s educational track at Momentum for more than ten years. He then served as the organization’s board chairman from 2017-2020. Jason continues to inspire others within Christian media toward excellence and compassion through a Christ-centered attitude, education, and practical application.
In 1972, while serving in the U.S. Air Force in Orlando, Johnny Stone dreamt of a second kind of “air force,” that of radio. He took an overnight position at WDIZ-FM, the station where Z88.3 now stands. In the past 50 years of his career, Johnny’s work and personality raised the bar for other programmers in markets ranging from New York City, Chicago, Dallas/Fort Worth, San Diego, Tampa, Atlanta, Tucson, and Minneapolis/St. Paul. During his stint as Program Director and Morning Show host at Star 99.1 New York, his team won the NAB Crystal Radio Award and CMB Station of the Year. Presently, Johnny serves as afternoon host with his wife, Stacey, at 91.9 WGTS in Washington D.C. winner of the 2021 NAB Marconi Award for Religious Station of the Year. Owner of StoneStudios, LLC. and as a 22-year veteran in Christian media, Johnny mentored several on-air talents. Today, along with his on-air role at WGTS, he mentors college students at CMBU, teaching and modeling the belief that “you have to win in the hallways to win on the airwaves.”
Lisa Williams was called to Christian radio while praying in 1990. She walked into KCVO in Camdenton, Missouri and started on the air that same week. Over the past 32 years, Lisa served in various roles in on-air, programming, fundraising, and station management at radio stations and networks including K-LOVE, Z88.3, Star 99.1, KCVO, and KCWN. As an on-air personality, Lisa earned several number one ratings in several markets and was the recipient of three industry awards. Lisa now serves as the Network Talent Coach for Northwestern Media, owner of 23 stations in 14 markets across ten states that service 1.5 million listeners each week. While at Northwestern, Lisa hosted the nationally syndicated show Life with Lisa Williams from 2016-2021. She stepped away from the show to focus on coaching more than 90 on-air talents, encouraging and nurturing them to shine the light of Christ through excellent radio. When she’s not coaching talent, Lisa helps stations raise money for their operations. She also hosts a Facebook group for women on-air in Christian radio called GodsRadioGirls and helps facilitate their annual retreat.