What happens when you get fired from TV, have no backup plan, and then stumble into a chance meeting that changes your life? If you’re Norm Hitzges, you build a 50-year career in sports talk radio—and somehow still remember the exact moment it all started (and the exact amount of rage you felt at the time).

In this celebratory episode of Just Wondering, Norm takes us back to the day that kicked off half a century of takes, triumphs, and talk radio. From a surprise pink slip at Channel 4 to a serendipitous run-in with Tony Garrett at KERA, Norm peels back the curtain on the origin story of one of the most iconic voices in Dallas-Fort Worth sports broadcasting.

With trademark candor, Norm revisits the early nerves, the accidental genius of tossing his notes, and the quirky beginnings of a format nobody believed would work—sports talk on public radio. (Spoiler: It worked.) Along the way, he drops sponsor shoutouts, broadcasting wisdom, and a few light jabs at the cruel randomness of fate. All in all, it’s a masterclass in longevity—and a reminder that sometimes dumb luck and showing up are enough to build a legacy.

⏱️ CHAPTERS

0:01 – Internet Problems & Lawn Mowers: We’re Off to a Hot Start

1:08 – Retire Sooner, Smarter – A Word from Fluent Financial

2:14 – The Big Milestone: 50 Years on the Mic

2:50 – The Infamous Firing at Channel 4

4:26 – The Hallway Conversation That Changed Everything

7:19 – Steak Worthy of the Hall – Bob’s Steak & Chop House Shoutout

8:08 – Football Picks and a Little Betting Wisdom

9:39 – How to Support the Podcast and Keep the Mic Hot

💼 Sponsors & Support:

Fluent Financial: www.fluentfinancial.com

Bob’s Steak & Chop House: www.bobs-steakandchop.com

Sign up for Norm's Picks of the Pole, here: https://payhip.com/PicksofthePolewithNormHitzges

Email Norm for picks: norm13tenmail.com

Whether you’ve listened to Norm for 50 years or 5 episodes, this origin story is packed with everything we love about him: heart, honesty, and just the right amount of spite. Don’t miss it—and get ready for the next 50.

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