The 10th episode of the UTR Podcast with Brandon Contes includes news on the following brands: Sports Illustrated, SiriusXM, Mad Dog Unleashed, The Athletic, The Washington Post, ESPN, WFAN, The Indianapolis Star, Hawgbeat.com, ESPN Arkansas, ESPN New York, USA Today Sports, Los Angeles Rams, WNKY-TV, and NBC Sports Chicago. Also mentioned in this episode are Max Goodman, Chris Halicke, Sabreena Merchant, Matt Loede, Tony Bruno, Pete Zayas, Robert Klemko, Eddie Matz, Matthew Van Tryon, Nikki Chavanelle, Alan Hahn, John Jastremski, Bart Scott, Colin Cowherd, Tommy Call, Mike Pearson, Teran Johnson, and Tony Gill.

Matthew Coller didn’t set out to build a career in sports radio. He wanted to be a writer. As luck would have it, an opportunity in upstate NY opened his eyes to the possibilities sports talk presented, and a decade later he’s found a way to blend his penchant for writing and his passion for sharing insights and opinions with an audience. Now located in Minneapolis and a key part of SKOR North’s lineup, Matthew reflects on his climb up the ladder, and the things he’s learned covering sports in Minnesota.

SUBJECTS COVERED WITH DAVE:

• How he first got involved in the sports radio business
• Getting hired at WGR and what his duties included
• What it is that makes WGR a successful brand
• Howard Simon’s work ethic and likeability
• Allan Davis and Andy Roth’s differences and similarities
• Landing an opportunity in Minneapolis with 1500 ESPN
• Earning trust from an audience in a new market
• Evolving from a reporter to a talk show host
• Working with ex-athletes and how to gain their respect
• SKOR North’s approach and why he believes in it
• The silliness in sports radio that two sports stations can’t both win
• Quick Hits: Better broadcaster – him or his wife, Most underrated part of living in Minneapolis, PD who taught him most, 30-days without Twitter or Diet Soda.

FROM THE GUEST:

Matthew’s Twitter handle: @MatthewColler 

Twenty one years ago, an aspiring comedian in Los Angeles got his first taste of the radio business. He hasn’t looked back since. Dave Tepper caught the bug listening to Howard Stern, and over the years worked as an on-air performer before choosing to move behind the scenes and explore a career as a programmer. His travels have taken him from L.A. to Austin, Houston, Omaha and Denver, and during this 35+ minute chat, he shares his career story as well as his thoughts on managing talent and building winning brands.

SUBJECTS COVERED WITH DAVE:

• Who he first listened to that made him interested in radio
• The horror story of moving from California to Texas
• Being thrown into the sports radio fire in Austin
• Landing a job in Houston and learning programming
• Adjusting from working for Cumulus to Gow Media
• Developing the right identity for ESPN 97.5
• Why he chose to move from Houston to Omaha
• How he handles watching a former station make changes
• The letter grade he’d give Altitude 92.5 for its last year of progress
• Why brands generate strong TSL and how to increase cume
• Sports radio programmers he has a high opinion of
• Quick Hits: Hardest part of running a sports radio station, Difference between a good and great GM, The quality that matters most in on-air talent, one programming move he wishes he could have back.

FROM THE GUEST:

Dave’s Twitter handle: @DaveJTepper 

The post BSM Podcast – Season 4 – Episode 10 – Dave Tepper – Altitude Sports Radio 92.5 appeared first on Barrett Media.

After developing his on-air skills in Cleveland at 92.3 The Fan, Nick Wilson has settled into the queen city and become a daily destination for Charlotte sports radio listeners. Having grown up around the business thanks to his father’s involvement in it, Wilson has gained valuable experience on the mic and behind the scenes, all of which have helped him develop as a sports radio personality. In this episode, Nick shares details of his radio journey, and his views on a variety of industry topics.

ISSUES DISCUSSED WITH NICK:

• How he became interested in the radio business
• Collecting his first radio paycheck after college
• Earning attention from 92.3 The Fan in Cleveland
• Memorable on-air and off-air radio pranks
• Having the right attitude and persistence to land a bigger role
• Hosting night shows during the LeBron James championship years
• Making the decision to leave Cleveland for Charlotte
• Not knowing his on-air partner while relocating to a new city
• The way he approached a new market and worked to gain fans
• Areas of the show that are strong and need improvement
• What Andy Roth would say he does/doesn’t do well as a host
• Where he sees himself in 5 years
• The importance of enjoying experiences while chasing bigger goals
• Quick Hits: One pet peeve about sports radio, What he needs most from a producer, The thing he likes best about Charlotte, Best sports radio show in Cleveland

FROM THE GUEST:

Nick’s Twitter handle: @NickWilsonWFNZ 

The post BSM Podcast – Season 4 – Episode 9 – Nick Wilson – WFNZ appeared first on Barrett Media.

St. Louis sports radio personality Michelle Smallmon never planned to work in the sports radio business, but a few different experiences in college convinced her to change her career direction. After getting a start at 101 ESPN as Bernie Miklasz’s producer, she moved to the ESPN Radio network to produce Ryen Russillo, Danny Kanell, Jorge Sedano and others. Those experiences allowed her to grow and return home to St. Louis where she now weighs in on the teams she loves most while also helping to shape 101’s social media strategy.

TOPICS COVERED WITH MICHELLE:

• How she initially became interested in sports media
• Landing her first opportunity at 101 ESPN
• The interview process to work with Bernie Miklasz
• What she learned producing him
• Being contacted for an opportunity in Bristol with ESPN Radio
• Working the evening shift with Jorge Sedano
• Moving to daytime to help Ryen Russillo and Danny Kanell
• What a typical day of producing national radio involved
• Why she chose to leave Bristol to return to St. Louis
• Adjusting from being Bernie’s producer to his on-air partner
• The best and hardest parts of working on a morning show
• What brands do that catches her attention on social media
• Areas where brands miss the mark on social media
• The differences in working in TV
• Quick Hits: More important – the next Cardinals WS title or another Blues Stanley Cup, Biggest heartbreak of her STL sports lifetime, the person who’s taught her most locally and nationally, toughest part of working for Jason Barrett

FROM THE GUEST:

Michelle’s Twitter handle: @MSmallmon

The post BSM Podcast – Season 4 – Episode 8 – Michelle Smallmon – 101 ESPN appeared first on Barrett Media.

Nick Cattles’ professional journey has taken him from Providence to Boston to Virginia Beach, back to Boston, and back again to Virginia Beach. During that time he’s grown from a board operator to a producer of high profile talent to a weekday talk show host who doubles as a program director. Over the course of this 45 minute conversation you’ll learn about his start in the business, the highs and lows he experienced in Boston, transitioning to a new city he had no prior connection to, and much more.

AREAS OF FOCUS WITH NICK:

• Who interested him in talk radio
• When and where he got his first break
• The initial job interview process with 98.5 The Sports Hub
• How Gresh and Zolak would describe Nick as a producer
• Battling with hosts over show ideas and direction
• How he earned air time at 98.5 The Sports Hub
• Adjusting to a new market and audience in Virginia Beach
• How he found out about the job opening in Virginia Beach
• Lessons he learned relocating to a city that was different from Boston
• Why he returned to 98.5 The Sports Hub to host at night
• The pros and cons of his on-air partnership with Adam Jones
• What makes Mike Thomas a great PD and where he can improve
• Working with Toucher & Rich and Mike Felger
• How to describe working in Boston sports radio
• What his daily routine consists of at ESPN Radio 94.1
• The areas of his game that are strong and need improvement
• QUICK HITS: Best on-air and behind the scenes talent at 98.5 The Sports Hub…Who’s taught him the most about radio…Advice to his 23 year old self…fast food for a month or no hand sanitizer for a month

FROM THE GUEST:

Nick’s Twitter handle: @NickCRadio

The post BSM Podcast – Season 4 – Episode 7 – Nick Cattles – ESPN Radio 94.1 appeared first on Barrett Media.