EPISODE SUMMARY: Dave Ryan is the Marconi-winning host of the Dave Ryan Show. He shares a wealth of stories and advice from his successful radio career in the Twin Cities and beyond.On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Dave Ryan about:<ol><li>Studying broadcasting at community college in Colorado and feeding goats during his first gig at a religious station.</li><li>The comedians and personalities he grew up admiring and borrowing from</li><li>Moving to Vegas to do mornings on KLUC and endearing himself to listeners with his stunts</li><li>Learning to work as a team in Columbus with Tom Kelly</li><li>His struggles filling the shoes of popular personalities and how he overcame them</li><li>Landing a competitive job at KDWB in Minneapolis and the story behind his Ugly Kids billboards</li><li>How he coaches talent and chooses his co-hosts</li><li>Becoming an author and why he wrote 2 books</li><li>How he became interested in many hobbies, including magic, ukulele, and flying</li><li>His advice to aspiring radio professionals</li></ol>And More!ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: Dave Ryan has been waking up the Twin Cities for over three decades. His sense of humor, high energy and too much honesty has captivated listeners to tune in every weekday, at least when there are good ticket giveaways.Dave is not just the host of a Marconi-winning morning show but also a serial hobbyist. From ukulele, to flying, to trolling people online, Dave continues to try new things, only to forget about them a week later and pick up a new hobby. He’s also an author, which you most likely know already because whether it’s Christmas or the 4th of July, he’ll plug his children’s book, “Little Dave’s Amazing Day”, that you guessed it, is about himself, Dave. BUT 2-4 year olds do give it a 5-star review!You can listen to the Dave Ryan in the Morning Show weekdays 5:30 – 10am with Daddy Bear himself, Dave Ryan, a woman that people confuse for Sasquatch, a kid from Jersey that doesn’t know the difference between 1 and 10 spritzes of cologne, and Ruth Buzzi.ABOUT THE PODCAST: Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.PEOPLE MENTIONED:<ul><li>Jeff and Jer</li><li>Heather Cohen</li><li>Don Dexter</li><li>Rick Dees</li><li>Milton Berle</li><li>Dan Jackson</li><li>Tracy Johnson</li><li>Scott Thrower</li><li>Bill Richards</li><li>Tom Kelly</li><li>Irma Blanco</li><li>John London</li><li>George Lopez</li><li>Bob Beers</li><li>Jerry Lewis</li><li>Dave Robbins</li><li>Bruce Kelly</li><li>Super Snake</li><li>Steve Smith</li><li>Steve Cochran</li><li>Mark Bulkey</li><li>Mark Coleman</li><li>David Martin</li><li>Pat Ebertz</li><li>Lee Valsvik</li><li>Angie Taylor</li><li>Dan Seaman</li><li>Steve Shure</li><li>Jenny Luttenberger</li><li>Bailey Hess</li><li>Vont Leak</li><li>Bethany Watson</li><li>Elvis Duran</li><li>Falen Bonsett</li><li>Intern John</li><li>Ace and TJ</li><li>Frankie and Gina</li><li>Randy Lane</li><li>Todd and Tyler</li><li>Bob Barker</li><li>Jhani K</li><li>Rod Roddy</li></ul>ABOUT BENZTOWN: Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now & Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.Web: benztown.comFacebook: facebook.com/benztownradioTwitter: @benztownradioLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztownInstagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio">instagram.com/benztownradio</a> Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&nbsp;See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;EPISODE SUMMARY:&lt;/strong&gt; Dave Ryan is the Marconi-winning host of the Dave Ryan Show. He shares a wealth of stories and advice from his successful radio career in the Twin Cities and beyond.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Dave Ryan about:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;Studying broadcasting at community college in Colorado and feeding goats during his first gig at a religious station.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The comedians and personalities he grew up admiring and borrowing from&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Moving to Vegas to do mornings on KLUC and endearing himself to listeners with his stunts&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Learning to work as a team in Columbus with Tom Kelly&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;His struggles filling the shoes of popular personalities and how he overcame them&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Landing a competitive job at KDWB in Minneapolis and the story behind his Ugly Kids billboards&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How he coaches talent and chooses his co-hosts&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Becoming an author and why he wrote 2 books&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How he became interested in many hobbies, including magic, ukulele, and flying&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;His advice to aspiring radio professionals&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;And More!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: &lt;/strong&gt;Dave Ryan has been waking up the Twin Cities for over three decades. His sense of humor, high energy and too much honesty has captivated listeners to tune in every weekday, at least when there are good ticket giveaways.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dave is not just the host of a Marconi-winning morning show but also a serial hobbyist. From ukulele, to flying, to trolling people online, Dave continues to try new things, only to forget about them a week later and pick up a new hobby. He’s also an author, which you most likely know already because whether it’s Christmas or the 4th of July, he’ll plug his children’s book, “Little Dave’s Amazing Day”, that you guessed it, is about himself, Dave. BUT 2-4 year olds do give it a 5-star review!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;You can listen to the Dave Ryan in the Morning Show weekdays 5:30 – 10am with Daddy Bear himself, Dave Ryan, a woman that people confuse for Sasquatch, a kid from Jersey that doesn’t know the difference between 1 and 10 spritzes of cologne, and Ruth Buzzi.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THE PODCAST: &lt;/strong&gt;Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PEOPLE MENTIONED:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jeff and Jer&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Heather Cohen&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Don Dexter&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Rick Dees&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Milton Berle&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dan Jackson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tracy Johnson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Scott Thrower&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bill Richards&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tom Kelly&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Irma Blanco&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;John London&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;George Lopez&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bob Beers&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jerry Lewis&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dave Robbins&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bruce Kelly&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Super Snake&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Steve Smith&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Steve Cochran&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mark Bulkey&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mark Coleman&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;David Martin&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Pat Ebertz&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lee Valsvik&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Angie Taylor&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dan Seaman&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Steve Shure&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jenny Luttenberger&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bailey Hess&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Vont Leak&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bethany Watson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Elvis Duran&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Falen Bonsett&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Intern John&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ace and TJ&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Frankie and Gina&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Randy Lane&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Todd and Tyler&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bob Barker&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jhani K&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Rod Roddy&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT BENZTOWN: &lt;/strong&gt;Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&amp;B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now &amp; Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Web: benztown.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Facebook: facebook.com/benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Twitter: @benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztown&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio"&gt;instagram.com/benztownradio&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See &lt;a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener"&gt;omnystudio.com/listener&lt;/a&gt; for privacy information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Dave Ryan is the Marconi-winning host of the Dave Ryan Show. He shares a wealth of stories and advice from his successful radio career in the Twin Cities and beyond.

Ep. 77 Dave Ryan

EPISODE SUMMARY: Lesley Visser is the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time. She shares her journey to becoming the first woman to achieve numerous recognitions, the people who helped get her there, and many great stories from along the way.Visser was honored as a Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony.On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Lesley Visser about:<ol><li>Growing up with a love of sports and getting a Carnegie Foundation scholarship to go into the male-dominated field of sports writing</li><li>The terrifying but exciting honor of being the first woman to cover the NFL Beat at The Boston Globe</li><li>Transitioning from writing to broadcasting on TV at CBS Sports</li><li>Getting to present the Lombardi Trophy</li><li>Traveling the world to report on major news such as the fall of the Berlin Wall</li><li>Working with other legendary sports figures like Greg Gumbel and Terry Bradshaw, and riding on John Madden’s bus</li><li>The greatest events she’s covered from Super Bowls to Final Fours to The Olympics and more</li><li>What it means to be a trailblazing woman, how sports reporting is evolving, and the progress that must still be made</li><li>The role of technology in sports journalism, and her advice to future journalists</li></ol>And More!ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: Lesley Visser is the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time. Across numerous accolades, she has been the “First” – the First woman enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame; the First woman to win the Lifetime Achievement Sports Emmy and the First woman to win the Broadcasters Foundation of America Lifetime Achievement Award; the First woman on the Network broadcasts of the Final Four, the NBA Finals, the Super Bowl and the World Series. She is the First and only woman to have presented the Championship Lombardi Trophy at the Super Bowl. She was the First woman to cover the NFL as a beat, the First woman on Monday Night Football and the First female NFL analyst in both Radio and TV. She was the First female sportscaster to carry the Olympic Torch and the only winner of the Billie Jean King “Outstanding Journalist Award.”Visser is the only sportscaster – male or female – to have worked on the network broadcasts of the Final Four, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the Olympics, the World Series, the Triple Crown, the World Figure Skating Championship and the US Open Tennis.Visser was voted the No. 1 Female Sportscaster of All-Time by the National Sportscasters of America. Her career began at the Boston Globe in 1974 after she won a Carnegie Foundation grant, given to only 20 women in the country who wanted to go into jobs that were 95% male. The Boston Globe made her the First woman to cover the NFL as a beat, at a time when the credentials said, "No Women or Children in the Press Box." She was elected to the National Sports Media Hall of Fame for her writing at the Boston Globe, magazines and CBS.com, and she was voted to the Sportscasters Hall of Fame for her work at CBS, ABC, ESPN and HBO. Visser has been named a Muhammad Ali “Daughter of Greatness” and won the Newseum Award for Lifetime Achievement – First given to Walter Cronkite. She reported from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, focusing on how sports would change in East Germany after reunification, and had the privilege, in 2013, of throwing out the First pitch for her beloved Red Sox. In October 2024, she was honored with the Vin Scully Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting by Fordham University’s public media service, WFUV.A graduate of Boston College, which awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2007, she served on the Board of the V Foundation for Cancer Research for more than 20 years, while also serving on the Board of NYU’s “Sports and Society.” Visser has mentored young women for decades, while speaking at colleges and businesses around the world – from Doha, Qatar, to Charleston, South Carolina, where she delivered an address at the Renaissance Weekend, founded by President Clinton. Her book, Sometimes You Have to Cross When It Says Don’t Walk, is a memoir of breaking barriers. It has been optioned for both a movie and a TV series.The Hall of Fame sportscaster has spent more than 30 years at CBS and more than 45 in the business. She is a contributor to the only all-female network sports show, We Need To Talk, on CBS, and had a podcast, In Conversation with Lesley Visser, on SiriusXM. Visser has been voted one of the “Women we Love” by Esquire magazine and one of the “Five Ideal Dinner Guests” by GQ.She and her husband, Bob Kanuth, a former captain of Harvard basketball, live in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida.ABOUT THE PODCAST: Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.ABOUT BENZTOWN: Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now & Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.Web: benztown.comFacebook: facebook.com/benztownradioTwitter: @benztownradioLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztownInstagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio">instagram.com/benztownradio</a> Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&nbsp;See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;EPISODE SUMMARY:&lt;/strong&gt; Lesley Visser is the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time. She shares her journey to becoming the first woman to achieve numerous recognitions, the people who helped get her there, and many great stories from along the way.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visser was honored as a Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting &amp; Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Lesley Visser about:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;Growing up with a love of sports and getting a Carnegie Foundation scholarship to go into the male-dominated field of sports writing&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The terrifying but exciting honor of being the first woman to cover the NFL Beat at The Boston Globe&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Transitioning from writing to broadcasting on TV at CBS Sports&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Getting to present the Lombardi Trophy&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Traveling the world to report on major news such as the fall of the Berlin Wall&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Working with other legendary sports figures like Greg Gumbel and Terry Bradshaw, and riding on John Madden’s bus&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The greatest events she’s covered from Super Bowls to Final Fours to The Olympics and more&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What it means to be a trailblazing woman, how sports reporting is evolving, and the progress that must still be made&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The role of technology in sports journalism, and her advice to future journalists&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;And More!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST:&lt;/strong&gt; Lesley Visser is the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time. Across numerous accolades, she has been the “First” – the First woman enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame; the First woman to win the Lifetime Achievement Sports Emmy and the First woman to win the Broadcasters Foundation of America Lifetime Achievement Award; the First woman on the Network broadcasts of the Final Four, the NBA Finals, the Super Bowl and the World Series. &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;She is the First and only woman to have presented the Championship Lombardi Trophy at the Super Bowl. She was the First woman to cover the NFL as a beat, the First woman on Monday Night Football and the First female NFL analyst in both Radio and TV. She was the First female sportscaster to carry the Olympic Torch and the only winner of the Billie Jean King “Outstanding Journalist Award.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visser is the only sportscaster – male or female – to have worked on the network broadcasts of the Final Four, the Super Bowl, the NBA Finals, the Olympics, the World Series, the Triple Crown, the World Figure Skating Championship and the US Open Tennis.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Visser was voted the No. 1 Female Sportscaster of All-Time by the National Sportscasters of America. Her career began at the Boston Globe in 1974 after she won a Carnegie Foundation grant, given to only 20 women in the country who wanted to go into jobs that were 95% male. The Boston Globe made her the First woman to cover the NFL as a beat, at a time when the credentials said, "No Women or Children in the Press Box." &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;She was elected to the National Sports Media Hall of Fame for her writing at the Boston Globe, magazines and CBS.com, and she was voted to the Sportscasters Hall of Fame for her work at CBS, ABC, ESPN and HBO. Visser has been named a Muhammad Ali “Daughter of Greatness” and won the Newseum Award for Lifetime Achievement – First given to Walter Cronkite. She reported from the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, focusing on how sports would change in East Germany after reunification, and had the privilege, in 2013, of throwing out the First pitch for her beloved Red Sox. In October 2024, she was honored with the Vin Scully Award for Excellence in Sports Broadcasting by Fordham University’s public media service, WFUV.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A graduate of Boston College, which awarded her an Honorary Doctorate in 2007, she served on the Board of the V Foundation for Cancer Research for more than 20 years, while also serving on the Board of NYU’s “Sports and Society.” Visser has mentored young women for decades, while speaking at colleges and businesses around the world – from Doha, Qatar, to Charleston, South Carolina, where she delivered an address at the Renaissance Weekend, founded by President Clinton. Her book, Sometimes You Have to Cross When It Says Don’t Walk, is a memoir of breaking barriers. It has been optioned for both a movie and a TV series.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The Hall of Fame sportscaster has spent more than 30 years at CBS and more than 45 in the business. She is a contributor to the only all-female network sports show, We Need To Talk, on CBS, and had a podcast, In Conversation with Lesley Visser, on SiriusXM. Visser has been voted one of the “Women we Love” by Esquire magazine and one of the “Five Ideal Dinner Guests” by GQ.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;She and her husband, Bob Kanuth, a former captain of Harvard basketball, live in Bay Harbor Islands, Florida.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THE PODCAST:&lt;/strong&gt; Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT BENZTOWN:&lt;/strong&gt; Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&amp;B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now &amp; Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Web: benztown.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Facebook: facebook.com/benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Twitter: @benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztown&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: &lt;a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio"&gt;instagram.com/benztownradio&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See &lt;a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener"&gt;omnystudio.com/listener&lt;/a&gt; for privacy information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Lesley Visser is the most highly acclaimed female sportscaster of all time. She shares her journey to becoming the first woman to achieve numerous recognitions, the people who helped get her there, and many great stories from along the way.

Ep. 76 Lesley Visser

EPISODE SUMMARY: Rick Dees is an radio legend, entertainer, comedian. He shares how he created one of the most iconic countdowns in history and redefined what it means to connect with the audience in this hilarious career retrospective.Dees will be among those honored this fall as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Rick Dees about:<ol><li>His early misadventures in radio as a high school and college student in North Carolina</li><li>The story behind creating Disco Duck, how it became a hit, and how it got him fired</li><li>Getting tapped by Dick Clark to go on air in Los Angeles, and becoming a household name in LA and beyond</li><li>The entertainers and unlikely sources that inspired him as a performer and storyteller</li><li>Learning to invest after people tried to steal from him, and his financial advice</li><li>Why he bought a farm in Kentucky</li><li>Creating the Weekly Top 40 and how it became the longest continuously running countdown ever.</li><li>Starring in a late night show opposite Johnny Carson </li><li>His other ventures including his farm, his own app, cookbook, and launching Home Living which became the Cooking Channel</li></ol>And More!ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: Rick Dees is a radio legend, comedic genius and multi-talented entertainer, known for his captivating enthusiasm and quick-witted humor, which continue to leave an indelible mark on the entertainment world.With an extraordinary career spanning decades, Dees has entertained and delighted millions across the globe, solidifying his place as one of the most influential and beloved figures in broadcasting history.Best known for his internationally syndicated radio show, The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, Dees’ familiar voice and unforgettable characters are heard by more than 70 million listeners each weekend, spanning virtually every city in the United States, 125 countries, 27 massive ships at sea, and the Armed Forces Radio Network. His show even broke barriers by becoming the first English-speaking radio program to entertain listeners in Beijing, China, making history in the process.Rick Dees rose to prominence when he took over the top-rated morning show on KIIS-FM Los Angeles in July 1981, turning it into the number one revenue-generating radio station in America and making him the hottest property in radio. His unprecedented success earned him Billboard’s Radio Personality of the Year Award an astonishing ten years in a row. Further cementing his legacy, Dees was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and the National Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame and was honored with the prestigious Marconi Award.Dees embraced the digital age with the same pioneering spirit that defined his radio career. His innovative music streaming platform, BYOChannel, offers users the ability to “build their own” personalized channels from a library of over 40 million tracks. He further extended his brand’s reach with the Rick Dees Hit Music app, delivering The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and Daily Dees directly to millions of Apple and Android devices worldwide.In 2025, iHeartMedia launched two new iHeartRadio Original Streaming Stations in partnership with Rick Dees Entertainment — Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and Classic Rick Dees Top 40. The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 station features the current Weekly Top 40 program, while Classic Rick Dees Top 40 goes back in the archives to feature complete countdowns from the original shows that aired in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, many of which haven’t been heard in years.ABOUT THE PODCAST: Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.PEOPLE MENTIONED:<ul><li>Paul Allen</li><li>Larry Allen</li><li>Billy Graham</li><li>Tom Miller</li><li>Ralph Lambeth</li><li>Glenn Powers</li><li>Ken Lowe</li><li>Sam & Dave</li><li>Isaac Hayes</li><li>Estelle Axton</li><li>Robert Stigwood</li><li>Al Corey</li><li>Wolfman Jack</li><li>Dick Clark</li><li>Bill Murray</li><li>Elmer Bernstein</li><li>Jonathan Winters</li><li>Johnny Carson</li><li>Paul Drew</li><li>Chuck Martin</li><li>Lynn Anderson</li><li>Don Benson</li><li>Barbara Streisand</li><li>Madonna</li><li>Michael Jackson</li><li>Wally Clark</li><li>Roger Cleveland</li><li>Charlie Tuna</li><li>Robert W. Morgan</li><li>Don Steele</li><li>Bernie Carniel</li><li>Sandy Gallin</li><li>Dolly Parton</li><li>Neil Diamond</li><li>Barry Diller</li><li>Michael Eisner</li><li>Madeleine Pugh</li><li>Lucille Ball</li><li>Cary Grant</li><li>Ava Gardner</li><li>John Stewart</li><li>Robin Williams</li><li>Julie McWhirter-Dees</li><li>Peter Simone</li><li>Jerry Edelstein</li><li>Bette Midler</li><li>Jon Bon Jovi</li><li>Kevin Dees</li><li>Paul Joseph</li><li>Ellen K</li><li>Liz Fulton</li><li>Rachel Donahue</li><li>Roy Loughlin</li><li>Nick Verbitsky</li><li>Casey Kasem</li><li>Lisa Canning</li><li>Ed White</li><li>Shohei Otani</li><li>Lesley Visser</li><li>David Muir</li><li>Gary Sandy</li></ul>ABOUT BENZTOWN: Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now & Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.Web: benztown.comFacebook: facebook.com/benztownradioTwitter: @benztownradioLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztownInstagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio">instagram.com/benztownradio</a> Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&nbsp;See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;EPISODE SUMMARY:&lt;/strong&gt; Rick Dees is an radio legend, entertainer, comedian. He shares how he created one of the most iconic countdowns in history and redefined what it means to connect with the audience in this hilarious career retrospective.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dees will be among those honored this fall as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting &amp; Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Rick Dees about:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;His early misadventures in radio as a high school and college student in North Carolina&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The story behind creating Disco Duck, how it became a hit, and how it got him fired&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Getting tapped by Dick Clark to go on air in Los Angeles, and becoming a household name in LA and beyond&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The entertainers and unlikely sources that inspired him as a performer and storyteller&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Learning to invest after people tried to steal from him, and his financial advice&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Why he bought a farm in Kentucky&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Creating the Weekly Top 40 and how it became the longest continuously running countdown ever.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Starring in a late night show opposite Johnny Carson &lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;His other ventures including his farm, his own app, cookbook, and launching Home Living which became the Cooking Channel&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;And More!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST:&lt;/strong&gt; Rick Dees is a radio legend, comedic genius and multi-talented entertainer, known for his captivating enthusiasm and quick-witted humor, which continue to leave an indelible mark on the entertainment world.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;With an extraordinary career spanning decades, Dees has entertained and delighted millions across the globe, solidifying his place as one of the most influential and beloved figures in broadcasting history.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Best known for his internationally syndicated radio show, The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40, Dees’ familiar voice and unforgettable characters are heard by more than 70 million listeners each weekend, spanning virtually every city in the United States, 125 countries, 27 massive ships at sea, and the Armed Forces Radio Network. His show even broke barriers by becoming the first English-speaking radio program to entertain listeners in Beijing, China, making history in the process.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rick Dees rose to prominence when he took over the top-rated morning show on KIIS-FM Los Angeles in July 1981, turning it into the number one revenue-generating radio station in America and making him the hottest property in radio. His unprecedented success earned him Billboard’s Radio Personality of the Year Award an astonishing ten years in a row. Further cementing his legacy, Dees was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame and the National Association of Broadcasters’ Hall of Fame and was honored with the prestigious Marconi Award.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Dees embraced the digital age with the same pioneering spirit that defined his radio career. His innovative music streaming platform, BYOChannel, offers users the ability to “build their own” personalized channels from a library of over 40 million tracks. He further extended his brand’s reach with the Rick Dees Hit Music app, delivering The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and Daily Dees directly to millions of Apple and Android devices worldwide.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In 2025, iHeartMedia launched two new iHeartRadio Original Streaming Stations in partnership with Rick Dees Entertainment — Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 and Classic Rick Dees Top 40. The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 station features the current Weekly Top 40 program, while Classic Rick Dees Top 40 goes back in the archives to feature complete countdowns from the original shows that aired in the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s, many of which haven’t been heard in years.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THE PODCAST:&lt;/strong&gt; Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PEOPLE MENTIONED:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Paul Allen&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Larry Allen&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Billy Graham&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tom Miller&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ralph Lambeth&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Glenn Powers&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ken Lowe&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sam &amp; Dave&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Isaac Hayes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Estelle Axton&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Robert Stigwood&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Al Corey&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Wolfman Jack&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dick Clark&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bill Murray&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Elmer Bernstein&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jonathan Winters&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Johnny Carson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Paul Drew&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Chuck Martin&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lynn Anderson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Don Benson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Barbara Streisand&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Madonna&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Michael Jackson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Wally Clark&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Roger Cleveland&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Charlie Tuna&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Robert W. Morgan&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Don Steele&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bernie Carniel&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Sandy Gallin&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dolly Parton&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Neil Diamond&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Barry Diller&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Michael Eisner&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Madeleine Pugh&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lucille Ball&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Cary Grant&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ava Gardner&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;John Stewart&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Robin Williams&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Julie McWhirter-Dees&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Peter Simone&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jerry Edelstein&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bette Midler&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jon Bon Jovi&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Kevin Dees&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Paul Joseph&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ellen K&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Liz Fulton&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Rachel Donahue&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Roy Loughlin&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Nick Verbitsky&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Casey Kasem&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lisa Canning&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ed White&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Shohei Otani&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lesley Visser&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;David Muir&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Gary Sandy&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT BENZTOWN:&lt;/strong&gt; Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&amp;B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now &amp; Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Web: benztown.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Facebook: facebook.com/benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Twitter: @benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztown&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: &lt;a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio"&gt;instagram.com/benztownradio&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See &lt;a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener"&gt;omnystudio.com/listener&lt;/a&gt; for privacy information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Rick Dees is an radio legend, entertainer, comedian. He shares how he created one of the most iconic countdowns in history and redefined what it means to connect with the audience in this hilarious career retrospective.

Dees will be among those honored this fall as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

Ep. 75 Rick Dees

EPISODE SUMMARY: Acclaimed actor Gary Sandy reflects on his remarkable career in television and theater, sharing insights from his TV and Broadway experience including his iconic role as Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati. Sandy will be honored as an LABF Giant of Broadcasting this November.Sandy will be among those honored this fall as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Gary Sandy about:<ol><li>Growing up in Dayton, Ohio and aspiring to be an actor</li><li>Moving to New York and working odd jobs before becoming getting his break playing  soap opera bad boys</li><li>What it was like broadcasting live for 50 million people in As the World Turns</li><li>How he landed the role of Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati</li><li>What went on behind the scenes of WKRP and his favorite moments from the show</li><li>The demanding but fulfilling life acting on Broadway and national tours</li><li>Performing a one man show at the Grand Ole Opry</li><li>Advice for breaking into the TV business</li></ol>And More!ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: Gary Sandy is a gifted and beloved actor whose extraordinary career has spanned stage, screen, and television, earning him a lasting place in the hearts of audiences across the country.Born on Christmas Day in Dayton, Ohio, Gary attended Wilmington College of Ohio and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. He began his professional career in daytime television with a role created for him on As the World Turns, which launched a successful seven-year run of memorable performances in Another World, Somerset, and his personal favorite, The Secret Storm. The impact these roles played on his later career cannot be underestimated. According to Sandy, “The pressure of performing in front of a live audience or live tape made everything else a little easier. Ït was 40 or 50 million people RIGHT NOW!  You were not allowed to make a mistake. Nothing else could be more terrifying.”Best known for his unforgettable portrayal of Andy Travis, America’s favorite Program Director, in the classic sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. Gary brought life to the role of a young leader navigating the unpredictable world of a struggling radio station with charm, wit, and authenticity. His natural charisma and comedic instincts helped make WKRP a cultural touchstone and a beloved part of American television history.Beyond WKRP, Gary received acclaim for his role in Norman Lear’s All That Glitters and made memorable guest appearances on many hit shows, including Murder, She Wrote, F.B.I: The Untold Story, The Young Riders, L.A. Law, and Diagnosis Murder. His television film credits include Melvin Purvis: The Kansas City Massacre, Shell Game, For Lovers Only, and Nashville Grab.On the big screen, Gary’s range shone through in films such as Hail to the Chief, Some of My Best Friends Are, Troll, and The Last of the Cowboys, where he starred alongside the legendary Henry Fonda. He also appeared in the Oscar-nominated film The Insider, further establishing his reputation as a skilled and versatile actor.A dedicated stage performer, Gary has starred in more than 100 theatrical productions. He made his Broadway debut in Saturday, Sunday, Monday, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and went on to take on leading roles in Broadway productions like The Pirates of Penzance (as the Pirate King) and the Broadway revival of Arsenic and Old Lace (as Mortimer). His stage credits also include standout performances in Barnum, Sweet Bird of Youth, The Foreigner, and A Streetcar Named Desire.His musical theater work has been equally impressive, with standout roles as Billy Flynn in Chicago, Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, and Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd opposite Ann-Margret in the national tour of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Gary’s performance as Harold Hill in The Music Man has become a signature role, earning praise in seven different productions.Gary’s Off-Broadway and regional theater work includes The Children’s Mass (produced by Sal Mineo), and innovative adaptations such as Sheba (based on Come Back, Little Sheba), Luv, and Windy City (a musical version of The Front Page). In recent years, he’s received acclaim for his work in live radio drama, bringing a fresh energy to a classic medium.From his unforgettable turn as Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati to his commanding stage presence in theaters across the country, Gary Sandy’s body of work reflects a lifetime devoted to storytelling, craft, and connection with audiences.ABOUT THE PODCAST: Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.PEOPLE MENTIONED:<ul><li>Henry Fonda</li><li>Deborah Parenti</li><li>John Cameron Swayze</li><li>Robert Redford</li><li>Jean Arley</li><li>Joe Manetta</li><li>David Muir</li><li>Alexander Scourby</li><li>Mary Tyler Moore</li><li>Gordon Jump</li><li>Lonnie Anderson</li><li>Howard Hesseman</li><li>Frank Bonners</li><li>Richard Sanders</li><li>Tim Reid</li><li>Jan Smithers</li><li>Kevin Klein</li><li>Anna Margaret</li><li>Shirlee Mae Adams</li><li>Jane Fonda</li><li>Ernest Thompson</li><li>Lois Nettleton</li><li>Chuck McCann</li><li>Norman Lear</li><li>Joe Allen</li><li>Frank Bonner</li><li>Loni Anderson</li><li>Stacy Keach</li><li>Tootsie Bess</li><li>Dolly Parton</li><li>Lesley Visser</li><li>Rick Dees</li><li>Dick Ferguson</li><li>Roy Scheider</li><li>Gene Hackman</li></ul>ABOUT BENZTOWN: Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now & Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.Web: benztown.comFacebook: facebook.com/benztownradioTwitter: @benztownradioLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztownInstagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio">instagram.com/benztownradio</a> Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&nbsp;See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;EPISODE SUMMARY: &lt;/strong&gt;Acclaimed actor Gary Sandy reflects on his remarkable career in television and theater, sharing insights from his TV and Broadway experience including his iconic role as Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati. Sandy will be honored as an LABF Giant of Broadcasting this November.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sandy will be among those honored this fall as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting &amp; Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Gary Sandy about:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;Growing up in Dayton, Ohio and aspiring to be an actor&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Moving to New York and working odd jobs before becoming getting his break playing  soap opera bad boys&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What it was like broadcasting live for 50 million people in As the World Turns&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How he landed the role of Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;What went on behind the scenes of WKRP and his favorite moments from the show&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;The demanding but fulfilling life acting on Broadway and national tours&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Performing a one man show at the Grand Ole Opry&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Advice for breaking into the TV business&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;And More!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: &lt;/strong&gt;Gary Sandy is a gifted and beloved actor whose extraordinary career has spanned stage, screen, and television, earning him a lasting place in the hearts of audiences across the country.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Born on Christmas Day in Dayton, Ohio, Gary attended Wilmington College of Ohio and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City. He began his professional career in daytime television with a role created for him on As the World Turns, which launched a successful seven-year run of memorable performances in Another World, Somerset, and his personal favorite, The Secret Storm. The impact these roles played on his later career cannot be underestimated. According to Sandy, “The pressure of performing in front of a live audience or live tape made everything else a little easier. Ït was 40 or 50 million people RIGHT NOW!  You were not allowed to make a mistake. Nothing else could be more terrifying.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Best known for his unforgettable portrayal of Andy Travis, America’s favorite Program Director, in the classic sitcom WKRP in Cincinnati. Gary brought life to the role of a young leader navigating the unpredictable world of a struggling radio station with charm, wit, and authenticity. His natural charisma and comedic instincts helped make WKRP a cultural touchstone and a beloved part of American television history.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Beyond WKRP, Gary received acclaim for his role in Norman Lear’s All That Glitters and made memorable guest appearances on many hit shows, including Murder, She Wrote, F.B.I: The Untold Story, The Young Riders, L.A. Law, and Diagnosis Murder. His television film credits include Melvin Purvis: The Kansas City Massacre, Shell Game, For Lovers Only, and Nashville Grab.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On the big screen, Gary’s range shone through in films such as Hail to the Chief, Some of My Best Friends Are, Troll, and The Last of the Cowboys, where he starred alongside the legendary Henry Fonda. He also appeared in the Oscar-nominated film The Insider, further establishing his reputation as a skilled and versatile actor.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;A dedicated stage performer, Gary has starred in more than 100 theatrical productions. He made his Broadway debut in Saturday, Sunday, Monday, directed by Franco Zeffirelli, and went on to take on leading roles in Broadway productions like The Pirates of Penzance (as the Pirate King) and the Broadway revival of Arsenic and Old Lace (as Mortimer). His stage credits also include standout performances in Barnum, Sweet Bird of Youth, The Foreigner, and A Streetcar Named Desire.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;His musical theater work has been equally impressive, with standout roles as Billy Flynn in Chicago, Albert Peterson in Bye Bye Birdie, and Sheriff Ed Earl Dodd opposite Ann-Margret in the national tour of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Gary’s performance as Harold Hill in The Music Man has become a signature role, earning praise in seven different productions.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Gary’s Off-Broadway and regional theater work includes The Children’s Mass (produced by Sal Mineo), and innovative adaptations such as Sheba (based on Come Back, Little Sheba), Luv, and Windy City (a musical version of The Front Page). In recent years, he’s received acclaim for his work in live radio drama, bringing a fresh energy to a classic medium.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;From his unforgettable turn as Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati to his commanding stage presence in theaters across the country, Gary Sandy’s body of work reflects a lifetime devoted to storytelling, craft, and connection with audiences.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THE PODCAST:&lt;/strong&gt; Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PEOPLE MENTIONED:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Henry Fonda&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Deborah Parenti&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;John Cameron Swayze&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Robert Redford&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jean Arley&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Joe Manetta&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;David Muir&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Alexander Scourby&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mary Tyler Moore&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Gordon Jump&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lonnie Anderson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Howard Hesseman&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Frank Bonners&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Richard Sanders&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tim Reid&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jan Smithers&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Kevin Klein&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Anna Margaret&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Shirlee Mae Adams&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jane Fonda&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ernest Thompson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lois Nettleton&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Chuck McCann&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Norman Lear&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Joe Allen&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Frank Bonner&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Loni Anderson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Stacy Keach&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tootsie Bess&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dolly Parton&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lesley Visser&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Rick Dees&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Dick Ferguson&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Roy Scheider&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Gene Hackman&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT BENZTOWN:&lt;/strong&gt; Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&amp;B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now &amp; Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Web: benztown.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Facebook: facebook.com/benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Twitter: @benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztown&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: &lt;a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio"&gt;instagram.com/benztownradio&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See &lt;a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener"&gt;omnystudio.com/listener&lt;/a&gt; for privacy information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Acclaimed actor Gary Sandy reflects on his remarkable career in television and theater, sharing insights from his TV and Broadway experience including his iconic role as Andy Travis on WKRP in Cincinnati.

Sandy will be among those honored this fall as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2025 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony on November 14th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

Ep. 74 Gary Sandy

EPISODE SUMMARY: Steven Portnoy is a national correspondent for ABC News Radio. He has covered Congress and the White House and served as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. He shares his journey to becoming an iconic storyteller and receiving the 2025 Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation.On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Steven Portnoy about:<ol><li>His young life in South Brunswick, NJ, and the news legends who inspired him</li><li>His involvement in college radio at Syracuse University, then landing roles at local TV and radio stations</li><li>Reporting on major events including 9/11, the war in Afghanistan, and Hurricane Katrina</li><li>Getting selected for the prestigious ABC News White House Internship and moving to D.C.</li><li>Working his way to network news and becoming a credentialed White House correspondent and a brief history of White House press coverage</li><li>How he became president of the White House Correspondents’ Association while covering the Trump and Biden presidencies for CBS, and why he decided to return to ABC</li><li>Winning an Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of Osama Bin Laden’s death</li><li>His greatest stories from Air Force One and beyond</li><li>Being selected for the LABF’s Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award and the importance of preserving broadcast materials</li><li>Advice to aspiring journalists and the necessity of working across platforms</li></ol>And more!ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: With more than two decades of experience reporting from Washington, Steven Portnoy is one of America’s preeminent audio storytellers. From every major dateline in D.C., he has brought listeners to presidential inaugurals, congressional debates, State of the Union addresses and Supreme Court oral arguments. A past president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Portnoy spent seven years covering the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations from the second row of the White House briefing room. Portnoy returned to ABC News — where he began his career – in 2023 after more than eight years at CBS News, where he served as a congressional correspondent before reporting from the White House.At CBS, Portnoy was part of the team that broke the news of the prisoner swap that resulted in Brittney Griner’s safe return. He also covered the criminal trials involving former President Trump. In the spring of 2023, Portnoy reported extensively on the murder of a legendary broadcaster for the three-hour network CBS radio documentary,“Who Killed George Polk?” Portnoy has vast experience covering national politics, having reported for ABC through the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections and for CBS in 2016 and 2020. His reporting has won both networks Edward R. Murrow awards for breaking news, continuing coverage and overall excellence. Portnoy is an accomplished live broadcaster. He was on the air for more than eight hours on January 6th, anchoring CBS News Radio’s award-winning live coverage of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He served as CBS News Radio’s election night anchor in 2020. He anchored ABC Radio’s coverage of the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011.Steven Portnoy first joined ABC in 2002, as an intern for the White House unit of World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. A year later, he joined ABC-owned station WMAL-AM in Washington, where he reported on local news. In 2006, Portnoy joined ABC News as a correspondent.In 2008, Portnoy was named a Peter Jennings Fellow by the National Constitution Center. He was honored with the Bayliss Horizon Award by the John Bayliss Broadcast Foundation in 2005 and took first place in the radio competition at the Hearst Broadcast News Championships in 2001.While he was a student at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Portnoy produced television newscasts at WIXT-TV (now WSYR-TV) and WSTM-TV and reported for WSYR-AM.He lives in Washington with his husband, Ryan.ABOUT THE PODCAST: Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.PEOPLE MENTIONED:<ul><li>Doug Limerick</li><li>Anne Compton</li><li>Vic Ratner</li><li>Peter Mayer</li><li>Mark Knoller</li><li>Harley Carnes</li><li>Deborah Rodriguez</li><li>Paul Harvey</li><li>Peter Jennings</li><li>Howard Stern</li><li>Jonathan Wolfert</li><li>John Bascom</li><li>Bettina Gregory</li><li>David Muir</li><li>Jeff Glor</li><li>Jerry Falwell</li><li>Tara Howard</li><li>Aaron Kutursky</li><li>Ed Bliss</li><li>Walter Cronkite</li><li>Ed Murrow</li><li>Mervyn Block</li><li>Elizabeth Vargas</li><li>Vija Udenans</li><li>Robin Sproul</li><li>John Matthews</li><li>Chris Berry</li><li>Wayne Cabot</li><li>Chris Quimby</li><li>Scott Herman</li><li>Steve Jones</li><li>Rick Dees</li><li>Pam Coulter</li><li>John Charles Daley</li><li>Harvey Nagler</li><li>Mark Knoller</li><li>Gwen Ifill</li><li>Lesley Visser</li><li>David Muir</li><li>David Gleason</li><li>George Polk</li><li>Ed Bradley</li><li>Craig Swagler</li><li>Matt Shearer</li></ul>ABOUT BENZTOWN: Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now & Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.Web: benztown.comFacebook: facebook.com/benztownradioTwitter: @benztownradioLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztownInstagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio">instagram.com/benztownradio</a> Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&nbsp;See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

<description>&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;EPISODE SUMMARY:&lt;/strong&gt; Steven Portnoy is a national correspondent for ABC News Radio. He has covered Congress and the White House and served as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. He shares his journey to becoming an iconic storyteller and receiving the 2025 Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;On this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Steven Portnoy about:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ol&gt;&lt;li&gt;His young life in South Brunswick, NJ, and the news legends who inspired him&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;His involvement in college radio at Syracuse University, then landing roles at local TV and radio stations&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Reporting on major events including 9/11, the war in Afghanistan, and Hurricane Katrina&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Getting selected for the prestigious ABC News White House Internship and moving to D.C.&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Working his way to network news and becoming a credentialed White House correspondent and a brief history of White House press coverage&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;How he became president of the White House Correspondents’ Association while covering the Trump and Biden presidencies for CBS, and why he decided to return to ABC&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Winning an Edward R. Murrow Award for his coverage of Osama Bin Laden’s death&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;His greatest stories from Air Force One and beyond&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Being selected for the LABF’s Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award and the importance of preserving broadcast materials&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Advice to aspiring journalists and the necessity of working across platforms&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ol&gt;&lt;p&gt;And more!&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THIS EPISODE'S GUEST: &lt;/strong&gt;With more than two decades of experience reporting from Washington, Steven Portnoy is one of America’s preeminent audio storytellers. From every major dateline in D.C., he has brought listeners to presidential inaugurals, congressional debates, State of the Union addresses and Supreme Court oral arguments. A past president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, Portnoy spent seven years covering the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations from the second row of the White House briefing room. Portnoy returned to ABC News — where he began his career – in 2023 after more than eight years at CBS News, where he served as a congressional correspondent before reporting from the White House.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;At CBS, Portnoy was part of the team that broke the news of the prisoner swap that resulted in Brittney Griner’s safe return. He also covered the criminal trials involving former President Trump. In the spring of 2023, Portnoy reported extensively on the murder of a legendary broadcaster for the three-hour network CBS radio documentary,&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;“Who Killed George Polk?” &lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Portnoy has vast experience covering national politics, having reported for ABC through the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections and for CBS in 2016 and 2020. His reporting has won both networks Edward R. Murrow awards for breaking news, continuing coverage and overall excellence. Portnoy is an accomplished live broadcaster. He was on the air for more than eight hours on January 6th, anchoring CBS News Radio’s award-winning live coverage of the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. He served as CBS News Radio’s election night anchor in 2020. He anchored ABC Radio’s coverage of the death of Osama bin Laden in 2011.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Steven Portnoy first joined ABC in 2002, as an intern for the White House unit of World News Tonight with Peter Jennings. A year later, he joined ABC-owned station WMAL-AM in Washington, where he reported on local news. In 2006, Portnoy joined ABC News as a correspondent.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In 2008, Portnoy was named a Peter Jennings Fellow by the National Constitution Center. He was honored with the Bayliss Horizon Award by the John Bayliss Broadcast Foundation in 2005 and took first place in the radio competition at the Hearst Broadcast News Championships in 2001.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;While he was a student at Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications, Portnoy produced television newscasts at WIXT-TV (now WSYR-TV) and WSTM-TV and reported for WSYR-AM.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;He lives in Washington with his husband, Ryan.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT THE PODCAST: &lt;/strong&gt;Chachi Loves Everybody is brought to you by Benztown and hosted by the President of Benztown, Dave “Chachi” Denes. Get a behind-the-scenes look at the myths and legends of the radio industry.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;PEOPLE MENTIONED:&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul&gt;&lt;li&gt;Doug Limerick&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Anne Compton&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Vic Ratner&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Peter Mayer&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mark Knoller&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Harley Carnes&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Deborah Rodriguez&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Paul Harvey&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Peter Jennings&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Howard Stern&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jonathan Wolfert&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;John Bascom&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Bettina Gregory&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;David Muir&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jeff Glor&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Jerry Falwell&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Tara Howard&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Aaron Kutursky&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ed Bliss&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Walter Cronkite&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ed Murrow&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mervyn Block&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Elizabeth Vargas&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Vija Udenans&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Robin Sproul&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;John Matthews&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Chris Berry&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Wayne Cabot&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Chris Quimby&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Scott Herman&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Steve Jones&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Rick Dees&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Pam Coulter&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;John Charles Daley&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Harvey Nagler&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Mark Knoller&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Gwen Ifill&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Lesley Visser&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;David Muir&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;David Gleason&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;George Polk&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Ed Bradley&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Craig Swagler&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li&gt;Matt Shearer&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;ABOUT BENZTOWN: &lt;/strong&gt;Benztown is a leading international audio imaging, production library, voiceover, programming, podcasting, and jingle production company with over 3,000 affiliations on six different continents. Benztown provides audio brands and radio stations of all formats with end-to-end imaging and production, making high-quality sound and world- class audio branding a reality for radio stations of all market sizes and budgets. Benztown was named to the prestigious Inc. 5000 by Inc. magazine for five consecutive years as one of America’s Fastest-Growing Privately Held Companies. With studios in Los Angeles and Stuttgart, Benztown offers the highest quality audio imaging work parts for 23 libraries across 14 music and spoken word formats including AC, Hot AC, CHR, Country, Hip Hop and R&amp;B, Rhythmic, Classic Hits, Rock, News/Talk, Sports, and JACK. Benztown’s Audio Architecture is one of the only commercial libraries that is built exclusively for radio spots to provide the right music for radio commercials. Benztown provides custom VO and imaging across all formats, including commercial VO and copywriting in partnership with Yamanair Creative. Benztown Radio Networks produces, markets, and distributes high-quality programming and services to radio stations around the world, including: The Rick Dees Weekly Top 40 Countdown, The Todd-N-Tyler Radio Empire, Hot Mix, Sunday Night Slow Jams with R Dub!, Flashback, Top 10 Now &amp; Then, Hey, Morton, StudioTexter, The Rooster Show Prep, and AmeriCountry. Benztown + McVay Media Podcast Networks produces and markets premium podcasts including: IEX: Boxes and Lines and Molecular Moments.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Web: benztown.com&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Facebook: facebook.com/benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Twitter: @benztownradio&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/benztown&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Instagram: &lt;a href="http://instagram.com/benztownradio"&gt;instagram.com/benztownradio&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Enjoyed this episode of Chachi Loves Everybody? Let us know by leaving a review!&amp;nbsp;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;See &lt;a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener"&gt;omnystudio.com/listener&lt;/a&gt; for privacy information.&lt;/p&gt;</description>

Steven Portnoy is a national correspondent for ABC News Radio. He has covered Congress and the White House and served as president of the White House Correspondents’ Association. He shares his journey to becoming an iconic storyteller and receiving the 2025 Excellence in Broadcast Preservation Award by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation.

Ep. 73 Steven Portnoy

Chachi Loves Everybody is hosted by Dave Chachi Denes, President of Benztown, and features candid conversations with some of the most respected and influential voices in broadcasting.
Each episode dives into how top industry professionals got their start, the pivotal moments that shaped their careers, and the lessons they&rsquo;ve learned along the way. From behind-the-scenes stories and industry insights to honest conversations about leadership, creativity, and longevity in media, Chachi Loves Everybody offers a rare, inside look at the people who help shape broadcast radio.

Chachi Loves Everybody

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