A life can be measured in songs cued, flags saluted, and nights under stadium lights. We sit down with radio mainstay Ted Tibbett to trace the winding road from a childhood spent in studios and parades to a draft notice in 1968, a detour to South Korea, and a homecoming that turned into four decades behind a high school press box mic. Ted’s stories are vivid and generous: a father who sang and read poetry on the air before World War II, a small-town talent show where Elvis Presley placed third, and the early shifts where cab fare cost more than the paycheck but the dream was worth it.
The conversation delves into what local radio brings to a town: companionship, context, and a familiar voice when the weather turns or the Tigers take the field. Ted shares lessons learned during a rookie hurricane broadcast about who calls the shots, the delicate boundary between personality and professionalism, and the grit it takes to keep a station alive.
You’ll hear outrageous, laugh-out-loud moments with a mercurial owner who once boomed “TIbbett! They’re naked!” at a Broadway show, along with tender reflections on veterans’ service, civic leadership, and why the national anthem still brings a tear.
We also pull back the curtain on today’s talk radio, including conservative news talk, the economics of satellite programming, and how to maintain a local heartbeat when syndication pays the bills.
Ted guests range from members of Congress to SEC legends. He also reveals why time, temperature, and the Powerball update still matter more than algorithms. If you care about media that sounds like where you live—Hattiesburg, the Pine Belt, or any town with a signal—you’ll find wisdom and warmth here.
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Links to Stephen's incredible novels:
Subscribe, share with a friend who loves radio, and leave a review to help more listeners find these stories. Your voice keeps this community strong.
Links to Stephen's incredible novels:
