This time we head west where McCall Taylor, radio show host for Utah's 94.5 VFX, breaks the misconception of radio's decline and explores its transition into a new era across various platforms. McCall's genuine commitment to community-building shines as she encourages listeners to fearlessly express themselves online. Engaging with her audience through Q&A, personal growth advice, and relatable stories, McCall creates an inclusive podcast community. By incorporating feedback and sharing valuable resources, she fosters a strong bond with her listeners. Join McCall on this empowering journey of connection and self-discovery as she challenges traditional radio norms and embraces the limitless possibilities of storytelling in the digital age.

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Well, one day the secretary of the radio station came in to deposit a check

and I said, Hey, how do I get a job there?

She said, come in, talk to the boss and we'll see what we can do.

So I came in, talked to the boss.

I interned for about a month or so, and then the afternoon guy went to jail.

So I got his job.

So whoa, whoa, whoa.

Went to jail.

Went to jail.

Welcome to BRANDwidth On Demand, your Guide to Rebooting Radio.

I mean, I wish I knew how.

Radio was going to adapt into the social media climate of things because

I know there's some radio stations that are adapting and there's a lot

who still have denied, denied, denied that it's coming, that there's this.

Transition period that's happening right now.

BRANDwidth On Demand, rebooting radio with a different take on all radio can be.

Now your guides through the Mediamorphosis, David Martin and

author of the book, BRANDwidth Media Branding, coach Kipper McGee.

This time we had to Utah, where today's guest was born and raised.

She grew up dreaming of being.

On air because of her passion for music, she got the opportunity to

chase her crazy radio dream and join the morning show on Utah's 94 5 vfx.

The first incarnation of her show was formerly known as AJ and McCall.

Then after some typical radio changes, the show evolved into a married

couple, Joey and Warren with McCall.

She's an adventure seeker, lable things furry, and she sassies all get out.

As a matter of fact, literally just pumped about life.

She believes you can achieve anything with hard workers

termination and a positive attitude.

And she lives by the motto.

There will always be people who tell you you can't, which you gotta do in

that moment is looking right in the eye.

And say, watch me, BRANDwidth On Demand is proud to welcome McCall Taylor.

Hey McCall.

Hey McCall.

Hi.

Thanks for having me.

So clearly you have a passion for media.

So why don't you tell us a little bit more about how you got that first job at

94 7 VFX, you know, kind of just tell us how that happened, how'd it come about?

Yeah, so I actually started in Vernal, super small town in eastern

Utah and I was working at a bank, moved in with my boyfriend out there.

And there was a radio station out there, super eclectic, and I thought,

you know, I love this radio station.

I think it would be awesome to work at.

Well, one day the secretary of the radio station came in to deposit a check and

I said, Hey, how do I get a job there?

She said, come in, talk to the boss and we'll see what we can do.

So I came in, talked to the boss.

I interned for.

About a month or so, and then the afternoon guy went to

jail, so I got his job, so

Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa.

What time?

I went to jail.

Went to jail.

It's a typical radio shenanigan though, right?

Oh, he was just playing.

Yeah.

Yeah.

You know?

Okay.

Maybe we shouldn't ask.

No, no.

Anyway, after that, I ended up applying for this position in the morning show

up at uh, 94 5 VFX in Logan, and just right time, right place type situation,

fell into the morning show and.

I've been here for just over five years.

So with the show as it is right now, you got a married couple and you,

so who does what and how's, how do you divvy up the, uh, workload off air?

Oh, off air.

So currently the morning show, it's like a syndicated morning show.

So I'm doing a lot of the segueing of the on air and then the updates

of the news, the weather, just local information, traffic and all of that.

And then, Outside of that, just prepping my own shows.

Okay.

Does Joey and Lauren are like all the Cash stations or is it running

on a full network or what's the deal?

So they're on in Boise right now, and then we're one of the first

stations to pick up their morning show.

Interesting.

Okay.

Being in a smaller but really important market.

Mm-hmm.

The company you work for, Cash Valley Media Group has a number of radio brands

along with a publishing, the award-winning best of Northern Utah Magazine and a lot

of clusters, people wear multiple hats.

What other duties do you have besides the morning show there?

So I'm on the night show as well, six to 10:00 PM and that started back

in February and then, Outside of that, I help with some of the social media stuff.

We've created a new page to try and highlight some of the local things.

What's up?

It's called What's Up Cash Valley.

Just whatever's going on within like the Cash Valley area and

the vicinity, just to try and.

Gotta get our hands into everything because obviously

radio is such a powerhouse.

But I think it's really important to also let people on the internet remember

that radios can be a powerhouse.

So McCall radio is really an industry going through some

big changes, as we all know.

So the question is how do you navigate shifting the concept and

casting of the V M X Morning show?

How, how do you get through all of that?

And what advice might you give to others who find themselves

in a similar situation?

Well, I think that radio as a whole, obviously the conversation

people always say is radio's dying.

Radio's not really dying.

We're just kind of transcending into a new era, you know?

Uh, storytelling has always been around.

We've been telling stories from the time that we figured out how to

write on cave walls, and now we're in this area of, well, how do we now?

Translate our on-air bits to social media or to our websites.

And it's the same kind of thing.

It's just storytelling on a different platform.

And so I think, uh, not being afraid of getting out there and actually,

and making a fool of yourself on the internet, I think is just my biggest

piece of advice as far as that goes, to transcend everything else because like,

we obviously know how important radio is.

We know how important it is to help impact the lives of other people.

And it's like, we can do it.

Anywhere now.

Oh,

McCall is streaming and podcasting.

You know, it's pretty easy to check out what other shows and other

markets are doing or even podcasts.

What are some of the ones that you like to sample and what makes,

uh, them one of your favorite?

A station, a show, or a podcast?

Um, I really enjoy the Miguel and Holly Show.

I love them.

I love that their whole focus is positivity and uplift.

I also really like Frankie and Jess in Salt Lake.

I've been listening to them since I was young, and so I like listening to them

because they've created this like family.

I think the, the family type.

Aspect of some of these different radio stations and morning shows

and podcasts is what I really enjoy.

Cool.

So getting back to VFX, I noticed the station does a lot of cool promotional

stuff and events and all over the place.

Can you give us an example of something that was a big hit with

the audience and what made it great?

Um, some of the things that we've done in the past, we've created a.

We call it the back to school tour.

And so we had a high school that got started and opened about five years

ago in the Valley and they thought, you know, it would be cool to have

the morning show come bring donuts or whatever and celebrate this opening

of this new high school, cuz there was kind of some pushback with it.

Anyway, we have done this for about four years now and we have gone to

each of the high schools in the valley.

There's five of them in the valley.

And then we've kind of extended outside into some of the other listening areas.

So I know at one point we did 10 high schools or 11 high schools in the span

of two weeks, basically going to each one of the high schools, welcoming

back to school, giving 'em donuts.

We did a spirit competition, and that one's been really impactful, I think,

because there's a lot of kids I know.

For me growing up, I loved listening to the radio.

I always wanted to meet the jocks that were working, but.

We weren't ever in the area where the jocks were broadcasting live.

So to have that extra step is really cool.

Cause I grew up in this area.

I grew up about 20 minutes outside of Logan.

Mm-hmm.

And so to, to be able to actually do that and kind of raise up the community that I

lived in is what is directly to my soul.

Do you have folks that you grew up with, McCall that listen to you now?

Yeah, it's kind of interesting cuz it's always like the people

that I went to high school with that didn't want anything to do with

me, and then they're like, oh hey,

you're best friends now.

That's right.

Yeah.

They want those, those concert tickets.

Yeah, all the time.

All the time.

But.

No, there's, there's other ones that I went to high school with

that have been really supportive the entire time, so that's great.

Uhhuh,

We are with McCall Taylor from Utah's ninety four five, VFX,

somebody you'd love to hear from.

We'd love to hear your suggestions.

Email us show@brandwidthondemand.com.

And, we'd love to hear your thoughts.

Plus you'll pick up some other stuff too.

By checking out BRANDwidth Plus, that's BRANDwidth . P L U S.

It's on Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and uh, we hope and we

look forward to seeing you there.

Coming up McCall shares the one thing she knows now.

She really wishes she knew way back when.

Hi, it's Gary Berkowitz AC programming consultant at Berkowitz

Broadcast Consulting in Detroit.

Hi, this is Jake Neman with 96 7 Cran.

Hi, this is Dave Tyler from Music Master with even more raving fans.

Did someone say Music Master raving fan?

Ding ding.

That's me.

Hey, it's Leigh McNabb, operations manager for Saga Communications.

Des Moines Radio Group ready to join these raving fans.

Visit Musicmaster.com today.

They're always there and willing to help.

They save me every time I'm a major fan.

Hey there, kipper here.

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Hey, it's Hannah B.

Associate producer of the BRANDwidth podcast and a huge

fan of Morning Show Boot Camp.

This will be my third year in a row attending bootcamp,

and it's truly the best.

Experience.

Kipper encouraged me to attend Boot Camp when I was looking

to get my foot in the door.

I took his word and ended up attending my first morning show bootcamp back in

August of 2021, and just a few weeks later, I was offered my first on air gig.

We all know networking is huge in this industry.

Right, and that's why Boot Camp is simply the best.

I am now doing afternoon drive with Chicago Radio legend Eddie

Volkman on three stations.

I'm so incredibly grateful for everything Morning Show Boot

Camp has brought into my life.

I've met the best mentors while attending bootcamp, including Don

Anthony, Chris Cruz, Sean Tempesta, Mike McVey plus so much more.

I truly don't know where I would be without Morning Show Bootcamp.

It has helped me grow as a broadcaster while meeting some of

my lifelong best friends, or as I like to call them my radio family.

Don't wait.

Don't hesitate.

Visit Morning Show Boot Camp.com today and register for this year's Boot Camp.

I hope to see you August 10th through the 11th in Dallas.

Texas

The stuff we know now.

We wish we'd known then.

BRANDwidth On Demand

. Dave: We're with McCall Taylor.

Hey McCall.

Thinking about your career so far, what's the one thing you know

now that you really wish you'd known way back when you started?

It's a tough question.

It's a doozy.

I think radio in general has this kind of a preconceived notion that.

People in the industry are out to get each other.

And I think when I first started out in radio, that was what I thought was that

the company down the street was the enemy.

They were the worst people that ever existed.

All of that chicanery and you know, when it comes down to ratings and

stuff, I guess I get it, but at the end of the day, the people that I've

reached out to and have been able to reach out to have been so supportive

and they're such a beautiful.

Just a beautiful nature around radio because there, there's something

about being in a room of people who are passionate about the same

thing that you're passionate about.

That's just magic.

And so many people just wanna see other people succeed within the industry.

And I, I wish I had known that before.

Following up on that, what do you wish you knew today about what's

gonna be the case in 10 or 15 years?

Oh man.

I mean, I, I wish I knew how.

Radio was going to adapt into the social media climate of things because I know

there's some radio stations that are adapting and there's a lot who still have.

Denied.

Denied.

Denied that it's coming, that there's this transition period that's happening

right now, and I wish I knew how that was all gonna play out because I

think I would end up making decisions based on that for my own career.

Terrific talent.

Kipper...

McCall Taylor from Utah's 94.5 VFX.

We've got links to McCall's Station, some of their great promotions and more.

All in the show notes.

Just scroll down on your phone.

As always, our thanks to exec producer Cindy Huber for putting all the

magic together and to associate producer Hannah B for booking and coming up next.

Hey, this is Scotty Kay from US 99 Chicago, and on the next BRANDwidth On

Demand, I wanna talk to you about how you can make a one man show sound like

and be as successful as the big shows.

That's a wrap Kipper.

What can we learn from the State Fair?

You'd be surprised.

It's all in One Minute Martinizing in the show notes@BRANDwidthOnDemand.com.

I'm Dave Martin.

And I'm Kipper McGee.