Listen to “What a Difference a Year Makes” on Spreaker.
Next week marks one year since Dave Wilson and I inherited MetroNews Talkline. It still feels a little unreal.
Flash back to the year 2000. I cracked a mic a time or two at West Virginia Radio Charleston on what was then 98.7 The Beat with Woody Woods. College brought me to Morgantown, and a few folks in the Charleston office reached out on my behalf to the late Lacy Neff — longtime WVAQ program director (PD) and multiple Marconi Award winner. His talent was unprecedented. I miss him.
Lacy was gracious enough to offer me a weekend shift on his station.
Like any good PD, he wanted an air-check. I made the trek to Sabraton, walked into the Greer Building, and knocked on the West Virginia Radio headquarters door upstairs. Hoppy Kercheval answered.
Foreshadowing? Maybe.
I wanted to meet Lacy. He was on the air at the time, but I hoped to push my way back to his studio to make my pitch. The dutiful vice president of operations told me he wasn’t available — as he should have — and agreed to give him the tape. We still air-checked with cassettes back then, believe it or not.
Funny — I’ve often wondered what Kercheval thought of this skinny, wet-behind-the-ears kid dropping off that tape. I should ask him. Odds are he doesn’t remember it. I wouldn’t if I were him.
Anyway, Lacy gave me a shot. It was my chance to succeed or fail. A few months later, he gave me the night shift from 7 p.m. to midnight — a great shift in a college town. I worked there until I graduated in 2003.
Restless and eager to make my mark, I explored opportunities outside of media after graduation. Not a journalism major, I began my first career in corporate America in January 2004.
Fast forward to October 2024. Hoppy reached out. You may remember, I subbed for him for a few years before my job became so consuming, I didn’t have the time anymore. He told me he planned to retire. Having met WVRC Media President and CEO George Pelletier a few months earlier, it felt like things were lining up.
But talk about a 180.
At 44, working my way up the corporate ladder — with a stop at a startup along the way — I had reached a level where you start to matter a bit. Everyone matters but you get it… More meetings with C-suite folks and real relationships with them. More access. More influence. More decisions to make. A future-looking portfolio with real significance, and a clear path to move to higher levels.
Do I give that up? I had been thinking about doing something different, but thinking and a real opportunity are two different things.
Thankfully, neither my wife nor I are hyper-consumers. We live a low-key, far-below-our-means lifestyle, so trading money for meaning wasn’t a hinderance. Don’t misunderstand — I’m paid very well for what I do. My point is this: if you prepare and live sensibly with margin, you can afford to trade a job you like that may pay a lot of money, for a passion that fulfills you beyond what a job ever could. That’s one reason I harp so much on teaching sound personal finance to our kids.
Still, growing in a company can be addicting. It feeds your ego. Starting young in corporate America, I was hooked on that — as much as I cringe to admit it.
Walking away wasn’t easy. The hard work, long hours, an occasional night until 3 a.m. to turn something around that popped up without notice, all done to reach a certain point wouldn’t matter. Was it all for naught?
Talking with people close to me, praying, and sitting quietly thinking about later life — wondering how I’d cope knowing I never tried — fairly quickly led to a peace about moving forward.
Sure, the fact that I’m not Hoppy was a concern, but not a big one. Will people still listen? Will they accept me? Will they think I’m terrible and tune out, leading to my being sacked? Perhaps. Fear, though, is no reason to pass on a great opportunity. It’s a liar meant to trick you into accepting less.
So early in November, I called my former boss — a person I respect and frankly esteem. She’s brilliant, almost always the smartest person in the room, yet humble and caring. I’d still jump off a bridge for her if she asked knowing I’d somehow land safely.
She didn’t hesitate. Instantly, she affirmed this was something I had to do. You can see why I think so much of her and continue to.
Now, hundreds of shows and commentaries later, I wake up each day eager to do what I do — fully aware of how blessed I am.
A seed planted 25 years ago has grown into what I do today. I’m grateful to God for his graces, and I’m grateful to you for listening to the show and reading commentaries. I know some agree with me, while some disagree, and that’s okay. Right or wrong, my goal is to share ideas and encourage discussion – that’s the only way we reach the sweet spot.
You make a part of my life I truly love possible, and I’m indebted to you for that.
Here’s to a great 2026 of sharing ideas, debating issues, and growing alongside each other.
Be well!