November 2016 marks the 10 year milestone when Capital Region area of New York local radio talk host Paul Vandenburgh went off on his own and made his own radio station.
I’m personally not a fan of several things about his show, including it’s strong political bent and bias as well as his overly harping on local negatives. I really miss hearing Dennis Prager (most thought-provoking show on the air) and not thrilled about his replacements. Other shows at Talk 1300 that I like are Fred Dicker’s “Live from the State Capitol” and John Bachelor late at night especially when he and his guests make history come alive, and Michael Savage on those precious occasions when he doesn’t speak politics but vividly describes life or old-time memories, in his true New-Yawker-way, down-to-earth yet richly articulate. Rich Vassey’s humor on Sunday’s Swap Shop can be pretty awesome.
There are two things about Paul Vandenburgh’s show and style that I really like and that can be applicable in many areas of life, whether you are a talk show host or not.
1) BUSINESS IS PERSONAL
Most of Talk 1300 advertising aren’t canned ads that display in spots, but they are infomercials of sorts. He visits local businesses, broadcasts remotely from their locations, and most of all speaks of their proprietors and owners as individual people. If you listen long enough you’ll get to “meet” these names, get to know their voices and styles. It makes Albany feel smaller, in a good way, creating a sense of community and small-town feel. As the world becomes more global, distant and indifferent, Paul has his way of making everything feel more local. It’s all about the people, he speaks more about the people than the products themselves. “One of the great families in the area” as he is often says.
2) IN(TER)DEPENDENT
It was a bold move ten years ago to strike out on his own. He now runs his own business now and does his own thing. But that’s only partially true. If you listen enough you’ll realize that some of the regulars he has on his show are actually partners who invested and remain invested in his venture. And Paul values his partners and makes the most of business relationships and networks. Too often, today, people are either totally off on their own, or far too dependent on others. Paul’s model takes the best of both worlds. He remains fiercely independent, loves doing his own thing, is extremely invested but doesn’t go it alone. He realizes the value of working with others, including others, making others a part of it.
Look, like his show or not, these are valuable lessons everyone can learn from and apply to some degree in their own lives and interpersonal activities and endeavors.