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JC: What made you get into radio broadcasting?

KG: Well, I spent 4 years in the United States Marines Corps and I have always been a sport junkie. I have always been a stats nerd. When I was in the Corps, other guys would be going out on a Saturday night and I’d be happy to stay in to watch college football. I especially followed the Saints and LSU but, I also watched other sports as well. I remember sitting in my barracks room watching the entire NFL draft, charting every selection from start to finish. Truthfully, I always wanted to play in the NFL but, when you’re 5’7 and 190 pounds, that’s just not going to happen. So, the next best thing was to get into sports radio.

JC: So, you went straight into radio then?

Truthfully, I always wanted to play in the NFL but, when you’re 5’7 and 190 pounds, that’s just not going to happen. So, the next best thing was to get into sports radio.

JC: So, you went straight into radio then?

KG: No, I got out of the Corps and didn’t immediately get into sports radio. I was a police officer when I first got out, for a couple of years. I didn’t like some of the things I had to do as a police officer and some of the things I had to see. I decided it wasn’t for me and applied at WWL. I started out as a high school prep reporter and that was an absolute train wreck. I’ll tell you that story later. I got hired by Magic 101.9 and 105.3 The Zone; both of them were FM music stations. I was the promotion assistant for them. That meant I was handing out flyers and magnets. I was paying my dues and doing the grunt work for them. One day I was in the offices and the program director of WWL Diane Newman saw me. She approached me and told me I belong on the AM side. She said she noticed I had a swagger about me. Back then WWL was only on 870 AM side – not yet both AM and FM sides. She started me out screening calls for sports shows and various shows on the weekends. Then right before Hurricane Katrina, I was put on as morning show producer full-time working with Bob DelGiorno. It kind of snow balled after that. In the summer of 2009, they had a vacancy in the morning sports anchor. I told them I wanted to do it and the rest is history.

JC: Did you ever have defining moment that let you know you were headed down the right path?

KG: Yes, several actually. The one that stands out for me is Hurricane Katrina as a producer. I got baptismal by fire. That’s when I learned all the ins and outs of radio as a producer and became addicted.

JC: Addicted? What do you mean?

KG: That’s when I got hooked into the power of talk radio. I didn’t enjoy covering such a horrific event like Hurricane Katrina. I don’t want people to think that. What really made me want to come back even more every time was the power that talk radio had after Katrina hit in the following days and months. We at WWL were able to help effect change. It was amazing to be part of that. I just got totally addicted to the business. It was the days and months following that I knew this is where I belonged for sure.

JC: Did you ever have a moment in which you were ready to put the microphone down and walk away?

KG: Yeah, you know there was. (laughing) My first report as a High School Prep reporter was an absolute debacle. I went into the report without any notes or anything prepared. I thought at the time I knew football. I felt like I didn’t need any notes or to rehearse. Man, was I wrong. I stumbled all over my words and sounded like a real jerk. I remember getting off the line after that report and thinking I would never be able to get back on the radio again. Fortunately for me, WWL and Entercom are very patient in allowing their employees grow into a position. All in all, I have never given it that consideration where as to say “I am out of here.” I have been in love with this profession for the better part of nine years now.

This post was edited on 2/25/15 at 2:01 pm