97X - Rumblings from the Big Bush

Robin Plan: Return to Planet X

There were dozens if not hundreds of DJs at 97X/woxy.com over the years. Robin Plan was easily the most unique. A free-spirited person who took freeform radio to a whole new level, every evening after midnight, Robin transported 97X listeners far, far away from the ordinary, to an entirely different universe, and a magical place called Planet X. Dave and Damian talk to Robin about how she pushed the limits throughout her radio career, and what the station meant to her.   

Steve Daedalus part 2 - Jockeys and the Jockey Club

More of Dave and Damian's conversation with Steve "Daedalus" Stenken, the original program director when WOXY-FM became "modern rock for Cincinnati" (and Oxford!) Steve talk about disco barns, horse racing, Robin Plan, the Jockey Club... and why Damian was his stalker for years. 

Steve Daedalus, idea man and original program director

Steve "Daedalus" Stenken was working as the nighttime DJ at WOXY back in 1983, and doing a weekly one-hour "modern rock" program... he suggested that the station should change the format to all modern rock. The rest is radio history. Steve joins Dave and Damian in the party dungeon to talk about those formative years... and bust some myths along the way. 

George "Goober" Lindsey, Abe Vigoda and a gazillion Six Packs

In Episode 10, Dave and Damian talk about the Golden Rule of Celebrity Phone Calls... it involves George "Goober" Lindsey, of course. They also chat with superlistener (or perhaps superhoarder) Chris Barkley, who has amassed a mind-boggling amount of recordings of 97X's "Six Pack" feature. Dave also talks about his side hustle as agent to the stars, and basks in the afterglow of his finest 97X moment: Abe Vigoda's Birthday Bash. 

Episode 9: Matt Sledge, local radio legend

Matt Sledge not only spent a decade at 97X, the Future of Rock and Roll, he also later worked weekends for WNKU-FM, another Cincinnati area radio station that played similar artists and was near and dear to its listeners' hearts. Dave and Damian talk to Sledge (we're on a last name basis with him) about local bands, living through the shutdown of both stations, f-bombs on late-night CDs, and "butt coolers." (And listen until the very end for some fun outtakes.) 

Episode 8: Chris Adryan, Salesman Supreme

When you can sell something intangible like radio airtime, you've gotta be good. When you can sell ads for a station that has a signal so weak that advertisers can barely pick it up in their stores, you've gotta be great. Chris Adryan ("The Herb Tarlek of 97X") spent more than a dozen years as a salesperson for 97X. Dave and Damian chat with him about Frank Eavey, the Rock & Roll Grocer, as well as other advertisers, big hair, flipped ties, ad rates, and the elusive Nick Velvet. 

Episode 7: Mike Taylor, the triple threat

Mike Taylor is one of two on-air personalities who worked at all three versions of WOXY. He spent two stints at 97X in Oxford, Ohio, and stayed with the station as it became the online-only woxy.com, which set up shop in downtown Cincinnati and later moved to Austin, Texas. Dave and Damian chat with him about his radio experiences over the years, the great live performances that took place on woxy.com, his alma mater, and, inexplicably, Rick Astley. 

Episode 6: The Rictile returns!

He's the intern who became the Breakfast Club co-host for 8 years. He's a Dirty Mayor and he has the hard cider to prove it. He's the original University of Dayton "Rudy Flyer" mascot... the Aye Team captain... and a pitchman for mesh and meat snacks. It must be the one, the only, the Rictile! 

Episode 5: an interview with Julie Maxwell, Queen of The Breakfast Club

Abe Froman may be the Sausage King of Chicago (per Ferris Bueller) but he can't hold a candle to Julie Maxwell, who co-hosted the 97X "Breakfast Club" morning show for many years, and also served as the station's promotions manager. If you ever scored concert tickets, prizes or station swag, Julie probably had a hand in it. Dave and Damian chat with her about Outdoor Underwear Festivals, Sinead O'Connor box cutters and her favorite co-host.

Episode 4: an interview with Steve Baker, THE voice of 97X

Dave and Damian chat with the legendary Steve Baker, who worked at 97X for 20 years in a variety of roles: news reporter, Breakfast Club host, station manager, play-by-play announcer for Miami University football and basketball, singer of jingles and National Anthems, etc. Steve's voice also stars in the movie Rainman ("97X... BAM!... the future of rock and roll!")