Sam Walton, Twelve Steps & the Local Relationship Business

A fax machine, a snowstorm, an old pickup truck—and Sam Walton on a Walmart rooftop. Loyd Ford shares a story from his first program director job at Magic 107.9 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, and the lessons it still holds for radio today. Discover why asking for the unexpected, caring about your community, and walking twelve steps for someone else can create extraordinary opportunities.

The Encouragers™ The Radio Rally™10-25-2026-- Guest Rob Creighton, announcer, Midwest Communications, WTHI, WBOW, Terre Haute, Indiana

"What can a paper route, a car dealership, a college radio station, and decades behind the microphone teach us about building a meaningful career? On this episode of The Encouragers™ The Radio Rally™ podcast, we follow our guest’s journey from Loyola University Chicago and his first job delivering the Southtown Economist through radio promotions, programming, leadership, and reinvention. We’ll explore the people who opened doors, the lessons that came from changing direction, and what it takes to help others believe in their own potential. Along the way: mentoring young broadcasters, building community connections, launching stations, and finding fresh opportunities in unfamiliar places. Our conversation brings us to his current work with Midwest Communications in Terre Haute, hosting afternoons on HI-99 and mornings on 102.7

On today’s podcast we talk to a Mississippi radio veteran whose journey began on the overnight shift in 1982 and grew into ownership—and a lifetime of lessons about people, community and finding opportunity.

What does radio teach you that a classroom cannot? How do you keep adapting without losing the local relationships that make your business valuable? And what changes when you become the person responsible for helping everyone else succeed?

Join Loyd Ford for a conversation about growing through change, investing in people and finding reasons to stay encouraged about radio’s future.

The Encouragers™ The Radio Rally™10-11-26-- Podcast Guest: Nikki Hilton

Loyd Ford Discusses the radio career of Nikki Hilton, Regional General Manager, Vista Radio, Vancouver Island & BC Coast , JET FM-SUN FM-COAST FM- RIVER FM-ICON FM-COAST AM

Produced by Joe "Crash" Kelley of sonicattention.com

. For radio production with free spec demos and great jingle production check out sonicattention.com

Contact Joe “Crash” Kelley for Jingles for radio or business with one one-hour

turnaround. email joecrashkelley1@gmail.com or text 478-284-8148

The Encouragers™ The Radio Rally™10-8-26 Rethink Radio Revenue — Q4 Radio Sales Event

How can local radio help businesses grow while creating more revenue for itself? This free quarterly sales event on The Encouragers™ The Radio Rally™ podcast explores how to turn radio’s relationships, audience, content, personalities, data and community connections into opportunities for Q4 and beyond.

Hosts Loyd Ford of Rainmaker Pathway and Chris Fleming of CD Media Consulting welcome Josh Brown, Sales and Marketing Executive at Rome Radio Partners and owner of Cedar Valley Media and Big John Small, station owner and general manager of Sunny 93.3/KZOY in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

Listen for ideas to strengthen advertiser relationships, solve business problems and rethink what local radio can offer. Learn more anytime @ RainmakerPathway.com.

The Encouragers™ The Radio Rally™10-4-26-- Podcast Guest: Loren LoLo Luckett

Loyd Ford Discusses the radio career of Loren “LoLo” Luckett Producer KNBS-FM - NewsTalk STL St. Louis, MO

Produced by Joe "Crash" Kelley of sonicattention.com

. For radio production with free spec demos and great jingle production check out sonicattention.com

Contact Joe “Crash” Kelley for Jingles for radio or business with one one-hour

turnaround. email joecrashkelley1@gmail.com or text 478-284-8148

Loyd Ford Discusses the radio career of Cassian Bellino, iHeartMedia, Account Executive/DJ for 92.3 KSSK, Honolulu, HI

Produced by Joe "Crash" Kelley of sonicattention.com For radio production with free spec demos and great jingle production check out sonicattention.com

Contact Joe “Crash” Kelley for Jingles for radio or business with one one-hour

turnaround. email joecrashkelley1@gmail.com or text 478-284-8148

The Encouragers™ Radio Rally™9-13-2026- Guest: Craig Mundy

What A Rock Star Radio Pro Sounds Likes Like.

Today's Guest Craig Mundy, Underwriting Account Manager, RTN-His Radio/The JoyFM, Abingdon, Virginia . For radio production with free spec demos and great jingle production check out sonicattention.com

Contact Joe “Crash” Kelley for Jingles for radio or business with one one-hour

turnaround. email joecrashkelley1@gmail.com or text 478-284-8148