My Radio Journey and Why I Left
The Voice That Never Left
I formally left the radio broadcasting industry in 2011, yet I still receive comments, often weekly, asking me if I work on the radio. Ever curious, I ask why, knowing it has to be more than just the voice. They explain that my tone, cadence, and vocabulary are what stand out. Despite being a very self-aware person, it still surprises me. This happens everywhere from the Starbucks drive-thru to meetings with stakeholders at Fortune 500 companies. Mind you, they also see my studio microphone, which tends to give it away.
The Dream Takes Root
I was once a 9-year-old kid telling everyone who would listen that I wanted to be a radio broadcaster someday. It wasn't about attention; it was always about making others smile, laugh, and think. I wanted to be their freedom from concern. Those who knew me often remarked that it would be a destiny fulfilled, even though I don't believe in such a concept.
But beyond my personality, here's what others didn't always see: hard work.
Overcoming Early Challenges
I was energetic, creative, and extremely sociable as a young child. There was just one issue; very few individuals outside of my parents could actually understand me. My energetic and creative personality directly impacted my ability to communicate with the world around me. I spoke far too quickly and had great difficulty keeping up with my ever-changing thought process.
My Grade 1 experience was pivotal. I met with a speech therapist who attempted to get me on the right path regarding basic articulation. As it turns out, this woman was the mother of my Grade 1 teacher, a teacher who constantly wrote me off and put me down, just as she did with any other child who crossed her path. Although our memories tend to be less than accurate at such a young age, I vividly recall something this teacher once told me.
“Stop talking and be quiet. No one can understand you anyway." Harsh? Just a tad!
Finding My Voice
Truth be told, I was never a confident speaker in any situation. I was more comfortable just playing with action figures or watching television. But even at such a young age, I realized things needed to change drastically. Within 6 months, my communication ability had grown by leaps and bounds. I still had apparent improvements to make, but I was proud of myself.
From then on, I obsessively listened to the radio, watched sports commentators, especially professional wrestling, and studied any public speaker to understand what made them great, often mimicking them. (This is why I can impersonate many characters and individuals today.)
Education and Early Career
I attended Fanshawe College for Radio Broadcasting, determined to be one of the top students. While I was never scholastically inclined (except in Grades 11 and 12), my passion for broadcasting changed everything. Following a successful first year, while others took the summer off, I chose to stay at Fanshawe, volunteering my time to continue hosting shows on 106.9 The X. I didn't see this as sacrificing my time, it was honing my craft.
After graduating as one of the top students in my class, I faced the intimidating question that haunts every new graduate:
What next?
Breaking Into the Industry
I took a unique approach to job hunting. I researched every radio station within a 100-km radius and contacted Program Directors for station tours and advice. These conversations invariably turned into informal interviews. I visited countless stations from London to Stratford to Woodstock, attempting to get my foot in the door.
Eventually, my Aunt Sue, who had worked in Marketing/Advertising for CFPL Radio in London, helped me land an opportunity in Sarnia. This led to an interview with not one but three program directors for the rock, easy listening, and country stations. Despite being grilled by three people, I passed with flying colours, even fielding detailed music questions about my claimed passion for music. (I wasn't lying!)
The Climb
My radio career began with hosting live overnight shifts at K106.3, commuting one hour each way from London without hesitation. The bet paid off. After filling in one morning for a sick host, I impressed the Program Director from CHOK with my ability to think on my feet and engage listeners with celebrity impressions.
At 21, I landed a rare opportunity: the Mid-Day Host position at CHOK. Soon after, I became an Assistant Producer, handling commercials and station promos. I was also voice-tracking for multiple stations, meaning I was on the airwaves seven days a week across three different formats.
With a growing audience, I was promoted to the Afternoon Host position. While maintaining my Assistant Producer role, I also proposed hosting the Country 103.9 CHOK Countdown Show every Saturday afternoon. (I figured it was far more cost-efficient to produce this in-house, since we were outsourcing it by purchasing rights to another show.)
For being so young, I surprisingly resonated with a much older demographic. This likely had everything to do with my obsession with show prep (researching topics and stories they would be fond of), my charisma, and my self-deprecating sense of humour. I ensured the environment was welcoming, fun, and conversational when interviewing artists.
I'm my worst critic, but I was genuinely proud of my work during this time.
One of the highlights was my involvement with Rogers Sarnia Bayfest, an annual music festival from 1999 to 2012, attracting upwards of 100,000 visitors across all shows per year.
I had the privilege of introducing artists at the 2009 and 2010 country weekends, standing on stage in front of nearly 15,000 people. I felt alive, full of energy, and entirely at home. I'll never forget when one colleague remarked to one of the organizers, “Chris was born for this."
The Peak and Valley
By October 2010, at age 24, I had achieved my childhood dream: becoming the youngest permanent morning radio show host at Country 1039 CHOK. But it happened too quickly. The 4 AM wake-ups, the isolation during normal business hours, and the distance from family and friends began to take their toll on my mental health.
There's an Oscar Wilde quote that captures it perfectly: “There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and the other is getting it."
Making less than $30,000 a year to be the star of a station, I was too young and inexperienced to comprehend my situation fully. The loneliness led me to adopt my four-legged companion, Timbit, who remains with me to this day. (If only I could age as gracefully as him!)
I should have sought more mentorship and advice, but when I asked my Program Director for guidance, I was simply told, “You're too young and don’t have kids." It still perplexes me to recall this conversation, after all, they had promoted me to the position; I hadn't asked for it.
During this time, it was no secret that I wanted to return home to London, Ontario. An exciting opportunity arose when Blackburn London announced the launch of 98.1 Classic Rock. I became one of the top contenders for their evening show position, running from 7 PM to midnight.
Sadly, I became the silver medalist when they hired a radio personality from Vancouver instead. Though she didn't last long in the role, the missed opportunity had already derailed my plans to return to my hometown, climb the ranks, and continue my career there.
The End of an Era
In July 2011, CHOK announced they were “heading in a new creative direction." There wasn't room for me anymore. The hardest part wasn't losing the job; it was not getting to say goodbye on my own terms. It was never explained to me why they were heading in a new direction, but such is life; many other broadcasters have suffered the same fate.
Why I Never Went Back
Despite opportunities to continue in radio, I chose a different path for three main reasons:
I didn't want to move away from my family and friends. (I was presented with two opportunities to continue, but it would have placed me either 3 or 5 hours away from home)
While I've never been driven by money, I knew I could earn more in other fields (The following year, I increased my salary by 25%, so my gut instinct proved accurate)
I saw the writing on the wall: satellite radio and podcasting would disrupt the industry within 5-10 years (Talent was underpaid and it would only get worse)
Life After Radio
Do I miss broadcasting? Frequently.
I used to think I was born for radio, but the truth is I was simply born to help others and alleviate their concerns, a skill that translates to many industries. More importantly, I care most about being the best father I can be to Max.
I still get my fixes through voice-over work, both nationally and globally, thanks to contacts I've made along my journey. I've hosted various sponsored podcasts, produced countless videos, and continue to utilize the skills I honed in radio in many other roles, including my current role in Education and Training.
The voice never really left, it just found a different frequency.
