History of WRIF Podcast

Chapert XV - Jade Springart

Part One: Running Time:   (15:33) Jade Springart talks to Mike Staff about starting as an intern at WRIF and working her way into the programing and on air staffs. Including working at the front desk, promotions, production and board operator duties along the way. Part Two: Running Time:   (29:45) * In 2015 Jade became the Music Director and learned under award winning programmer Mark Pennington. And she talks about the current state of the rock & roll radio business. Part Three: Running Time:   (44:24) * Jade addresses the biter sweet reality of taking over the mid-day slot on the Riff and being the stations Digital Program Director. Plus her thoughts on some of the legends who came before her including Ken Calvert, Steve Kostan and Karen Savelly.

Chapter XIV - Dave and Chuck The Freak

Part One:   (Running Time: (19:27) Dave and Chuck The Freak talk about their early years in radio, Dave as a news reporter and Chuck working behind the scenes. From interviewing Grandparents at the age of 8 to forming their morning show on 89X to the listeners picking “The Freak” as Chuck’s nickname. Part Two:   Running Time: (45:06) Their radio journey continues with Lisa, James “It’s Friday Bitches”, Operation “Dark Stall” and the derivation of “Penis”. Part Three:   Running Time: (65:33) Dave and Chuck move the show to WRIF and discuss the challenges of not being able to tell anyone, their first show of the Riff and what it was like to replace the legendary Drew and Mike show. Part Four:   Running Time: (94:00) Dave and Chuck the Freak hit incredible new heights, expand into syndication and keep their internal mantra of “the funny always wins” and never talk about politics. Mike Staff also asks the guys about the lasting legacy of WRIF as the station officially turns 50.

Chapter XIII - Screamin' Scott

Part One:   (Running Time: 18:05) Screamin’ Scott Randall talks about his early years in radio. Imitating Arthur P and Alan Allman to the point of starting to smoke to get a deeper sounding voice. Working in Ohio and Indiana doing hog reports and them coming back to Detroit to work at The Ritz. Part Two:   (Running Time: 31:22) * Scott makes the giant leap form the Ritz to doing mornings at 102.7 Z-Rock. He talks about how he got the Screamin’ nickname, doing radio with Alice Cooper and dating Ted Nugent’s daughter. Part Three:   (Running Time: 49:25) * Doug Podell hires Scott to do overnights at WRIF and Scott talks about working with him, Anne Carlini, Arthur P., Meltdown and Drew and Mike. Part Four:   (Running Time: 73:36) * Of course Screamin’ has a beer with Dave Grohl in Ireland, plays a round of Golf with Alice Cooper, hangs out with Bobby Knight and BJ Thomas. Then there was the time he nearly died while on the air. Part Four:   (Running Time: 91:50) * This time Scott really does die, thankfully in the hospital but lives on to create Rock For Tots and his Screamin’ Angles. Scotty also discusses how he was let go after 24 years at WRIF and looks ahead to a bright future.

Chapter XII - Drew Lane Part 2

Part One:   (Running Time: 18:04) Drew Lane (Drew and Mike) continues his conversation with Mike Staff touching on Delbert, Davie Lee Roth, and the value of paying your dues. Part Two:   (Running Time: 32:03) * Recounting the 9-11 show, Woodstock 94, Cold Call celebrity hang-ups and Drew talks about the role of his producers. Part Three:   (Running Time: 47:58) * Drew and Marc move to 105.1 The Sports Station and have to deal with questionable programing and talk about the late 1990s as Howard Stern, Ted Nugent, Danny Bonaduce, and Bill Bonds all had talk shows. Part Four:   (Running Time: 66:22) * Drew’s relationship with Mike during the 22 year run on WRIF, the astounding success of the show and their evolution into Podcasting. Part Four:   (Running Time: 90:10) * The final years at WRIF, Drew’s thoughts on Dave and Chuck The Freak, the loss of Mike Clark and the staying power of The Riff as it approaches the 50th

Chapter XII - Drew Lane Part 1

Part One:   (Running Time: 18:10) Drew Lane (Drew and Mike) recounts his early radio days at WVT, WROV, WAAF (Boston) and KMXX (Phoenix) on his way to WRIF. Part Two:   (Running Time: 33:45) * After 3 Years in Phoenix Drew and Zip take over mornings at WRIF. The stories include Arthur P welcoming Drew to town with a trip to the strip club, Trudijoins the staff and Drew meets Mike Clark for the 1st time at The Ritz in Roseville. Part Three:   (Running Time: 56:53) * The Drew and Zip show becomes Drew and Mike and as they evolve into a full-time talk show the ratings explode. There were Lions pre-game shows with strippers, The OJ Trial, Mike crashing his helicopter on the air, the show gets kicked out of the Auto Show and Mickey Redman joins the team during the Red Wings historic Stanley Cup years. Part Four:   (Running Time: 77:15) * Drew and Mark recount some of the wildest interviews of the Drew and Mike show, plus celebrity hang ups, But Mic and a listen comes in to suck Trudi’s toes. Part Four:    (Running Time: 93:45) * Do co-hosts have to get along off the air?, Was syndication ever a possibility? Can rock starts be good radio hosts?