1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:13,920 Speaker 1: Podcast play Goun's Taking a Walk with Buds Night Jean Levanchi, 2 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:17,400 Speaker 1: how a young lad from the mean streets of Walpole 3 00:00:17,680 --> 00:00:22,200 Speaker 1: became one of the most recognizable anchors in Boston. I'm Buzzsnight, 4 00:00:22,440 --> 00:00:24,919 Speaker 1: the host of the Taking a Walk podcast, and we 5 00:00:25,040 --> 00:00:28,040 Speaker 1: are at Bird Park and Walpole to meet up with 6 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:33,360 Speaker 1: a man who's interviewed newsmakers, celebrities everyday citizens. He's hit 7 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:36,320 Speaker 1: every zip code in this fine state. I guarantee you 8 00:00:36,840 --> 00:00:41,040 Speaker 1: of field anchoring, the very popular zip trips, and he's 9 00:00:41,159 --> 00:00:45,519 Speaker 1: even mastered the fine art of floating dad jokes. Welcome 10 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:49,840 Speaker 1: Jean Levanchi, anchor Boston twenty five News to Taking a Walk. 11 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:52,360 Speaker 1: It's great, great to be with you, Thanks for the invite, 12 00:00:52,560 --> 00:00:54,640 Speaker 1: and thanks for coming out here to beautiful Bird Park 13 00:00:54,640 --> 00:00:58,600 Speaker 1: in Walpole. It's so great to be here. And how 14 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:03,000 Speaker 1: does one master the fine nerd of the floating dad jokes? Well, 15 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:05,320 Speaker 1: you know, I'll say this, you don't have to necessarily 16 00:01:05,360 --> 00:01:07,600 Speaker 1: be a dad to do it. You just have to 17 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:10,160 Speaker 1: like a good pun and just throw it out there 18 00:01:10,160 --> 00:01:12,200 Speaker 1: and see what happens. And if you're lucky enough, some 19 00:01:12,240 --> 00:01:14,080 Speaker 1: will pop into your head. Here or there. There are 20 00:01:14,080 --> 00:01:17,440 Speaker 1: the old standards, of course, but just having the opportunity 21 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:20,120 Speaker 1: to throw them in when they pop up is it's 22 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: fun and practice, practice, practice, I guess. Don't be afraid 23 00:01:24,040 --> 00:01:25,560 Speaker 1: you got a dad joke, Just throw it out there. 24 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,360 Speaker 1: Let's all right. What was one recently that you think 25 00:01:29,440 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: really hit it out of the park. I don't know 26 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:33,959 Speaker 1: if they hit him out of the park, but something 27 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,720 Speaker 1: comes up. It's kind of a dad joke approach, I guess, 28 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:40,120 Speaker 1: instead of actually telling a dad joke. Like today, we 29 00:01:40,160 --> 00:01:42,280 Speaker 1: did something and you know, marijuana is now the top 30 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:47,480 Speaker 1: product in Massachusetts. It's almost doubled cranberries. So I was like, well, 31 00:01:47,520 --> 00:01:49,520 Speaker 1: we had to dig through the weeds to get this one. 32 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:54,920 Speaker 1: There you go. You mix the cranberries with you know, 33 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:57,000 Speaker 1: your Thanksgiving dinner, it's going to be a pot belly. 34 00:01:57,040 --> 00:01:59,840 Speaker 1: So it's all kind of interconnected. So any stupid little 35 00:01:59,840 --> 00:02:03,400 Speaker 1: thing you have you can throw out there. It's the best. 36 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:07,520 Speaker 1: Did you ever think in your in your lifetime that 37 00:02:07,640 --> 00:02:15,360 Speaker 1: you'd see marijuana legalized and gambling legalists? No, no, gambling maybe, 38 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:18,400 Speaker 1: I don't know, but the marijuana when I, you know, 39 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:20,080 Speaker 1: I was growing up, it's always like, oh, you know, 40 00:02:20,120 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: it's taboo, And now it's embraced and now it's a 41 00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:26,040 Speaker 1: big revenue generator casinos. Now you think about the new 42 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:29,440 Speaker 1: revenue streams here in Massachusetts that we've had that didn't 43 00:02:29,440 --> 00:02:31,919 Speaker 1: exist before, which is part of the reason everybody's getting 44 00:02:31,919 --> 00:02:34,919 Speaker 1: a check because the state generated too much tax revenue, 45 00:02:35,320 --> 00:02:38,640 Speaker 1: which kicked into that law from nineteen eighty six. So 46 00:02:38,639 --> 00:02:40,480 Speaker 1: everybody's going to get a refund. But you have the 47 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:44,160 Speaker 1: you know, the marijuana, casino gambling, and the sports betting 48 00:02:44,200 --> 00:02:48,000 Speaker 1: coming up. Now it's it's remarkable. And I never ever 49 00:02:48,080 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: thought DC marijuana. I mean kids, I know nobody, you know, 50 00:02:52,440 --> 00:02:55,040 Speaker 1: people I know friends will say buzz, that's right, who 51 00:02:55,160 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 1: use it in college? And you're trying to hide And 52 00:02:57,080 --> 00:02:59,079 Speaker 1: then now you just go on the street smokes some 53 00:02:59,120 --> 00:03:02,960 Speaker 1: marijuana and nobody thinks anything about it. Life is so 54 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,799 Speaker 1: it's crazy, and who knows where else we're going from here? Right, 55 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:09,640 Speaker 1: I don't know if I want to know? Yeah, no, right, 56 00:03:09,880 --> 00:03:12,000 Speaker 1: just stay in the here and now and deal with that. 57 00:03:12,919 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: So set the scene. We're at this beautiful park here 58 00:03:16,639 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: called Bird Park in Walpole, and I bet you've taken 59 00:03:21,919 --> 00:03:24,680 Speaker 1: a few walks here and you're yeah, over the years, 60 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:27,480 Speaker 1: especially with four kids, we would come here to play 61 00:03:27,880 --> 00:03:29,920 Speaker 1: the big open field. There'd be a lot of youth 62 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,959 Speaker 1: soccer going on here, tennis tournaments. As I was telling 63 00:03:33,000 --> 00:03:36,080 Speaker 1: you earlier, the tennis courts here. I won my very 64 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,400 Speaker 1: first trophy at ten years old, buzz in a tennis 65 00:03:38,400 --> 00:03:42,640 Speaker 1: tournament here, and I'm not sure that trophy still exists, 66 00:03:42,640 --> 00:03:45,240 Speaker 1: but at a moment you remember as a kid, and 67 00:03:45,320 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: it's just a beautiful open space. We'd come here in 68 00:03:47,240 --> 00:03:49,120 Speaker 1: high school just kind of hang out and sit around, 69 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:52,000 Speaker 1: and it's still a beautiful place for people, families to 70 00:03:52,040 --> 00:03:55,520 Speaker 1: come to enjoy. And if you're lucky enough, most towns 71 00:03:55,520 --> 00:03:56,920 Speaker 1: will have a place like this. I know we do 72 00:03:56,960 --> 00:03:59,320 Speaker 1: here in Walpole, and it's a gym and they take 73 00:03:59,360 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 1: good care of it. Trustees look out for it. People 74 00:04:02,320 --> 00:04:05,720 Speaker 1: respect it. It's a great spot. It's beautiful. It's beautiful. 75 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,800 Speaker 1: Did you ever envision that you'd become a celebrity in 76 00:04:10,840 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 1: your own backyard? Jean, No, and I don't. I'm not 77 00:04:17,480 --> 00:04:20,440 Speaker 1: real comfortable with that. I mean, I'm just a guy 78 00:04:20,680 --> 00:04:22,680 Speaker 1: doing a job that people happen to be able to 79 00:04:22,720 --> 00:04:26,279 Speaker 1: watch it on television, I suppose, but I never really 80 00:04:26,279 --> 00:04:28,839 Speaker 1: thought of it in those terms. It's nice when people 81 00:04:28,839 --> 00:04:31,400 Speaker 1: come up and they may recognize you or have something 82 00:04:31,480 --> 00:04:33,599 Speaker 1: nice to say, or maybe see a story you did, 83 00:04:33,680 --> 00:04:36,480 Speaker 1: or remember something they saw in the air that they 84 00:04:36,640 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: liked if they mentioned it to you. To me, it's 85 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:42,400 Speaker 1: just sort of an affirmation that as a group we're 86 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:45,320 Speaker 1: doing a good job. And I appreciate it because the 87 00:04:45,320 --> 00:04:48,279 Speaker 1: fact they are watching that helps me feed my provide 88 00:04:48,279 --> 00:04:52,800 Speaker 1: for my family. But I think your longevity in the 89 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: Boston market, I think is the fact that you are 90 00:04:58,279 --> 00:05:02,120 Speaker 1: sort of, you know, the every man who's just doing 91 00:05:02,320 --> 00:05:05,640 Speaker 1: your job. So do you think that's true? That's all 92 00:05:05,680 --> 00:05:09,360 Speaker 1: I look at it. Yeah, I mean there's nothing I think. 93 00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: One of the things that you know, my parents instilled 94 00:05:12,120 --> 00:05:14,400 Speaker 1: in me, especially my mother. Any anything can be taken 95 00:05:14,400 --> 00:05:17,120 Speaker 1: away from you at any time. There's nothing guaranteed, so 96 00:05:17,200 --> 00:05:21,279 Speaker 1: you try to approach it as if you know, hey, 97 00:05:21,279 --> 00:05:22,880 Speaker 1: maybe it could be the last day you're doing this, 98 00:05:23,000 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: or some new management comes in and they don't like you, 99 00:05:25,320 --> 00:05:26,920 Speaker 1: and then I don't have to tell you how that works. 100 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,280 Speaker 1: Someone can change your mind and say I don't care 101 00:05:29,320 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: how long this guy's been around, I don't like them. 102 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: And it's a very subjective thing, you know, in our business. 103 00:05:36,000 --> 00:05:39,800 Speaker 1: There are ratings, but those can be spun any way 104 00:05:39,839 --> 00:05:41,640 Speaker 1: you want, So it's not like you're in sales where 105 00:05:41,680 --> 00:05:44,080 Speaker 1: they say, oh, well you generate the next amount of sales, 106 00:05:44,120 --> 00:05:47,800 Speaker 1: this guy's valuable. There's really nothing that can tie us 107 00:05:47,800 --> 00:05:50,480 Speaker 1: into two ratings. You can try to make that case. 108 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:52,479 Speaker 1: But if someone doesn't like you and they're in a 109 00:05:52,480 --> 00:05:55,160 Speaker 1: position of deciding who's on the air and who's not, 110 00:05:56,279 --> 00:05:58,120 Speaker 1: well they don't like it, it's all over and there's 111 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,440 Speaker 1: nothing you do about it. You could be doing some 112 00:05:59,480 --> 00:06:02,120 Speaker 1: of the best work you've ever done, and then new 113 00:06:02,120 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: management comes in and says, eh, we want to try 114 00:06:04,520 --> 00:06:09,320 Speaker 1: something else. So it just kind of keeps you focused 115 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,000 Speaker 1: and appreciative of every day and the people you work with, 116 00:06:13,040 --> 00:06:15,360 Speaker 1: and you do it day after day, and that leads 117 00:06:15,360 --> 00:06:18,160 Speaker 1: a year after year, and that leads to whatever it's 118 00:06:18,160 --> 00:06:21,680 Speaker 1: been over thirty years. Now. That's great. Well, congratulations on that. 119 00:06:21,920 --> 00:06:26,520 Speaker 1: And how in your view, has the media landscape really 120 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:30,599 Speaker 1: changed during this period of time that you've been on 121 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:34,040 Speaker 1: the air. Pretty remarkable. First of all, how we present everything. 122 00:06:34,200 --> 00:06:38,520 Speaker 1: Technology has changed. We usually have those big satellite trucks, 123 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:40,800 Speaker 1: remember those things with a dish on the top, and 124 00:06:40,920 --> 00:06:44,320 Speaker 1: you'd have to run yards and yards of cable to 125 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,760 Speaker 1: get to the truck, and then you'd have to buy 126 00:06:46,800 --> 00:06:50,839 Speaker 1: satellite time. All that's gone. We now go live anywhere 127 00:06:50,880 --> 00:06:53,880 Speaker 1: we want. Was something that's the size of a backpack 128 00:06:54,440 --> 00:06:59,080 Speaker 1: without any cables. By just getting on the internet, it's 129 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:02,159 Speaker 1: truly mare Wi fi. You can go anywhere. So from 130 00:07:02,160 --> 00:07:05,560 Speaker 1: the technology standpoint, it's been huge. When I first started, 131 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:08,240 Speaker 1: there was no CNN was in existence, but there was 132 00:07:08,279 --> 00:07:11,360 Speaker 1: no MSNBC, there was no Fox News, there's no cable news. 133 00:07:11,720 --> 00:07:15,160 Speaker 1: There were none of the media outlets that are on 134 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:18,840 Speaker 1: the internet now and those sites none of it. So 135 00:07:19,040 --> 00:07:21,800 Speaker 1: now there's a saturation. I think there's a lot of 136 00:07:21,800 --> 00:07:25,400 Speaker 1: different places that people can go to get their news, 137 00:07:25,400 --> 00:07:29,280 Speaker 1: to consume the news. Even newspapers, they're all online now. 138 00:07:29,760 --> 00:07:32,480 Speaker 1: So all of this stuff has changed to the point 139 00:07:32,480 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: where there's more competition and you have to you know. 140 00:07:36,480 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: The social media to me, is a way to sort 141 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:43,160 Speaker 1: of get word. It's more of a marketing tool, I think, 142 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:49,240 Speaker 1: than it is anywhere to actually put your product. I mean, 143 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:51,520 Speaker 1: you do put your product there, but you don't use 144 00:07:51,560 --> 00:07:56,080 Speaker 1: that as the be all and end all. From my perspective, 145 00:07:56,280 --> 00:07:59,040 Speaker 1: the social media is used to promote your product, maybe 146 00:07:59,200 --> 00:08:01,520 Speaker 1: a little brandwareness, and then people will get to know 147 00:08:01,600 --> 00:08:04,440 Speaker 1: your product, and then they'll watch you. There's been nothing 148 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:07,720 Speaker 1: that I have seen that shows as a correlation to 149 00:08:07,800 --> 00:08:12,080 Speaker 1: your presence on social media and your ratings. So they 150 00:08:12,200 --> 00:08:14,600 Speaker 1: like to say sometimes consultants say, oh ya, social media, 151 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:17,000 Speaker 1: that'll get your ratings. Well, there's no proof of that. 152 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:20,360 Speaker 1: It'll help build your awareness. People may get to know you, 153 00:08:20,400 --> 00:08:22,240 Speaker 1: but that doesn't necessarily mean they're going to tune in 154 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:27,040 Speaker 1: to watch when you're on. When your shows are on morning, evening, 155 00:08:27,080 --> 00:08:30,720 Speaker 1: late night, etc. So when you were sitting in class 156 00:08:30,800 --> 00:08:38,760 Speaker 1: at Emerson College, were you envisioning a news angle in 157 00:08:38,800 --> 00:08:41,920 Speaker 1: your career or were you exclusively focused then in the 158 00:08:41,960 --> 00:08:45,120 Speaker 1: sports size, it's all sports. Everything I did was geared 159 00:08:45,120 --> 00:08:50,559 Speaker 1: toward being a sportscaster, being a sports reporter covering teams. 160 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: You know, I realized at a young age I wasn't 161 00:08:52,280 --> 00:08:54,520 Speaker 1: going to be good enough athlete to play for the 162 00:08:54,559 --> 00:08:57,640 Speaker 1: Red Sox or whatever, but I wanted to be around 163 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: sports and grow up in Boston. I mean, what a 164 00:09:01,559 --> 00:09:04,400 Speaker 1: treat we were spoiled with the sportscasters we had, and 165 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:06,440 Speaker 1: how much time was given to sports and the teams 166 00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,640 Speaker 1: we had and the athletes who came through here. It 167 00:09:08,679 --> 00:09:10,880 Speaker 1: was just, oh my god, it was a It was 168 00:09:10,920 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: a feast of great coverage, of great reporters and great teams. 169 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,640 Speaker 1: All of that came together, and he wanted to find 170 00:09:19,679 --> 00:09:21,679 Speaker 1: a way to be a part of it. So, I 171 00:09:21,720 --> 00:09:23,280 Speaker 1: don't know, for some reason as a kid, I was 172 00:09:23,280 --> 00:09:28,000 Speaker 1: always drawn to it, broadcasting and journalism. I remember being 173 00:09:28,080 --> 00:09:30,160 Speaker 1: like third fourth grade. I'd bring the newspaper into school 174 00:09:30,160 --> 00:09:33,800 Speaker 1: and read it and Peter like, you're weird, but I 175 00:09:33,800 --> 00:09:36,480 Speaker 1: don't know, I get to do it. Yeah, I did. 176 00:09:36,559 --> 00:09:39,560 Speaker 1: I did. It was kind of a drive of just 177 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:44,400 Speaker 1: being curious about everything, and that led to uh, you know, 178 00:09:44,440 --> 00:09:46,520 Speaker 1: taking journalism classes in high school and then going to 179 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:49,600 Speaker 1: Emerson and just getting a lot of breaks along the 180 00:09:49,600 --> 00:09:52,880 Speaker 1: way and being able to pursue covering sports. And it 181 00:09:52,920 --> 00:09:55,320 Speaker 1: was awesome. Got to cover a lot of great events, 182 00:09:55,800 --> 00:09:58,439 Speaker 1: got to cover the teams I grew up watching. And 183 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:00,400 Speaker 1: then by the time came to make the transit over 184 00:10:00,440 --> 00:10:02,760 Speaker 1: the news, you know, I was ready to do that. 185 00:10:03,600 --> 00:10:06,960 Speaker 1: And was that something that sort of came to you 186 00:10:07,160 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 1: that changed the news or was that something would hit 187 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:12,080 Speaker 1: that I would like to say that I had a 188 00:10:12,080 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: crystal ball, and that was brilliant about where things were 189 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:17,680 Speaker 1: going in terms of sports coverage and the emphasis or 190 00:10:17,760 --> 00:10:20,160 Speaker 1: lack thereof now maybe compared to what it used to be. 191 00:10:20,559 --> 00:10:23,240 Speaker 1: But really it was a personal thing in that I 192 00:10:23,280 --> 00:10:26,560 Speaker 1: had four kids at the time, all under the age 193 00:10:26,559 --> 00:10:30,760 Speaker 1: of nine, and I would be off to work before 194 00:10:30,800 --> 00:10:33,240 Speaker 1: they were home from school, and then they'd be off 195 00:10:33,240 --> 00:10:35,480 Speaker 1: to school before I get out of bed. So it 196 00:10:35,520 --> 00:10:38,199 Speaker 1: wasn't really conduced to being a good parent. And luckily 197 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:42,439 Speaker 1: the opportunity that then Fox twenty five popped up and 198 00:10:42,559 --> 00:10:44,880 Speaker 1: it seemed to fit some of my skills well, and 199 00:10:44,920 --> 00:10:47,680 Speaker 1: I knew some people there, and you know, thank the Lord, 200 00:10:47,679 --> 00:10:49,280 Speaker 1: and all fell into place, and I've been there twenty 201 00:10:49,360 --> 00:10:54,840 Speaker 1: years now. Wow, it's amazing. So the concept of the 202 00:10:54,960 --> 00:11:00,319 Speaker 1: zip trips I've always loved how it just really it's 203 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:05,400 Speaker 1: you know, your station and your show in a community. 204 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,680 Speaker 1: What are some of the favorite zips that you really 205 00:11:11,520 --> 00:11:15,319 Speaker 1: really love? Well, they all you kind of remember a 206 00:11:15,360 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: little something about all of them. And we've been doing 207 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: it for so long now, we've revisited towns, we've been 208 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,640 Speaker 1: there once and then ten twelve years later we're back again. 209 00:11:24,679 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: So you always remember what you did the first time. 210 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:31,640 Speaker 1: But for me, I think I've enjoyed the ones where 211 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:35,520 Speaker 1: we've had some celebrities actually come out. Martin Short came 212 00:11:35,520 --> 00:11:39,080 Speaker 1: out to Milford. Wow. We had Roddy Roddy Piper down 213 00:11:39,080 --> 00:11:44,559 Speaker 1: in Norwell, we had any Money live in Westwood with us. 214 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:50,079 Speaker 1: Joe Thaisman was with us in Burlington. So you try 215 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,040 Speaker 1: and explain to these people they come on to promote 216 00:11:52,040 --> 00:11:53,760 Speaker 1: something or whatever. When you try to explain to them, 217 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:55,560 Speaker 1: no, no no, no, well we're going to be out in 218 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:57,520 Speaker 1: this town. There'd be a lot of people there and 219 00:11:58,040 --> 00:12:00,480 Speaker 1: they have no idea what to expect. And then they 220 00:12:00,520 --> 00:12:03,079 Speaker 1: come out and obviously the crowd loves to see him 221 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,600 Speaker 1: and it turns out to be as beneficial to them 222 00:12:06,080 --> 00:12:08,960 Speaker 1: as it was to us. So to get their reaction 223 00:12:09,600 --> 00:12:13,599 Speaker 1: is phenomenal. And then just to see these these celebrities 224 00:12:14,080 --> 00:12:17,680 Speaker 1: coming out to small town Massachusetts but they don't know 225 00:12:17,679 --> 00:12:20,120 Speaker 1: what to expect it it's it's hilarious and they've all 226 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:27,520 Speaker 1: loved it. Okay, quiz what former Boston radio DJs from 227 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:32,680 Speaker 1: Milford was that Lockworder? Yeah, you know that was that 228 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:35,480 Speaker 1: was an easy one. A previous guest to the taken 229 00:12:35,520 --> 00:12:38,320 Speaker 1: a walk podcast and a legend, a true legend. Oh 230 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:41,080 Speaker 1: my big mattress. All of that. I loved all those guys, 231 00:12:41,720 --> 00:12:46,160 Speaker 1: Ken Shelton, who I interviewed a couple of times, and 232 00:12:46,440 --> 00:12:48,120 Speaker 1: I always thought he was kind of the secret glue 233 00:12:48,120 --> 00:12:51,800 Speaker 1: to the whole DCN line up there, Mark Parento, all 234 00:12:51,840 --> 00:12:54,439 Speaker 1: those guys. It was, I mean, we're spoiled. I was 235 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: talking about going up on TV and watching all the sportscasters, 236 00:12:58,240 --> 00:13:02,480 Speaker 1: Don Gillis for example, I remember uh Bill O'Connell, remember 237 00:13:02,559 --> 00:13:06,439 Speaker 1: Lynn Berman on Channel four. All of them had a 238 00:13:06,440 --> 00:13:09,079 Speaker 1: big influence on me. And then the radio guys like 239 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:11,240 Speaker 1: you mentioned the DC I mean, We're just spoiled. Here 240 00:13:11,240 --> 00:13:13,360 Speaker 1: was so much great media talent grow up and watch. 241 00:13:14,800 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: Well you could actually, if you're listening to this podcast, 242 00:13:18,720 --> 00:13:22,040 Speaker 1: subscribe and share it and please do by the way, 243 00:13:22,080 --> 00:13:24,400 Speaker 1: and raid it and all that. But people listen to 244 00:13:24,440 --> 00:13:28,320 Speaker 1: the sounds sometimes, Gene, and they're like, where, First of all, 245 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:32,000 Speaker 1: I hear that noise? Was that really the leaves? Yes? 246 00:13:32,160 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: So we are actually walking and the other very a 247 00:13:35,800 --> 00:13:40,760 Speaker 1: very wooded part of bird Park here. Yeah, a lot 248 00:13:40,800 --> 00:13:42,480 Speaker 1: of shade, a lot of foliage, and at this time 249 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:44,120 Speaker 1: of year, a lot of leaves on the ground. Yeah. 250 00:13:44,440 --> 00:13:47,520 Speaker 1: And people also sometimes go, well, wait, you guys were 251 00:13:48,040 --> 00:13:54,000 Speaker 1: huffing and puffing. We're not huffing. We're actually walking. So 252 00:13:54,160 --> 00:13:56,680 Speaker 1: I speaking for myself, not in the greatest of shape, 253 00:13:57,000 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: but managing to still carry on a conversation. Oh, I 254 00:14:00,640 --> 00:14:04,920 Speaker 1: think you're doing just fine. How you are? And do 255 00:14:04,960 --> 00:14:06,920 Speaker 1: you like taking a walk? So? And I used to 256 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,640 Speaker 1: kind of clean ahead. Yeah, I think especially you know, 257 00:14:09,679 --> 00:14:12,720 Speaker 1: you get to be our age my age, certainly. I 258 00:14:12,800 --> 00:14:15,720 Speaker 1: used to run a lot. But the knee started to go, 259 00:14:15,760 --> 00:14:18,240 Speaker 1: and then the ankle, and then the hips, and you'd 260 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,360 Speaker 1: run four days a week or five days a week, 261 00:14:21,400 --> 00:14:23,640 Speaker 1: and then you cut it back to three, and then 262 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:24,880 Speaker 1: you cut it back to two and the I'm like, 263 00:14:24,920 --> 00:14:26,600 Speaker 1: you know what, why am I even running anymore? So 264 00:14:26,960 --> 00:14:30,040 Speaker 1: it doesn't look fun. Right, You want to exercise, but 265 00:14:30,080 --> 00:14:32,480 Speaker 1: you don't want to wind up in traction when you're done. 266 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,560 Speaker 1: So it's not I've just taken a walking. Now you 267 00:14:34,600 --> 00:14:36,800 Speaker 1: walk three miles, like you said, you clear your head 268 00:14:36,880 --> 00:14:40,200 Speaker 1: some days, maybe you listen to music or taking a 269 00:14:40,240 --> 00:14:47,280 Speaker 1: walk podcast perfect companion. Yeah, nice art of the cross promote, 270 00:14:48,360 --> 00:14:52,240 Speaker 1: right we try Yeah. Next a teaser from June Lavanci 271 00:14:52,520 --> 00:14:56,960 Speaker 1: from Boston twenty times. So you mentioned some of the 272 00:14:57,000 --> 00:14:59,600 Speaker 1: folks that have come out to the zip trips. Yeah, 273 00:14:59,760 --> 00:15:03,360 Speaker 1: so I would imagine those were some great interviews and 274 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:06,760 Speaker 1: ones that you particularly, you know, had fun with and 275 00:15:07,000 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: the guest was terrific. Any that sort of went the 276 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:14,160 Speaker 1: other way, I don't know if you want to mention him, 277 00:15:14,160 --> 00:15:17,040 Speaker 1: but we were just kind of vaguely refer to whatever 278 00:15:17,040 --> 00:15:21,880 Speaker 1: you're like. Two celebrities that were bad, just bad interviews. 279 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:26,240 Speaker 1: Mini Driver came in and I guess she was having 280 00:15:26,240 --> 00:15:29,080 Speaker 1: a bad day. I don't know. I can only base 281 00:15:29,080 --> 00:15:30,800 Speaker 1: it on my experience with her, but she was not 282 00:15:30,960 --> 00:15:34,160 Speaker 1: very friendly at all, a lot very cooperative, was very uncomfortable. 283 00:15:35,720 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: And the other one Tommy Lee Jones. We did an 284 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:43,440 Speaker 1: interview with him, one word answers, looking at the floor. 285 00:15:43,480 --> 00:15:50,640 Speaker 1: He was rude. And the problem, well that is, hey, listen, 286 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:52,800 Speaker 1: maybe I could have done a better job. I don't know. 287 00:15:53,320 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: But usually people who are agreeing to do an interview 288 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:59,400 Speaker 1: about something, they're promoting an item, they're very cooperative, sometimes playful. 289 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:04,440 Speaker 1: One of them were the times I interviewed him, And 290 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,880 Speaker 1: what they need to understand is it's just another interview 291 00:16:07,920 --> 00:16:10,240 Speaker 1: to them. They've done millions of them, but it's going 292 00:16:10,320 --> 00:16:13,120 Speaker 1: to be seen by people in the Boston area and 293 00:16:13,200 --> 00:16:16,800 Speaker 1: whatever they're promoting, you would figure that they'd be excited 294 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:18,760 Speaker 1: about it because they want everybody else to be excited 295 00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:23,440 Speaker 1: about it. So play along, make it fun, look like 296 00:16:23,440 --> 00:16:25,360 Speaker 1: you're glad to be there. But neither one of them 297 00:16:25,560 --> 00:16:28,360 Speaker 1: were very interested in that, and there was it get 298 00:16:28,360 --> 00:16:30,320 Speaker 1: to be uncomfortable too. That's when you know it's not 299 00:16:30,400 --> 00:16:32,720 Speaker 1: you know what it is. When you're doing an interview 300 00:16:32,920 --> 00:16:36,479 Speaker 1: and you know it's not going well, it can get uncomfortable. 301 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: Oh my god. Yeah, I mean, and there's no turning backs, 302 00:16:41,720 --> 00:16:44,240 Speaker 1: and we you know, so the Tommy Lee Jones when 303 00:16:45,160 --> 00:16:48,200 Speaker 1: we had taped that Mini Driver was live, so there 304 00:16:48,200 --> 00:16:50,840 Speaker 1: was no getting around it. We had talked about the 305 00:16:50,880 --> 00:16:54,520 Speaker 1: Tommy Lee Jones one and it's like we should we 306 00:16:54,560 --> 00:16:57,000 Speaker 1: air it, and so we did air it. It was awful, 307 00:16:57,880 --> 00:17:01,400 Speaker 1: but we opened up the microphones while the interview was 308 00:17:01,440 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: going on the taped interview and guy dug out he 309 00:17:04,840 --> 00:17:07,240 Speaker 1: VV who used to work with us. We just kind 310 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:09,720 Speaker 1: of talked back and forth about well, what's he doing here? 311 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:12,639 Speaker 1: Because there's one time his eyes were looking down at 312 00:17:12,640 --> 00:17:14,240 Speaker 1: the floor and I said well, there's a cockroach. He's 313 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:16,680 Speaker 1: just you know, he's distracted by it. So we tried 314 00:17:16,680 --> 00:17:18,840 Speaker 1: to make the most of it, but it was it 315 00:17:18,880 --> 00:17:25,160 Speaker 1: was bad. I'm laughing now, sure you were not laughing. No, no, no. 316 00:17:25,560 --> 00:17:28,480 Speaker 1: And I read subsequently that he's been difficult to deal with. 317 00:17:28,640 --> 00:17:30,680 Speaker 1: So I'd like to think maybe it wasn't. Maybe I 318 00:17:30,720 --> 00:17:32,440 Speaker 1: don't know, but you did wonder it's like, well, why 319 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:35,080 Speaker 1: would you do it right? You know, it's just it's 320 00:17:35,160 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: just it's painful, and don't he was promoting a movie 321 00:17:37,600 --> 00:17:41,320 Speaker 1: that he actually wrote and produced, so you figure, hey, 322 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:43,320 Speaker 1: this is my project and I want everybody to see it, 323 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,920 Speaker 1: and it's awesome and it's great. But apparently he doesn't 324 00:17:46,920 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: believe in that approach. Didn't he go to Harvard? He did? Yeah, 325 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:52,000 Speaker 1: he did. Hey, brilliant actor, don't get me wrong. Oh yeah, 326 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:56,280 Speaker 1: he is that. He is brilliant. Yeah. Sure. So if 327 00:17:56,320 --> 00:18:02,679 Speaker 1: someone was in this position listening to the podcast, that is, 328 00:18:03,080 --> 00:18:06,719 Speaker 1: you know, hell bent on a career somehow in media, 329 00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,359 Speaker 1: what advice would you give him? Well, I would say, 330 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:14,040 Speaker 1: first of all, and hopefully this is not going to 331 00:18:14,080 --> 00:18:15,440 Speaker 1: be a problem for a lot of people that already 332 00:18:15,520 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: has been be very careful about what you post on 333 00:18:19,680 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: social media. I've seen a lot of people lose jobs 334 00:18:22,280 --> 00:18:24,000 Speaker 1: over it. I know you have two. There have been 335 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:26,560 Speaker 1: plenty of stories about it, people who won't get hired. 336 00:18:26,880 --> 00:18:30,040 Speaker 1: I had a friend of mine whose son was interviewing 337 00:18:30,240 --> 00:18:35,359 Speaker 1: for a job down in Atlanta and they asked him 338 00:18:35,400 --> 00:18:38,800 Speaker 1: and required him to provide all of his social media accounts. 339 00:18:38,800 --> 00:18:43,520 Speaker 1: Would it be Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, And they wanted to 340 00:18:43,520 --> 00:18:45,119 Speaker 1: go through it just to make sure it was cleaned. 341 00:18:45,800 --> 00:18:48,880 Speaker 1: So anything that you may have on there that could 342 00:18:48,960 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: cost you a job, you got to remember it's not you. 343 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:56,160 Speaker 1: You're also representing the organization you work for. And that's first, first, 344 00:18:56,160 --> 00:19:00,879 Speaker 1: and foremost so one. You know, that's a hurdle, that's 345 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:03,399 Speaker 1: a new hurdle for people to clear. But hopefully you 346 00:19:03,440 --> 00:19:05,760 Speaker 1: don't have that issue. And if you do want to, 347 00:19:05,800 --> 00:19:08,880 Speaker 1: you know, get into media, you have to work hard, 348 00:19:08,920 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: you have to sacrifice. You cant understand the hours are great, 349 00:19:11,840 --> 00:19:13,400 Speaker 1: the pay's not going to be great at the beginning. 350 00:19:13,720 --> 00:19:15,720 Speaker 1: But I always felt that if you have that sort 351 00:19:15,760 --> 00:19:17,960 Speaker 1: of passion, you have that voice in your gut that's 352 00:19:18,000 --> 00:19:20,280 Speaker 1: telling you, yes, this is what I want to do, 353 00:19:20,359 --> 00:19:22,879 Speaker 1: and you're willing to learn at the outset, pay some 354 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:27,679 Speaker 1: dues you can. You know it'll be great. It'll be 355 00:19:27,680 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: great because it's like they say, find something that you 356 00:19:30,920 --> 00:19:32,199 Speaker 1: love to do, and you never work a day in 357 00:19:32,200 --> 00:19:35,640 Speaker 1: your life. And I've been fortunate with that. I've done 358 00:19:35,640 --> 00:19:37,480 Speaker 1: a lot of work. I've worked hard, but I've enjoyed 359 00:19:37,680 --> 00:19:42,480 Speaker 1: the work. So that's that's important. And as far as 360 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:49,120 Speaker 1: journalism goes, be honest, tell the truth, be skeptical, be curious. 361 00:19:50,280 --> 00:19:54,480 Speaker 1: It's great advice. Who are some of the people that 362 00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:58,399 Speaker 1: as you were on your way up that you'd like 363 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,800 Speaker 1: to acknowledge that really, you know, helped you mentor use 364 00:20:02,600 --> 00:20:04,880 Speaker 1: to the stay that you made an impact. Too many 365 00:20:04,880 --> 00:20:07,320 Speaker 1: people to mention, a lot of people along the way, 366 00:20:07,359 --> 00:20:09,280 Speaker 1: some people who are in your life and then the 367 00:20:09,280 --> 00:20:11,000 Speaker 1: next thing you know, you turn around and they're gone. 368 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:14,200 Speaker 1: But they had an impact on you. This guy, I'll 369 00:20:14,200 --> 00:20:17,040 Speaker 1: go back to high school. Richard Snorbis was a guy 370 00:20:17,040 --> 00:20:21,199 Speaker 1: who was a journalism instructor Anderson at Walpole High. He 371 00:20:21,280 --> 00:20:24,760 Speaker 1: was great. I got to Emerson and a lot of 372 00:20:24,800 --> 00:20:27,560 Speaker 1: influence there. Marcia del Justina was ahead of still is 373 00:20:28,400 --> 00:20:32,480 Speaker 1: broadcast journalism. Another woman, Marilyn Mantter. There was terrific. I 374 00:20:32,520 --> 00:20:35,320 Speaker 1: had a guy named Steve Sprasier. I remember Steve. He 375 00:20:35,359 --> 00:20:37,280 Speaker 1: was on Channel five as a reporter for a while, 376 00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:39,480 Speaker 1: I do he was on the old w E I 377 00:20:39,560 --> 00:20:43,879 Speaker 1: when it was news radio. Terrific reporter, huge influence on me. 378 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:47,399 Speaker 1: Dave Cromwell's the guy gave me my first job. I 379 00:20:47,480 --> 00:20:49,720 Speaker 1: can't thank him enough. I worked with a guy named 380 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:54,719 Speaker 1: Ken Bell Providence, Rhode Island, phenomenal Channel seven. I worked there, 381 00:20:54,760 --> 00:20:58,680 Speaker 1: I interned there. John Dennis was a huge influence. Frank Show, 382 00:20:58,840 --> 00:21:02,879 Speaker 1: Gary Gillis. People just treated me really well, gave me 383 00:21:02,880 --> 00:21:07,280 Speaker 1: a lot of good advice, and I wouldn't be the 384 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:11,120 Speaker 1: report of the professional I am today without all of them, 385 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:13,399 Speaker 1: and just watching how people carry out their jobs and 386 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:16,840 Speaker 1: where they did things. Greg Kelly at Channel twenty five 387 00:21:16,920 --> 00:21:19,440 Speaker 1: at the time, the GM gave me a great opportunity. 388 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:24,240 Speaker 1: I can't forget Ken London at TV thirty eight and 389 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:27,760 Speaker 1: Andy sug I'll tell you one quick story, buzz student list. 390 00:21:30,560 --> 00:21:32,399 Speaker 1: You know, you never know who's watching. You always got 391 00:21:32,520 --> 00:21:34,800 Speaker 1: a so Ken London. I had just got a job 392 00:21:34,840 --> 00:21:36,480 Speaker 1: in Providence. I'd been there for about a year. I 393 00:21:36,520 --> 00:21:39,919 Speaker 1: was twenty five years old, and I get a message 394 00:21:39,920 --> 00:21:41,639 Speaker 1: in my and then you know the old pink message 395 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:44,080 Speaker 1: slip and it was from Ken London and I recognize 396 00:21:44,080 --> 00:21:46,080 Speaker 1: the number three eight three eight, and I said, I 397 00:21:46,080 --> 00:21:48,600 Speaker 1: think that's Channel thirty eight. And Channel thirty eight at 398 00:21:48,600 --> 00:21:51,399 Speaker 1: the time had Red Sox and Bruins. They were a 399 00:21:51,440 --> 00:21:55,359 Speaker 1: superstation for sports. And I was like, oh, geeh, maybe 400 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:58,600 Speaker 1: something's going on. So I called him and he said, look, 401 00:21:58,960 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 1: I was on Block Island with my wife. She was 402 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:05,800 Speaker 1: pregnant at the time and wasn't feeling well, so we 403 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:07,800 Speaker 1: went back to the hotel. She slept. I turned on 404 00:22:07,840 --> 00:22:10,320 Speaker 1: the local news and I was doing a sportscast on 405 00:22:10,400 --> 00:22:13,879 Speaker 1: Channel six on some weekend in I don't know, September 406 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: or over the summer, I don't remember. And he said, 407 00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:17,960 Speaker 1: you did a good job. I thought you looked pretty 408 00:22:17,960 --> 00:22:19,159 Speaker 1: good and I like your efforts. So I want to 409 00:22:19,160 --> 00:22:21,320 Speaker 1: see if I want to come up an audition for 410 00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:25,400 Speaker 1: the studio host's job at TV thirty eight. I ultimately auditioned. 411 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:28,640 Speaker 1: Those guys stuck their neck out for me. Sean McDonagh 412 00:22:28,680 --> 00:22:31,920 Speaker 1: helped me, but ultimately I got the job. So if 413 00:22:31,920 --> 00:22:34,200 Speaker 1: that was a day where I didn't really feel like working, 414 00:22:34,440 --> 00:22:36,159 Speaker 1: it was a day I mailed it in. It was 415 00:22:36,200 --> 00:22:38,560 Speaker 1: a day I was sloppy. Ken London would have never 416 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:40,440 Speaker 1: put me in the back of his head and said, 417 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:43,359 Speaker 1: all right, I'm men, remember this guy, and who knows 418 00:22:43,400 --> 00:22:45,840 Speaker 1: what would have happened. That was an unbelievable job for me, 419 00:22:46,440 --> 00:22:49,160 Speaker 1: probably the biggest break I've ever had, all because one 420 00:22:49,160 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: guy happened to be in a hotel and happened to 421 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,120 Speaker 1: be watching a random day where at least I put 422 00:22:53,119 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 1: in the full effort and did enough to get recognized 423 00:22:55,640 --> 00:22:59,120 Speaker 1: by him as someone who might be worthy of that position. 424 00:22:59,200 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: So the bottom line with that is, like Joe DiMaggio said, 425 00:23:02,680 --> 00:23:04,480 Speaker 1: he's you know, there was an old line when they 426 00:23:04,520 --> 00:23:06,720 Speaker 1: were killing some team and a game in August and 427 00:23:06,760 --> 00:23:08,440 Speaker 1: he was trying to leg out a double, and like, Joe, 428 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:10,680 Speaker 1: why are you trying so hard? And he says, well, 429 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:12,639 Speaker 1: there may be somebody here who's never seen me play before. 430 00:23:13,240 --> 00:23:14,800 Speaker 1: And I kind of stuck that in the back of 431 00:23:14,840 --> 00:23:17,320 Speaker 1: my mind, and I think, going back to advice for 432 00:23:17,400 --> 00:23:20,840 Speaker 1: kids or anybody getting into this business or whatever it 433 00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: is you're doing, you never know who's watching, you never 434 00:23:22,800 --> 00:23:26,000 Speaker 1: know who's paying attention, so whatever you're doing doesn't matter. 435 00:23:26,000 --> 00:23:30,040 Speaker 1: How big or how small, make it your Picasso. Make 436 00:23:30,080 --> 00:23:32,359 Speaker 1: everything you do try to be your Picasso Field saying 437 00:23:32,400 --> 00:23:35,600 Speaker 1: goes be a job, big or small, do it well 438 00:23:35,640 --> 00:23:37,320 Speaker 1: or not at all. It's kind of a not a 439 00:23:37,400 --> 00:23:40,960 Speaker 1: dad joke, but dad philosophy there, Buzz Jean, that's a 440 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,919 Speaker 1: great way to kill it, nail it for at the 441 00:23:44,000 --> 00:23:46,520 Speaker 1: end here, thanks for being that. I've enjoyed it so much. 442 00:23:46,520 --> 00:23:48,840 Speaker 1: Buzz I appreciate you asking me, and thank you very much. 443 00:23:48,920 --> 00:23:53,200 Speaker 1: Thank you, Okay. Taking a Walk with Buzznight is available 444 00:23:53,200 --> 00:23:58,400 Speaker 1: on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.