Aircheck Podcast: Radio History

Philadelphia-based Radio Pro Rich DeSisto welcomes new guests and a new cohost, celebrating Season Five of the AIRCHECK podcast series. Aircheck has the Radio Industry’s ears. Since it launched in 2020, the Aircheck audience has enjoyed four seasons totaling 47 episodes. Each detailing some unforgettable radio and television moments, with more episodes to come.

Season Five episodes include an Aircheck session and NEW cohost introduction with 30+ year Rock Radio Vet Program Director/On-Air personality, Steve Raymond of WZXL/Atlantic City. Steve’s sense of humor and rock knowledge make him a perfect fit for Aircheck.

“The way Steve tells a story with passion and animation is priceless. He has many legendary stories of his own. But he also gets equally pumped up asking others about theirs. He’s not just my new cohost but a long-time friend!” — Rich DeSisto!

Aircheck is a podcast about radio’s personality from radio personalities. Each episode includes guests from the Radio industry, including, but not limited to, Air Personalities, Program Directors, General Managers, and Owners. In addition to the shared stories, Aircheck incorporates the rewound audio from those special story moments.

Rich, along with Paul Kelly, has interviewed radio personalities such as Danny Bonaduce, Nina Blackwood, and Eddie Trunk on the show. Aircheck keeps its episode length manageable and breaks up its interviews into smaller chunks, avoiding the massive runtimes that podcasts have drifted toward in recent years.

Rich has decades of experience in the radio industry, having been a radio personality for multiple radio stations. He currently works for Beasley Media at Magic 98.3, serving Central Jersey. Rich also works for Beasley at WMTR 125,0 Morristown, NJ, serving Morris County and the surrounding area. Rich has also done voice-over work for over a decade. With all of these jobs, Rich understands that his voice is his most valuable instrument.

Rich, a South Jersey local, attended the Center for Broadcast Training and graduated with a Certificate in Radio and Television Broadcasting.

Rich is also a teacher of audio podcasting, and in his classes, Rich stresses the importance of students developing a relationship with the microphone. Rich is developing tomorrow's podcasters.

“I’m very excited to join on as cohost for Aircheck. I am a storyteller first and foremost. But I most enjoy hearing the stories of my radio peers and legends—— inspiring and motivating!” says Steve Raymond

Radio road tales from Steve include answering the building’s door on a Saturday in Atlantic City and being face-to-face with The Clash’s Joe Strummer, randomly driving by to make a request.

Rock Radio Industry Vet, Lenny Bloch, also sits at the mic for an Aircheck session. Lenny marked his territory along the Radio dial, programming Sirius Radio, WDHA/WRAT New Jersey, WCBS-FM/WXRK-FM HD 2 New York, and today rocks the airwaves at WDST Radio Woodstock, New York. An early career moment Lenny talks about was working the phones for Wolfman Jack at WNBC New York as an intern.

Radio “writers” also get mic time for an Aircheck session. Mike Boyle and Paul Heine from FMQB and Inside Radio join Rich and Steve in the studio with no shortage of tales to tell about their storied Radio industry careers. Mike Boyle’s early radio memories include listening to New York’s WABC, WPLJ, and WNEW, hearing the air personalities — Dan Ingram, Pat St. John, Jim Kerr, Scott Muni — and what these Radio personalities ignited in him to pursue a Radio career.

Paul Heine’s exposure to the broadcast industry entailed covering it from multiple angles. Paul was on-site at Radio conventions, covering seminar sessions dealing with all aspects of Radio, from music to Promotions to Programming, Talent, Sales, and Ownership. Experiences and interviews along the way included speaking with EVERYONE in the biz, from the CEOs to the Air Personalities to the legendary performers themselves. Paul Heine being scolded by the quiet Beatle/George Harrison is an Aircheck moment you won’t want to miss.

Aircheck Season 5 began in early November. Check it out. Rich DeSisto is a consummate audio professional, whether his venue be radio or podcasting. Boomers and Gen Xers will recall the days when radio was king as an audio medium. Subsequent generations can use.

Aircheck is an exciting journey into radio history.