Popular Former Seattle Radio Duo Return In Podcast

It lasted over an hour and covered a variety of topics, but chances are, most listeners skipped to the very end of the podcast to find out what they really wanted to know.  The firing of Ron And Don, the highly rated afternoon drive team at 97.3 KIRO FM.
Last year,  Mitch Levy, who lost his job, after being caught in a prostitution sting, reappeared on his own podcast tearfully contrite.
By contrast, with Ron and Don, it was said to be simply a matter of the station choosing not to renew their contract.  Don O'Neill, always the most vocal of the pair could not conceal his anger, maybe not so much that the firing had taken place, although, he emphasized the high ratings that the show had achieved, but the way the station had chosen to bring down the axe.
The pair are now in the real estate business and sponsor the podcast as such.  A welcome addition is Don's son "G-Force" who did some of the "bumpers" during the pod.
You can hear the podcast of Ron Upshaw and Don O'Neill by clicking here. 

Former KIRO Team Ron And Don Will Begin A Podcast

Our friends at Pugetsound.media post that Ron And Don, longtime stalwarts of Seattle drive time radio will return with a podcast.   The pair, who talked their way into the hearts of Seattle listeners including my own, left the air suddenly in January.
For a countdown clock to their first podcast drop, click here.

Ron And Don Praised By Station

Apparently KIRO FM put this meme on the Ron And Don Facebook page praising their accomplishments during their long Seattle radio stint.  It, of course wasn't enough to stop listeners from angry posts on social media.
If not today, soon the afternoon drive on 97.3 will have new hosts. Please give them a chance.  Let's remember that they had no part in Ron and Don leaving.  Many of the fans of Ron And Don may not have liked them at first. The show had a way of growing on you.
Let's remember that someone had that shift before Ron and Don came aboard. If you would like to read some of the old posts that I have made on the show, click here

Ron And Don Are Gone

Long running talk show duo Ron And Don, have left KIRO FM  in Seattle.  The pair had worked the afternoon slot for over a decade starting with KIRO AM 710, and then moving to the FM 97.3 station once the 710 turned all sports.
The show, hosted by Ron Upshaw and Don O'Neil, was ideal for long home commutes as they covered a variety of contemporary topics, as well as personal ones.
They were also known for cause radio, helping raise money for various  human interest stories.  They were instrumental in comforting the area during many area tragedies.

Producer Candy Harper will be promoted to co-host with reporter Mike Lewis who has done fill in work for KIRO's hosts and Todd Herman, who hosted a show on KIRO's Conservative sister station, KTTH.  

KIRO Afternoon Drive Personality Bares Soul

KIRO-FM personalities Ron And Don have a certain chemistry that seems to work on the radio.  Every weekday I can't wait to listen to their show on the way home from work.  Don O'Neill is the outspoken one with the deep voice, while Ron Upshaw seems to be the more reasoning soft spoken one.
Although the show is generally light hearted, they don't avoid serious topics. 
Still it was shocking a couple nights ago when O'Neill launch into a very soul baring speech about what he referred to as a family secret.  He was talking about what he said was mental health issues that run in his family, possibly something that involves himself. I had never, in my decades of listening to radio of all kinds, heard an announcer speak so personally.  It was rather refreshing to hear what sounded as unrehearsed honesty in this day in age on the radio.  You can read O'Neill's  speech by clicking here.

Tracy Taylor Joins Ron And Don Team As KIRO FM's Evening Traffic Reporter

After a busy spring and summer of fill ins and special projects on both KIRO 7 TV and KIRO FM 97.3, Tracy Taylor has finally found a home as afternoon and evening traffic reporter on KIRO FM.  Tracy will report the drive home on the popular Ron And Don Show.  She replaces Candy Harper who will produce the afternoon show.
With a love of traffic, a distinct delivery, and a great sense of humor, Taylor began reporting traffic on KJR Sports Radio 95, leaving to join the KING 5 TV morning news team.  After almost 7 years on KING, Taylor found herself jobless, sparking angry viewer outrage toward the station. 
The post on this blog announcing her departure set records at over 30 thousand hits.

Taylor To Fill In On 97.3 Radio

Tracy  Taylor, who has been reporting traffic on KIRO 7, will fill in on KIRO's news partner and former sister station KIRO FM.  The station's regular afternoon traffic reporter will fill in during the mornings, while Tracy will do traffic on Ron And Don's afternoon drive program.  Candy Harper, the usual afternoon reporter will fill in for Chris Sullivan in the mornings, while Taylor will be filling in for Candy.  Taylor will continue her morning reports on KIRO 7.  Many remember Tracy doing traffic on the radio at Sports Radio KJR.

Popular Radio Team Interview Seattle Mayor

Mayor Ed Murray appeared on the Ron And Don Show after turning down previous offers to speak with them. Ron And Don have held the KIRO Drive Time position for over a decade.  Known more as entertainers than political commentators, Don O'Neill has been famously critical of the mayor's policies.  O'Neill is generally the loudest and most opinionated of the pair.  Ron Upshaw, his partner, is more explanatory and even keeled
  In this segment, O'Neill appears articulate and on point.

Mayor Murray To Appear On Don And Ron

Seattle mayor Ed Murray will be a guest on the Ron And Don Show on KIRO FM 97.3 tonight (March 9th, 2017).  Although the show, with a huge audience skews mostly toward entertainment rather than politics, the pair have been extremely critical toward Murray on issues ranging from homeless encampments to the city's alleged refusal to pay for a veteran police detective's surgery.  Don has been the main instigator on criticism of the mayor's policies. He lives in Seattle.
The appearance has been announced for 6:00pm.  Ron and Don, have had the KIRO Drive Time position for well over 10 years starting on 710 AM  than moving to 97.3 FM when the  AM station went to an all sports format.  Murray will be up for  election later this year.

Local Writer Under Fire For Atlantic Article

It should have been the hallmark of a journalism career.  Erica C. Barnett, who has written for a number of what I would call non mainstream media publications such as the Seattle Weekly, Crosscut, and the Publicola blog, was getting published by the well respected Atlantic. 
It was a great topic, the abuse city council women reportedly have taken after a controversial vote to not vacate part of Occidental Avenue to make way for a proposed professional basketball arena.  The vote was 5-4 and happened to split along gender lines.  The 4 male council members voted in favor and 5 women voted against. 
What was erroneously reported was that the firestorm of calls were initiated by KIRO afternoon radio hosts Ron and Don gave out the phone numbers of female council members, urging them to call them out on the arena vote.  
The hosts pointed out on air that they did not urge listeners to call on that topic, but had urged callers to call council woman Sally Bagshaw and  Mayor Ed Murray on a topic of how Seattle handles it's homeless. 
The mention of Ron And Don was pulled from the article and Barnett issued a statement.  Barnett stated that she was going on information from her speaking with Bagshaw.  She also stated that she did not listen to the Ron And Don program and had no opinion on the proposed arena. Barnett claimed that she did not speak to the station or the radio hosts because they were not the central part of the story. 
Time will tell on what the ramifications are to this, but it sure it home for me what I still remember Mr. Maxon in my journalism class told me.  To use attribution and to research my topics thoroughly.

Mike Wins! Stays Anonymous

After winning the "Top 5 At 5" I stayed in the car and listened through the network, then the local news, hoping to hear my name, instead, this is what I heard.....

Barers Of Maple Valley Blogger Wins Top 5 At 5 On KIRO

I usually listen to Ron And Don's Top 5 At 5 on the way home from work.  That is a feature on 97.3 Kiro fm where the radio hosts reports on 5 stories after the CBS News at 5 in the evening.  Then listeners can call in and the first to correctly name each story wins a prize. 
Yesterday, I left work in time to catch the entire show.  I carefully noted each story and by the time I got to my destination, they finished the last story and asked listeners to call in.  The first time that I called, I got a busy signal, but then I called again.  The producer Sean answered the phone and I  was able to remember each story. 
1.  Sound Transit party costs city 875 thousand dollars.
2. Donald Trump said to be posing as his publicist and talking to reporters.
3. Seattle Sounders Soccer team is working to find and develop local soccer talent.
4. Money Monster movie review
5. Michael Strahan does last show for Kelly and Michael

My prize was tickets to see Steve Tyler at McCaw Hall and dinner at the Edgewater.  I was disappointed that they did not say my name on the radio.

Ron And Don Interview Barefoot Bandit

I debated whether or not to post this.  Society has a penchant for glamorizing crooks.  Characters who harm others for their own benefit are made to be heroes, while the victims and law enforcement who work hard to protect us are ignored.  D,B. Cooper who hijacked a plane has been described as a folk hero, while Hollywood makes movies that want you to root for Bonnie And Clyde, Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid, and Thelma And Louise.
That said, Colton Harris Moore, known as the "Barefoot Bandit" has carved a narrative.  He is also is the subject of an upcoming movie.  Harris-Moore was sought in an intense manhunt after stealing of seaplanes in the San Juan Islands and beyond.  He was finally arrested in the Bahamas after risking not only his own life but of innocent people on the ground by flying airplanes that he was not trained to fly. 
Last week, he was featured in an interview on the Ron And Don show on KIRO-FM.

Afternoon Drive Time Radio Hosts Ron And Don Help Raise Life Saving Money

In one of the great area radio stories of all time, KIRO 97.3FM Ron Upshaw and Don O'Neil helped raise over 140,000 dollars to help Seattle Detective Dave Clement to go to Chicago for a potentially life saving operation. 
Clement suffers from CIPD, a disease where the immune system attacks the nervous system.  KIRO 7 TV, which is no longer tied with KIRO radio, ran a story in the middle of February that the officer was denied his insurance company  the funds who have a surgery at Northwestern University.  Clement's employer, the city of Seattle, which is self insured, also denied the claim on grounds that the surgery is "experimental".
Hosts Ron And Don, used their bully pulpit and huge drive time audience to hammer on Clement's 26 years of service to the community. They used an "us against them" technique to get it's listeners to go to the "go fund me" page and make small donations.  At the time of this post, over 158,000 dollars has been raised, well exceeding the target 145,000.

Ron And Don Humanize Tragedy On 97.3

They are often derided as sophomoric, but Ron Upshaw and Don O'Neil, afternoon hosts at KIRO 97.3 have once again become the go-to people when tragedy hits the area.  Whether it's the Oso Landslide, the Marysville High shooting, death of firemen, or the horrible duck-tour bus crash, Don and Ron have a unique style of comforting the listeners.  They do not report facts like robots, nor do they shed phony tears.  In my opinion, they have a talent for displaying just the right demeanor, while giving information, such as how to help in ways such as giving blood.
Often thought Seattle's guilty pleasure, there is no need to feel guilty listening when disaster hits our area.

Rachel Rings Seattle's Bell!

She's sassy, zany, and seemingly always enthusiastic, she's the only local radio personality, as far as I know, that has her own jingle (the old Disco standby Ring My Bell), Rachel Belle is KIRO FM's feature reporter.  Rachel reports the news that didn't make the news and has an uncanny knack for humanizing every story no matter what the impact.  Her delivery is mile a minute, yet clear and she is more than able to stand up to wisecracking afternoon hosts Ron And Don.   Rachel can be heard daily at 4:40 and 6:40 on 97.3 KIRO FM. She does radio commercials for a variety of products.  Rachel also has done stand up in local comedy clubs as you can see here.

Ron And Don Drive Seattle Afternoon Radio

It's easy to dismiss Ron and Don.  They can be sophomoric and annoying. It is hard to tell sometimes if they are joking or not.  They had been rumoured to on KIRO's chopping block since they started the afternoon drive time program in 2006.  But they hang in.  If you get beyond their schtick, which includes rimshot sound effects for some silly one-liners, they know what people in the area are talking about.
I think that what works for the pair is their talent for involving listeners  in the show. Several times they have given descriptions of fleeing criminal's cars, allowing for tips that turned into arrests.  Most of their topics deal with local events, and while most talk show invoke politics, Ron and Don are rarely, if ever political.  It looks like Ron Upshaw  And Don O'Neil, who are a well traveled pair are going to be pulling the Seattle afternoon drive for a long time,  perhaps going down in broadcast history as Seattle's guilty pleasure.