| Stepping Out
at KLAC (April
12, 2002) The group that gathered on a recent evening in the lobby
at the KLAC studios in Koreatown looked like they would be more
comfortable in a 12-Step meeting rather than a radio station.
But that’s exactly what the group was about to do –
conduct an on-air Cocaine Anonymous meeting.
Corralled by radio consultant
Valerie Geller (l) and veteran broadcaster Tom Zarecki, the half-dozen
recovering addicts were about to share their experience, strength
and hope on “Stepping Out: The 12-Step Radio Show.”
The two-hour weekly offering is carried on 10 stations across
the country and locally on KLAC. The ESPN station in New York,
WEVD, has aired the show continuously since its inception in 1998.
Mark Austin Thomas, KLAC’s
pd, green lighted the show into the weekend line-up Saturday nights
at 9. The dapper Thomas escorted the group into the Clear Channel
production room. “I’m proud to carry the show,”
enthused Mark. “What Talk radio does well is tell stories.
Stepping Out is all about true stories as only the people who
have experienced them can tell them –. they are funny, humbling,
and moving.”
Before taping started, Ronald
(pictured on left with Tom Z moderating), a strapping 6-foot,
3-inch nine-year recovering drug abuser from Watts, confronted
the show’s host. Would Ronald walk? He objected to the fact
that Tom was not in recovery and didn’t understand how meetings
worked. “I’m not here to teach anyone anything,”
said Ronald. “I just tell my story.” Tom Z (consistent
with the anonymous traditions of the Program, he uses his initial
while hosting the show) assured Ronald that the recovering addicts
were the stars of the show and his role was more of a facilitator
to keep the show moving along and breaking for commercials.
In 1993, Ronald described himself
as a desperate man who was homeless, living in vacant houses in
Watts. He described a moment of clarity that took him to a 12-Step
meeting. “I was dirty, filthy, and nasty. There was a speaker
wearing a suit and silk tie. The speaker stimulated thoughts and
feelings. Thank God for that moment.” After being incarcerated
in every major penitentiary prior to 1993, Ronald has been on
a spiritual pathway to a clean and sober life.
Denise McIntee started the 12-Step
radio program. She was the operations manager at WABC-New York,
where she had been in various positions for 17 years. In the early
1990s, Denise returned to school to secure a Master’s degree
in psychology. In the course of her coursework, Denise attended
an Alcoholic Anonymous meeting. She was fascinated with the Shakespearean
experience of the stories of women in recovery. They ran the gamut
from tragedy to comedy. “These ladies had better stories
than most of what was on WABC,” she declared. “I thought
the A.A. Program was perfect for radio, which protected a participants
anonymity coupled with bringing a meeting to the alcoholic who
can’t get out or to a person who might not venture to a
meeting on his own. And the message is so good, that it is also
fascinating to people not in the Program. It is just good radio.”
The idea of exposing these stories
to a wider audience and being able to touch those who might have
an addiction problem, but fearful of attending a 12-Step Program,
stayed with Denise for years. In 1998, WEVD, a talk station at
1050AM in New York donated a couple of hours once a month for
an on-air AA meeting. Originally hosted by a recovering alcoholic,
Tom Zarecki joined the project as the show evolved. His career
spans 35 years, 17 years of that on the air. He handles marketing
and PR for RCS, Radio Computing Services. Tom has spent a lifetime
volunteering his services with Big Brothers, Recording for the
Blind and host and MC for the Connecticut Special Olympics.
The show has a rhythm. Tom listens
to the stories intently. He tracks with his recovering guests.
Mindful of the 12-Step Traditions and the absolute need for anonymity,
he makes his participants feel very comfortable as they unreel
their life stories.
John (l), a 42-year old redhead
(He called himself “a white child from Pacoima”) shared
his story of being one of 8 kids growing up in a Mormon home where
there was no alcohol. After a life of drug-hell, he’s been
three years clean because of the 12-Steps.
During a break in the taping,
Valerie walked to the snack area. She and Denise have known each
other for years. They met in the early 1990s while Valerie was
pd at WABC. She has since gone on to an enormously successful
international radio-consulting career. Along the way she has written
the primers for radio: The Powerful Radio Workbook and Creating
Powerful Radio. In the midst of traveling around the world working
with radio operators, Valerie carves out significant time to see
this project grow and nurture. She flew in from her home in New
York for the taping to be sure it went flawlessly. And it did.
Kathleen (r with Tom Z), another
participant in the Stepping Out program, lived a life of privilege
growing up and got hooked on drugs that took her from the glamour
of the movie business to the unglamorous dark side of London.
She found herself in a “dark room” – her life.
The 12-Steps introduced her to a light switch. Once she flicked
the switch – commitment to the 12-Step program – she
saw a glimmer of light, hope. She was on her way and praised the
spiritual tools available in the Program.
In addition to Los Angeles and
New York, “Stepping Out” program is heard in Nashville,
Las Vegas, Columbus, Oxnard, Palm Springs and Denver. Eventually,
Valerie hopes the program will be heard in all markets with live
call-ins. In New York, over a one-year period, the show went from
a 0.3 to a 3.2 share. For markets where the show has yet to air,
previous programs can be heard on-line at www.powerfulradio.com
. Denise and Valerie have a touching letter from someone who stumbled
on the Web site, listened to all available 12 programs and has
been sober ever since. Having the show on air has helped single
parents who are unable to physically attend a meeting.
Some testimonials from those who
listened on the Internet:
“My husband walked out with
his clothes in a brown bag and disappeared into the night. I went
on the Internet, found your website at powerfulradio.com and listened
all night to the hours of shows up on the web. It helped me stay
strong and get through. God Bless.”
“I was in the car about
to buy liquor on a Saturday night, heard the meeting on the air
and went to a meeting the next day.”
“Stepping Out: The 12-Step
Radio Show” is in need of sponsors and additional markets.
This is not the story of the power of the major syndicators. This
is a story of the little engine that could. Eventually, success
will be theirs. Determination and perseverance to succeed is evident
from Denise, Valerie and Tom. Some would say that they are already
successful by getting on the air and staying on the air. Remember
A.A. started with two people, Dr. Bob and Bill W. Since 1935,
millions of alcoholics and drug addicts have found hope in the
12-Step Program. This radio show will accelerate the reach to
many who may have lost their own hope.
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