Issue 219 June 2011 INTERVIEW The TALKERS interview A Conversation with Stephanie Miller Dial Global talk star receives 2011 Judy Jarvis Memorial Award for Outstanding Contributions to Talk Radio by a Woman tephanie Miller is the 2011 recipi- she began a successful stint at KFI, Los An- ent of the TALKERS “Judy Jarvis geles where she hosted a highly rated night- SMemorial Award for Outstanding time program. She also worked at Los Contributions to Talk Radio by a Woman” Angeles stations KABC and KTZN during also referred to as the “Woman of the Year” the 1990s as well as performing as host of award in the talk radio industry. Her suc- several television projects. She even did cessful morning show, produced by Ron some film and TV acting. Sexy Liberal Comedy Tour” (with Miller, Hartenbaum’s WYD Media Management In addition to appearing daily as host of Fugelsang and Sparks) which has report- and syndicated by Dial Global Networks, her own syndicated radio show, Stephanie edly been selling out tickets in advance has been on the air nationally since 2004 and Miller is a regular talking head guest on wherever it has been booked. stands as one of the relative handful of ex- most of the major cable news/talk networks Most of the interest, however, rightfully amples that prove “progressive” or liberal including CNN, MSNBC, Fox News Chan- stems from the fact that this funny, witty, talk radio, when properly executed on both nel and others. hard-working, intelligent and beautiful content and business levels, can survive and Stephanie’s role as a liberal talk show woman is a total original who defies the actually thrive. host is made even more colorful being the radio industry’s chronic impulse to pigeon- Her show is a high-energy, meticulously daughter of the late former U.S. Represen- hole its players and formats into convenient produced ensemble program that covers tative William E. Miller who was Barry cookie-cutter categories. everything from politics to celebrity gossip Goldwater’s vice presidential running mate The TALKERS Interview with Stephanie in which Miller presides over a cast of on the Republican Party ticket in the 1964 Mill er was conducted by Michael Harrison. comedic characters punctuated by co-hosts, election. impressionist Jim Ward and producer Chris She was also the subject of significant TALKERS: I was just listening to you via Lavoie, and outstanding regulars high- buzz last year upon “coming out” and re- ISDN in our studio here in Massachusetts lighted by stand up comics John Fugelsang vealing on-air that she is gay. as you were doing the last segment of your and Hal Sparks, among others. Part of the significant industry interest show this morning in Los Angeles prior to Miller’s on-air radio career dates back to that surrounds the Stephanie Miller Show is our interview and it was as if you were in the late 1980s with positions on major music the success it has achieved in the arena of the studio next door. Most people listen to FMs in New York and Chicago. Her history generating revenue via podcasts and the re- a program such as yours on AM radio and as a major league talker began in 1993 when cent launch of a live tour packaged as “The there’s the compression and static and all TALKERSMAGAZINE June 2011 the surrounding distractions that go with MILLER: Yes, why is that, Michael? Be- ple didn’t want to hear a woman’s voice listening to morning radio –– but when cause as you know, whenever anyone in the coming out of the speaker. Well, that’s you’re listening in a foreground way on free world –– or not even the free world –– been dispelled by the fact that there are the big speakers via ISDN, it becomes ap- is doing a story on radio, they call Michael women on radio singing songs, there are parent what an amazingly high-energy Harrison. So, why are there proportionally women on radio playing music, there are program you do. Way more than most! Is so fewer women than men in radio, still? women on radio doing news. And in spite it exhausting? of the small numbers, there are women TALKERS: That’s really what I wanted to doing talk radio successfully. So, my an- MILLER: It’s an audio mochachino. It must ask you. The numbers indicate propor- swer is just that more men have been, over be the speakers because I sound like Jo Anne tionately fewer women certainly in talk the years, attracted to going into talk radio Worley in person, as you know. It’s the radio. You hear more women as announc- and as a result there’s more of a talent pool show I’ve always done, Michael. You and I ers or what we used to call deejays on and that given time, eventually, there will have known each other for roughly a thou- music radio proportionate to the men than be more women. Another more ominous sand years. I think I reported on the Ruther- on talk. And women have made signifi- common claim is made that most of the ford B. Hayes inauguration for TALKERS. cant progress in all-news radio. managers in talk radio are biased men who You and I’ve just always called it “radio.” simply don’t like women and don’t want Before there was such a thing as “progres- MILLER: First of all, I’m too bitter to do to work with them. I personally don’t buy sive” –– I did morning radio, I did rock ‘n’ roll those love songs kind of shows. I need to that argument. But I’m asking you as an radio, I did top 40 radio, I even worked on do talk radio by default because I’m just a accomplished expert living the experience conservative talk stations –– KFI and bitter old hag! what do you have to say about the issue of KABC –– all before there was such a thing women in talk radio? as progressive. I happen to be progressive TALKERS: Oh, sure you are... but in talk but what I try to do is a comedy show, es- radio, it’s mostly males. For example, in MILLER: It’s interesting the thing you sentially. Yes, I talk about politics from that our Heavy Hundred this year there are 16 brought up initially about a woman’s perspective, but my main thrust has always women –– including members of teams –– voice –– I’ve counteracted that by my voice been to do an entertaining show. So, we talk out of the 100 Most Important Radio Talk having dropped like an octave a decade, about everything –– we talk about entertain- Show Hosts in America. The fact is there now I’m really into my old Lucy/Maude ment, pop culture... and politics is a big part are far more men on air in talk radio than phase. I know what you’re saying… but of it. women. And, as you say, I’m constantly Michael, I’ve always been in a boy’s club. In being asked why. There are several possi- standup comedy, in talk radio, whether it’s TALKERS: Let me congratulate you on re- ble reasons, none of which are absolutely politics or political punditry –– all of that –– ceiving the Judy Jarvis Memorial Award the only one or even necessarily true. so maybe I’m the aberration. I just don’t for Outstanding Contributions to Talk know. I think that there are certainly people Radio by a Woman for 2011. This award MILLER: Well, shockingly, as any man will like my friend Randi Rhodes and Laura In- has quite a history. It goes back a number tell you, women really like to talk so you’d graham and other people who have been of years and some fabulous women in think there would be more of them in talk doing this very successfully for a long time. broadcasting have received it. You’re radio but, I don’t know why either. All you can hope is that things will change, going to be receiving the award at the New that things are starting to change and there Media Seminar in New York City on June TALKERS: Well, women might like to talk are and will continue to be more women in 11. It’s a very big deal and I want to con- but the issue really is do women like to lis- this field. gratulate you on behalf of all of us at ten. Or more precisely, to what do they TALKERS. want to listen. It’s not so much about how TALKERS: There are two prongs to the many like to talk… it’s about listenership women issue. The first, which we just dis- MILLER: May I say that TALKERS has al- and it’s about what management of radio cussed, is the issue of why there aren’t ways h ad exquisite taste in both broads and stations and syndicators think will gather more women on the air doing talk radio in broadcasting. I’m thrilled to hear you make listeners. But, my first answer always is, general. The other is the issue of targeting a big deal of it because I assumed it’s be- “Well, there are just more men in it.” You talk radio to attract a female audience and cause I was the last woman left in talk radio know the old “it is what it is” cop out. the question of why there are so few talk that hasn’t gotten it.