MIKE TOOLAN REFLECTS ON MAKING IT IN UK RADIO
Mike Toolan is a UK game changer. He started in radio way back in 1991, and is now the host of Key 103 Manchester's breakfast show. Mike has dominated the market for 15 years. For Australians unfamiliar with the UK radio landscape, you can find him on Twitter.


READ THE SHOW NOTES
1:43 Commenting on Game Changers: Radio (and loving the episode with Sam Cavanagh)
2:40 Discussing his producer
3:04 Getting his start
5:08 Remembering being11 years pretending to be on radio
6:28 Making it to radio
8:04 Advising young people wanting to make it in radio
9:18 Learning to talk like a normal person (not a DJ)
11:48 Explaining a rule on his program: you have to 'give it up for the show'
12:23 Getting radio 'right'
13:18 Creating an honest connection with an audience is hard work
14:25 Working with a non-radio person willing to talk about her life
15:14 Working in radio in the USA and stealing ideas from the BBC
19:20 Moving to breakfast radio
22:42 Adapting to management and shift changes
23:27 Moving on after being dumped from breakfast
24:07 Getting a nose job for a stunt for the show
25:27 Giving away a divorce on air
26:26 Dealing with negative feedback
27:08 Interacting on social media (especially Twitter)
28:00 Pitching ‘The Heartless Hotline' (stolen with love from Australians Kyle and Jackie O)
31:20 Accepting that the broadcast authority have upheld a complaint so the idea is off
31:42 Creating game shows for TV ( Sell Me The Answer)
34:30 Building drama in a contest
35:00 Sharing his ‘ideas file’
36:05 Working with a co-host for 10 years
37:55 Learning from 18 years of breakfast radio
39:48 Explaining the disappointment when the ratings don't match how you feel about the program
41:51 Advising for those starting out in radio... take parts of others but don't copy.