Hello, I'm Michael Kithcart. I'm a high performance business coach and entrepreneur who helps move stressed out leaders and high achievers from stuck to unstoppable. Welcome to the Champions of RISK podcast where we examine the many aspects of risk so we can all face uncertainty with more strength, courage, and little humor together. So I'm just curious, like, have you ever seen the movie Sliding Doors with Gwyneth Paltrow? I love this movie. It's like one of my it's one of my favorites. Because if you haven't seen it, it's like two parallel stories of her character, right? Like what happens to her entire life based on if she makes this one decision. And they kind of play that out. And then they also play out what happens to her entire life if she makes another decision. So you know, we all have pivotal moments in our time that can be defining, but I am going to say like, I'm going to go out on a limb here and just say that today's guest has had several of these moments. And we are going to talk to her about the journey that has led her to those those paths where she has made a decision to go in one direction, the reinventions that have come along the way. So I'm really looking forward to today's guest, who is Donna Valentine, she is a long time on-air personality. She's been on the air forever, but she doesn't look a day over 29 I'm telling you. The Twin Cities was introduced to her like over 25 years ago when she started at K102, the country station. She was on the K102 morning show for well over a decade. And she also did a little stint Loveline With Valentine on KFAN. So for the last five years, she has been on the Donna and Steve show on My Talk 107.1, and so, Donna, welcome to the Champions of RISK podcast. It's great to have you.

Oh that analogy, Michael was so perfect, because I feel like that all the time. Like if I didn't do this, then I wouldn't have gotten into that. If I didn't make that mistake, I would have never met you, you know, fill in the blank. And that is such an important thing to remember when you're making a decision that you think is wrong, because it truly is, I truly believe that when one door closes, as cheesy as it sounds, it's true, Another door opens. I'm so excited to be your guest today. Yay!

Okay, so if you can't gather Donna and I do know each other

It's been a long time since we've actually run in the same circles just because life happens and careers happen and things take you in different directions.

And she's really a big deal.

Yeah. That's me. No, I am so flattered that you asked me to be on your podcast, you seem to be doing so many great things. And I've seen some great guests that you've had on and I'm like, you want me to be a guest on your show?

Yes, I do. Because I have known you for a long time. And even though we've It's been a long time since we've, we've hung out a lot. I know more of the earlier story. And you know, talk about taking chances in life and leaping. And so just give a little context here. What in the world was it that made you want to get into radio in the first place?

That's a really good question. Because radio was never on my radar. If I'm being completely honest, I went to college for television production. Radio was just like a class that I had to take radio history, Marconi, all that stuff. And then I had a friend that I went to high school with, who told me he got a job at the local radio station. And by local that means New York City, because I grew up in New Jersey, but our radio stations came out of Manhattan. So he told me that they were looking for phone operators. I went and interviewed I got the job. I got the bug. And the next thing you know, I'm making a demo tape as we call them back then. And I apply for a job at a radio station doing weekends in the Poconos. And they gave it to me crazy I because I had never been on the air. I was always behind the scenes. There's risk number one for me, because that was kind of faking my way through my very first radio job. I didn't have any experience.

I just want to get clear here when you made that demo tape, Had you ever actually been on air before?

Technically no in bits pieces with these DJs, who I was a phone operator for bits and pieces, but never enough to have honed my art, because radio kind of is an art in talking up songs. What had happened was it was an editing process that made me sound like I was probably better than I was, and sending that tape caught the attention of a program director in Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, and he said, Oh, my gosh, we want you for our Hot Mix Saturday night. And I'm like, yeah, whatever that is. And it did not go well. The first night, I almost got fired. I was so bad. And at the time, I was working in a pharmacy, and the pharmacist actually gave me a half a Valium to take before I went on the air because I'm a crazy, like, high anxiety person. And it didn't help. It just didn't help it. I ended up excelling eventually.

So you weren't great on air, but you're probably so relaxed that you wet yourself during the show. So, but that's the beauty of radio, nobody knew.

It was pretty close. Michael, it was it was very scary.

Okay, but it worked, obviously. Because here we are talking all these years later. So that was the first thing I love that lesson, Donna in that, like, I just went for it. You just did it. And you had zero experience. So for all the people out there who like I only check eight of the boxes, not 12 of the boxes. Yeah, come on. You don't have to check any of the boxes. Just go for it. So you did get radio time. And then you born and raised New Jersey girl you picked up and left.

I did while I was at that radio station. I heard a song by Wilson Phillips, called Hold on. (singing) Hold on for one more day

They were huge. I loved them.

I know, it made me think I had a boyfriend who also worked at the same radio station in New York, not the Pennsylvania one. And he wanted to move away. And we were in our early 20s. And I wanted to move away. I was already out of college for a whole year still living with mom and dad. And I found the guts to tell my very strict parents that I wanted to move to Georgia where my boyfriend got a job, I ended up sending a demo tape got a job in Athens, Georgia at a full service, Adult Contemporary radio station. And parents packed me up I was on my way. And we were together sort of he was in Atlanta, I was in Athens, I eventually got a job in Atlanta. Very exciting. Because once you get that first, that first job that you're passionate about, where you're what your dreams are made of courage comes more willing to take those risks along the way, because you saw it pay off before. So it's baby steps. You got to take that first leap of faith though,

and it did pay off big for you going from east to the south is one thing, but you also went through different format changes. And so for people who aren't in radio, explain how big a deal it is to go through format changes, like the different types of music that are played.

Yes, that is on. Let me just put it this way if you're working in top 40. Okay, very fast paced, very young, very hip, and then you go from that to Thanks for turning on the light, Light FM. That is a challenge. And that's what I did. I went from one to the other. And I think that was the smartest thing I did because it gave me a little more. What's the word I'm looking for? It's not even value, but the experience in a more rounded way to make yourself Yeah, more valuable because down the line, what if a job comes up in a market that where someone really wants you and they're like, I can't do that I've never done it before. It happened to me with that format. It happened to me with country music where I actually ended up for more than 20 years. And that was the one format that I told myself I could never ever, ever do. And that's the one gig where I stayed the longest and had the most fun and the best memories of my career and learned the most. 25 year span. That's the place where I learned everything.

Okay, well, I want to get into that. Tell us how you went from how you ended up in Minneapolis.

Okay, so the story goes like this. I followed a boy, you know, and sometimes that's where courage comes. Courage comes in pairs. Courage comes in groups. It was kind of a force risk that I took because when we got to Georgia, he found another opportunity to work for someone we worked with in New York, and wanted to go to Texas, and I'm like, my parents are gonna kill me if I give up my job with all my benefits, and move to Texas, but took that risk that went didn't pay off as much as we'd hoped. Because I feel like it was four months after we arrived, the station got sold, and everybody got fired. That was a bummer, because I was getting married three months later. So we were just, you know, there was a lot of chaos and a lot of fear during that time. And I feel like we were the whole idea when I left New York, New Jersey, was if I can go out there and see the rest of the country and what else is out there and get experience, I can come home to New York, and end my career in New York City. And that's not exactly how it went. But that doesn't mean that that risk of leaving my friends behind, leaving my family behind. I have, you know, a niece and nephews who I was afraid wouldn't know me because I lived far away, and I would only get home twice a year. So there's all that stuff involved. But when you look at the end game, it all worked out. And I feel like things always work out. There's not a risk that I took, that I don't feel paid off in one way or another. And I think that's important to remember, like, put fear aside, I would Michael, I would turn down things that took me out of my comfort zone, which is the biggest mistakes that you can make for yourself, I would be afraid to do your podcast, if you asked me I would there was a country artist who asked me to be on stage with them one time to read a children's story for a Christmas show. I was like hell no, not doing that. How foolish. You know, it's really, really foolish, and a great lesson that I learned in making risks, and why they're important.

Some of the persona of being an on air personality is that all everyone has big personalities. And you do have a big personality. But I think it's also perceived that everybody's super outgoing, and they love people, and they just want to be in the mix of everything. Yeah, how closely does that mirror your personality?

You know, I'm one of those people who in my circle, I feel like I'm a crazy person in my studio, I can be a crazy person. And I'm using that term, obviously, loosely, and in a silly manner. But deep down, I'm an introvert, you know, I would rather be talking to a crowd at the Xcel Energy Center than to a small bar of people filled with people, I don't want to see the faces, I don't want to see the distractions, you know, that whole thing. And that just comes down to me. And I've, I feel like I've overcome that quite a bit. But that also comes with taking risks and putting yourself out there. And the more you do it, the better you get at it. Say yes, I think that's really a big lesson that I learned is say yes, when something takes you out of your comfort zone.

Yes. And you gave some really nice examples to of things that in the past would have caused pause for years that you're doing now or that you've done in the past, you mentioned that you learned a ton of lessons being at K102. So first of all, the fact that you know, it was yet another format, the format that you said that you didn't think you could ever do, right? When you reflect back at your career there, what would be some of the other things that you feel like you really pushed past and really challenged you to take the risk.

Um, I think, for example, and this maybe happened earlier in my career, I almost feel like I may have called you for advice on this at one point, I think it's really important, especially for women not to undervalue yourself, or don't underestimate your value in a company. I mean, you can pretty much get a good sign for whether or not you are important and the hierarchy you know, of the of the programming department or the sales department, whatever it is, I wanted to ask for a raise at one point, really early. I mean, I'm talking three years into my my time there and I thought, oh my god, they're never gonna give me that. I'm sure it was like $40,000 from like 32, something like that. And I was like, I have to ask for this because I'm worth it and I'm putting in the time and blah, blah, blah. That is something that I learned. I learned that it's really important. To stick up for yourself, you know, and I learned that by not sticking up for myself a lot of times. So I think that that's important. That's not saying that anybody that I worked with did anything wrong. It's just, it's just the nature of the beast in business in general, I think it's important to know your place and don't undervalue yourself, you have to be your own best friend in these situations. And if someone asks you to do something out of your comfort zone, don't say I can't do that, oh, I would love to try to do that, you know that it's so important. And I just hate that it took me so long to learn that.

The key on that note, is that you did learn it, and that you tested some of those things along the way. So maybe what you wouldn't maybe what you're willing to do today, it wasn't back then you weren't. But all those five pieces that you did try and you did go and ask for and you did get or you didn't and you learned and you try it again, mad enables you to take on, you know, that whatever feels like a risk to you now, and the part about undervaluing, I think it's such an important message, especially for women. When people tell me that they're in a male dominated industry, I want to say almost everybody is in a male dominated industry. Yes, and and on top of that, just kind of knowing that they're really strong personalities in the radio business. And it's incredibly competitive, because there really aren't that many spots.

Well, and it used to be as few spots as there are for for people in general. There were fewer for women, you know, so because a lot of stations would have the one token woman on the morning show to be the morning show laugh track. Oh, you're so funny. And then there would be the midday girl, quote, unquote, you know, you didn't see a lot of that though. The one place that I did see that was when I worked in Texas, it was an all female Air Staff, except for the morning and night shows. But other than that, it was an afternoon, you know, a female afternoon jock, as we call ourselves. It was a mid day jock, There was somebody on the morning show. I did overnights at that time very early in my career. So that was the only exception I've really ever seen.

Until now being on FM107. Yes, with a format that really is catered. There's lots of female based radio stations, but a talk radio station that's geared to females and predominantly has female talent. Even though you're paired with a dude.

Yes, exactly. And a lot of us are and what is so great. So this is another format change for me. So my time ended at K102. After 20 and a half years and interest was shown in me to audition. Right, like terror. Audition, what? No! There was interest. And so I did audition along with some other people for the midday slot nine to noon. And it really wanted this job. And I really thought the station was so unique. There is no other radio station in the country like this station, My Talk 1071 is what we call ourselves. And it's everything entertainment, like there are no talk stations that I can think of other than ours who aren't talking about sports, news, politics. So this is a one of a kind at station that I wanted in on and it was terrifying. I won't lie to you, Michael. It was probably took me two years before I started feeling comfortable going into the studio and going oh yeah, we got this, we got this. Because I would get butterflies every single day. I'm talking as someone who's been in this business for nearly 30 years, more than 30 you know, considering working behind the scenes and everything. So it was terrifying. And now I'm like, what are we so afraid of? You just have to have trust, you know, and if you fail, what's the worst thing that can happen?

How did you build that trust in yourself?

Good partners. I think it's You have to trust your your management sometimes to see something that you don't see. As far as a pairing of two people or three people. I would look at it and go I don't know if that's gonna work. We're not like minded, but I think sometimes the key is to see both strengths and weaknesses in people and pair them up with someone who have the opposite strengths and the opposite weaknesses. And somehow it just comes together and that, and that trust in that report just comes naturally. So that was scary. But here we are. And it's been over five years. And I'm just thrilled, I never would have seen myself as a talk radio show host ever. I know now, but I didn't know, you know, when my friend said KFAN, and some other stations would come in so early. And I'm like, What are you doing here so early? Because I worked in music, radio, we talk in 15, 20 second, you know, fragments. There's a challenge in that as well, because you're trying to make a point and a punch, and a joke in a very small amount of time. The challenge going from that to talk radio, for me was I would want to wrap up a topic after two minutes. And I'd be like, Okay, enough with that. Now, what do you do want to say about and people would be like, what are you doing? You're like, we have 10 minutes to fill here. So it's just it's learning to exercise a new muscle, you know, and it's, it's great. It's fun.

I think people underestimate the the switches. And we've talked a little bit about that with a difference in formats. But to go from what you said, like radio, or excuse me music station to a talk station would be the equivalent of somebody completely switching careers, you know, like going from being an opera singer to a coder. It's like, that fast..

Yes, it is.

And you're so good at it. Like this is the thing that I would say about you and your, your peers in the industry is like, You make it sound so easy. Oh, I think you you know, tune in, give us a sense of like what it actually take to do a show.

Well, if you want to talk a music show, see, you know, when when I think back to that, I think where the the decade that I was in at the time, there was a there was a lot of behind the scenes work involved, there was show prep, you need to know what's going on, you need to know what people are watching, you need to know what movies are popular, you needed to know about the artists that you were talking about. We didn't have internet, you know. So there was a lot of watching MTV and CMT and VH1 and sitting in front of the TV and taking notes and that whole thing, and then having to figure out how to deliver that information while having to get station business out of the way we call those liners where we say, you know, Catch, you know, Tony Beaver over at the, you know, the River Nightclub tonight from 9 to 11. So you have to work all that if you get like four times an hour to talk to me music radio was more about it was it's a loss to art, in my opinion, because there was something about listening to other DJs most people listened to the radio to listen to music, real passionate air personalities, would listen to other DJs to get ideas and techniques. So that was more technical splicing tape on a reel to reel machine and find it put it back together and playback a listener call within 40 seconds of a song ending. So there was a lot of that chaos, which doesn't exist anymore. In music, radio, things just kind of run themselves on a computer and you just kind of open the microphone, when it's time to talk. So most of your show preparation comes from just living life and making observations like a comedian would, I would say or something that you enjoyed or something you learned about talk radio is the art of really having an opinion. Whereas in music radio, they tell you keep your opinion out of it and talk radio, they're like, well, you're being wishy washy, you need to take a side and I'm like, Oh, I didn't know I was allowed to take the side. Do you know what I'm saying? They're, like you described they're two completely different animals. You're doing the complete opposite of everything you learned in 20 years time. And then I go over to this other station I'm like, okay, so I watch TV as if it's part of my job I watch movies as if it's part of my job, you know, go on dates as if it's something that you can use on the air the next day, everything is game. Everything is you know, something that can be on the air, taking your dog to the dog park, your kid talking back, the weather, you just find ways to make it relatable to your audience. And it's just a constant, it's always work.

When you think about that how much you actually reveal you mentioned like I even looking at dating, and and how that can be part of the show. You end up revealing a way more about yourself. And and I think, you know, a lot of times listeners start to feel like they really know, a talent. Right, you know? And so what, what's something that we don't actually know about you Donna?

Oh, I feel like I told you so much already. Sometimes I don't feel worthy. That sounds like a kind of a evasive way to answer the question. But you know, there's a lot of things in my personal life that that I share so many things that I share, I don't want you to know what size underwear I wear, you know, um, you know, personal things about my family that they wouldn't want me to share things like that. But I would say for the most part, if you want to be successful, doing morning radio or doing talk radio, you really have to open yourself up, because that's the way you succeed in that type of format. People want to feel like they're just listening to a conversation that they can be a part of. So, you know, their their stupid things, you know, maybe things that happened to me personally, that are too painful to talk about on the air that would just, you know, bring me to feeling regretful for having said something, you know, things that involve other people who are that I care about

That in and of itself, just what you just said, is a huge risk. Like you have to really be willing to share big pieces of your life, right, save some of the other pieces, you know, that are super private. But just like Aaron Rodgers used to do until he like, just weaved in his little fiance announcement in an MVP award. But when we were talking earlier, and I think at first kind of like wondering all the risks that you've taken, I just want to like point out if it's not super obvious to you, the job that you have, and what's required of you to entertain, I see that as risky. I think a lot of people would.

Yeah, you know, it's so funny when you're in it, you don't think of it in that way in terms of risk until because I've never thought of myself as a risk taker. But hindsight is 2020. So maybe someday, I'll come back and go, Wow, I did that too. And I did that. And I moved far away from home. And I've sacrificed some things, but you kind of don't allow yourself to go there when you're in it. Because you got to stay focused, you know, stay focused, don't think of it like that. Like, I think I told you, not during this podcast, but a week or so ago, when you invited me to be a part of the podcast, I was like, Michael, I consider picking out a paint color a risk. I mean, I'll have 40 different colors and be like I can't, I can't, I'm going to ruin my whole house, you know, so I am kind of a Careful, careful, but I do see, and I have learned the value in taking risks. If you don't take a risk, no risk, no reward. That's just the way it is. And so maybe for you a risk is not the same risks that it is for, you know, somebody who put $25,000 down on a Superbowl bet, you know, take baby steps, but I do think it is important because no risk no reward. That's the bottom line.

Yeah. And well, and it's part of why I named the podcast Champions of RISK because it is it's so subjective. It means different things to different people. It shows up in different ways. And it's personal.

Well, and can I just add to that, that everything we do is a risk. You buy a house, you hope it's not going to be you know, a craphole, for lack of a better word, you get a dog from a rescue, and you're like, oh, gosh, I hope it's not gonna cost me a lot of money. You marry someone, maybe you see a red flag or two and you're like, oh, gosh, am I doing the right thing? And everything we do is is risky. So why not look at the benefits of taking a risk that can help you long term, potentially, and if they don't, things have a way of working themselves out regardless. So yeah.

That's a great attitude to have. Just having, you know, really, we I had you on the podcast, just so you could realize what a baller you actually are.

Thank you. Yeah, that makes me feel good.

You are. So let's just have a little bit of fun before we wrap up here because you've had a lot of opportunity to do some really cool things.

Yes, I have.

The industry does afford you some really fun experiences.

Yes.

So what would you say is like the craziest thing that's ever happened to you in radio is like your favorite fan geek out moment that you as a fan hat.

I had an opportunity to interview Dolly Parton in person in my studio with my partner.

Oh my god.

And when I found out, she was she was going to hop on a bus, come do the interview in Minneapolis, and then get back on the bus and go back home. Right around that time her dear friend if you know the story of Dolly Parton, Porter Wagoner was person who kind of discovered her and she worked with him. And I don't know if they had a falling out. But there was a deep deep connection and love and relationship. She wrote, I Will Always Love You about him. So he had died, like two days before she was scheduled to come out. And so I sent an email to the contact and said, Hey, obviously Dolly's not going to make it. So thank you so much. Blah, blah, blah. And he said, Oh, no, she's coming. And I go, she is she is fiercely dedicated to keeping commitments. And she made this commitment to do this interview with us. She was everything you would want her to be and more. She looks like she was sewn right into her clothes. She was beautiful. I mean, we all know she had plastic surgery, you don't look at her and go, Wow, look at all the plastic surgery. You go. Wow, she's just stunning. She's kind. And during the commercial break, you know, we would have her on the air talk stuff for commercials. She's just talking to you like she's your like aunt Dolly. She's like, oh, and then this guy I was you know, I ran into the store and just telling regular story. So that, to me, was worth the entire 20 and a half years of working at K102. It was mind blowing.

Yeah, amazing encounter, what a great reminder, like commitment is a big piece. It we can all struggle with it. We can really struggle with keeping commitments to ourselves. And sometimes it's easier to keep a commitment to somebody else. But to have such deep dedication. And if I and and to a word, if I tell you, I'm going to be here. I will be there to do that. I mean, like, that's unheard of.

It also explains why she's so incredibly It's amazing. successful. Because she's kind, she's loyal. She is true to her word. I mean, they're just very, very basic things. You know, and we weren't playing her. We were playing her songs. You know, it's not like we were like, you know, and the new Dolly Parton song coming out that wasn't really part of it. She just wanted a little exposure. And I don't know why Minneapolis, she must have picked like maybe 10 cities or eight cities. And she showed up and I was like, I'm so sorry about your friend. And she said, Yeah, we're, there's gonna be a service, but she wasn't gonna make it and she didn't want to be a distraction. She was great. Kenny Rogers, Charlie Daniels all the old you know why they have a special place in my heart to not just because they're like American icons, my mom, I grew up with my mom torturing me with country music, only to come and find out that when I hear an old song like David Allan Coe, You Never Even Called Me By My Name, which would drive me crazy, because it w s like six minutes long in the c r on the way to school. Now, t warms my heart. And it's like , my favorite all time count y song. So, you know, everything s full circle, and has just a way of like, you know, bringing y u back where you belong.

Yeah, it's the power of music in a lot of ways, you know, with this career that you have Donna, what is something that you still want to do either in the profession that you haven't done yet, or an encounter you want to have?

Oh, what a good question, Michael. You know, I joke to my friends that I'm on the casino tour, you know, when you were like filling out like, Target Field and Xcel Energy Center, and then you're like, I'm tired. I'll just I'll just play a couple of casinos here and then collect some money. And that's where I feel like I'm on in my career. I used to have aspirations to do like maybe a music related TV show, you know, like an interview show. I don't feel that I need to do that anymore. I feel like now it's about personal time, and maybe concentrating on my personal life and doing some fun things that don't have to do with work. You know, I had a lot of fun at work and I'm still having fun at work. You know, I got to see things and do things that I probably never would have had access to had I not been in the position I was in. But now I'm like, I want to grab a bunch of girlfriends and go to Italy. I want to just just be a good person, spread love and do good things for people and maybe take a risk or two. I haven't decided what that looks like yet. But we'll find out.

That's, that's a good, those are good aspirations. Many of which you already checked the box on there, just saying. So. Thank you so much for being on the podcast. Before we go tell people how they can follow you and find you.

Instagram and Twitter. I'm @ValentineDonna. You can find me on Facebook, Donna Valentine online. If you want to send me an email [email protected]

Look at you giving it all out. Okay.

Thank you, Michael.

Thanks for being on the podcast.

Thanks for having me.

And hey, thank all of you for listening to this episode of the Champions of RISK podcast. You know if one of your goals is a commitment to personal and professional growth this year, but only February Come on, please check out Champion You Group Coaching each month other professionals just like you meet virtually to learn new high performance topics to support their goals. We pack in training and small group discussion and coaching all into an hour. It's impactful and it doesn't take a lot of your time so you can discover for yourself how Champion You Group Coaching for you and achieving your very own version of an unstoppable 2021. This is the last month to sign up at the introductory offer Time's running out. Pricing goes up March 1st, so check it out and sign up today. The link is in the show notes.