Q:\u00a0What kind of radio program is \u201cMPS in the Morning?\u201d<\/p>\n
MPS: \u201cIt\u2019s a talk show, but I do a lot of listening because we have as many as 15 news-making guests each morning. I interview politicians, business leaders, coaches and athletes, authors, celebrities, entertainers, journalists, and interesting people from all walks of life: people who are important to Michigan.<\/p>\n
Q:Who are some of the guests who have appeared on MPS in the Morning?<\/p>\n
MPS: \u201cGovernor Jennifer Granholm, Senator John McCain, Governor Mitt Romney, Governor Mike Huckabee, Coach Tom Izzo, Jane Seymour, Wayne Gretzky, Cheryl Ladd, Secretary of State Terry Lynn Land, Congressman Bart Stupak, Paul Anka, Chris Ilitch, Dick DeVos, and Stephen Kircher, name a few. We also talk weekly with State Senator Jason Allen from Traverse City and House Republican Leader Kevin Elsenheimer, from Bellaire.\u201d<\/p>\n
Q: Have you interviewed President Barack Obama?<\/p>\n
MPS: \u201cNot yet. He doesn\u2019t do much radio because radio is unpredictable. But I\u2019ve interviewed a lot of people close to him.\u201d<\/p>\n
Q:If someone wants to be a guest on \u201cMPS in the Morning,\u201d how do they do it?<\/p>\n
MPS: They can contact my producer, Amanda K. Wall \u2013 she is our \u201cChief of Staff.\u201d She can be reached at BigShowProducer@gmail.com<\/a> People are also welcome to call during the show with comments at 888-900-9966. I get listener email at MPSbigshow@aol.com<\/a> Our website is www.MichiganTalkNetwork.com<\/p>\n Q: The Michigan Association of Broadcasters named you \u201cNetwork Morning Radio Personality of the Year\u201d for the past two years. Why?<\/p>\n MPS: \u201cThose were very flattering honors. I can only suppose it is because I am non-partisan, not arrogant, and spend every morning trying to entertain and inform listeners in a friendly, funny manner. I think listeners don\u2019t need to be told what to think. They\u2019re smart enough to make up their own minds based on what they hear the interviewees say.\u201d<\/p>\n Q: Who were your mentors in radio?<\/p>\n MPS: \u201cWhen I was a younger man living in Detroit, I had the good fortune to work for two morning radio hosts who have since been enshrined in the National Radio Hall of Fame: J.P. McCarthy and Dick Purtan. I owe my careers to them \u2013 particularly J.P. We sometimes play tapes of him on my program and I do all I can to emulate the standards he implemented every single day.\u201d<\/p>\n Q: What does \u201cMPS in the Morning\u201d offer besides newsmaker interviews?<\/p>\n MPS: \u201cWeather with the legendary meteorologist John McMurray \u2013 he lets the skiers, golfers, fishermen and farmers know what to expect. \u00a0We have news with anchorman Gary Austin; ; a business report with Chris Holman; and plenty of interesting music and audio mixed in by our technical director Frank Malcangi \u2013 we call him our \u201cOfficer of the Watch.\u201d<\/p>\n Q: What are you like? What are your interests?<\/p>\n MPS: \u201cIn addition to radio, I have authored seven books and write articles for magazines and newspapers. Beyond that, I\u2019m 41 years old. I love travel, first and foremost. I play golf. I enjoy the water and being on the water. I read, play a little tennis, and attend special events. People interest me, and I surround myself with them. I must have hundreds of friends. I\u2019m very lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n Q:\u00a0 What books have you written?<\/p>\n MPS: All non-fiction. I\u2019ve collaborated with the likes of Larry King, Donald Trump, golf course architect Arthur Hills (who designed Bay Harbor) and Emmy Award-winning television golf announcer Ben Wright. I\u2019ve written a \u201cFor Dummies\u201d book. My most recent title is \u201cSecrets of the Great Golf Course Architects.\u201d I interviewed Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Pete Dye, Tom Fazio and many others for that book.\u201d<\/p>\n Q: MPS in the Morning is headquartered in Lansing?<\/p>\n MPS: \u201cThe show was founded in Charlevoix, but yes, it was moved to Lansing in order to be able to better cover the political action that affects everyone in the state. Having said that, we sometimes broadcast from the WJNL Traverse City studios on Front Street or from various Northern Michigan locations, including Boyne, Mackinac Island, Crystal Mountain, and more. We love spending time in the Traverse City and Petoskey areas.\u201d<\/p>\n March 11, 2009<\/strong>
\n“Meeting MPS”<\/strong>
\nOriginally printed in the Talk of the North<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"