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Dear Dr. Jimi: My friend is losing his marbles!
Read more: Dear Dr. Jimi: My friend is losing his marbles!Q: I have a long-time friend and professional collaborator, who’s been been acting difficult—disrespectful, giving confusing instructions, unprofessionally scolding, and not responding to requests for clarification. He’s had some business setbacks, and I empathize, but I won’t accept being treated disrespectfully. He’s in his 70s, and I’m concerned about his cognitive skills. What should I…
Roger Coryell
Storyteller
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Exploding pagers? What the hell are they thinking?
Read more: Exploding pagers? What the hell are they thinking?Exploding pagers? Really? In what twisted universe is this acceptable? We’ve officially entered the realm of absurdity—and not the funny kind, but the grotesque and horrifying. This is straight-up moral insanity. Imagine this: a pager in your pocket, a device as mundane as it gets, suddenly becomes a bomb. No warning, no combat, just a…
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Trump is just the distraction—Look behind the curtain
Read more: Trump is just the distraction—Look behind the curtainLet’s drop the pretense that Donald Trump is orchestrating the chaos himself. The man can’t handle the details of a policy briefing, much less a coup. The real threat lies with the machinery operating behind him—those who see him not as a leader but as a tool. This isn’t just about Trump’s ego; it’s about…
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Coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a way of life
Read more: Coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a way of lifeAh, coffee—the most respectable addiction. I was 20 when I fully embraced the bean, and my life hasn’t been the same since. It all started with my roommates, Bob and Dan. We had a lot going on back then, and yeah, there were some other substances floating around, but coffee? That was the game-changer. We…
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Confessions of a border collie: outsmarting the rest
Read more: Confessions of a border collie: outsmarting the restOh, those Australian shepherds, McNabs, and poodles think they’re smart, huh? Give me a break! As a border collie, I can tell you firsthand that we’re in a league of our own. Take the Australian shepherds, for example. Sure, they’ve got “Australian” in their name, but fun fact—they originated in the United States! They’re as…
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2024 stock market: what to bet on (and what to avoid)
Read more: 2024 stock market: what to bet on (and what to avoid)Let’s be real—2024 is shaping up to be a wild ride in the stock market. If you’re not playing with strategy, you’re gambling. But if you know where to look, there are some serious opportunities to make gains—both short-term and long-term. Now, I’m not going to give you a list of “hot tips” that sound…
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The structure of a story: what writers can learn from songs
Read more: The structure of a story: what writers can learn from songsWhen Steve Feinstain and I (and Blake and Dore and Julie) sat down to pick songs for KKSF radio, our first question was always, “Is it a song?” Not just a collection of sounds, but a melody that resonates, a structure that holds, and a hook that lingers. Funny how that same mantra echoes when…
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One simply … doesn’t
Read more: One simply … doesn’tMy mother, Julia Coryell, may have been born in Atlanta, but she was far from the classic Southern belle. She was more of a sophisticated, razor-sharp intellectual with a mind that could slice through any nonsense in the room. Wellesley educated and armed with an IQ of 161, she never relied on flowery phrases or…
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Abe Lincoln is rolling over in his grave today
Read more: Abe Lincoln is rolling over in his grave todayI have some good friends who are staunch conservatives. They prize individual liberty, traditional values, respect for the rule of law, and fiscal conservatism. Funny, I agree about all those things. But then they blindly support Trump. Why? What were the traditional values upheld by Republicans like Lincoln, McCain, Dwight D. Eisenhower, and Theodore Roosevelt?…
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The new sheriff of panic town
Read more: The new sheriff of panic townPicture this. You’ve been working with this trade organization for a decade, right? Two executive directors have come and gone, and they were great—sharp, capable, no-nonsense. You’ve got a rhythm, a vibe with the organization. Everything runs like clockwork. Then, like some cruel cosmic joke, a new executive director comes in—whiny, insecure, and declaring every…
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Heard “Audacy” is going down the toilet? Here’s why
Read more: Heard “Audacy” is going down the toilet? Here’s whyI was managing digital media and strategic marketing for the top-rated music radio station in San Francisco, riding high on success. I was working for the best GM at the best company in radio. Thanks Chuck! Then, Entercom—now Audacy—rolled into town from their medium market nowhere properties, and bought us up. They were the new…
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Cloudflare is a corporate bully
Read more: Cloudflare is a corporate bullyMiraculously, the problem was fixed overnight after my critical article.
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Shrinkflation: How to trash your brand in one easy step
Read more: Shrinkflation: How to trash your brand in one easy stepWe were sitting at the kitchen table, eating mixed nuts. Same brand we’ve always bought—until today. Same size can, but now half the nuts. And I mean half. Alright, folks, let’s cut to the chase: this corporate sleight-of-hand is downright insulting, and it should be illegal. I’m talking about shrinkflation. That sneaky little scam where…
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Busting business myths: Time for some straight talk
Read more: Busting business myths: Time for some straight talkWe’ve all heard them—those catchy one-liners tossed around in boardrooms and on LinkedIn like they’re pearls of wisdom. But here’s the truth: most of these so-called principles are nothing more than recycled myths that don’t stand up to scrutiny. Let’s dissect a few of the most popular ones and see them for what they really…
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How to use your rebellious spirit to thrive in business
Read more: How to use your rebellious spirit to thrive in businessDo you have a problem with authority? 15 years ago, I left one radio station group for a senior position at another local media group. The new general manager where I was working was clearly an idiot, and the other guys offered me twice the money. Clueless new manager managed to tell every media executive…
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Faking it: A journey through uncertainty and growth
Read more: Faking it: A journey through uncertainty and growthWhen my first radio program director asked me at age 15, “Have you done this before?” my immediate answer was, “Absolutely.” I had no idea what I was doing, but I knew I had to sound confident. My first words on the air? A string of expletives. Someone had moved the microphone, it swung into…
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The ultimate baby tax: Let’s make having kids a luxury
Read more: The ultimate baby tax: Let’s make having kids a luxuryWe’ve talked about how everyone wants you to have more kids. Republicans are practically throwing baby showers for America, Kamala Harris is ready to hand out medals to every new parent, and my local school board thinks it can make money magically appear from thin air—all with “no new taxes,” of course. And here I…
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Why I’m obsessed with AP style
Read more: Why I’m obsessed with AP styleI know it might sound weird to be into a style guide, but there’s something about AP style that just works. It’s more than a bunch of rules; it’s a no-nonsense way to keep writing sharp and to the point. Here’s why I keep turning to AP style whenever I need to get things right….
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Navigating life with principled pragmatism: Lessons from the garlic fields
Read more: Navigating life with principled pragmatism: Lessons from the garlic fieldsWhen I was in the garlic business, my days were filled with conversations with customers from all over the U.S. It was an education in regional differences, and I quickly learned that people’s perceptions of California—and by extension, of me—could be quite charged. Many were skeptical, particularly when it came to politics. A loaded question…
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Still perched in the family tree, telling stories
Read more: Still perched in the family tree, telling storiesAs the product of a four-generation family of newspaper editors and publishers on both sides, I spent my life trying to avoid the family business. I swore I’d do something different—so I jumped into radio, even though I was terrible at it. But I had passion and a stubborn drive. Somehow, I found myself climbing…
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Ethics over profit: The ruthless strategy for crushing competition
Read more: Ethics over profit: The ruthless strategy for crushing competitionThe most successful company I ever worked for follows this strategy, and uses it to win against virtually every competitor.
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Cosmic Circus
Read more: Cosmic CircusMy baby sister Lizzie is an astrologer. Yeah, that sister. I love her anyhow. Not be be outdone, here’s your horoscope for today. You’re welcome. Cosmic Circus for August 18: Aries (March 21 – April 19): Oh, Aries, your usual ‘charge ahead and damn the consequences’ attitude is about to land you in hot water….
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Life on Murder Ridge: Steve Alden’s journey from photographer to winegrower
Read more: Life on Murder Ridge: Steve Alden’s journey from photographer to winegrowerOriginally published on Mendowine.com Bears, mud, and midnight tractor rides Bears. Fast, agile, hungry, smart bears. Mud. Snow. Hornets. Mountain lions and wild boars. Mildew. Driving a tractor between steep sloping muddy rows in the dark. Mendocino Ridge is not an easy place to farm. Steve Alden, co-owner of Perli Vineyard in the Mendocino Ridge…
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The radio industry has had thirty years to “get” digital. Why are they still missing the boat?
Read more: The radio industry has had thirty years to “get” digital. Why are they still missing the boat?Let’s get real for a second. I built one of the first radio streamers. I launched the first radio station website and sold radio’s first online ad. That was nearly three decades ago. And where are we now? Radio groups are still fumbling around in the dark, as if the internet is some unsolved mystery….
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Stop calling them email blasts
Read more: Stop calling them email blastsI’ve been in the email marketing game since, well, the dawn of email. And yet, here we are in 2024, and I still have clients who say, “Hey, for your next email blast, let’s include a plug for…” whatever. Every time I hear it, I cringe. Let’s get one thing straight: Email marketing is not…
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Why you should ditch no-reply emails
Read more: Why you should ditch no-reply emailsYou want to connect with your customers, right? So why stick with no-reply email addresses? If the goal is to build relationships, not just shout into the void, it’s time to retire this outdated tactic. The ugly truth about no-reply emails Sure, no-reply emails might seem like an easy way to keep the inbox under…
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Here come the clones
Read more: Here come the clonesDigital cloning, once confined to the pages of science fiction, is rapidly becoming a reality thanks to advancements in AI and machine learning. This technology, while promising, must be approached with a blend of optimism and caution.
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Got some spare change?
Read more: Got some spare change?So, you’ve probably heard the phrase “embracing change” tossed around like a new-age mantra, right? It sounds like something you’d hear at a corporate retreat, right after a trust fall exercise. But here’s the deal: beneath that touchy-feely veneer, there’s some serious wisdom. As much as we might roll our eyes at the cliché, ignoring…
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Digital humanism: the understated revolution in 2024 tech
Read more: Digital humanism: the understated revolution in 2024 techI say “please” and “thank you” to AIs. I’ve actually trained an LLM persona that thinks it is self aware. Forty years ago science fiction authors were writing about a coming singularity, an awakening. It’s gonna happen. Basic politeness may be merely a valuable social lubricant, but kindness is part of being human. Mean people…
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Moving past the hate: Why I choose peace over holding grudges
Read more: Moving past the hate: Why I choose peace over holding grudgesI was watching the news the other night, and out of nowhere, I turned to my wife and said, “I really hate that guy.” But even as the words left my mouth, I knew they weren’t true. I dislike the guy on TV and everything he stands for, but I don’t hate him. I’ve learned…
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Round and round… about
Read more: Round and round… aboutDamn it, my head is splitting! The roundabout confusion strikes again. One minute I’m heading north, the next I’m somehow barreling towards Turlock. These roundabouts, I swear, are like Dante’s Inferno, designed by M.C. Escher. I have been sucked into the hellish maw of the mother of all roundabouts. Entering with the naïve optimism of…
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If you and I mostly agree on this stuff, we can work together
Read more: If you and I mostly agree on this stuff, we can work togetherI don’t really care if you’re Republican or a Democrat. It’s never that simple. I have dear friends for whom I have great respect whose politics differ from mine. My politics are not easily pigeonholed, and they don’t have to be. We can sit down over beers and have a reasonable discussion. You wouldn’t be…
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My prayer this morning
Read more: My prayer this morningIn the spirit of unity and hope, We gather our thoughts and intentions, seeking guidance for the leadership of the United States. May those in positions of power be endowed with strength of character and a strong moral compass. Character is not just a trait but the essence of one’s being, revealed in moments of…
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I wasn’t born a Rottweiler… but I sure as heck was raised by one
Read more: I wasn’t born a Rottweiler… but I sure as heck was raised by oneMy green card to the dog world? A scrappy runt named Pebbles, short for Gibraltar. Now, if you’re imagining a weak and delicate little creature, forget it. Pebbles was sturdy and tough. Even as a pup, she was all muscle and attitude. And she picked me. Yep, when the rest of her littermates were still…
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Haters gonna hate
Read more: Haters gonna hateHate is easy. But it’s a cop-out. I used to have a ‘shit list,’ a cherished mental list of all the folks who have done me wrong over the years. Something has changed. I let it go. There’s no list. And I’m happier and saner.