Talk Radio

I'm a "veteran" talk radio listener. I've listened to various programs ever since I was fifteen or sixteen years old, and have therefore developed a strong sense about what I appreciate and dislike in this medium!

I like to listen to talk shows sometimes while I'm driving or working (cleaning, cooking, etc) by myself, because they can be extremely mentally stimulating and interesting. Notice I said "can be." There is a wide variety in the value of these shows. Some of them absolutely bore me out of my mind!

Shows which focus solely on political repartee quickly become brain-numbingly dull. There's always going to be another somebody who said or did something outrageous that we need to rag on. Recycle the stories, change the minor details. A little bit of this is OK, I suppose, for the sake of non-ignorance. We need to know who the major players are and what they stand for. But these are not things that I need to build my political and cultural beliefs around. I believe that true understanding of our country's politics and culture reaches much deeper than politicians and their "talking points." (OK, rule out Michael Savage, Bill O'Reilly, and a host of others! Sorry guys, but I just can't take the tedium! Although I will give Michael Savage that he is sometimes crudely amusing if you can get past his bombastic manner. He's a good story-teller.)

My favorite programs are those that emerge from a framework of "worldview". There is night and day difference between worldview and politics! Politics is all about "so-and-so" and positions. Worldview is about life and core values. Dennis Prager has one of my favorite programs--perhaps my very favorite. He is thoughtful. He doesn't just throw around positions, he examines positions to determine their worth. He cuts past the argument and tries to really see what worldview his callers hold. He nudges out the presuppositions that flavor the argument. He's truly brilliant.

I'd love to hear about other programs that fellow talk-radio connoisseurs recommend!