Mojo In The Morning

We Met Our New Boss

16 min
Apr 13, 20265 days ago
Listen to Episode
Summary

The Mojo in the Morning team discusses returning from vacation and reflects on the departure of their former boss Colleen Grant from iHeartMedia. They also introduce their new boss Dave and humorously explore his vanity phone number, leading to listener calls about vanity plates and personalized contact information.

Insights
  • Leadership quality is measured by heart and personal care during employee crises, not just business acumen or title
  • Organizational restructuring at iHeartMedia involved leadership changes with new reporting structures implemented
  • Vanity contact information (phone numbers, plates) creates memorable branding but can be perceived as vain or unprofessional in certain contexts
  • Radio show hosts leverage unexpected moments and new personalities as content opportunities to engage audiences
  • Personal relationships and emotional intelligence in management create lasting loyalty beyond transactional employment
Trends
Leadership transitions in media companies being handled with transparency and emotional acknowledgmentVanity branding extending beyond traditional marketing into personal contact information and vehicle identificationRadio hosts using real-time guest interactions and spontaneous phone calls as primary content generationWorkplace culture emphasizing personal support during health crises as key differentiator for employee retentionSelf-deprecating humor and vulnerability in on-air personalities building stronger audience connection
Companies
iHeartMedia
Employer of the hosts; Colleen Grant departed from this company; Dave is a senior executive overseeing the show
People
Colleen Grant
Former boss who departed from iHeartMedia; praised for her leadership and personal care during employee health crises
Dave
New boss introduced to the show; oversees multiple shows including Mojo in the Morning; known for vanity phone number
Kevin
Co-host of Mojo in the Morning; persistently asked Dave for his phone number during studio visit
Shannon
Co-host of Mojo in the Morning; worked with Colleen Grant for many years
Chelsea
Host's wife; diagnosed with ovarian cancer; supported by Colleen Grant during health crisis
Kim Block Camp
New boss taking over Colleen Grant's position at iHeartMedia
Tony
Senior executive at iHeartMedia overseeing the show
Quotes
"You have been there through me having heart issues to last summer when Chelsea was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This woman had masses said for our family and for Chelsea specifically."
HostMid-episode
"I really think in my short time getting to know Colleen, she was there because of her heart. She was and is still an incredible person."
Co-hostMid-episode
"Dave says my number is here, write this down for two, three. And then he goes and gives the number. He's like, five, five, five, five, five, Dave."
HostLate episode
"You're now a topic on our show. I want to know who has... Are there any people that are listening that have their name in their phone number?"
HostLate episode
Full Transcript
Uh, you know, I come back from a vacation, you know, coming back from a vacation is, uh, is a tough thing because number one, you just got done sleeping in a whole bunch and I will say this to you guys. I slept in, it was nice. I also didn't go to bed, you know, at a normal school hour. I actually was staying up very, very late and enjoying myself. So it was nice. And then, um, last night I had the Sunday scaries and I could not deal with getting to bed. I had a hard time falling asleep. So, uh, what are you going to do? Um, can I real quick, what do you do to stay up? Like when you say I have a hard time falling asleep. So we would, Chelsea and I would go out for like a dinner late. We would eat later than four o'clock. Normally, no, but we would eat, we would do seven o'clock reservations or seven one night. We went out at seven 30 by the seven 30 reservation. I'm like, holy crap, Charles. I feel like this is my fifth meal today because if I had to eat before I ate because I was so hungry, but, um, then I would stay up and we were binge watching a bunch of stuff. So we watched a crap load of TV and, um, I watched all of love on the spectrum. I haven't finished it yet. Don't tell me, but I love this. The last two episodes I cried like a baby. And you already heard the news, right? About Abby and David, why do you got to bring that up? Okay. Sorry. That is. I brought it. Don't tell me anything else. I don't know. Spoiler alerts. No. Honestly, uh, Shannon, I, um, I'm not as into the show and in the people, the only guy that I really like, my favorite guy that I like is, uh, what's his name that went to London, uh, Connor, Connor and Georgie. Hello. You know, he does that kind of like English. We were down in Tampa too. And also, you know, two of them are just in plant city. So Madison and Tyler and, uh, I told Chelsea, I said, you know, we are Tyler and Madison. If you think about it, like that's the couple, like I'm the big fat dude. You know, I remember walking into her dad's house one time and I was wearing like a shirt that looks like his cause he always would wear like a button up shirt. And I walked in there and Chelsea's dad goes, wow, look at that shirt. He's a radio guy too. I look like you. Oh, is he really? Is he a DJ? Yeah. So okay. So Kevin, that's what we do. We stay up late. We'd watch, you know, love on the spectrum or whatever was on. So. Okay. Um, I didn't get a chance to address something. And I feel like I need to address something. I'm one of those people that feels like you can't just have something happen and not talk about it, uh, whether the company is upset by this or not. I don't care. But I just also feel like we're all people. Last week, um, we got the news that one of the people who has been part of our lives for many, many years, part of mine specifically in Shannon's for many, many years, um, wasn't going to be with the company anymore. Uh, last week, it was announced to us that, uh, uh, Colleen Grant, who is our big boss, was, uh, leaving I heart and not going to be part of this, uh, this company anymore. And this came as such a shock. It was a shocker. Yes. Yeah. And the thing I don't want to focus on is the, the why, because I honestly still don't understand, but I do want to focus on the her and the her is for, I don't even know how many years Colleen, we have, uh, been quote unquote coworkers, but you've been a sister to me. You are from a big family, big Catholic family, like I have been. We've related to each other in the fact that we've got family members, brothers and sisters that are very similar to each other. You have been there through me having heart issues to last summer when Chelsea was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. This woman had masses said for our family and for Chelsea specifically. Um, you do the personal better than anybody, but also are the one of the strongest business women that I have ever seen in my life, business people. I'm not going to call you business woman because you're a business person. Um, you're going to be in a great place. And if you're already not in a great place, who knows, you probably just pulled up to it in her nude job right now and I don't even know it, but, um, I love you and I will miss seeing your face every single day. Even more so, I will miss the text messages and I hope you continue with that. When you hear something on the radio show, I loved it when she was listening and I also loved when she would say, I'm buying Starbucks like she would do that. You, but you could still do Colleen. You know the address. But I want the listeners to know that we're blessed that we have so many great people that we've gotten a chance to work for. Colleen grants, one of the best of the best. Absolutely. And so she's going to do some great stuff and we're going to miss seeing your beautiful face every single day. And, um, hopefully I don't, I told her that because I was away last week and I called her up at home and we talked for a little bit and I said, I'm going to call you at four 45 on my way to Eastern market Detroit, Michigan. So I Siri. And I said, I'm going to call and I'm going to say F you and hang up the phone. I'm driving 45 minutes to an hour to work. And so she chuckled at that. I'll say something real quick. Yeah. That was beautiful, by the way. I think, um, you already said she was, you know, the president, big, big boss. I think a lot of times when people get the, the three letters in front of their title, you know, SVP or they, they get like these big roles. A lot of people oftentimes get to those positions because of their heads. They're smart. Yeah. Um, I really think in my short time, getting a note, a count, getting to know Colleen, she was there because of her heart. Oh my God. That's so, so perfectly said. She was and is still an incredible person. And that, that heart is, is a, we're, we're beating a bit slower today. You know, I, um, Kevin, I told Chelsea this, that I've been blessed, that I've gotten a chance to work for her, Tony, Nick, Naa, Paul Corvino. Um, now we get a chance to work with a Kim block camp, but I will say this when you go through family tragedy or family, you know, health stuff and they tell you this job will be here when you're ready to get, you know, through all that stuff, they, that, that's when you realize who you're working for, that you're, you're not working for somebody that worries about numbers and stuff like that. Because numbers will come. Well, thank you. I appreciate that. So with that said, I'm taking another way. On another note, on another note, I want to bring something up here. And I was looking for my notes cause this was too good. So last week, we got to meet one of our big bosses, not the person that's taking Colleen's job cause Kim's going to be doing that. But the guy who is, is over her and over Tony and over all of us, they kind of did some rearranging. Yeah, they did some rearranging. And I had never met this guy before and I still have never met him cause I was on the phone with you guys when he came into the studio last week. And it was kind of an interesting time because the, this guy comes walking into the studio and I could hear you guys and I was talking to you guys and then you're like, Oh, somebody's, Hey Mojo, Dave just walked in the studio. Hey Dave, what's going on? So we're sitting there and Dave sounded great. It was awesome. He was like, you know, Hey, you know, I'm here to, you know, be here for you guys, be, you know, voice to the head guys in the company and all this stuff. Like he was going through the whole thing, but he said something that was pretty interesting. He said, and if you guys need anything from me, call me. And right as he says that I'm on the phone listening, I can hear Kevin go, what's your number? He told out his phone like ready to input his number. And Dave goes, that, I don't know. I can start talking more kind of, I don't know if he didn't hear him or whatever. 10 minutes later or so, he goes, Hey, what's your number? And the guy, Dave says nothing. He doesn't do it. Finally, like a minute or so later, Kevin's like, no, no, no, no, no, you said I can call anytime. Out the door. Kevin goes, what's your number? And Dave says, and this I thought was really interesting. Dave says my number is here, write this down for two, three. And then he goes and gives the number. He's like, five, five, five, five, five, Dave. And I thought he was kidding. And I go, what? Hold on a second. And I mute my phone for a second and I kind of start chuckling. The guy's number is. The the area code, the first three numbers. And then he's got the thing, Dave. Yeah. And I thought to myself, is that like having a vanity plate? And then I started talking to Chelsea about it. And Chelsea goes, well, Mr. Vanity plate, which I did not ask for. I'm gonna play. I did not. My porter got that vanity plate. I did not want that vanity plate. My porter did it. It's beautiful. I love it. Thank you, Mike. My wife won't drive with me in my time. I would remind the people what it says. It says H.O.F. 2025. I have the guy at Jack's Power Wash goes, what hall of fame are you in? But is a vanity number is a vanity number. A vain thing. Like is that? Eight four four six six five, whatever. Mojo. Like we just. We need to make it easy for people. Just so remember. Yeah, that is. No, there's a time and a place for everything. Yeah. Like for the for the radio kind of makes it for your personal cell phone. Unless you live in die sales. That's what it sounds like. It's so here's the deal, Dave. You're going to learn first and foremost now that you are overseeing the Mojo in the morning show, we make everything a topic. You're now a topic on our show. I want to know who has. Are there any people that are listening that have the their their name in their phone number or what's your vanity plate? I want to know what your vanity plate is and do women will women like a guy with a vanity plate? My I got my my G pass saying 24 on there. Same 24 though. That's like a brand doesn't bother me. Yeah, you're doing promotion for your brand. I take pictures of of license plates when I see them because I think they're hilarious. You do. But then also don't say you can call me anytime and not give me your number. Yeah, let's call them right now and hear the story behind the. He was trying to leave the studio and Kevin's like no, no, no, no, no, no, no, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Kevin has his number. Let's bring it up. Anna. Anna. I don't know. I listen. I'm willing to I got balls to bring it up as a topic. I don't have balls. I didn't call them up randomly. I don't know. I don't know. That makes me scared. I don't know who I don't know. I like that. Call them. I got a little. Yes. Kevin. Kevin is the one with the number. You want me to call or no, or should we call? He said call any to Kevin. When I just put it on speakerphone. Yeah, you said you have to say to him. You said call call anytime we're live. All right. You got to tell him we're on the air, though, because we get we get sued for what if he doesn't answer? The only way is now. Oh, my God, I'll die if he actually answers. That's I'm not sure if he got he should call. He was just here. He doesn't have you say. You have to remember this is like the boss. He's got his. He answered the phone. Do we want his last name out there? In case you said. He's not going to answer the phone. Will he answer? Here's your telemarketer. Awesome. Boys, man. Oh, what up, Dave is kid. Detray from the module in the morning show. You gave me your number. Said if I needed anything to call you, so I'm calling. Call me back. Kevin, no context. What's it? What's up, Christy? How you doing? Hi. First time. Call. Hey, what's going on? So I have a co-worker who's 95 years old and she has a vanity phone number just like your new boss. Oh, what is it? I'm not going to say the area code. What's the vanity part is? Joan. Joan, the last word, Joan. Why does it not surprise me? A 95 year old woman has the name Joan. Joan. Yeah. Yeah. Call me up right now. Joan. 313. Joan. As much as we make fun of it because when Dave said that I was like, oh my gosh, no way. Are you kidding me? I can't remember people's phone numbers for the life of me. So as cringy as it is, I'm also like it's kind of smart because I would remember. The hard part though with phone numbers like that is where you got to look and see where the numbers are. What's up, Emily? How you doing? Hi, I'm good. How are you guys? We're great, Emily. We're having fun talking about the bosses here. Are we going to be in trouble? What do you think? We get it. All right. What's going on? I have a vanity plate on my car. What does it say? So it says Bo Mama. What? It's kind of like yo mama. Bo Mama? But my last name is Bo. Yeah. So it's kind of like a little dad joke like yo mama. No. Bo Mama so fat. I drive a Bronco actually. Oh, OK. I like it. Bo Mama is there. Do people scream it out at you when you're driving down the street? Yeah, not driving down the street, but it like my co-workers will see my car at work or whatever and they'll be like, Bo Mama. Because they see my car in the parking lot. That's the only problem with having a vanity plate is that you got random people that will honk or say something if you have it. What's up, Erin? How you doing? Hey, first time long time. Yeah, I'm scared on the phone. OK, so I have a friend who lives in the state of Wyoming and he is your alligist and his vanity plate is four skin. I can't believe they actually let him do that. OK, so he had to. He said he was a taxidermist. It's the number four and then skin. Skin. Skin. Because they say a lot, a lot of them. My step moms, it was the number five and then it was L U T S and then some numbers. So we always used to joke with her like it says slots and they just like a month ago made her get a new one. Have to get a new one. Yeah. Wow. Because they're so careful about it. But we love we love your dad love that the slots. What's going on, Dan? How you doing? How you doing? My daughter just got her very first car and we got her plate as she requested to be lard six seven large lard six seven. Why lard? That's her nickname. But I guess all of her teammates gave her and she plays rugby and six seven because of six seven that yes, six seven because six seven. I would love. Does anybody have lard ass? I would love that. Lard is the nickname. Call us right now. 1-800-LARD-ASS. Now Tony, that would have been a great number. I like that, you know, like I like I love that. There's that jeweler David Yermann and his is I hate David Yermann.com. Like I thought that that's actually kind of his. Yeah, that's kind of a cool, you know, vanity that they have there. And Joe, my son Joe has his stuff as Joe show sucks. True, which I think is right exactly. But it's so cool. I mean, I remember the show sucks. No, but everybody loves that. They they like the making fun of yourself, the self deputation.