Pictured above are FOX News Channel and FOX News Radio talk personality Brian Kilmeade (left) with WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive talk host Jeff Katz (right) at the historic McLean’s Restaurant in downtown Richmond. Kilmeade – whose show recently joined the lineup at WRVA – was in town broadcasting live and Katz joined Kilmeade to offer insight on the issues of the day.
Pictured above is WRVA, Richmond afternoon talk host Jeff Katz (right) alongside former President Donald Trump (left) during Trump’s March 2 visit to Richmond. Katz is presenting Trump with a “Julia Katz Bracelet” created by Emily Morrissey of Emily’s Bracelets. Morrissey and Julia Katz are young women with a variety of special needs and disabilities who have received services from The Friendship Circle. During the month of March, Morrissey is offering “The Julia Katz Bracelet” as a fundraiser for The Friendship Circle of Virginia in recognition of Julia’s 21st birthday on March 7. Jeff Katz recently helped raise more than $17,000 for The Friendship Circle and to kick off the special Julia Katz bracelet he personally presented one to Trump. They are available at www.emilysbracelets.com
Audacy’s WRVA, Richmond adds FOX News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” to its daily lineup airing from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
PodcastOne acquires the exclusive sales and distribution rights to Jackie Schimmel’s “The Bitch Bible Podcast.” PodcastOne president and co-founder Kit Gray comments, “PodcastOne is thrilled to welcome Jackie and ‘The Bitch Bible’ to the network. From our very first meeting there was an instant connection and our visions for growth were aligned, and we immediately offered Jackie equity in PodcastOne understanding the value she brings to PodcastOne and our partners. Our team at PodcastOne will provide the support needed to improve and expand the show, and we’re incredibly excited to work together to achieve and surpass our mutual goals.”
iHeartPodcasts and host and creator Emily Tisch Sussman announce that the award-winning podcast, “She Pivots,” is now a part of the iHeartPodcast Network. Sussman says, “‘She Pivots’ is changing the cultural conversation around how women talk about and think about their careers. I am excited to join forces with the No. 1 podcast publisher, iHeartPodcasts, and continue to make a show that inspires and empowers women to trust their instincts and skills. I want women to know that everything you have done has given you the toolkit you need to make your pivot. You have everything you need inside of you, and I can’t wait to showcase the stories of women who have proven just that in season three.”
Pictured above is WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive personality Jeff Katz (left) showing off his new Special Olympics of Virginia tattoo. Katz has been involved with Special Olympics for 20 years and during the most recent fundraising drive, he teamed up with Chesterfield County Sheriff Karl Leonard (right) and they promised to get matching Special Olympics of Virginia logo tattoos if they were able to raise $15,000. Needless to say, they raised the money, and they got the ink. At center is Mike Ivey, owner of Journey’s End Tattoo Studio in Powhatan, Virginia who donated his services.
Media firm Urban One poured about $4.3 million into the campaign to convince voters to approve the Richmond Grand Resort & Casino – a project in which it was partnered with Churchill Downs. The referendum failed by a margin of 58% to 42%. Altogether, Urban One and Churchill Downs spent $10 million promoting the project. Urban One founder and board chair Cathy Hughes recently appeared
on Gospel WPZZ-FM, Richmond to discuss the project and the referendum and lamented the amount of money they’d spent on the process, saying, “God has blessed me with enough to build the Richmond Grand. But $10 million is what the final [campaign] bill looks like. Such a waste. I am so mad at this opposition. Do you know how much good I could have done with $10 million? I had to pay the lawyers, the accountants, and the lobbyists… just to get the opportunity for you all to vote.” Casinos have already been approved in four Virginia cities, but the project was extremely controversial in Richmond.
Pictured at right is WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive talk show host Jeff Katz (left) having fun, fun, fun with
Beach Boys original lead singer Mike Love (right). Love made his only radio appearance on Katz’s program during the band’s stop in Central Virginia for a sold-out performance. Katz says they talked about the impact of the Beach Boys in popular music, as well as Transcendental Meditation and the political landscape.
Audacy welcomes reigning Virginia Sportswriter of the Year Michael Phillips to its air staff as host of the late morning (10:00 am to 12:00 noon) sports talk program “MP on the Mic” on WRNL-Richmond
“SportsRadio 910 The Fan,” beginning Monday (9/11). In addition to his work as a sportswriter, Phillips has been a frequent guest on “The Fan.” Audacy Richmond SVP and market manager Bennett Zier states, “Michael Phillips, for many years, has been highly regarded as the most respected voice of Richmond and Virginia Sports. We are delighted to have MP wear our ‘910 The Fan’ jersey for Audacy Richmond.” Phillips previously served at the Richmond Times-Dispatch as sports editor and interim executive editor.
Pictured above is WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive host Jeff Katz (left) with Democratic Party presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr (right). Katz says that during Kennedy’s visit to Richmond, he granted just one interview and says the two “spent just shy of 30 minutes one-on-one, chatting about everything from the economy to ‘Curb Your Enthusiasm'” (Kennedy is married to Cheryl Hines who starred as Larry David’s wife on the hit show).
Richmond talk radio personality Jeff Katz signs a new contract with Audacy to continue his role as afternoon drive host on news/talk WRVA. Katz, who has been hosting a program on WRVA for the past 10 years, says,
“During the past decade, I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the people of Central Virginia. This community has been so welcoming to my family and I cherish having the chance to help out a bit by serving as an advocate for special needs kids, saluting our law enforcement officers, and sharing vital news and information.” Audacy Virginia SVP and market manager Bennett Zier comments, “Jeff is a great citizen of Virginia and continues to be an important part of the WRVA family.”
During the coming days, videos of all of TALKERS 2023’s numerous sessions conducted June 2 at Hofstra University will be posted, continuing today (6/21) with the panel discussion, “Navigating a Radio Talk Show
Hosting Career.” The session, sponsored by C. Crane, was introduced by managing partner, Goldman McCormick PR and syndicated host, Ryan McCormick (pictured at right) and moderated by WPHT, Philadelphia host, Dom Giordano (pictured above). Panelists (pictured below from left to right) include Heather Cohen, SVP, the Weiss Agency; Martha Zoller, host, WDUN-AM/FM, Gainesville, GA; Frank Morano, host WABC, New York; Rich Valdes, host, Westwood One; and Jeff Katz, host, WRVA, Richmond, VA. See video of the session here.
Urban One reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission that on June 13, 2023, Urban One, Inc.’s 50/50 partnership with Churchill Downs Incorporated, RVA Entertainment Holdings, LLC, entered into a
Resort Casino Host Community Agreement with the City of Richmond, Virginia, to be the city’s preferred casino gaming operator subject to certification by the Virginia Lottery Department and a local referendum. The planned project is a $562 million world-class entertainment and gaming venue.
Pictured here is WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive host Jeff Katz (right) with Virginia First Lady Suzanne
Youngkin (left) at the Virginia Executive Mansion where he attended Governor Glenn Youngkin’s first-ever Governor’s Father’s Day Reception. Katz volunteers with the Fatherhood Foundation of Virginia and holds the fundraising record for that organization. In addition to raising funds, Katz serves as a volunteer teacher for first time fathers, fathers to special needs children as well as fathers who are incarcerated.
WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive talk host Jeff Katz (above, left) has been “drafted” by the Prince George Patriots! Katz, a former police officer, was named Honorary Captain of the team of Central Virginia law enforcement officers who play charity hockey games throughout the Mid-Atlantic region. Katz, who himself used to play defense, said, “I’m honored to help! While I’m not sure if I will lace up a pair of skates or put on the foil, I will definitely be cheering for my favorite cops on skates!” The Patriots face off against the United States Secret Service team in Richmond on June 3 for a benefit to fight colorectal cancer.
WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive talk host Jeff Katz (pictured above at right) served as Grand Marshal of the Bon Air Victorian Day Parade in Old Bon Air, Virginia on Saturday (5/13). Katz made history as he became the only person to serve as the parade’s Grand Marshal more than once. Katz agreed to return as the Grand Marshal on one condition – he would share the parade duties with his friend Emily Morrissey (above left) – a 24-year-old with a variety of special needs and disabilities who makes beautiful bracelets which raise money for Special Olympics of Virginia via her website www.emilysbracelets.com.
Pictured above is “Chef” Jeff Katz (right) – afternoon drive host at WRVA, Richmond – with the team of winning chefs from the Culinary Institute of Virginia’s recent competition. The winning team created a unique dessert based on the theme of “Take me out to the ballgame” involving churros, whipped cream, semi-sweet chocolate and strawberry preserves. Katz says, “Their combo was a homerun!”
Pictured above is WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive talk host Jeff Katz (right) with international best-selling author John Maxwell (left). The two chatted in Orlando as Katz completed coursework to earn his Maxwell Leadership certification.
WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive talk host Jeff Katz made his annual appearance at a local school to read to children as part of Read Across America. Katz says, “Did the kids have a great time? Did I make it all rhyme? Jumped straight out of bed, to read while wearing a hat on my head. I was the Katz in a hat, Reading Across America Day and that’s that!”
Katz is pictured above (right) wearing his “Katz Hat” at Salem Church Elementary in Chesterfield, Virginia alongside the teacher whose class he read to.
Pictured above is WRVA, Richmond afternoon drive talk host Jeff Katz (left) with Bishop E.W. Jackson (right), a radio host currently syndicated by American Family Radio. Katz tells TALKERS magazine that he and Bishop Jackson chatted before his church’s 26th annual Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast last week. Katz and Jackson both worked in Boston – Katz at WRKO and Jackson at the old WHDH – and both grew up in the Philadelphia area.