Radio Reflections 1.1
Listening to, and learning from, those with experiences we can’t comprehend (27th-29th May 2022).
“Familiar, but new” - as I sat in the Times Radio studio, where I’ve spent more minutes and hours in the last two years than I can count, my butterfly-tummy and slightly sweaty palms gave me away: something had changed. It’s the most exciting change: I am now co-presenting Times Radio Breakfast on Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Chloe Tilley.
Welcome to the first in a new series on ColumnAM by CalumAM: Radio Reflections. Periodically, we’ll reflect together on what’s happened on the radio programme, what we’ve learned, highlight the best bits of Breakfast, and bring you some behind the scenes insight and gossip too.
Tragedy in Texas
Our weekend was dominated by the heart shattering murder of 19 school children and two adults in Uvalde in Texas. It was a difficult weekend as details emerged of the police failing to storm the room where the shooter was, even as children called 911 for help from inside the school. Police were slow to engage because ‘they could’ve been shot’, reports The Washington Post.
Welcoming insightful views and opinion is what we do on Times Radio.
On gun control, views are as entrenched as they come. It makes conversation about the subject particularly tricky: the fact is that people with guns kill other people. If the other people have guns, it doesn’t stop the violence. “Why only in America?” demanded Mark a Stone from Sky News, as he interrogated Texas Senator Ted Cruz. The confrontation became tense, and Cruz eventually walked away. Over the years of his career, Cruz's campaigns have received the most donations of any senators from gun lobbyists, at $442,000, according to OpenSecrets, a nonprofit dedicated to tracking money surrounding America's elections.
The two standout interviews from our weekend were one with an advocate for guns, Steve Gutowski from The Reload. He revealed he actually owns two AR-15 rifles - the type of gun used in the Uvalde shooting, that has also been used numerous times before. He has them for hunting and home defence. He didn’t say how often he’d had to defend his home with the semi-automatic weapon.
The other interview that was so powerful, was with James Gard, a teacher who survived the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas, Parkland school shooting by chance - he was in another building - who called for “extremely severe gun control”:
It seems to me that in these situations, listening to those who have lived it, and indeed, still live with it, is the way to learn, progress and - crucially - prevent such tragedies happening again. Then again, we’ve said that for decades…
The Early Breakfast Club Shines again
On day one, we picked up from Anna Cunningham, who is taking care of Early Breakfast on Times Radio. She reports that the Early Breakfast Club - our loyal listeners who are up every day between 5am-6am - have embraced her on the programme which is entirely predictable but no less wonderful. Moreover, what is striking is how many of our Early Breakfast Club members stuck around to join us throughout the morning on Breakfast. LP and Heather and Jim and Ginny, to name but a few. It is so, so wonderful to have you with us on Breakfast - and, I’ve noticed, on these articles too. Keep your comments coming!
War in Ukraine
Also this weekend, we got the latest on the war in Ukraine as Russia intensifies its offensive in the east of the country. Learn more here:
Other business and behind the scenes…
Overall, it was a brilliant first weekend on Times Radio Breakfast. Chloe and I have settled in. This weekend, as it’s the Platinum Jubilee, we’ve got a bonus Breakfast for you on Thursday 2nd. So, we’ll do four in a row. From behind the scenes: I was powered by Coco-Pops (better BTS intel to come later in the series). We’ve already got plans for brilliant programmes we want to do with you and for you, and the guests we want to invite on air for you to hear from. You are always part of our conversations so get involved. We’re only just getting started…