Key Takeaways
- Larry Meiller is retiring from his job as the host of Wisconsin Public Radio’s "The Larry Meiller Show" after nearly six decades.
- The show is the longest-running call-in show in the state, covering a wide range of topics from gardening to home improvement to authors, all with a Wisconsin focus.
- Meiller believes the show’s ability to speak plainly to people and hit on issues they wanted more information about kept listeners tuning in for nearly six decades.
- The show will continue with a new host, and Meiller is confident that the next host will build their own loyal "community of listeners".
- Meiller’s approach to hosting the show involves extensive research, being prepared, and focusing on the guest, which has contributed to the show’s success.
Introduction to Larry Meiller’s Career
Larry Meiller is preparing to retire from his job as the longtime host of Wisconsin Public Radio’s "The Larry Meiller Show". Meiller began his journey in radio in 1967, starting as a substitute host for a half-hour farm show. This led to his eponymous call-in show, which has been on the air weekdays from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Meiller’s show was one of the first call-in shows on public radio and is the longest-running call-in show in the state. The show covers a wide range of topics, all with a Wisconsin focus, and has become a staple of the state’s public radio landscape.
The Show’s Unique Approach
Meiller believes that what kept listeners tuning in for nearly six decades was the show’s ability to speak plainly to people and hit on issues they wanted more information about. He once worked with a grad student to poll 100 listeners and ask if they had learned anything from the show in the past two weeks. Every single person named something. Meiller’s approach to hosting the show involves being prepared and focusing on the guest, which has contributed to the show’s success. He also tries to imagine what listeners might want to know or ask, and does extensive research to prepare for each show.
Meiller’s Background and Experience
Meiller is a gregarious and curious person, traits he learned from his parents growing up on a farm in Cottage Grove. His comfort speaking in front of others was apparent from an early age. Meiller attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied meat and animal sciences. During his last semester in school, he took a radio class, which led to his first job in radio. Meiller pitched the idea for "The Larry Meiller Show" in 1978, and the show has been on the air ever since. Meiller has also been a longtime advisor and professor in the Department of Life Sciences Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he retired from teaching in 2022.
Connecting with Listeners
Meiller has always sought creative ways to connect with listeners. He started a tape service, where he would send 10 two-minute features from the guests that he had talked to, and then write up the interviews for the press service. He also started a record service called Badger Home and Garden, pressing LPs with 20 one-minute tips cut from guest interviews on the show. Now, he mostly stays connected to people through emails and social media. Meiller is proud of the "community of listeners" the show has built, and believes that the show’s ability to connect one listener to another has been a key factor in its success.
Passing the Torch
Meiller is confident that the show’s next chapter will find its own path. He announced his retirement six months ahead of his last show to give time to find his replacement and perhaps host some shows together. Meiller’s approach to hosting the show involves being prepared, focusing on the guest, and using visual language for radio. He advises that, as the host, one has to put oneself in the shoes of the listener, and manifest this in small ways, like using visual language for radio. The show will change once Meiller hands over the reins, but the goal remains the same: "to provide Wisconsin citizens with the best damn information they can get". Meiller is sure that whoever takes over hosting will build their own loyal "community of listeners".