‘Radio From Hell’ comes to USU

Radio personalities Gina Barberi, Kerry Jackson and Bill Allred sat behind a table in the Taggart Student Center Friday morning and recorded the “Radio From Hell” show.

The personalities, which normally broadcast out of Salt Lake City on 96.3 FM, came to Utah State University for one of their university tours.

Allred said they have visited four other schools so far and there are two more they will visit.

Barberi said they try to visit every school in the state.

“But BYU won’t answer our phone calls,” Allred added.

Allred said he likes coming to USU because everyone is nice. Barberi said this does not mean students at other Utah schools are not nice, but there is a difference in the way the students are. She said at Dixie State University, for example, they are generally more laid back.

“It’s not that they’re not nice, but here in Logan they’re sort of eager to be nice,” Allred said.

Richie Steadman, producer of the show, said the show goes on the college tours so the personalities can visit their listeners in person.

“We like to get out of our studio and see face to face the listeners that have listened to us,” Steadman wrote in an email. “It is also an opportunity for us to meet future interns/employees that work for our show or radio stations.”

Despite looking for future employees, Steadman, Barberi and Jackson gave advice to not go into radio broadcasting.

“Don’t,” they said in unison when asked what advice they have for someone who wants to go into radio.

Barberi said “don’t” is a joke answer they give when asked that question.

“I’m gonna stop saying don’t because you don’t even have to say that anymore because it’s not even like there’s opportunities to do it if you want to,” Barberi said. “That’s the problem with it now.”

Allred disagreed saying it’s not a joke when it comes to giving advice about going into radio broadcasting.

“But if you are burning to do it, you’ll do it anyway,” Allred said. “And if you’re burning to do it, there is a slim chance that you will find some success in it.”

Barberi said when she and the other personalities started, there were a lot more opportunities for them.

“There were opportunities to work on weekends and overnights, and those jobs don’t exist anymore because it’s computerized,” Barberi said.

Jackson said a lot of small town radio stations are looking for people to work.

“That’s where you should go and do it,” Jackson said. “Make all your mistakes out in a cow pasture out in Roosevelt, and then after 10 or 15 years, then try it.”

Allred said it is still difficult to advance from those smaller towns, but radio is still doable for talented people who really want to go into it and who do not listen to bad advice.

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Twitter: @ChrisCampbell02

The full interview Christopher Campbell used to write this article was done on the air on the “Radio From Hell” show. Listen to it on our website.