The 28th installment of the iconic TALKERS conference is only one month away, and its power-packed agenda features an array of more than 60 speakers representing the past, present, and future of talk media with a focus on radio’s changing role in the digital era.
Here’s the way it is shaping up thus far:
8:00 am – 9:00 am
BREAKFAST
Sponsored by the Sean Hannity Show
8:20 am to 8:25 am (during breakfast)
EMCEE GREETING: “WELCOME TO TALKERS 2026”
Emcee: Kevin Casey, VP/Executive Editor, TALKERS
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8:25 am to 8:45 am (during breakfast)
SPECIAL KICKOFF ADDRESS: “THE ART OF STORY TELLING”
Speaker: Lee Habeeb, CEO/Host/Producer, “Our American Stories”/ American Private Radio ____________________________________________________________
8:50 am to 9:00 am (during breakfast)
ONE-ON-ONE CHAT: “DOING TALK ON A MUSIC STATION”
Speaker: Mike “Bax” Baxendale, Morning Co-Host, WAQY-FM (Rock102), Springfield, MA
Facilitator: Harry Hurley, Morning Host, WPG, Atlantic City, NJ
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9:00 am to 9:05 am
NATIONAL ANTHEM
Performing on Sax: Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo, Host, “The Joe Pags Show”
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9:05 am to 9:25 am
SPECIAL ADDRESS: “REFLECTIONS ON RADIO – PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE”
Speaker: Walter Sterling, Host, WABC, New York
Introducer: Lee Harris, VP, News WABC, New York and The Worldwide News Network
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9:30 am to 10:00 am
PANEL DISCUSSION: “GAINING TRACTION IN A NOISY DIGITAL WORLD”
Sponsored by C. Crane
Moderator: Mike McVay, President, McVay Media Consulting
Panelists: Heather Cohen, President, The Weiss Organization; Sherry Goldman, founder, Goldman Communications Group, Inc.; Ryan McCormick, Co-Founder, Goldman McCormick Public Relations; Joe “Pags” Pagliarulo, Host, “The Joe Pags Show”
Introduction: Lee Elci, Host, WJJF, New London, CT
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10:10 am to 10:40 am
PANEL DISCUSSION: “INDEPENDENT STATION OWNERSHIP”
Sponsored by Our American Stories
Moderator: John Caracciolo, CEO, JVC Broadcasting
Panelists: Vince Benedetto, CEO, Bold Gold Media Group; John Fredericks, CEO/Host, John Fredericks Media Network; Paul Gleiser, Owner, KTBB, Tyler, TX; Joe Thomas, Co-Owner, WTON, Staunton, VA / Host, Talk Media Network; Michael “MZ” Zwerling, Owner, KSCO, Santa Cruz
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10:45 am to 11:20 am
PANEL DISCUSSION: “BRAVE NEW WORLD”
Sponsored by The Ramsey Show
Moderator: David Bernstein, Professor, Caldwell College / General Manager Broadcast Operations, TALKERS
Panelists: Scot Bertram, General Manager, WRFH, Hillsdale College; George Capalbo, VP/Chief Technical Officer, Backbone Networks; John Mullen, General Manager, WRHU, Hofstra University; Shawn Novatt, Director, WHPC, Nassau College / Conference Chairperson, Intercollegiate Broadcasting System; Norm Prusslin, Founder/Advisor, WUSB-FM, Stony Brook University / Board Chairperson, Intercollegiate Broadcasting System
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11:25 am to 11:45 am
SPECIAL PRESENTATION: “THE INNER WORKINGS OF A MORNING SHOW”
Sponsored by “The Dr. Asa Show”
Speakers: Bo Thompson and Beth Troutman, Morning Show Co-Hosts, WBT, Charlotte ____________________________________________________________
11:50 am to 12:05 pm
ONE-ON-ONE CHAT: “WHAT DOES TALK RADIO HAVE IN COMMON WITH PRO WRESTLING?”
Speaker: Dr. Asa Andrew, Host, “The Doctor Asa Show” / Head of Sports Medicine, Ringside Physician, TNA Wrestling
Facilitator: Harry Hurley, Morning Host, WPG, Atlantic City
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12:15 pm to 12:40 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: “PROGRAMMING NEWS/TALK RADIO”
Sponsored by Premiere Networks
“Studio A” Television Sound Stage
Moderator: Jeff Katz, Host, WRVA, Richmond, VA
Panelists: Phil Boyce, Senior VP, Salem Radio Network, Salem News Channel, Salem Podcast Network; Michael Czarnecki, Program Director, WFEA, Manchester; Allan Lamberti, Program Director, WICC, Bridgeport, CT; Lisa Polizzi, Brand Manager, WBEN, Buffalo; Ralph Renzi, CEO, Newsmax Radio; Greg Stocker, Brand Manager, WPHT, Philadelphia
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12:45 pm to 1:00 pm
SPECIAL GUEST APPEARANCE: FROM CAB DRIVER TO TALK STAR
Speaker: Jimmy Failla, Host, Fox News Radio / TV
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1:00 pm to 2:15 pm
LUNCH
Sponsored by Newsmax
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1:30 pm to 1:35 pm (during lunch)
SPECIAL WELCOME TO HOFSTRA UNIVERSITY
Speaker: Mark Lukasiewicz, Dean, School of Communication, Hofstra University
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1:40 pm to 1:45 pm (during lunch)
SPECIAL WELCOME FROM NEWSMAX
Speaker: Ralph Renzi, CEO, Newsmax Radio
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KEYNOTE ONE-ON-ONE
1:50 pm to 2:15 pm (during end of lunch)
Special Guest Speaker: John Catsimatidis, Owner, WABC, New York / Red Apple Audio Networks
Facilitator: Michael Harrison, Publisher / Founder, TALKERS
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2:20 pm to 3:00 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: “THE BIG PICTURE”
Sponsored by Gunhill Road
Panelists: Steve Jones, President, CEO & Chairman, Skyview Networks; Chad Lopez, President, WABC, New York / Red Apple Audio Networks; Chris Oliviero, Chief Business Officer, Audacy; Frank Morano, Member New York City Council / Former Host, WABC, New York; Tavis Smiley, Owner/Host, KBLA, Los Angeles; Rich Valdés, Host, “This Is America with Rich Valdés,”
Moderator: Michael Harrison, Publisher / Founder, TALKERS
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3:05 pm to 3:20 pm
FIRESIDE CHAT: “ONE-ON-ONE WITH TODD STARNES”
Sponsored by Comrex
Special Guest: Todd Starnes, Owner, KWAM, Memphis / Host “The Todd Starnes Show” / Host, Newsmax TV
Facilitator: Harry Hurley, Morning Host, WPG, Atlantic City
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3:30 pm to 4:10 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: “OVERCOMING CHALLENGES AS A TALK MEDIA TALENT”
Sponsored by Backbone Networks
Moderator: Mike Gallagher, Salem Radio Network
Panelists: Kathy Barnette, Host, WPHT, Philadelphia; Tara Granahan, Host, WPRO, Providence; Andy Hooser, Co-Owner, Hooser Media Network / Host, “Voice of Reason with Andy Hooser;” Kevin McCullaugh, Host, “That KEVIN Show,” Salem Radio Network; McGraw Milhaven, Program Director, KTRS, St. Louis / Host, “America at Night,” Westwood One; Dr. Daliah Wachs, Host, Talk Media Network.
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4:15 pm to 4:55 pm
PANEL DISCUSSION: “JOURNALISM, ETHICS, THE LAW, AND CREDIBILITY IN AN ERA OF FAKES”
Sponsored by Radio America
Moderator: Dom Giordano, Host, WPHT, Philadelphia
Panelists: Lee Harris, VP, News WABC, New York and The Worldwide News Network; Matthew B. Harrison, Associate Publisher, TALKERS / Senior Partner, Harrison Legal Group; Joe Salzone, News Director, Operations Manager, Cayuga Media Group / Morning Host, WHCU, Ithica, NY: Lisa Wexler, Host WICC, Bridgeport, CT; Martha Zoller, Host, WDUN, Gainesville, GA
Introduction: Mark Goldman, Managing Partner, Goldman McCormick Public Relations
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5:00 pm to 6:00 pm
Sponsored by Red Apple Audio Networks
CLOSING RECEPTION
Various speakers TBD
Crane Radio Drawing / Door Prizes
(Program subject to change.)
Conference Registration and Hotel Information
To register for TALKERS 2026: Radio’s Next Chapter or to obtain sponsorship information, call Barbara Kurland at 413-565-5413.
To book a hotel room at the nearby Long Island Marriott – Uniondale, please click here: www.TalkersRoomRate.com or call 516-794-3800 and mention TALKERS 2026. Act quickly because the number of rooms available at the hotel for this event are limited.