Greenlite Ventures, Inc. announces that sports talk radio personality Jeff “Defo” DeForrest joins the company as director of podcast operations. In this role, DeForrest will work exclusively for the company as it is set to launch GRNL’s Sports and Gaming Network (SGN) in the coming weeks. The company says, “SGN’s first weekly podcast will feature Defo and Las Vegas sports betting legend Brandon Lang, who was the subject of the hit movie Two for the Money starring Matthew McConaughey as the real-life Brandon Lang and Al Pacino playing his mentor. As legal sports wagering continues to surge across America, SGN will soon be airing daily podcasts featuring some of the most knowledgeable, entertaining and successful handicappers in all areas of sports betting. Defo is currently developing and negotiating a wide range of podcast and licensing deals with a number of well-known names in broadcasting, horse racing, and sports wagering.”

According to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine, the most-talked-about story in news/talk media for the week of January 2 – 6, 2023 was the turmoil surrounding U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become House Speaker. At #2 this week was former President Donald Trump’s influence over the GOP tied with his ongoing legal issues, followed by the case of incoming U.S. Rep George Santos (R-NY) on the heels of his fabricated curriculum vitae at #3. The Talkers Ten^TM is a weekly chart of the top stories and people discussed in news/talk media during the week and is the result of ongoing research from TALKERS magazine. It is published every Friday at Talkers.com. See this week’s complete chart of the top 10 stories here.

iHeartMedia Washington, DC announces the launch of sports talk and sports betting station “1190 iHeartSports DC – The DMV’s Best Bet on Sports” broadcasting on WTSD-AM, W284CQ, and WWDC-HD2. The company says programming will consist of FOX Sports Radio weekdays from 6:00 am to 5:00 pm and VSiN, The Sports Betting Network content weekdays from 5:00 pm to 6:00 am and on weekends.

iHeartMedia region president Aaron Hyland says, “We are excited to announce the launch of ‘1190 iHeartSports DC.’ We are thrilled to deliver this incredible lineup of the biggest names in sports talk audio to the DMV including exclusive Washington Commanders content utilizing 1190 AM, 104.7 FM and 101.1 HD2 and iHeartMedia’s unmatched scale and reach.” The FOX Sports Radio lineup includes “Two Pros and a Cup of Joe” featuring former Washington Redskins linebacker LaVar Arrington, followed by Dan Patrick. “The Herd” with Colin Cowherd begins at 12:00 noon and Doug Gottlieb airs from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm.

ABC Audio brings Laura Mayer aboard to serve as executive producer of podcast programming. ABC News president Kim Godwin says in a memo to staffers, “Laura Mayer will be the creative lead of our stellar podcast team, which has big plans for 2023, including the launch of a new true crime series next week and the return of “Life Out Loud with LZ Granderson” later this month. She will work closely with Josh Cohan, director of podcast programming, to develop ABC Audio’s content strategy and then implement that strategy with the production team, overseeing the process from greenlight to publish.” Mayer was most recently COO of the production company Three Uncanny Four Productions – a joint venture with Sony Music. She’s also served as executive producer of new show development at Stitcher.

New England Public Media tells TALKERS that it is hiring Western Massachusetts morning personality Monte Belmonte as host and executive producer of a new radio show and podcast “celebrating life in Western Massachusetts.” Belmonte has been hosting “Mornings with Monte” at Saga Communications’ triple A WRSI, Turners Falls, MA “93.9 The River.” Also joining Belmonte at NEPM is Kaliis Smith, who served as evening personality at WRSI and served as a regular guest on Belmonte’s show. With NEPM, Smith will be the show’s digital producer and will join Belmonte on air.

NEPM president Matt Abramovitz says, “When you listen to Monte Belmonte, you hear not only a great host with a devotion to his craft, but also a person who is committed to building and bolstering his community. Sharing the unique voices and stories of our region and using the airwaves for the common good is what public media is all about. We are excited to have Monte bring his enthusiasm and love of western Massachusetts to NEPM each day.” The programming will launch later this winter. Belmonte comments, “I’ve been a huge fan of New England Public Media since I moved west of Worcester 20 years ago. The station’s trusted reputation and broad reach was a big draw for me, as was the opportunity to work alongside people I’ve known and admired for years. I’m excited to get to work building a new show that’s all about celebrating what’s good about living here, meeting interesting neighbors and being a better community because of it.”

According to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine, the most-talked-about stories in news/talk media on January 4 were: the machinations behind U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s ongoing bid to be Speaker of the House for the 118^th Congress; special counsel Jack Smith’s investigation into former President Donald Trump’s alleged attempts to overturn the 2020 election results and his keeping of classified documents at Mar-a-Lago; the health status of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, the NFL’s rescheduling quandary and the issue of player safety in the NFL; the migrant problem at the U.S.-Mexico border and in Florida; the Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and President Joe Biden’s willingness to supply Ukraine with Bradley fighting vehicles; concerns about the new XBB Covid variant; the coming release of Prince Harry’s book; and the extreme weather hitting California.

Los Angeles news/talk giant KFI adjusted its program schedule that took effect this week. The iHeartMedia station didn’t issue a press release but the station’s website reveals the following changes: Bill Handel’s morning drive show is airing from 6:00 am to 9:00 am – following Jennifer Jones Lee’s “Wake Up Call” that airs from 5:00 am to 6:00 am; “Gary & Shannon” air from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm; the “John & Ken” program moves from its longtime afternoon drive slot to the 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm slot while evening host Tim Conway Jr. moves to the 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm daypart; and weekend talk host Mo’Kelly moves into the 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm slot. Premiere Networks’ “Coast to Coast AM” with George Noory is heard in the late-night slot.

SVP of programming for iHeartMedia Seattle/Portland Rich Moore tells TALKERS, “We couldn’t be more excited to have Jessamyn join our team and help our KJR sports platforms. Her tremendous experience and great knowledge of the market will help us grow even stronger.” Jessamyn McIntyre most recently served as executive communications and engagement manager for the Washington State Department of Health. Prior to that, she was executive producer for KCPQ-TV, Tacoma “FOX 13” and Bonneville’s KIRO-AM “710 ESPN Seattle.” She began her career at ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut. In this role, McIntyre will be responsible for supporting all aspects of the radio station’s on-air experience and strategic execution off-air. She says, “I am beyond thrilled to return to the work I’ve been so passionate about my entire career. I couldn’t be more grateful for this opportunity and for the many more to come with the Seattle institution that is KJR. More than anything, I am excited to connect with the passionate sports fans in Seattle once again. See you soon.”

Albany-based Ariana Sheehan joins Beasley Media Group as director of digital content strategy. Sheehan most recently served as engagement editor at Nexstar-owned BestReviews. Prior to that, she worked as a regional digital director at Townsquare Media in Albany. In this role, Sheehan will work closely with vice president of digital content Erika Beasley and vice president of digital marketing Jennifer Williams to help drive the company’s digital content strategy and continue to grow BMG’s audience. Beasley chief content officer Justin Chase states, “With Beasley’s continued focus on growing audience on our multi-platform content brands, it’s a sincere pleasure to welcome Ariana Sheehan. Ariana has a successful track record of helping publishers build, engage, and monetize digital audience. I know she will be a valuable member of our digital team!” Sheehan says, “I am thrilled to have the opportunity to join Beasley Media Group’s outstanding corporate digital team and to help some of America’s most beloved and influential radio personalities deliver their engaging content to new and existing audiences across all media platforms. I can’t wait to dive in with these iconic brands as they continue to grow their digital footprint in their home cities and beyond.”

Cumulus Media announces that it has appointed Darlene Park as vice president/market manager, Cumulus Indianapolis. Park joins Cumulus Media from Bonneville Denver, where she was director of sales for the company’s four-station group. Prior to that, she was general sales manager for Entercom Denver (now Audacy) and was previously GSM for Clear Channel Chicago (now iHeartMedia). Park brings over 25 years’ experience in radio and media sales to Cumulus Media. She currently serves the radio industry as a member of the RAB Sales Advisory Committee.  Dave Milner, president/operations, Cumulus Media, tells TALKERS, “Darlene Park is a smart and proven leader in our industry. Her skills as a marketing professional, along with her focus on people and culture make her the perfect choice to lead our terrific Indianapolis cluster.”

Personal finance expert Ric Edelman debuts “The Truth About Your Future” daily podcast. Edelman says the launch of the podcast continues “his 32 years as host of the nation’s #1 ranked personal finance radio show. The show helps financial advisors and investors with the five personal finance topics that matter most: Longevity, Retirement Security, Exponential Technologies, Blockchain & Digital Assets, and Health & Wellness.” Edelman is a New York Times bestselling author of 12 books on personal finance and won “book of the year” awards from the Institute for Financial Literacy and the Society of Business Writers. The podcast is available on-demand globally across all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, YouTube and TheTAYF.com.

The company reveals five new integrations for the iHeartRadio digital audio app. Two of these are with electric vehicle companies Fisker Auto and VinFast as the iHeartRadio app will be included in the infotainment systems of those companies’ cars. Mobility AI firm Cerence teams with iHeartRadio to provide voice recognition for the app in vehicles while Native Voice – an on-demand voice assistant library that enables users to communicate directly by voice – collaborates with iHeartRadio for voice recognition to access content. Also, iHeartRadio is now integrated into the TomTom Digital Cockpit for seamless use on the vehicle display.

House Speaker Stalemate, Damar Hamlin Status, Border Security, Abortion Pill Ruling, Russia-Ukraine War, New Covid Variant, and Extreme Weather are among the top News/Talk stories yesterday (1/3). U.S. Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s thrice-failed bid to be Speaker of the House for the 118th Congress; the health status of Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin, the NFL’s rescheduling quandary and the issue of player safety in the NFL; the migrant problem at the U.S.-Mexico border and in Florida; the FDA finalizes rules to allow the abortion pill to be available at retail pharmacies; the Ukrainian attack on a makeshift Russian base that killed possibly hundreds of soldiers; concerns about the new XBB Covid variant; and the extreme weather in California and other parts of the country were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio yesterday, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.

Longtime Seattle talk radio personality Dori Monson died unexpectedly on Saturday (12/31) at a Seattle hospital after suffering a cardiac event on December 29. KIRO-FM, Seattle owner Bonneville International and the Monson family stated that Dori Monson had been dealing with health issues over the last few years. Bonneville says Monson hosted “the top-rated ‘Dori Monson Show’ airing 12:00 noon-3:00 pm on KIRO-FM. He was 61 years old and leaves behind a beloved wife and three adult children.” Monson attended the University of Washington and worked at KING-TV and KING Radio before joining KIRO in the early 1990s. Monson was a legendary talk radio presence in the Seattle market and will be sorely missed.

All-news WTOP-FM, Washington, DC unveils its new morning drive anchor team as Michelle Basch and John Aaron begin hosting the program that airs from 5:00 am to 10:00 am. Basch and Aaron take over for Bruce Alan and Joan Jones, who exited the station after taking the voluntary buyout from owner Hubbard Broadcasting. Basch has been with the station since joining in 2006 as a reporter, and Aaron started his career with WTOP in 2007. Basch comments, “After years of working as part of WTOP’s wonderful night crew, I am so lucky to get the opportunity to help Washingtonians wake up and get informed every weekday morning. The fact that I’m teaming up with John – a really nice guy whose work I’ve always admired – makes it even more exciting!” Aaron adds, “It’s truly surreal to now be anchoring weekday mornings for the station I grew up listening to. I look forward to spending more mornings with our listeners, bringing them the important news of the day and having some fun along the way.” WTOP director of news and programming Julia Ziegler states, “Michelle and John bring years of experience and incredible news judgment to mornings. They are both so excited to bring their passion for news to morning drive. Our listeners are in good hands with John and Michelle.”

Newsmax Radio’s “The Rob Carson Show” begins airing live today (1/3) on Binnie Media’s multi-signal network of news/talk stations branded “The Pulse of New Hampshire.” Carson’s program airs from 12:00 noon to 3:00 pm on WTSN-FM, Dover; WTPL-FM, Hillsborough; WEMJ-FM, Laconia; as well as two HD2 signals. Newsmax says the network reaches a combined population of nearly a million listeners. Newsmax Radio CEO Lee Kinberg says, “I know firsthand the power of Binnie Media’s talk stations and we look forward to working with their great team and bringing Rob Carson to one of the most politically influential audiences in the country.” Binnie Media VP of programming Michael Czarnecki comments, “In the world of talk radio, we find so much of the same programming. We are thrilled at the addition of Rob Carson as this move, along with the recent addition of ‘America at Night’, and the rest of our dynamic lineup, make for a unique form of talk radio. Offering educated discussions and different perspectives on the topics of each day.” Carson’s program is now airing in 16 rated markets. In addition to the radio show and podcast, “Rob Carson’s What in the World,” a humorous review of the week’s news, airs every weekend on Newsmax TV.

According to a report from WWL-TV, New Orleans, radio host John Osterlind died late last week at age 55.  Authorities found him unresponsive at his apartment on Thursday (12/29) and at this time the cause of death is unknown. Osterlind had been morning host at Audacy’s classic rock WKBU, New Orleans. While he worked in rock formats during his career, he’d also served at news/talk stations, including iHeartMedia’s WRNO-FM, New Orleans and then-Entercom’s WRKO, Boston.

Talk radio pro Moon Griffon begins hosting the 9:00 am to 11:00 am talk show on Guaranty Media’s news/talk WBRP-FM, Baton Rouge “Talk 107.3” today (1/3). Guaranty Media VP and general manager Gordy Rush states, “We are excited to add Moon Griffon to the ‘Talk 107.3’ weekday lineup and increase the amount of local programming. The Hayride calls Moon Griffon the state’s ‘most prominent talk host,’ and we think the timing is perfect with the upcoming elections in 2023.” Griffon’s addition to the lineup forces some changes with the “FOX News Rundown” moving to a 4:00 am start and FOX News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” airing from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm. WBRP morning host and program director Brian Haldane adds, “With Moon’s voice and opinions on Louisiana politics, it just makes sense for him to be on in the Capital City. This means we’ll be covering Louisiana for five straight hours from 6:00 am to 11:00 am every weekday morning.”

Next Monday (1/9), St. Louis market television and radio personality Larry Conners joins Gateway Creative Broadcasting’s conservative talk simulcast KNBS-FM, Bowling Green; K270BW, Bellefontaine; and KLJY-HD2, Clayton to host “The Larry Conners USA Daily Report” airing at 6:00 pm nightly. Additionally, the station will air “The Conners Commentary” feature at 12:03 pm, and 3:30 pm. Conners says, “The fabric of my journalistic soul still requires that I am fair, but now, I freely express my opinions. I am thrilled to join the ‘NewsTalkSTL’ family and be part of the city’s newest and fastest-growing radio station.” Conners anchored St. Louis television news broadcasts from 1975 to 2014 before making the move to radio. Station president of programming Jeff Allen says, “This is the first, major change to our weekday line up since signing on a year and a half ago. That speaks to how significant we feel adding Larry is. Larry Conners is a strong, local, conservative voice that needs to be heard.”

New Congress/McCarthy Speaker Bid, U.S. Rep. Santos, Trump Tax Releases, Border Security, Russia-Ukraine War, COVID XBB Subvariant, Idaho Murders Case, and Winter Storms were among the top news/talk stories discussed over the weekend. Today’s beginning of the 118th Congress and Republican Kevin McCarthy’s bid to become House Speaker; the case of incoming freshman U.S. Rep. George Santos who’s admitted to falsehoods on his curriculum vitae; the release of former President Donald Trump’s tax returns by the outgoing Democrat-controlled House; the state illegal immigration at the U.S.-Mexico border; the latest escalation in the Russia-Ukraine war; concerns about the new COVID Omicron subvariant XBB; the arrest of Bryan Kohberger in connection with the deaths of four Idaho college students; and the winter storms affection much of the U.S. were some of the most-talked-about stories on news/talk radio over the weekend, according to ongoing research from TALKERS magazine.