Mike Firuta and radio: A true love story

By Michael Firuta
October 7, 2019

On Tuesday mornings from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. I get to be on the air as the proud talk show host of my own podcast, “Buckle Up.” On this podcast, people can hear critiques of movies, TV shows and discussions on major developments in the comic book industry.

This show is broadcasted on Cabrini University’s radio station, WYBF FM Cavalier Radio, on channel 89.1. This February will mark the one year anniversary of “Buckle Up’s” introduction to Cabrini Radio. Ever since my first tour at Cabrini, during my junior year of high school, I knew the radio station was where I wanted to be.

Mike Firuta’s Podcast Logo photo by Mike Firuta 

As I participated in the theater program during high school, my voice developed greatly. After many of my performances, people would comment that my voice should be used for radio or voice overs. Upon discovering the opportunities that came with Cabrini’s radio station, I could not turn it away. Learning how to operate the radio station as well as working in audio production was a new and challenging experience. However, over time and with experience, my knowledge of the field of audio increased and my passion for radio grew.

Cavalier Radio’s Audio Board for controlling broadcast photo by Mike Firuta

Unlike theater, radio has more room for error and having that in my mind, made me feel more confident in my ability to learn about the station and to get better at working it. In no time at all, I knew I wanted to pursue radio for my future career, whether it meant being behind the mic or behind the scenes. My passion to pursue a future in radio must have been obvious to my professor and the executive staff members for the radio station because towards the end of the last semester, they promoted me to be the co-operations manager for the station. It was without a doubt one of the best days of my freshmen year. This year, I have seen how far my radio skills have come since I first started and I couldn’t be more proud.

Cavalier Radio’s morning talk show host Mike Firuta photo by Mike Firuta

In 2018, statistics show that 89 percent of Americans ages 12 and over listen to the radio every week, according to pewresearch.com, nielsen.com shows that radio has reached more American citizens than any other platform measured by Nielsen. According to their statistics, 92 percent of American adults 18 and over are reached by the radio every week. Information from statista.com states, 57 percent of the American population listens to radio on the internet on a monthly basis. These statistics show that radio is most likely surpassing television in viewership.

When comparing radio shows/podcasts to television series, there is one major difference that I always notice; people who talk on television are all scripted. Even on the news, the reporters are required to follow a prompt and are expected to stick to them. People who have a podcast on the radio speak their own words and express their own thoughts. This allows people to hear the honest opinions of others and also find sources of entertainment that they can better connect to. I personally like listening to podcasts that are hosted by comedians that I have watched on Netflix because I get to hear their more personal thoughts and ideas. The world of radio is a very creative industry and I am very proud to be part of it.

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Michael Firuta

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Perspectives

Special Project

Title IX Redefined Website

Produced by Cabrini Communication
Class of 2024

Listen Up

Season 2, Episode 3: Celebrating Cabrini and Digging into its Past

watch

Scroll to Top
Share via
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap