Academic Success Coordinator Kathy Wilson is a jack-of-all-trades.
She manages a family, a full-time job and now is a new host for a two-hour talk show on the KNBU-FM radio station.
Wilson’s talk show came from a little extra push from Joe Watson, associate professor of mass media, and Professor of Communication Susan Emel.
Wilson knew she needed three semesters of a media program, such as radio, television or newspaper, in order to help with the completion of her non-traditional student degree.
“I transformed my whole opinion and idea of radio after sitting in the first couple of times,” Wilson said. “It didn’t seem as complicated as I had imaged. It is like anything else, once you do it, acclimate to it and it takes the nerves off.”
Her radio show is a two-hour slot every Thursday and is called “The B-town Talk.”
Wilson said the “B” can stand for Baker community issues, or even matters pertaining to the Baldwin City community and
Baker University.
She wants to find out more in-depth about people in communities, Baker and the involvement they have with certain subjects.
“I think it’s a really good idea,” junior and KNBU-FM Station Manager Brad Barnes said. “I think having a more talk-based show with more serious issues, it will bring a lot to the radio station.”
Wilson’s first episode was about the theater department at Baker.
Her episode Thursday included a feature about Director of Multicultural Affairs Silas Dulan, which explored the background of his life.
During the second hour of her show, Wilson talked about student volunteering around campus.
The first student she interviewed was junior Sam Beecher. She found out more about his new club, Baker Farm Hands, and his spiritual transformation.
“To round out the edges, Sam recently studied abroad, and I know he had a major and amazing transformative spirit,” Wilson said. “I (wanted) to talk to him about his connection and how it ties back to the community.”
Wilson has a list of ideas she is hoping to contribute to her talk show this semester.
The show is evolving each week, and Wilson is catching on to all aspects of hosting a radio show from station identification and public service announcements to remembering to do weather on air.
“I see it as more manageable and once it becomes manageable, I can enjoy it,” Wilson said.
Watson is glad Wilson decided to become a staff member of KNBU-FM.
He said having her join the class has been a work in progress and he believes she will be an asset to the staff.
“As a non-traditional student, she brings maturity. She is a member of the community and sees things from the staff view and also the student view, but she is outgoing and has the type of personality you need to host a radio show,” Watson said.
