Jim McGuinn On Finding Your Voice In Radio And Life

For nearly forty years Jim McGuinn has been a familiar voice, playing amazing music on the radio. He has introduced countless bands, programmed stations that shape entire music scenes, and carried a name that is not the one he was born with.

In this conversation for Who’s This For we sit down to talk about what it means to be yourself when a microphone is always in front of you. Jim tells the story of how a first boss suggested his real last name was “too ethnic,” and how choosing McGuinn set the stage for a lifetime of radio. From there we move into the craft of being on air as he explains how to speak naturally when every second is planned, how to keep your excitement honest, and why good radio is like telling a story at a party.

Jim shares his approach to programming, the balance of surprise and comfort that keeps a station alive, and the philosophy he calls the “spoke and wheel.” We also look ahead at the future of broadcasting, talking about artificial intelligence as a tool that can help but should never replace the human connection that draws people to music in the first place.

This episode is for anyone who creates music, podcasts, brands, or experiences and wonders how to stay true to themselves while still performing for an audience. Jim’s insight is a reminder that authenticity is not an accident. It is a skill and a choice, and it can make a voice on the radio feel like a friend in the room.

Find Jim: xpn.org/

Find this Podcast: linktr.ee/WhoIsThisFor