The sweet sounds of a passing train and an unexpected visitor bearing gifts set the tone for this laid-back episode from my back deck. As the June sun warms the afternoon, I reflect on the journey that brought me here – a path that began with a childhood fascination with tape recorders and mixtapes.

My radio career started unexpectedly when a sticky note reading "radio station needs a DJ" caught my attention during my college days at Chico State. That chance encounter led to a call with station owner Ron Woodward, who shocked me by offering not just weekend shifts but a full-time position hosting six-to-midnight Monday through Friday, plus Saturdays. Though I couldn't play my preferred music selections, it was the perfect training ground for a student who could do homework between songs.

The irony of radio success? Despite achieving number one ratings on both AM and FM stations, my Chico career ended abruptly when I complained about management removing the break room coffee pot. This small moment of frustration cost me my job but ultimately pushed me toward Sacramento and KFBK, where I've now spent over three decades.

Radio brings people into your life in unexpected ways – sometimes worryingly so. I share one of my most disturbing stalker stories involving a postal worker whose initially friendly calls gradually turned threatening, culminating in him showing up at the station armed after learning I'd spoken to postal authorities about his concerning behavior. Years later, his stepson called my show after recognizing the story, confirming the accuracy of my recollection.

The episode wraps with a musical journey exploring both Ennio Morricone's original theme from "The Good, The Bad and The Ugly" and Hugo Montenegro's cover version – the latter being my very first record album, purchased by my mother after I fell in love with the music while watching the film at a drive-in theater as a child. These musical memories, like the broadcasting stories themselves, represent the soundtrack of a life spent loving radio.