Storytellers Studio

Kris founded Dental Dimensions in 1980 and has been a pillar of community involvement. He hosted Tooth Talk on WROK for many years. Tim Larson also knows him through Loves park Rotary and the Boy Scouts of America's Blackhawk Area Council in Rockford, Illinois. The sit down with Kris took place on August 19, 2022.

The Knoll family worked at WROK and WZOK in various positions over the years. You may know Steve and Carol by several air names and Gary represented the WROK sales department. Steve is still in the radio industry at the news department at KRMG in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Chuck Doyle, Liz Wylder and Tim Larson joined in on this episode because everyone is a very different puzzle piece to the Knoll's overal...

Tim attended the Rock Radio Revisited event on August 14, 2022 in the Chicago area for the Museum of Broadcast Communication. This is his account of the day which turned out to be so much more than listening to a panel of radio legends on stage.

Kelly climbed her way to the top of Adult Contemporary radio and finished out her career at Lite 102 in Minneapolis. She's a great cook and we treated ourselves to Prince's Paisley Park tour the next day. Our sit down took place in her kitchen in Eagan, Minnesota on the late evening of August 15, 2022.

From TM Productions Phase II package in 1970 to PAMS Energy Quick in 1975 and JAM Productions Meltdown in 1980. These are sure to bring back memories of your days listening to WROK and WZOK in Rockford, Illinois.

Fred and Tim decided to sit down again to talk more about more personal aspects of his career and the advice he would give to a rookie in today’s news environment.   They did, of course, drift into the news stories which still have emotional impact on the news reporter who saw it firsthand.  No one minds hearing Fred’s recollections of those days again.  His second sit down was...

Chuck worked for both WROK and WZOK for a very long time.  He has mentally catalogued hundreds of memories.  Former WROK colleague Tim Larson and former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder shared the microphones with Chuck on several occasions over our forty-five year friendship.  Chuck’s first visit with us was in Rockford, Illinois on March 11, 2022.

Dean has always been a bucket of unpredictability.  And April 7, 2022 was no exception.  Dean was a great conduit between programming departments and clients to weave promotions together. Former WROK colleague Tim Larson and former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder joined him for a free-for-all sit down that surprisingly did not involve any alcohol. 

John’s quick wit made the transition from a newscast back into programming a joy.  A true professional. Just as many stories from both the AM side and down the hall in FM.  Former WROK colleague Tim Larson and former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder joined him for a sit down on April 13, 2022. 

Fred’s ability to scoop all other media was uncanny.  His stories are fresh in his mind and still link to his emotions.  One of the nicest guys you’ll ever meet.   The definition of radio professional. Broadcasting veteran and good friend Doug McDuff along with Tim Larson and Liz Wylder joined him for a sit down on April 29, 2022. 

Don’s short radio career was jam packed with great experiences and he tells them in such an entertaining way.   His love for music led him into a wonderful career as a concert promoter. Former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder, along with former WROK middays host Tim Larson, joined him for a sit down on May 5, 2022. 

Lisa was in the WROK news department.  Joe was an announcer on both the WROK and WZOK sides.  Jim was the Continuity and Commercial Production Director.  We gathered in Chicago, Illinois at WBBM Newsradio.  Five live mics with folks who can finish each other’s sentences…Oh my!   Former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder and former WROK middays host Tim Larson stirred the pot t...

Tim did two tours at WROK/WZOK in the early to mid-1980’s.  He is an avid collector of radio memorabilia and audio recordings.  Being the middays host and Promotions Director for WROK were the highlights of his career.   Former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder not only shared the microphone with Tim for this sit down in Rockford, Illinois on May 27, 2022, but she is also his Lifes3x5s...

Bill told Liz and Tim during his first visit he had enough stories to keep us behind the microphones for three plus hours.   They certainly held him to his word.  Former WROK colleague Tim Larson and former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder buckled up for more stories about radio in other cities, celebrities and how radio is done today.  His second sit down was in Rockford, Illinois on...

Bob has covered every story topic imaginable…from United States Presidents to the world’s top athletes. His love for sports evolved into the amazingly knowledgeable Mr. Baseball on multiple WROK morning shows over the years.  Ken DeCoster (also a former WROK/WZOK News Director) guided Bob through their careers together and we all learned something about Bob, who we’ve all known for decad...

Sandy and Ami joined their former WROK radio colleague Tim Larson for a sit down in Rockford, Illinois on March 11, 2022. 

Steve traveled through an impressive career at WROK and WZOK radio.  Everyone poured Moscato wine in order to join their former WZOK radio colleague Liz Wylder for a sit down in Rockford, Illinois on March 15, 2022.

Rogers worked at nearly every aspect of WROK and WZOK radio stations.   Former WZOK radio colleague Steve Summers joined him  for a sit down in Rockford, Illinois on March 18, 2022. 

Ken came amazingly  well prepared for every aspect of his days at WROK and WZOK radio stations.   Former WROK radio colleague Tim Larson and former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder joined him  for a sit down in Rockford, Illinois on March 21, 2022.

Bill Shannon is the walking encyclopedia of radio details.  He came with a mental scroll reaching far behind his days at WROK and WZOK.  Former WROK radio colleague Tim Larson and former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder joined him  for a sit down in Rockford, Illinois on March 25, 2022. 

Lisa had been all around this country with country music in her headphones.  We were fortunate enough to be able to join here in the downtown Chicago studios of WGN radio.    Tim and Liz were thrilled to meet Bob Sirott, John Williams, Ernie in Creative Production Services and Steve Bertrand from News.  Former WROK colleague Tim Larson and former WZOK colleague Liz Wylder...

Doug McDuff, former WROK radio announcer & Sales Executive, sat down for a conversation with former colleagues Tim Larson and Liz Wylder in Rockford, Illinois on March 4, 2022.