The Unknown Morning Show

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. On this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , hosts Mandee Montana and Chuck McKinley take a reflective walk through their radio roots, revisiting the era of Sports Radio Live and the people who made it unforgettable. They share stories about working alongside memorable voices like Chris Stuckey and Reed Kerr, and what it meant to be part of a truly local,...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. On this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Mandee Montana and Chuck McKinley welcome back guest Melissa Kiser for a lively, nostalgic, and insight-filled conversation. Fresh off her promotion to News Director, Melissa shares what stepping into leadership has taught her. From navigating newsroom dynamics to honoring the responsibility of telling the comm...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. Chuck and Mandee welcome back their friend Kenny Smith for Season 2, Episode 2 of The Unknown Morning Show ! This episode is a nostalgic ride through the heart of East Texas as the trio talks high school football, small-town pride, and the art of broadcasting under the Friday night lights. Kenny shares what it’s like to call the action for the Lindale Eagl...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. On this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Chris Ryan joins us to share a no-holds-barred look at his journey from small-town DJ to Dallas radio mainstay and professional voiceover artist. Chris reflects on the wild early days— the overnight-to-morning-drive promotion after a bank takeover, and his time navigating life in radio. We talk about cutting hi...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. After more than 50 episodes in the first season of The Unknown Morning Show, it's time to press pause for the summer. Chuck and Mandee are so grateful to every single guest who shared stories, laughs, and real talk — it's made this season unforgettable. In this episode, they reflect briefly on how far we’ve come, the career pivots they’ve made, a...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Chuck McKinley and Mandee Montana sit down with longtime East Texas radio personality and Mandee’s former colleague, Michael Gibson.  From his roots in Lindale to meeting Garth Brooks in Nashville, Michael shares stories that span decades behind the mic. We talk about the magic of small-town radio, riding camel...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Mandee Montana and Chuck McKinley sit down with East Texas radio legend Lisa Wells, a woman whose “gift of gab” has powered a decades-long career in broadcasting. Lisa opens up about the moments that shaped her journey—from skydiving for morning show stunts and endorsing unlikely products to being live on-air d...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Mandee Montana and Chuck McKinley sit down with special guest Michael Storm to dive into the past, present, and future of radio.  From programming and playlist curation to community engagement and tech tools like PlayoutONE and MusicMaster, Michael shares real-world insights from running his own station, Great...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this lively episode, Chuck and Mandee dive into the unforgettable world of radio promotions — the creative campaigns and once-in-a-career moments that shaped their journeys. From the big events they witnessed to the promotions they helped bring to life, they share a behind-the-scenes look at how radio magic is made (and sometimes improvised!). Tune in f...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , we catch up with Chris Stuckey—a sports lover from Longview who made his way into radio and made the most of every mic drop. Though he didn’t come from a media background, his time on Sports Radio Live was packed with unforgettable moments: booking big-name guests like Mark Cuban and Tim Donaghy, co-hosting fro...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this laid-back catch-up episode, Chuck and Mandee take a stroll down memory lane and reflect on the past year of The Unknown Morning Show . From unforgettable guest moments to behind-the-scenes chaos, they share what’s changed, what stayed weird, and why they keep hitting “record.” It’s part recap, part ramble, and all heart. Tune in for the nostalgia,...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Chuck McKinley and Mandee Montana dive into the recent severe weather that swept through East Texas and highlight the incredible work of local broadcast teams who kept the public informed and safe. From live coverage to behind-the-scenes dedication, they reflect on the legacy of storm coverage in the region and...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Chuck McKinley and Mandee Montana sit down with longtime East Texas broadcaster Matt Williams. From his early days owning KEES-AM 1430 in Gladewater to transforming KYZS 1490 into a powerhouse for talk and sports radio, Matt shares an insider’s look at the evolution of AM radio in East Texas. He reflects on cha...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. Bob Mauldin joins Chuck McKinley and Mandee Montana for a fun-filled reunion on The Unknown Morning Show ! From their early days in East Texas radio to today’s adventures in television, the trio takes a trip down memory lane with stories that are as heartfelt as they are hilarious. Bob shares what’s new with the spring season of Expedition Texas , gives us...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , hosts Chuck McKinley and Mandee Montana sit down with radio veteran Kurt Gilchrist to explore his incredible journey through the airwaves. From his early days in Odessa and Lubbock to programming major stations in Houston, El Paso, and beyond, Kurt shares stories from over four decades in broadcasting. As a sen...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. This week, we’re bringing you a fan-favorite replay while Chuck recovers from a tragic (but honestly, kind of hilarious) injury—courtesy of his beloved best friend, Prince. Yes, his dog’s leash somehow got the best of his right thumb… and, of course, he’s right-handed. Meanwhile, Mandee is off on a very important special assignment (we’re keeping it myster...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. This week on The Unknown Morning Show , Trapper John Morris —aka “Trapper” from SiriusXM’s The Highway & Y2Kountry —joins Chuck McKinley and Mandee Montana for an inside look at the world of country radio. With 38 years in the industry , Trapper shares his journey from college radio at UNT to programming top country stations across Waco, Tyler, Memphis...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , hosts Chuck McKinley and Mandee Montana sit down with Michael Storm to talk all things radio—past, present, and future! They his career and time as an East Texas morning radio personality and programmer. Storm is back on the airwaves with 95.1 Great FM , bringing a fresh yet familiar sound to East Texas. From h...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Chuck McKinley and Mandee Montana sit down with Jared Jones, a rising star in sports broadcasting. Jared’s journey started as the Sports Director for Tyler Junior College’s The Drumbeat and has taken him all the way to running the Antler Sports Network , where he travels the Southwest to stream live athletics....

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Chuck and Mandee sit down with the legendary Scott Gaines to talk about his incredible 38-year career in radio. From major market broadcasting to syndication and producing projects for a Nashville record label, Scott shares fascinating behind-the-scenes stories and the valuable lessons he’s learned along the wa...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Chuck and Mandee sit down with the legendary Shawn Knight—a radio veteran with over 20 years of experience, a podcaster, voice actor, and an online student finishing his degree at Morehouse College. Shawn shares his journey from hosting morning radio to embracing new opportunities in media and education. They d...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this inspiring episode of The Unknown Morning Show, Chuck and Mandee sit down with their friend and former broadcaster, Rhonda Parsons. From her early days growing up in Granada Hills, California, to her move to Tyler, Texas, Rhonda’s life has been filled with twists, turns, and an unwavering commitment to her faith and personal growth. Rhonda shares he...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. Join Chuck and Mandee on the latest episode of the Unknown Morning Show as they bring you a flavorful conversation with special guest Blu Monday-Daniels! In this engaging interview, Blu takes listeners on a mouthwatering journey through the renowned CASI Chili Cook Offs, from the heart of East Texas all the way to the iconic chili ghost town of Terlingua. ...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this episode of The Unknown Morning Show , Chuck and Mandee catch up with former colleague Kaleem Abdullah to dive into his dynamic career in radio. From his early days in Tyler to major markets like Dallas and Houston, Kaleem shares unforgettable stories, industry insights, and the lessons he's learned along the way. Tune in for a behind-the-scene...

We want to hear from you! Send us a Text. In this special replay episode of The Unknown Morning Show from August 30, Chuck and Mandee dive into a treasure trove of mobile DJ stories.  They share heartfelt and humorous memories from past gigs, giving listeners a taste of the high-energy world of mobile DJing.  Enjoy this unique look back as we bring back the engaging conversation that originally ai...