CLE Podcast Releases New Eps with Al Roker and Patsy Smullin

07 November 2024

CLE Podcast Releases New Eps with Al Roker and Patsy Smullin

“Chachi Loves Everybody” Podcast Releases Two New Episodes Featuring 2024 Giants of Broadcasting Honorees Al Roker of NBC’s “The Today Show” and Patsy Smullin, Owner and President of California Oregon Broadcasting

LOS ANGELES, CA – November 7, 2024 — Benztown, a global leader in radio imaging, voiceover, programming, podcasting and jingles, announces the release today of two new episodes of Chachi Loves Everybody, an original podcast produced by Benztown and hosted by Benztown President and audio brand builder Dave “Chachi” Denes.

The episodes feature Chachi’s special guests Al Roker, longtime weatherman on NBC’s The Today Show and co-anchor of the iconic morning show’s third hour, and Patsy Smullin, Owner and President of California Oregon Broadcasting, and Host of the successful television interview series, Up Close and Personal.

Roker and Smullin will be among those honored next week as Giants of Broadcasting by the Library of American Broadcasting Foundation at the 2024 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony. The event will be held on Tuesday, November 12th at Gotham Hall in New York City.

To listen to the new Chachi Loves Everybody podcast episodes, visit: https://bit.ly/ChachiLovesEverybody.

Chachi Loves Everybody takes listeners with Denes – better known as “Chachi” – as he sits down for candid conversations with broadcasting legends, master brand builders, up-and-comers, and media innovators, revealing the true stories behind their successes and their insights into building iconic brands.

Chachi Loves Everybody’s first new episode features Al Roker, award-winning weatherman and feature anchor of The Today Show on NBC News, as well as a best-selling author, radio host, and Broadway star. Roker talks to Chachi about the challenges and excitement of his life in broadcasting and building his legendary career.

Al Roker covers topics with Chachi including:

Growing up in Queens with an early fascination with broadcasting.
How his stops in Washington, D.C., Cleveland, and NYC shaped his experience.
The importance of being yourself in broadcasting and showing your personality.
Transitioning from local news to national broadcasting with NBC and The Today Show.
Creating Al Roker Entertainment and producing a variety of content across multiple networks and his current animated project.
The central role of family in his life and how it influences his writing and cooking.
How he and his wife, Deborah Roberts, support each other’s broadcasting careers.
What it’s like to broadcast major events like the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The significance of hard work and his advice for aspiring broadcasters.
And more!

On the second new episode of Chachi Loves Everybody, Chachi talks to Patsy Smullin, Owner and President of California Oregon Broadcasting and Host of the successful television interview series, Up Close and Personal.She shares with Chachi and his listeners her insights on leadership, family dynamics, philanthropy, and the changing media landscape.

Topics covered include:

Growing up in Eureka, California and how her the influence of her father, legendary broadcaster Bill Smullin, shaped her career path.
Working in just about every facet of cable TV until she began running cable operations throughout Oregon and California.
The value of every single subscriber and doing whatever it takes to make them happy.
Her belief in fair, unbiased journalism, and giving her reporters autonomy.
Joining KOBI and starting her interview series Up Close and Personal where she helped viewers get to know interviewees as people.
Taking over her father’s company and her expectations as his daughter.
Serving on the NAB and NBC boards.
The importance of community service and philanthropy and the organizations she supports, including SMART and Community 101.
And more!

For more information about the 2024 Giants of Broadcasting & Electronic Arts luncheon and awards ceremony, and for a full list of honorees, visit: https://www.tvradiolibrary.org/giants-2024.

About Al Roker

Al Roker is an institution. As the weatherman on NBC’s The Today Show and co-anchor of the show’s third hour, presenting universally resonating lifestyle segments, Al has the undivided attention of the nation – over 30 million viewers per week – every weekday morning as America prepares for school and work.

Spanning more than 40 years on TV and 14 Emmy awards, Al conducts interviews with celebrities and newsmakers around the world and does a wide variety of segments on every imaginable subject. According to a The Hollywood Reporter/Morning Consult Poll (2024), Al is the most trusted morning show anchor in America. You can also catch Al Roker on TODAY.com/allday and on Off The Rails on TODAY Show Radio, Channel 108 on SiriusXM radio.

As an award-winning television producer and CEO of Al Roker Entertainment, Inc. (ARE) Al has executive produced numerous TV programs for network, cable, digital, and streaming channels. Not only will you find an Al Roker-produced TV show on your favorite channel, Al Roker Entertainment also produces trusted social impact video content, commercials, and branded entertainment for a wide array of sponsors and non-profits.

Al is also a prolific author with 13 acclaimed books to his credit – from cookbooks to true life historical narratives, and his book, “You Look So Much Better In Person – True Stories Of Absurdity and Success” is a humorous and highly personal collection of essays based on lessons for living a happy life and achieving success through the power of saying “yes!”“ Al’s mystery novel, “The Morning Show Murders” (Book 1 of his popular Billy Blessing multi-book mystery series with Dick Lochte) was developed into a successful TV mini-series for Hallmark Movies.

Recently, “America’s Weatherman” added his name to the long and notable list of TED speakers when he talked to the TED Countdown Summit in Detroit, Michigan about the knock-on effects of extreme weather due to climate change.

As an avid social media contributor, Al regularly tweets on X @AlRoker, shares photos from his travels (and his amazing cooking) on Instagram, and talks with his audience on Facebook. He also has a book page on Facebook for fans of his writing.

Al lives in New York City with his wife, ABC News correspondent Deborah Roberts, and has three kids.

About Patsy Smullin

Patsy Smullin is the owner and President of California Oregon Broadcasting, the longest, continuously operated, independent broadcast organization in the West. Its holdings include five television stations serving California and Oregon, three cable systems and a digital HD video production company.

Over the years, Patsy’s commitment to community is evident every day personally and through her TV stations. She has consistently given back to the communities her broadcast company serve. She has been an active member of the NBC Affiliate Board, National Association of Broadcasters Board, The World Affairs Council of Oregon, Oregon Children’s Foundation, Southern Oregon University Board and Willamette University Board. Two of her “hands on” favorites are being a SMART reader and Community 101 supporter, which teach children philanthropy at a really young age.

She has been recognized with countless awards including the 2007 National Broadcasters Foundation Pioneer Award and the 2008 Oregon Association of Broadcaster’s Tom McCall Award for outstanding service to the state and to the nation and most recently the Governor’s Gold Award for service to Oregon.