When people tell me I didn’t come to “this industry” honestly — referring to my role as GM at a public radio station in Connecticut without prior public radio experience — I take a little exception. OK, I did spend many years in media without working in public radio, but spoiler alert: Public radio IS media. I’ve spent over 25 years in this media industry that I love with all my heart. While public media is indeed special, it’s perhaps not as unique as industry insiders might believe. Every media business has its distinct characteristics, but they share fundamental similarities that transcend their surface-level differences.
This brings me to what might be my most controversial observation, one that often raises eyebrows in the halls of WSHU: Public radio fans are remarkably similar to professional wrestling fans. In fact, I’d argue they’re nearly identical in certain key aspects. Yes, I said identical.
Before you do a spit take with your morning coffee, let me clarify — I’m not suggesting demographic overlap. The Venn diagram between professional wrestling’s audience and public radio listeners would show minimal intersection (though it’s not zero).
Professional wrestling fans represent perhaps the pinnacle of modern fandom, and public radio enthusiasts (and I’m specifically calling out radio, not all public media) could make a compelling case for being right up there with them. Both groups display an intensity of dedication that goes far beyond casual consumption. These fans don’t just consume content — they live it, breathe it and make it part of their identity.
Let’s break down this unexpected parallel through three key areas: loyalty, storytelling and company literacy.
Loyalty:
Public radio: Listeners don’t just tune in, they invest financially and emotionally in their stations. They defend NPR or their local station with passion in social settings, proudly display their merch and have personal connections to hosts and programs. During pledge drives, they share heartfelt stories about how public radio has impacted their lives.
Wrestling: Wrestling fans stick with their favorite performers through victories and defeats, support them across decades and defend wrestling entertainment to skeptics. They’ll travel across the country for events, purchase merchandise and maintain subscriptions through content evolution and platform changes.
Storytelling:
Public radio: The medium excels at narrative journalism that builds over time. Listeners become invested in long-form stories, serialized investigations and the personal journeys of hosts and subjects. They appreciate the nuanced approach to complex topics and the careful crafting of narrative arcs. Storytelling permeates journalism, music and all other aspects of our business.
Wrestling: Professional wrestling is, at its core, storytelling through athletic performance. Fans follow complex character developments, multiyear storylines and intricate plot twists. They appreciate both the obvious narratives and subtle storytelling details that reward long-term viewing. Storytelling is the core attraction of every fan of the genre.
Company literacy:
Public radio: Listeners understand the complex ecosystem of national and local programming. They know which shows are NPR versus American Public Media versus local productions. They follow staff changes, understand funding mechanisms and often know more about station operations than some employees. They come for tours, follow governmental regulations on journalism and are personally responsible for the economics of the business.
Wrestling: Fans are deeply knowledgeable about not just what happens in the ring but behind the scenes as well. They understand contract negotiations, corporate structure, production decisions and the business aspects of the industry. They follow industry news as closely as they follow the performances.
What’s the purpose of drawing this unexpected parallel? As someone who deeply loves public media and considers it an honor to serve our donors and listeners, I see valuable insights in this comparison. Public media, like many industries, can become insular — what some might call naval-gazing. We often limit our conversations to others within our sphere, sharing concerns about changing consumption habits while moving from market to market, hoping different stations might yield different results. We bring our experiences from the Midwest to the Southeast, generating temporary excitement but rarely creating lasting industry change.
Sometimes, the most valuable insights come from looking beyond our immediate environment. While the initial reaction to comparing public radio listeners to wrestling fans is often skepticism or even dismissal, those who take time to consider the parallel often find it illuminating. It challenges our preconceptions about our audience and ourselves, suggesting that passion for media transcends traditional boundaries we create.
This comparison reminds us that authentic fan engagement shares common elements across seemingly disparate media forms. It suggests that perhaps we in public media could learn from how professional wrestling nurtures and maintains its passionate fan base, just as wrestling entertainment might draw insights from public radio’s approach to community engagement and support.
In an era of rapidly evolving media consumption, understanding these parallels could help us better serve our audiences while maintaining the essential character of public radio that makes it so beloved by its fans.
In my time with public media, I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most dedicated and intelligent professionals I’ve encountered in my 25-year media career. The depth of their commitment to public service, journalistic integrity and community enrichment is truly remarkable. These are people who could often command higher salaries in commercial media but choose to stay because they believe in the mission.
However, this dedication can sometimes manifest as an unintentional barrier to innovation. There’s occasionally a reflexive dismissiveness toward ideas that originate outside our public media bubble — a tendency to say “That’s not how we do things” or “That wouldn’t work here.” While it’s crucial to maintain our core values and high standards, public media needs creative thinking now more than ever, and those fresh perspectives can come from unexpected places.
The path forward isn’t about abandoning our rich history or proven practices — it’s about learning from them without being constrained by them. We should be curious about the world around us, even (and perhaps especially) when it seems disconnected from our daily work. Whether it’s studying the community engagement tactics of professional wrestling, the storytelling techniques of TikTok creators, or the technological innovations seen on crowdfunding platforms like Kickstarter, there are valuable lessons everywhere if we’re open to finding them.
Above all, our North Star must remain doing what’s right for our community. This means being willing to challenge our assumptions, experiment with new approaches and occasionally step outside our comfort zone — all while maintaining the trust and quality our listeners expect. The future of public media won’t be built solely on what worked in the past but on our ability to adapt, grow and remain relevant while staying true to our essential mission of public service.
After all, if we can find meaningful parallels between public radio and professional wrestling fans, imagine what other insights await us when we open our minds to unexpected connections. The key is to remain curious humble, and always focused on serving our communities better tomorrow than we did today. I know everyone reading this publication already knows that message better than I do, but I can always use the reminder.
Brad Dancer is a seasoned media executive who currently serves as president & GM at WSHU Public Radio, where he combines his passion for storytelling with public service through news and cultural programming. His 25+ year career spans leadership roles at major media companies including Fox, Disney, WWE and National Geographic, where he spent 22 years driving global growth across television, streaming, publishing and digital platforms. Beyond his executive role at WSHU, Brad teaches about technology in the performing arts at Roosevelt University.