Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ben Buehler-Garcia. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ben, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. So let’s jump to your mission – what’s the backstory behind how you developed the mission that drives your brand?
I never intended to be a radio host. I knew nothing about the radio business. But when the founder of American Warrior Radio died suddenly and far too young, my passion for the messages he was sharing led me to jump in with both feet. It has been a real on the job learning experience.
My original intention was for the show to just be a weekend labor of love. That changed when we began to receive inquiries from national level agencies about booking their clients on the show. It was then I realized that if I was committed to telling these important stories, I had a duty to try and reach as many ears as possible.
With mentoring from successful radio professionals, we grew the reach of the broadcast to 13 stations spanning from California to Virginia before being signed to national syndication by the Talk Media Network.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
Having been raised among the indigenous populations in both central America and north America, I developed an appreciation for the power of storytelling at a young age. American Warrior Radio tells the stories of our military and first responder men and women via first person interviews. I never served in the military or wore a badge, so consider it my duty to support those who do.
The Veteran & first responder communities are a small but very powerful demographic. We provide a direct line to these high value communities for advertisers and sponsors seeking to communicate their support for those who protect us both at home and abroad.
I am most proud of the fact that several Veteran representative organizations have stated that American Warrior Radio has established itself as a trusted brand and voice for communicating these stories.
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Having supported the military and first responders my entire adult life, I have developed the ability to act as a “translator” between their communities and the civilian population.
In a world of “sound byte” radio, show prep is critical. On average, I do 3-4 hours of prep for a one hour show. If a guest has written a book, I read the entire book instead of just working off the talking points sent by their publisher.
When I was first getting started, a very successful host reminded me that it is a PRIVILEGE to be able to communicate with the listeners. I try to remind myself of this lesson every week.
Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?
Our initial station growth was based upon “brokered” air time. This means I purchased airtime from the stations and then sold advertising to cover the cost. During the pandemic, many advertisers reduced their budgets, putting us in a real bind.
It was looking pretty bleak when a very intuitive fan of the show told me she wanted to make a donation to keep the show on the air. She chastised me to not let pride get in the way. This led to a cascade of other show fans doing the same thing. Combined, their efforts allowed us to endure the downturn.
It was truly a reflection on the loyalty that we unknowingly had built among our listener base.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.americanwarriorradio.com
- Instagram: @amwarriorradio
- Facebook: American Warrior Radio
- Twitter: @warriorradotuc