We recently connected with Dennis Thevenin and have shared our conversation below.

Dennis, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. We’d love to hear about the things you feel your parents did right and how those things have impacted your career and life.

Even though my parents split when I was 10, both of them always encouraged me to chase my dreams. What really stuck with me is that they both had dreams of their own, and they made sure to live them. My dad was the front man and lead singer for several bands before my time, and my mom always dreamed of wrangling cattle on horseback. Both of them showed me what it looked like to lean into a passion, no matter how big or small. My dad’s dream gave me some unforgettable memories. We only got to sing together a couple of times at karaoke, but it was magic! Our voices blended like we’d been rehearsing for years. Later, after my divorce at 20, I moved in with him. That’s when we became more than father and son. We became best friends. He passed in 2007, but those years taught me that it’s never too late to reconnect, rebuild, and make the most of time together. My mom’s dream wasn’t about music but about grit. She worked as a farmhand in South Dakota, finally living her dream of wrangling cattle on horseback. One day, her horse reared up, and she went one way while the horse went the other. Right into a pile of rocks that messed up her back. But here’s the thing: she got the experience she always wanted. That taught me that chasing a dream is worth it, even if it doesn’t end perfectly. The value is in the trying. My own dream started when my mom bought me one of those old Fisher Price karaoke machines. The first time I heard my voice played back, I was hooked. As my voice matured, people kept telling me, “Man, you should be on the radio.” That stuck. Eventually, I went to what was then the Ohio Center for Broadcasting in Cincinnati (now Ohio Media School), graduated with a 3.8 GPA, and even received the Gary Burbank “Radio Excellence” Award. Every step of the way, I knew I was carrying pieces of both my parents: my dad’s love of performing, my mom’s belief in chasing an experience no matter the outcome, and both of their voices telling me to keep chasing what I loved.

Dennis, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My name is Dennis Thevenin, but most people know me on the air as Slim Chance. I grew up in Barboursville, West Virginia, where I still live today. Rock 105, the station I work for now, is just 27 miles from my home, and it’s the same station my parents had me listening to when I was a kid. Coming full circle to sit behind this microphone is something I’ll never take for granted.

My radio journey has been anything but straight. Right out of broadcasting school in Cincinnati, I landed my first morning show in Thermopolis, Wyoming. It didn’t last long. I was fired after two and a half months because the owners didn’t like that I was seen at the local bar. Lonely in a strange town, I jumped on a bus back to Cincinnati. Three days, a lot of thinking, and one humbling lesson later, I was back where I started.

Not long after, life took me to Jackson, Ohio, where I was house-sitting for my mom. One afternoon, while tuned into Power Country 104.1 WPAY in Portsmouth, I called in for a trivia contest, won a Betty Crocker cake plate, and picked it up at the station. I dropped off my demo and résumé on a whim. Two weeks later, I was hired as the overnight DJ. I quickly earned the nickname “Dead Air Dennis” because the station went silent almost every morning around 3 a.m., and it was the Portsmouth Daily Times crew who would call and wake me up to get the signal back on. Six months later, my marriage ended, and so did that job.

In 2007, my dad, who was my best friend and the person I reconnected with after my divorce, passed away suddenly. Losing him hit me harder than anything. All roads led home after that. By 2009, I was back in West Virginia and working at WCMI-FM in Huntington, where I stayed for five years before another leadership change cost me the job.

From there, I took on programming and afternoons in Cynthiana, Kentucky, flipping WCYN from an oldies station to a successful country station. But when the money didn’t work out, I returned home once again. In 2018, I started part-time at GO Radio WGOH/WUGO. When the sales executive left, I stepped into sales, something I never thought I’d do, while still running the board. That job taught me resilience and versatility.

In 2023, I got a call from Chili Walker, a legendary broadcaster in our region. He had my demo, liked what he heard, and decided my imperfections were worth taking a chance on. He brought me on as the midday guy at Rock 105. Now, three years later, I’m still here, grateful every day to work at the station I grew up with.

Along the way, I’ve picked up side hustles, gigs, and a lot of production knowledge. I’ve become proficient in DAWs, creating original music and learning everything I can about the craft. What sets me apart is authenticity. I don’t just broadcast. I talk to one person at a time, whether on the air, online, or face to face.

And I have to mention Alison Webb, who you’ve also featured in this magazine. She’s the reason my story landed here. Alison is one of the best people I know. Her smile is infectious, her spirit lights up a room, and she has been a true supporter of me and my journey.

My story isn’t polished. It’s full of setbacks, comebacks, and second chances. But that’s what makes it real. I’m proud to be a kid from Barboursville who now gets to work at the very station I grew up listening to, sharing music, stories, and life with the Tri-State that raised me.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

For me, the most rewarding part of being a creative is connection. I love that something I produce in a studio, whether it’s a break on the air, a piece of production, or even a silly social media clip, can reach someone on the other side and make them feel like I’m speaking directly to them. That one-to-one connection is the magic of radio and creativity in general.

Another big reward is legacy. I grew up listening to Rock 105, and now I get to create the content that today’s kids are hearing in their cars, just like I did. Knowing that my work could be the spark for someone else to chase their own dream is a huge motivator.

The joy is also in the process. Writing, producing, experimenting with sound, even the failures and rough takes, all of it feels like progress. In a world full of AI, I’m glad I can still be real, and that’s what I bring to my work every day. Creativity is about chasing that next moment where something clicks and you know you’ve made something real.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

I think what non-creatives often struggle to understand is that the journey isn’t a straight line. It looks fun and exciting from the outside, but it comes with setbacks, uncertainty, and a lot of rejection. I’ve been fired, started over, and had to reinvent myself more than once. That’s part of the process, not the end of it.

Another thing people may not see is that creativity doesn’t really turn off. Even when I’m driving, or at the store, or just hanging out, my brain is always running in the background, piecing together ideas, voices, or sounds that might work later. It can feel like a blessing and a burden, but it’s the way most of us are wired.

What I would tell anyone looking in from the outside is this: don’t judge the “failures” too harshly, because they’re often the foundation for the wins. And in a world where so much is automated, the human side of creativity still matters. That’s why I keep doing it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://Wklc.com/slim/
• Instagram: Rock105slim
• Facebook: Rock105slim
• Linkedin: Rock105slim
• Twitter: Rock105slim
• Soundcloud: Slim105