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Gary Bryan has spent more than two decades waking up Los Angeles with humor, heart, and an unmistakable pulse on the city he serves. But his path to K-EARTH 101 began long before he opened the mic in Southern California. “I came to K-EARTH in June of 2002,” he says. “Jay Coffey and Pat Duffy hired me, and Kevin Weatherly, who was Senior VP of Programming, had a big hand in it too.” A month later, Lisa Stanley joined him on the air, and the instant chemistry between the two became the foundation of one of L.A.’s most enduring morning shows.
Bryan’s résumé includes impressive major-market stops, KJR-FM in Seattle, KFRC in San Francisco, Z100 in New York. And Lisa brought her own pedigree after delivering entertainment news for Rick Dees on KIIS. “Lisa knows everybody in Hollywood,” Bryan says with a laugh. “Her dad wrote for Gilligan’s Island, so showbiz is in her DNA.”
Broadcasting in Los Angeles means playing on one of the biggest stages in American media, a market Bryan calls “the ADD Capital of the World.” With 15 million people in range of the K-EARTH signal, there’s always competition for attention. “From beaches to mountains to theme parks, you name it, there’s always something happening,” he says. “You have to fight for every second of focus. But the audience? They’re incredible. L.A. listeners are warm, funny, and family-oriented. Especially our Latino listeners. They’ll embrace you in a heartbeat—and once they do, they’re with you.”
Orange County also makes up a huge portion of their audience, bringing in a predominantly white and Asian listenership. “It’s a beautiful mix,” Bryan says. “If you can speak to everyone here, you’re doing something right.”
The show’s dynamic has remained one of its greatest strengths. “I’m the driver of the bus,” Bryan says, “and Lisa brings the attitude and everything happening in the entertainment world. She’s fearless.” Their producer, Brandon Castillo, adds the spark that keeps the energy bright. “Brandon’s in the studio with us all morning, tossing in punchlines and hitting drops,” Bryan says. “He keeps things loose.” Meanwhile, Crystal Zahler handles the phones and jumps on-air when the moment calls for it. “Crystal’s one of those people listeners just instantly like,” he adds.
The audience connection goes well beyond entertainment. K-EARTH has become a true community partner, something Bryan takes seriously. “We’re a working-class station,” he says. “The music is comfort food, but the companionship, that’s what keeps people coming back.” Every year, the team puts that mission into action with two major charity events: the July 4th USO Salute to the Troops at The Laugh Factory and the heart-tugging Knock Knock It’s Christmas holiday surprise for a deserving family. “Broadcasting live from a family’s home as we surprise them with gifts, a Christmas tree, Santa—it’s emotional,” Bryan says. “You hear the reaction in real time. It’s why we do radio.”
Prep for the show comes from both experience and curiosity. “Brandon and I write Radio Genius Show Prep together, it’s syndicated across the country,” Bryan explains. “We dig through dozens of sites, social media, and audio clips, and I write punchlines for everything. It’s a great workout for the brain.” Lisa, he says, “lives in the TMZ world 24/7,” ensuring the show is always plugged into the latest in entertainment and celebrity culture.
When major news hits, the show doesn’t hesitate to shift gears. During the Southern California wildfires, Bryan leaned on the strength of the entire local media ecosystem. “We pulled KNX reporters on the air live. They were fantastic,” he says. Later, the team hosted a Valentine’s Day event in Altadena called “Buy a Firefighter Breakfast,” drawing crowds of first responders and even musicians Mandy Moore’s husband and brother-in-law, who performed “I Love L.A.” live for the firefighters. “That was one of those moments where you go, ‘Yeah, this is why local radio matters.’”
Ask Bryan what radio is missing right now, and he doesn’t hesitate. “There aren’t enough crazy people in the business anymore,” he says, shaking his head. “Consolidation has made companies scared to take risks. Everyone’s so financially fragile that one wrong move can sink a whole company.” Still, he believes innovation is possible. “Radio has always thrived on new versions of old ideas. The ’80s were just a reinvention of the ’60s. The question is—what’s the next version? What can we do right now that no one’s thought of yet?”
Social media has become a surprising bright spot for the show, particularly considering K-EARTH’s adult audience. Bryan says the key is showing up consistently and tapping into moments that genuinely matter to listeners. “We had a ton of fun during the Dodgers postseason run. Brandon and I dyed our beards blue,” he laughs. “That blew up online. People want to feel like they’re part of the joke.”
As for attracting younger listeners, Bryan believes the industry needs to rethink its assumptions. “Young people want positivity,” he says. “Hope, energy, a future. But a lot of programmers are in their 40s, 50s, 60s, and they forget what that feels like. Don’t be afraid to program for young ears. If you build something fun and hopeful, they’ll come.”
Looking ahead, the show is gearing up for its annual Knock Knock It’s Christmas campaign, one of the most emotional parts of the year. “It brings the whole city together,” Bryan says. “We’re just lucky to be the ones who get to tell the story.”
You can follow Gary on X at @GaryBryanShow and on Instagram at @GaryBryan101.
Charese Fruge’ is an award-winning Content, Broadcast, and Marketing executive with over 20 years of experience in markets like Los Angeles, San Francisco, Houston, San Diego, and Las Vegas. As the owner of MC Media, she works with radio brands and individual talent, especially young women, helping them grow their brands and negotiate on their own behalf. She is also a Voice Actor and Voice Over Talent as well as a Freelance Writer for International Broadcast Outlets. Find her at @MCMediaOnline or www.mcmediaonline.com.