Big Smoothie, whose real name is Jamie Hantke, said he was upset but not \u201craging\u201d like he would\u2019ve been in his 20s and 30s. He previously worked at 95X (WAQX-FM) from 2001 to 2006 and from 2009 to 2017, then joined K-Rock (also styled as KROCK) as a part-time DJ in 2017<\/a> and became full-time in 2020. <\/p>\n At 46, Hantke said he\u2019s familiar with \u201cthe nature of the business\u201d and the nature of the beast right now probably because most of us are prepared for it for a while and we all know it\u2019s going to come eventually right especially in radio and media in general.”<\/p>\n Galaxy Media owner Ed Levine confirmed the change, telling syracuse.com | The Post-Standard that Hantke \u201chas moved on\u201d from K-Rock. <\/p>\n Hantke had been hosting weekday afternoons on K-Rock from 3-7 p.m. since January 2020. Levine said his time slot will be replaced by Bender from TK99 (WTKW-FM), another Galaxy-owned radio station.<\/p>\n Hantke told syracuse.com that he appreciated Galaxy giving him an opportunity when he was let go from 95X in 2017: \u201cI knew I still had more to give in this business.\u201d<\/p>\n He said his exit was \u201cnot exactly how I wanted to go out,\u201d but noted that he can stay connected with fans through social media. He plans to do live videos on TikTok and Twitch, including streams from the local gym he owns.<\/p>\n Hantke said his favorite memories from his radio career include going to the British Virgin Islands in 2005 and doing live events, especially at the New York State Fair, and doing interviews. But he\u2019s not sure what\u2019s next for \u201cBig Smoothie.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSo listen, if you\u2019ve joined this journey recently, if you\u2019ve been on this journey since day one, I appreciate all of you,\u201d he said on Instagram. \u201cWhether Big Smoothie is dead and gone, I don\u2019t know but always remember: Big Smoothie was only an extension of Jamie Hantke… so thank you all.\u201d<\/p>\n In the meantime, Hantke, a former Corcoran High School and Cayuga Community College football player, said he\u2019s focused on his work at 315 Strong The Gym<\/a> in Syracuse. The semi-private training facility is open seven days a week with 24-hour access for members.<\/p>\n \u201cI love this town,\u201d he said. \u201cBeing a kid that grew up in the city you don\u2019t always get opportunities to make yourself into something.\u201d<\/p>\n If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement<\/a> and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and\/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Jamie](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/5IN4ZQYKANB2DGL4R4RQLMY5RI.jpg\")
Jamie Hantke, a longtime Syracuse radio host known as “Big Smoothie,” owns Syracuse gym 315 Strong The Gym. (Provided photo)Provided<\/p>\n