As a New Year gift, CBC had three of their top radio hosts be the ones to be asked questions. These hosts, and most of the broadcasters at CBC radio and television, have become my “friends”. I look forward to hearing them, know their schedules, can plan my day around our “dates”. Usually I know what time of day it is by what is on the radio. Obviously I’m a big radio fan. Always have been. We didn’t have television until I was in my teens.
When I was about eleven or so, my next door neighbor who was a few years older than me, was doing one of those lotteries where you guessed the name on a card that held the key to a gift which in this case was a white plastic radio. I was very eager to win, so I must admit, I peeked! And won. (Please don’t tell. My excuse is I was young. Ok?) I never felt much guilt because that little white radio, as it sat by my bed, gave me so much pleasure. Especially on Sunday evenings when the series of fifteen minute serials were on. These were programs that in today’s lexicon would be labeled sexist or racist. But we didn’t think then about this, they were just people to me. This was a long time ago. Things have changed in this area, and keep changing. At least I can say I definitely wouldn’t peek now.
This show, Ask Me Anything, was advertised as “a look behind the curtain of three of CBC radio’s biggest shows to see what 2017 stories had the biggest impact on hosts and what they’re planning to dig into in 2018.” It featured Piya Chattopadhyay, host of Out in the Open, Anna Maria Tremonti, host of The Current and Duncan McCue, host of Cross Country Checkup. Ask Me Anything was led by Ali Hassan, host of CBC Radio’s Laugh Out Loud. It was in front of a live audience who also had a chance to ask questions along with a host of other radio hosts.
So much of what these three hosts said their goal was about presenting and understanding every point of view on difficult topics. Looking more closely than we usually do about our prejudices and preconceptions. Sometimes the people have disagreeable opinions, sometimes compatible to mine. Dispassion is a difficult yet worthwhile mode to accept. At least when listening to opposing opinions. I can, at times, talk back to the radio and cause no harm. I love radio!