For more than two decades, Phil Rivera has been a familiar voice to listeners of WLTN. But his path to the microphone was anything but straightforward.
In this episode of North of Normal, host Amanda McKeen sits down with Phil to hear the winding story that brought him from New Jersey to the North Country, through music, aviation, more than a few unexpected jobs, and eventually into radio. Along the way, he shares stories that are funny, surprising, occasionally unbelievable, and remarkably candid about the mistakes and experiences that helped shape the person he is today.
The conversation also moves beyond radio into what Phil has learned about being yourself, listening to people, and recognizing the privilege of being invited into someone else’s life, whether through a microphone or a conversation. After decades on the air, Phil still gets butterflies before turning on the mic, and he still believes the human connection at the heart of local radio matters.
And when Amanda asks what he most wants listeners to take with them, Phil’s answer is simple: don’t waste your time on dread.
