Mastering the Commute: Your 6-Minute Traffic Fix

Ep. 46 - My Giving Thanks (A Look Back at Radio, Traffic, and Podcasting)

• Freeway Traffic Expert Randy A. Keith • Season 2 • Episode 46

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Episode 46: Thanksgiving Special - From Bedroom Broadcasts to the Big Leagues

This Thanksgiving, Randy shares his complete journey from a 4-year-old with a cassette recorder to becoming a professional freeway traffic expert. Hear the story behind KRAK 98.5, Stereo97FM, and his years reporting traffic for KNX 1070 and other major stations.

Featured in this episode:

  • Early childhood recordings and piano performances
  • KRAK 98.5 bedroom broadcasts (age 4)
  • Stereo97FM and building homemade transmitters (age 13)
  • First radio job at KBET after the Northridge earthquake
  • Teen Scene radio show
  • First traffic report on KNX 1070 (November 12, 1999)
  • Nine years of traffic reporting (1999-2008)
  • Helicopter traffic reporting over Los Angeles

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Questions for listeners: Can you relate to any part of Randy's story? Have you had multiple careers or unique hobbies like ham radio? Share your story at freewaytrafficexpert@gmail.com

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Episode 46: Thanksgiving Special - From Bedroom Broadcasts to the Big Leagues

Cold Open (0:00–0:20)

"Today is Thanksgiving. And before the turkey, the family time, and maybe even the traffic, I want to take you on a different kind of journey. From a 4-year-old with a cassette recorder to the freeways of Los Angeles... this is how I became Randy, The Freeway Traffic Expert. And why I'm so grateful to be here with you now."

Intro (0:20–1:00)

"Welcome to Mastering the Commute. I'm Randy, and every week we talk about driving smarter, calmer, and safer. But today, on Thanksgiving, I want to share the whole story — starting from age 4, when I first pressed record. Because this journey began long before I ever saw a freeway from 1,000 feet up."

Segment 1: The Very Beginning - Age 4 to KRAK 98.5 (1:00–4:00)

"My love affair with radio started when I was just 2 years old, learning piano. But by 4, I had discovered something magical — a cassette recorder. I would sit at that little piano, playing and singing, but then I'd do something that felt completely natural: I'd talk about what I just played.

[INSERT: Early childhood clip - 12 year old Randy playing piano and talking]

Those weren't just random recordings. In my mind, I was already a radio DJ. I was backselling my own piano performances, just like I heard on the radio. 'That was Randy on the piano with...' — I was creating my own little radio world.

As I got older and learned how to dub cassettes, things got more sophisticated. I started recording actual radio stations and then dubbing my own voice over them, creating what I called KRAK 98.5.

[INSERT: KRAK 98.5 clip - young Randy doing DJ backsell over dubbed music]

Looking back, I was essentially doing what every kid does when they play house or pretend to be a teacher — except I was playing radio station. And somehow, I never stopped."

Segment 2: Getting Serious - Stereo97FM & the Transmitter (4:00–6:00)

"When I turned 13, KRAK evolved into something bigger: Stereo97FM. But here's where it gets interesting — I wasn't content with just cassette tapes anymore. A ham radio friend of mine introduced me to a company called Ramsey electronics, unique at that time, and I could send mail order for a  transmitter kit that I could build myself. 

[INSERT: Stereo97FM clip - teenage Randy with more polished delivery]

By my high school freshman year, I was broadcasting to maybe a one-mile radius, but in my mind, I was reaching the world. My neighbors could probably pick me up if they tuned to the right frequency. I had music, I had commercials I created, I had everything a real radio station had — just on a much, much smaller scale.

This wasn't just a hobby anymore. This was training. Every hour I spent behind that makeshift microphone was preparing me for something I didn't even know was coming."

Segment 3: Breaking Into the Business - KBET Weather & Teen Scene (6:00–8:30)

"After the Northridge earthquake, everything changed. I got my first real job at KBET. Not as a DJ — as a button pusher… . But I didn't care. I was finally in a real radio station. And I had friends that first let me on the air by doing the weather report…

[INSERT: KBETY weather report clip - young professional Randy]

Listen to that voice — still finding itself, but you can hear the foundation of what would become my traffic reporting style. Clear, concise, helpful.

But the real breakthrough came with 'Teen Scene' — the only radio show for teens, by teens.

[INSERT: Teen Scene clip - Randy interviewing or hosting]

This was where I learned that radio isn't just about information. It's about connection. The people calling in and guests I interviewed, sharing their stories — they taught me that every voice on the other end of the microphone is a real person with real needs."

Segment 4: The Big Break - Shadow Traffic & KNX (8:30–12:00)

"November 12th, 1999. I'll never forget that date. It was my first traffic report on KNX 1070.

[INSERT: First KNX traffic report - November 12, 1999]

Nervous? Absolutely. But listen to that — all those years of practice, from KRAK to KBET, had led to this moment. I was now reporting on one of the biggest news stations in the country.

Over the next nine years, from 1999 to 2008, I worked every daypart you can imagine. Morning drive...

[INSERT: Morning drive KNX clip]

Overnights…..


Afternoon rush...

[INSERT: Afternoon KNX clip]

And eof course, my favourite time, when , I found myself up in the sky, reporting from helicopters.

[INSERT: Airborne traffic report clip]

Each phase taught me something different. The studio taught me precision. The helicopter taught me perspective. And through it all, I was learning that traffic reporting is really about helping people navigate not just roads, but life."



Segment: Gratitude & Connection (12:00-14:00)

"Looking back from that 4-year-old at the piano to today's podcast, I'll be honest—at first, it WAS about the technology. I loved playing with radios, building transmitters, being up in the air. But somewhere along the way, through all those hours in the studio and taking calls from tipsters stuck in traffic, I learned what it's really about: connection.

And that's what makes this podcast so special to me. It's a synthesis of all my passions—my love of radio, my years in traffic reporting, my music background, my passion for teaching. This podcast isn't just one thing, it's everything I've ever cared about, all coming together. And honestly? It's the most valuable thing I've ever created. Not because of downloads or numbers, but because it's happening right now, in real time, and because I'm building a relationship with you. Every week, you're here with me, and that means everything.

So here's what I want to ask you: Is there any part of my story that you can relate to? Have you had multiple careers? Unique interests like ham radio, or childhood dreams that led somewhere unexpected? I would absolutely love to hear about those. Please get in touch with me directly at freewaytrafficexpert@gmail.com. And if you want to hear more of those old recordings—KRAK 98.5, Stereo97FM, all of it—I have the full archives from the 80s and 90s on my personal YouTube channel @randysarchives.


Outro


[[TAG - Follow me social media - @masteringthecommute on Facebook and Youtube, where I post daily shorts and weekly podcast video episodes. And don’t forget to check out our entire driving resource where you can get your free ebook Drive Smarter Now at Drive Smarter now.com]]

I'll be back next week with Episode 47. But for now, from that kid with the cassette recorder to you—Happy Thanksgiving. Keep dreaming, keep driving smart, and thank you for listening."

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Randy A Keith

Host