CONTACT Talk Radio International is a highly successful radio station that reaches and assists thousands of people in making positive and empowering choices for themselves. Their programs focus on topics ranging from overall mind/body/spirit; environmental sustainability; social justice and more, connecting the listeners with tools that will assist them in making positive and empowering choices for their lives. We catch up with the founders, Cameron and Davindia Steele about their pioneering work.
1. What made you want to set up Contact Talk Radio (CTR) in the first place? Why radio?
Originally this was Cameron’s brain child. He had a vision years before we met to have a television show sharing ideas, concepts and teaching of sages around the world, bringing these “alternative” views to mainstream. When we met and married in 2000, Cameron moved down to the states from Canada and through a series of synchronicities, he met a wonderful couple that introduced him to the manager of a local Seattle AM station that were building their block programming schedule.
It was then that he realized that the TV concept could be easily adapted to radio and then the birth of Contact Talk Radio the program came to be. It wasn’t long that the listeners thought that Contact Talk Radio was the station. So it was a natural evolution for the program to become the station. And that is where we are now - a full station broadcasting on Internet, HD Radio, Satellite and UpSnap Mobile Communications.
2. Is Contact Talk Radio the pioneer and how do you view other similar radio stations?
We have been told time and again that Contact is THE pioneer for empowering talk radio. We accept that title humbly and do see how Contact has always been on the cutting edge of topics as well as technology. We are just here filling a need for the world community and are committed to doing our part. CTR Network is our part. We are happy to see that others are taking the initiative to do the same. It takes more than one to build something so important. So if others are doing the same then from that perspective its better for everyone.
3. Do you see yourself moving into other media apart from radio?
Absolutely. We already are. Technology is my passion and we want people to have this information easily accessible to them... We’ve been on the internet for 7 years. Radio for 7 years. Now with Satellite and Mobile Communications and the launch of HD radio, it can only get better . We do see ourselves getting into TV and how that unfolds is really up to the gods of technology to assist us with that.
4. What are the obstacles you face in setting up Contact Talk Radio and maintaining it?
Well I think for the most part in the past it has been financially challenging. When we started CTR, it was really out of our own pockets until we got sponsors and hosts then things seem to turn around. I think the biggest block for me was trying to get CTR out to the masses and into the mainstream as I feel that the mainstream was not ready for it and some would say we are ahead of our time. I like to believe that the masses are ready otherwise the information would not be here.
5. What are your future plans?
We follow where the energy is the most dominant to decide on which element we incorporate next. With that said, we have a focus on Webinares / WebTV / E-zine and creating other channels of radio and TV.
6. What are the demographics of your listeners and how are their responses to Contact Talk Radio?
Well for the most part it was female but we are seeing a trend that goes into males wanting this information and in fact right now, I would have to say its almost split down the center when it comes to this information. Age groups seem to be people in their 30’s to 60’s.
