For those who tunes in to “Hot Talk, 93.9 The Eagle” this afternoon, you just heard Gary Nolan’s big announcement. He is leaving Columbia, Missouri and will be hosting a radio talk show in a bigger market, on a bigger station – in other words, he’s embracing a bigger opportunity.

After over two years in mid-Missouri, Gary is moving to New England. “The Drive with Gary Nolan” ends tomorrow (Friday, February 19^th).

On Monday, “The Mike Ferguson Show” will debut. Yep, I’ll be the new afternoon drive talk show host on “The Eagle” and will be on from 4:00 – 6:00 pm every Monday through Friday.

Obviously, I’m excited about this opportunity and thank Don Zimmer and John Zimmer for their confidence in me and for the chance to do this program. When I was hired a couple months ago, I was brought in to help develop the news product and anchor the afternoon newscasts. We had no idea we would be discussing a talk show slot. This is as big a surprise to me as it is to anyone.

I will still be involved in the Zimmer Radio Group’s news product, although I won’t be anchoring the afternoon news anymore. I love the daily news meetings, tracking stories, writing them and doing the interviews to inform the public. The Zimmer news team – John Marsh, Shelley Tucker, Warren Krech and me – has over 100 years of combined news experience. You rarely see that in a market the size of Columbia/Jefferson City. I’m lucky to be able to continue working with such professionals.

Planning and hosting a talk show is challenging and I enjoy this challenge. My first radio talk show was on a small AM station in Kansas City (“The Independent Perspective” on KCWJ) in the 1990’s. More recently, “Missouri Viewpoints” was the project I produced and hosted. While that online TV show is more public affairs than “hot talk”, it let me indulge my passion for interviewing newsmakers and getting to the bottom of a story or issue in a way that helps people understand the events that affect us all.

Having the chance to drive a talk show on a popular radio station is a blessing. 

While I’m excited to move ahead with this opportunity, I’m sad to be losing Gary. Gary Nolan and I have been friends for about seven years now. We’ve worked together in politics, we’ve worked together on media projects and have enjoyed many conversations over lunch, dinner and even a few games of pool. He and Gwen are valued friends and I will miss them both.

I know Gary will continue to be successful in his new venture. He’s leaving some big shoes to fill here in Columbia.

Some things about the show will change; some things will stay the same.

Keeping the tradition of quality, provocative talk and listener participation in the program is vital to me as I take the reins from Gary. As I knew he would, Gary Nolan set a high standard of quality for the afternoon drive. I plan to keep that standard high. The show is for our listeners and I’m looking forward to the questions, conversations and – yes – even the arguments that make for good radio. This is going to be fun!

We’re going to keep the talk about the big issued of the day, we’re also going to keep an eye on our local community events…and, did I mention we’re going to have fun?

Talk shows are a partnership between the host and the audience – I can’t wait to get started and see what we build together on the airwaves of 93.9 The Eagle!