Audacy’s 105.7 The Fan in Baltimore has undergone significant change over the past two years. Joe LaCroix has been there for all ot them. The lone FM sports radio outlet in the market has experienced shifts in staff, talent, and leadership. Following the departure of Chuck Sapienza in November 2024, the station brought in Scott Jameson as its new brand manager just a few months later. However, a year later, Jameson announced he planned to step away from the position for personal reasons.

The station found itself searching for a new leader once again, marking its second search in just over a year. After months of interviewing candidates from around the country, the station decided to look internally. That’s when opportunity was presented and LaCroix was elevated the station’s third brand manager in less than two years.

“I was elated, but also was a little surreal,” says LaCroix about when he officially received the news. “I didn’t start getting into radio till about eleven years ago… But if you told me a decade ago when I started here I’d be in this position, I would have trouble believing you.”

The 34-year-old programmer, with a decade of experience producing and guiding high-profile talent, now takes on a different challenge. He’s shifting away from the soundboard and phone lines to a leadership role, where he’ll continue developing a broader and more unique skill set.

Listener To Leader

Growing up listening to the station, LaCroix said he was instantly attracted to the content and the personalities behind it. After graduating with a degree in history, teaching wasn’t the right fit for his immediate future. Instead, he pursued a role at the station he had admired as a young listener.

More than a decade later, he now oversees the same brand that inspired his passion for radio years ago.

“This position wasn’t something on my radar. If I was making my goals for 2026, it wouldn’t have been on there. But after a while, it became clear to me that I was doing a lot of the things that a brand manager would be doing anyway,” explained LaCroix. “I felt like it was something I was very capable of doing despite my relative lack of experience compared to others who applied.”

LaCroix credits his experience working with established producers and talent for helping him find his voice. He chose to remain behind the scenes because of the satisfaction he gets from setting others up for success.

Following Sapienza’s departure in 2024, LaCroix said he underwent a crash course in what it takes to run a station. He described the experience as a trial by fire. Managing staff, coaching talent, writing imaging, and reinforcing relationships with market partners. That experience fueled his interest in programming, an interest that resurfaced when news of Jameson’s upcoming departure created another opportunity.

“I was somewhat surprised, but not shocked by Scott’s [Jameson] decision to leave. His family is back home. He expressed to me that he wasn’t really doing well with the aspect of being away,” said LaCroix. “As soon as the opportunity arose, I took a week to talk it over with people I know. Is this something I feel I can accomplish. After those discussions, I decided to go for it.”

Navigating The Process, Embracing Change

LaCroix said he enjoyed the interview process because it gave him an opportunity to share his vision, his goals, and what he believes the next evolution of 105.7 The Fan could become. His confidence, however, told a different story. He said after every interview, he walked away convinced it had been his worst.

When he learned he had been selected to lead the station, he immediately got to work. The transition from producer to manager, however, came with its challenges.

“It’s been a little bit of hard transition for me to let go of that [producing The Big Bad Morning Show]. Even in the six weeks I’ve been on the job, it’s become clear you can’t be singular in your focus with the role,” notes LaCroix, who has produced The Big Bad Morning Show since 2021. “I also have a love for that morning show. But this is my opportunity to try and put my fingerprints around here at the station.”

While helping transition new morning show producer Ben Hill into his role, LaCroix has also focused heavily on expanding 105.7 The Fan’s digital presence. He noted the station has lacked a strong social media presence and video strategy throughout much of his tenure as a producer.

That focus reflects a fresh perspective. LaCroix understands that being available wherever audiences consume content is essential to succeeding in today’s media landscape.

“We’re entering another phase of the station. We have to focus more on just being a terrestrial radio product,” says LaCroix about what he hopes to bring in his immediate tenure. “From Scott and Chuck, what I really learned was how to treat and deal with people. What I think I could do different is some more technical things. Maybe getting more into digital spaces than they could.”

With artificial intelligence becoming more common at radio stations around the country, LaCroix is no stranger to the technology. He views AI as a support tool and considers himself part of the “backend of the AI age.” While he doesn’t rely heavily on it today, he believes it can help the industry become more efficient and continue to evolve.

“I’m cautiously optimistic that AI won’t be a bad thing for the industry,” explains LaCroix. “It has helped us a lot in some aspects with YouTube and social media. I always try to make sure whatever we use it for; you can still tell that there’s a human touch there.”

Immediate Goals

LaCroix takes a realistic approach to change. He understands that while he has plenty of ideas for the station, meaningful progress takes time. As he adjusts to longer hours and a heavier meeting schedule, he said several top priorities are already at the forefront.

One initiative already underway is re-establishing a third voice on the station’s afternoon show, Inside Access with Tim Barbalace and Ken Weinman. Following Jason La Canfora’s departure in February, LaCroix said the future of the afternoon show became part of the interview process for the brand manager position.

“We’ve been in the process over the last couple of months that hopefully we’ll have a resolution very soon,” says LaCroix. “A trio is where we want to go with that show. That Inside Access team was a great show. Ken, Tim, and Jason. They were three of the people that when I started to take a bigger role at the station, they were there every step of the way. That was super helpful for me, and still helpful to me in this new role.”

In addition to adding a third voice to afternoon drive, LaCroix hopes to strengthen relationships with Baltimore’s professional sports teams. In addition to reinforcing the station’s role as the flagship home for Maryland athletics. After spending years in morning drive, he understands the work required to build a successful show. Now, as brand manager, he hopes to apply that experience across every daypart and position the station for long-term success.

Every programmer inherits a station. Few inherit one during a period of as much transition as 105.7 The Fan has experienced over the past two years. LaCroix knows there won’t be overnight fixes, but his priorities are clear: strengthen the station’s talent, expand its digital footprint, deepen its local connections, and preserve the personality that made Baltimore listeners embrace the brand in the first place.

It’s an ambitious to-do list, especially for someone just 34 years old stepping into the challenges of leading a major-market sports radio station. But for someone who spent years helping others succeed behind the scenes, it’s also a challenge he’s earned.

If his vision comes together, 105.7 The Fan won’t simply adapt to change. It could help define what local sports radio in Baltimore looks like for years to come.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

John Mamola

John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.

linktr.ee/johnmamola

The post Joe LaCroix Details His Journey From Listener To Leader At Baltimore’s 105.7 The Fan appeared first on Barrett Media.

Great opportunities often come to those who wait. For the last eight years, Myron Medcalf and Matt Jones have occupied the same timeslot on ESPN Radio’s Sunday morning lineup. The show grew into a steadfast and reliable pairing, but rumors about a move to weekdays surfaced for years whenever ESPN Radio adjusted its daytime lineup.

So when the network announced another shakeup earlier this year, the rumor mill started again. After waiting so long for an opportunity to join the weekday lineup, could Matt & Myron finally earn a spot in the main event?

“It starts with rumblings and a maybe,” said Medcalf about hearing the rumors for years regarding Matt & Myron making the move from weekends to weekdays. “It felt real in the last six months. Then in the last three months, it felt very real. Until I got the call that it was official, I didn’t do my celebration till then.”

Beginning August 3, Medcalf and Jones will join ESPN Radio’s newly reshaped weekday lineup in the 3-5 p.m. timeslot. The revamped schedule, which also includes the return of Mike Golic Sr. and Mike Golic Jr., is the network’s latest programming adjustment following Clinton Yates’ departure in March.

An Opportunity Worth Waiting For

Medcalf has loved radio his entire life. He grew up in a family of nine and said radio was a constant in his household. The son of a preacher, he said car rides with his father sparked his interest in pursuing a career in the medium.

Since joining ESPN in 2013, Medcalf said he sought opportunities with ESPN Radio while continuing to cover college basketball for the network. He never approached the work with a specific destination in mind. Instead, he focused on appreciating every opportunity while navigating his path through the industry.

“I got an opportunity to be a part of my childhood dream job on the weekends and loved it,” explained Medcalf. “I was happy to have an opportunity to tell the world about what’s coming up on Sundays. I’ve always been happy with being in the mix.”

Over the past eight years, as he and Jones continued building the show’s foundation, Medcalf said being passed over for previous weekday openings never bothered him.

“I didn’t look at it like the call may never come. Instead, I looked at it as what’s for me will be for me. I knew we had a good show and people believed in us,” said Medcalf. “I don’t know enough to know what happens behind the scenes. Therefore, I don’t know enough to worry about it. Every day, I’m just a dude that’s happy to be a part of this. If they would have told me Sundays is where it’s at, I still would have been happy.”

Medcalf said the call came after he and Jones received a text asking if they had five minutes to speak with ESPN Radio executives. While the pair initially feared what might come from that brief conversation, the result was “the best news we ever heard,” Medcalf said.

Working With Matt Jones

He considers his relationship with Jones one that has grown into a brotherhood. Covering college basketball, Medcalf said the following Jones built with Kentucky Sports Radio is among the most impressive accomplishments he has seen in the audio business. The two share mutual respect, both personally and professionally.

“Matt deserves this at the end of the day. He’s built himself and KSR from the ground up. There’s not a grassroots operation that you can compare it to,” explained Medcalf. “He didn’t just show up to ESPN and say give me a shot. This is a guy that deserves everything he has and everything he’ll get in the future.”

Moving from weekends to weekdays presents a new challenge for a show that has occupied the same timeslot for years. Medcalf plans to balance the weekday program with his college sports coverage and regular appearances across ESPN platforms.

As August 3 approaches, Medcalf believes having an established formula will ease the transition. Meetings with management, staff, sales and digital teams become much easier when the show has already proven it works.

“A lot of times when you’re putting a group together and hoping it works, you’re spending so much time on the chemistry element,” explains Medcalf. “How many shows need six months to a year to develop before the chemistry is there? That’s not Matt and I, and that’s what ESPN Radio wants. We were told they love that we’re already a show and don’t have to build our show. I don’t feel pressure about doing something new, it’s just doing something I enjoy more frequently.”

The increased workload represented Medcalf’s biggest concern when he accepted the role. Over the years, he said radio talent were often “siloed” into their radio responsibilities. With little opportunity to contribute elsewhere across the network.

However, ESPN assured him he would continue providing the same quality journalism and productivity while adding weekday radio duties.

“We’re in an era where people really support versatility in our business. That wasn’t always the case,” said Medcalf. “You see so many people doing multiple things across the network under the ESPN umbrella. I’ve certainly benefitted from that… The fact that people believe I can do this in addition to everything else, that to me why I feel so validated.”

The Power Of ESPN Radio

Over the years, many throughout the industry have questioned whether ESPN still valued its radio and audio division the way it once did. At one point, ESPN Radio featured programs hosted by Dan Patrick, Colin Cowherd, Dan Le Batard and Mike & Mike, among others. More recently, however, the network has welcomed back Rich Eisen. While also elevating Freddie Coleman and investing in Evan Cohen, Chris Canty and Michelle Smallmon.

When August 3 arrives, both Golics will return, while Medcalf and Jones move into afternoon drive. As a longtime consumer of ESPN Radio, Medcalf believes the new lineup reinforces the company’s commitment to the audio platform, especially as the competition between traditional and digital media continues to evolve.

“ESPN definitely believes in radio, audio, and the future,” said Medcalf. “You have this great combination of established giants of the industry. Add in shows that are continuing to grow with amazing people. All I see is that ESPN is still all in on the radio side and investing big resources into it. You feel it internally. This is a company that goes for it, and the lineup makes that undeniable.”

Beginning August 3, Matt & Myron plan to bring the same energy and approach from weekends to weekdays. Medcalf compared the move to taking the Sunday show into the main event. Drawing on shared experiences from the nation’s biggest cities to its smallest towns, the duo hopes to welcome even more listeners into the show’s family.

“Success would be getting response, engagement and all the stuff that matters with these things without giving up our show,” explained Medcalf. “We do our show, and it hits. I just want to make people feel something.”

In an industry often driven by constant change and immediate results, Medcalf’s journey serves as a reminder that not every opportunity arrives on your preferred timetable. Sometimes the biggest break comes after years of preparation, persistence and the belief that your chance will come.

On August 3, Matt & Myron won’t introduce a new show. They’ll simply bring one that’s been waiting for its moment.

Barrett Media produces daily content on the music, news, and sports media industries. Sign up for our newsletters to stay updated and get the latest information right in your inbox.

John Mamola

John Mamola is Barrett Media’s sports editor and daily sports columnist. He brings over two decades of experience (Chicago, Tampa/St Petersburg) in the broadcast industry with expertise in brand management, sales, promotions, producing, imaging, hosting, talent coaching, talent development, web development, social media strategy and design, video production, creative writing, partnership building, communication/networking with a long track record of growth and success. He is a five-time recognized top 20 program director in a major market via Barrett Medi’s Top 20 series and has been honored internally multiple times as station/brand of the year (Tampa, FL) and employee of the month (Tampa, FL) by iHeartMedia. Connect with John by email at John@BarrettMedia.com.

linktr.ee/johnmamola

The post Myron Medcalf Reflects on the Long Road From Sunday Morning’s to Primetime at ESPN Radio appeared first on Barrett Media.

ONE Championship returns to Bangkok’s iconic Lumpinee Stadium with a card guaranteed to deliver relentless action from the opening bell to the main event.

The Inner Circle 22, streaming live in Asia primetime on Friday, July 17, hosts a stacked five-fight lineup spanning kickboxing, submission grappling, and Muay Thai, available exclusively to subscribers at live.onefc.com.

Here are three undeniable reasons combat sports enthusiasts must tune in to this week’s edition of The Inner Circle.

#1 A World Title Rematch Four Years In The Making

After delivering one of the most breathtaking kickboxing clashes of 2022, reigning ONE Strawweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan Di Bella and Zhang Peimian are finally set to author the second chapter of their rivalry.

The then-undefeated Team Di Bella Kickboxing standout narrowly secured the decision over the hardy Chinese star, who refused to yield throughout an action-packed 15-minute war in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Di Bella has been nothing short of sensational since that defining night. He added four more victories to his promotional slate, including a masterclass five-round defense against Sam-A Gaiyanghadao and a hard-fought unification win over Prajanchai PongSuphan PK — the very man who handed him the lone loss of his career.

The 29-year-old now carries a stellar 15-1 record into this rematch, remaining every bit the calculated technician whose high-IQ striking makes him one of the most complex puzzles to solve inside the ring.

Zhang’s road back to a second crack at the gold has been considerably rockier. The Chinese standout endured a grueling stretch, securing just two wins in five outings following that heartbreaking defeat. Rather than fade away, however, the 22-year-old clawed his way back into World Title contention with a pair of absolute statement performances over Thongpoon PK Saenchai and “El Jefe” Ellis Badr Barboza.

Four years removed from their instant classic, both men return to the same stage driven by unfinished business. Di Bella looks to prove the technical gap between them has only widened, while the Shengli Fight Club warrior aims to show the teenager who nearly dethroned him has matured into an entirely different threat.

#2 The P4P Queen Of Women’s Grappling Returns

Few names in women’s grappling can hold a candle to IBJJF No-Gi World Champion Helena Crevar, whose sheer dominance has completely redefined what is possible for her age.

The 19-year-old superstar — trained and promoted to black belt by the legendary John Danaher — has already established herself as the absolute gold standard of the sport. She seeks to add another clinical submission to her already remarkable resume at The Inner Circle 22.

Crevar carries a staggering 355-7 record into the matchup, having announced her global stage arrival with a slick estima lock finish against Teshya Noelani Alo at ONE Fight Night 39 this past January. She possesses the elite, high-level experience that most competitors twice her age never come close to accumulating.

The Kingsway Jiu-Jitsu representative rarely encounters a puzzle on the mats she cannot swiftly solve. However, that theory will be tested to its absolute limit against a surging debutant with every intention of derailing the hype train in their openweight submission grappling battle.

Paige Ivette Clymer arrives on the global stage from San Diego’s ultra-competitive grappling scene, having captured IBJJF gold at purple belt before earning her black belt in 2024. Her relentless, pressure-heavy style — forged through a grueling background in water polo and competitive bodybuilding long before she ever stepped onto the mats — makes her a highly dangerous threat to anyone in the world, regardless of reputation.

That fascinating collision of styles sets up an elite chess match. Crevar’s suffocating top game and ruthless finishing instincts will be tested against an opponent who thrives on wearing down world-class competition through sheer physical attrition.

A dominant victory for Crevar pushes her one step closer to a dream shot at ONE gold, while a win for Clymer would instantly rank among the biggest submission grappling upsets in recent memory.

#3 A Bounce-Back Battle For World Title Contention

Two elite bantamweight kickboxing contenders enter this pivotal matchup with the exact same mission: return to the win column and immediately inject themselves back into the World Title conversation.

Yuki Yoza rode a spectacular three-fight winning streak against world-class opposition — including Thai maestros “The Kicking Machine” Superlek and Petchtanong Petchfergus — before running into reigning ONE Bantamweight Kickboxing World Champion Jonathan “The General” Haggerty at ONE SAMURAI 1.

The setback in Tokyo this past April stung, but the former K-1 Champion possesses more than enough technical quality to remind the division exactly why he originally earned a shot at 26 pounds of gold.

Ben “The Problem” Woolliss steps into this high-stakes tilt carrying an identical chip on his shoulder. The Grimsby native delivered a knockout for the ages in his promotional bow, devastating former ONE Bantamweight MMA World Champion John “Hands of Stone” Lineker in less than two minutes.

Unfortunately, he failed to maintain that massive momentum in his sophomore outing against former divisional king Petchtanong. That said, the resilient Englishman has actively used that defeat as fuel heading into his toughest tactical test yet.

Both men intrinsically understand exactly what is on the line. A victory here could thrust the winner directly into the thick of the bantamweight kickboxing title picture. That landscape will soon come into much sharper focus, with Haggerty already confirmed to defend his crown against former kingpin Hiroki Akimoto at ONE SAMURAI 4 this October.

Whoever gets their hand raised at The Inner Circle 22 will be watching that Tokyo main event very closely, fully aware that a statement performance on July 17 could set up a direct path to the winner.

Source