If you've never jumped on The Morning Breakfast Diner on WLS Talk Radio, you're in for a pleasant surprise. This early morning talk show is also known as The Don and Roma Show and it airs weekdays on WLS Newstalk Radio 890 AM. The hosts are the very popular Chicago radio veterans Don Wade and his delightful wife Roma, and the talk is lively, informative and timely.
I first got to know Don and Roma riding, of all things, the 151 Sheridan bus at 3 a.m. in the morning when I was pulling late-night shifts with my previous employer. The Wades would get on the bus three blocks before I got off, but we always managed to exchange greetings and niceties.
Don and Roma are definitely a study in contrasts. Don is a friendly but somewhat conservative and highly knowledgeable broadcaster who has earned a reputation for being a formidable debater who is always fair, and who always keeps his sense of perspective and his razor-sharp wit. Roma, who has been dubbed, "Chicago's Mystical Muse of the Airwaves," is an exuberant, ethereal and thoroughly embracing woman who has endeared herself to thousands of loyal listeners. Laid back yet outspoken Don is the perfect foil for the more liberal, free-spirited Roma, and fans of the Don and Roma Show are delighted with the lively and spirited discussions and debates.
Don is a veteran of talk radio and boasts an impressive broadcast career that spans more than two decades and positions from coast-to-coast. As one of Chicago's most vocal and discerning critics, he came to WLS Talk Radio in 1985, much to the satisfaction of both the station and his legion of faithful listeners.
Roma Wade has dabbled in just about every career you can think of. An impassioned traveler, she has lived in such exotic locations as Turkey, Greece and Mexico. A professional educator for many years, Wade has completed all course work towards a doctorate, and she holds an MA in English Literature and a BA in English/Journalism and Literature. She has taught at the university level, high school and has also spent time instructing gifted grade school students. Roma is also a Yoga and Meditation Instructor with The Himalayan Institute. She has, among other things, been employed as a professional roofer, A Shrimp Pet Weaver for Alaskan fishermen and a general contractor. In 1993 the adventurous Mrs. Wade flew an F-18 Hornet with The Blue Angels.
In 1986, Roma joined Don at WLS Newstalk in the midday broadcasts during adult contemporary format days. In 1989 they teamed up for their Talk Radio format and today they are at the top of the ratings with their Morning Breakfast Diner show.
DAVID GUARINO: Roma, you have a reputation for being the more outgoing of the two of you. Is that the case in your private life, or on the air?
ROMA: In a one-on-one situation, I'm the most gregarious one of the two of us, Don's the quiet one. At a party he won't say much. He observes. And then it all comes back. The minute this microphone goes on and that red light goes on, HE'S on, and I am the quieter one. See I have to force myself, I have to come forward. It would be very easy to listen. (We both laugh)
DG: But, Roma, did you ever feel though that there was a part of you that wanted to really be out in front?
ROMA: Definitely. I do a segment that's a spiritual segment every day. That's my mission. That's what I was put on the earth for. To uplift people in some way every day and I hope, you know, this segment—that it comes out as well. Because I usually try to look at more, what I call humane ways of looking at things. Don is more practical.
DG: He's pragmatic. ... But that's a good combination, because I think it makes for an interesting contrast.
DON: You have a devil on one shoulder and an angel on the other, and you've got a certain amount of money in your pocket, and you're passing the poor person on the street. And they're both whispering in your ear, and one side says, "Oh, we have to feel sorry for that person!" And the other one's saying, "But you worked so hard for that and you deserve to treat yourself."
ROMA: (To Don) Or, knowing you it might just be a con artist who's hustling you…" (We all laugh)
DON: Is that Streetwise salesperson really homeless or…?
ROMA: Well, see I have dragged people into White Hen and bought them bread, cheese, meat. "You pick it out of the case, and we'll (Don and I) buy it." And off they go and they've got a little bag of food to eat for a while. "And put an apple in there, would you, please, for me?" (Roma and I laugh heartily) Don just thinks like that too, but he is just so good at detecting scam on the streets. I didn't believe him the first few times; I was just horrified, at three in the morning…
DON: The guy comes running up and he's well dressed and he says, "Oh, I'm so glad to see you! You know, it's three in the morning, and my family is stranded in the car and I just need enough money to get the gas and I'm going to need five dollars for the deposit on the gas can. Plus a gallon of gas. So if you could just give me like six dollars and fifty cents…"
ROMA: And he (Don) turned him down. And we had a row in the middle of the street, and I said, "Don, why did you do that to that man? …"
DON: Yeah, right.
ROMA: Well, the next morning, this man was out there doing the same thing! Well, I couldn't look at him because he made Don right! (We are all laughing)
DON: I sound like a cold and callous person but I'm not.
DG: Don, tell me, you started here at WLS TalkRadio at the end of 1985?
DON: The end of 1985, right. The Bears won the Super Bowl, and I started here. I can remember it. And it won't be confused with any other date.
DG: And Roma came about a year after?
ROMA: Right! I had actually come with Don right then (in 1985), but they got me off the air because I was not Union, and I wasn't being paid. And then they negotiated, negotiated and finally paid me and put me officially on the air in '86.
DG: Roma, tell me about the fact that you lived in Turkey, Greece, and Mexico.
ROMA: Oh, my travels? I'm a gypsy.
DG: Yes, but why Turkey?
ROMA: Because that's where the Magic Bus was going. ... Yes. In Amsterdam. I saw a sign on a door that said, "Magic Bus." Take a trip to India, Turkey. So I was actually going to Delhi. (Roma laughs lightheartedly) Yes. I got off in Istanbul. And ended up staying there for a while, and loving it.
DG: Turkey scares me. That's a place where they (the authorities) for some trumped-up reason could just throw you in prison.
ROMA: Absolutely. I realized that after I was there too. It was just a bizarre climate. When I went across to the Greek Islands it was like coming back home or something. Like you'd been to another world, and were now in a much safer world and yet you were literally a stone's throw from Turkey. Some of the Greek Islands are closer to Turkey than they are to Greece. You were there, but it's a whole different culture. It was definitely a much more civilized world in the way we know it going into the Greek Islands.
DG: The two of you are involved with The Wish Ball of 2001, which benefits children stricken with very serious illnesses. Can you tell us something about your involvement with The Make A Wish Foundation?
ROMA: We're thrilled. I can't think of anything more wonderful than being able to fulfill wishes of children with life-threatening diseases. Think of what it's like, David, when—we're talking about children between the ages of 2 and 18 who are facing catastrophic illnesses as their future. Our son is a Blue Angel (pilot) and one day of every week they bring Make a Wish children to their planes to meet those pilots and to give them the whole royal, VIP treatment. They have a close relationship with these children. ... Hunter (our son) is the only Marine with The Blue Angels and our daughter works for The New York Times. ... She is The Senior Network Engineer.
ROMA: Her hair is purple and she just had a coworker up there on Sunday and she was dying his hair blue, and her roommate; she was going to dye his hair red.
DG: Is it difficult working with your spouse on a daily basis?
DON: No, I don't find it difficult; I actually think it's probably quite healthy but most people haven't figured out how to do it. Most of the time you get into trouble by dragging work home, or homework. If you can keep 'em separated, you actually can use work as a vent so you get rid of the problem. So that we don't discuss politics at home. Socially people always want to get into the various political issues or religious issues or whatever. And it's very easy to avoid those kinds of disagreements because there's always going to be a disagreement whenever you discuss politics or religion. So the answer is simple; I don't talk about that unless I'm paid. ... So often you find families getting into screaming matches over the most ridiculous things.
ROMA: It's actually been helpful for our relationship in that way. We almost never have a disagreement away from here. If we do about something, we say "Save it. We'll talk about it on the air. You are so wrong on this one!" Because first of all you want to save your thoughts so they're fresh. He (Don) doesn't necessarily have any idea where I'm coming from on any given topic, nor I about his topics. If I bring up something that matters to me, I have no idea what his reaction's going to be. And likewise when he brings up Microsoft and what my response is going to be on their court cases or any other aspect of that company. But you have your human life that keeps on rolling along with your daily living and your interaction with other people. And Don's a caring person and a loving person and a kind person.
DG: Talk Radio is an extremely popular medium here in Chicago. Why would you say that this format is giving traditional radio programs that include music, DJ's and features such a run for their money?
DON/ROMA: With the prevalence of inexpensive CD players for cars, music-lovers can now listen to virtually any music they wish, in the exact order they wish, at any moment they wish, with a music system far superior to music radio. Instead of music, radio now excels at what it does best: presenting up-to-the-moment news at people's fingertips. In newstalk radio we offer a real bonus, since we then discuss the news and even explore varying ways to interpret, analyze or assess it. Plus the listener knows he even has the opportunity to speak and be heard about any topic discussed. Plus we offer unpredictable laughter, fun and spontaneity interspersed throughout!
DG: Roma, what civil-rights issue that remains unresolved at present do you feel the most passionate and why?
ROMA: Perhaps because the freedom to speak your mind is essential in my job, my greatest cultural worry is about the steady erosion of our most essential constitutional right: freedom of speech. Our shortsighted willingness to surrender that fundamental right in one situation after another (rather than be offended) in the guise of political correctness should worry all of us. Yet each of us is guilty of wishing to silence those who offend us most. Losing that freedom would ultimately give the government the power to decide which particular idea had crossed the line of acceptability. The first regressive government to come along could suppress any dissenting thought expressed. Without freedom of speech there is no other freedom—that's why it's the first amendment. It dwarfs all others.
DG: What is the most frustrating thing about doing "The Morning Breakfast Diner" a.k.a. "The Don and Roma Show?"
ROMA/DON: Easy one: Getting up at midnight is the most frustrating task we face each day!!!! It certainly takes its toll on our bodies and our minds because we always reach each weekend in a state of near exhaustion. You simply cannot maintain so monastic a daily routine that you can close your schedule and your eyes like clockwork at 4 p.m. and grab 8 hours of sleep. Most days even six hours would be a blessing! Obviously, extending the clock to a 30-hour day would improve our show!
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It's not difficult to understand how their very popular radio talk show has endured for so many years. Don Wade and his wife Roma are surely pros in the radio chat genre, professionals who excel at the business of actively listening to their public as well as informing, educating and challenging their ever-expanding audience.
The Don and Roma Show airs Monday-Friday from 5 AM-9 AM on WLS NewsTalk 890 AM.
E-mail: DavdRonald@aol.com
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