Lee Rayburn talks life after leaving The Mic 92.1

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: Lee Rayburn talks life after leaving The Mic 92.1 : Samara Kalk Derby — 1/14/2009 7:24 pm / The Capital Times : ------------------------ : : Lee Rayburn has mixed feelings about his decision to abruptly walk away from the job he loved more than anything: hosting the morning show on The Mic 92.1. : Rayburn handed in his resignation on New Year's Eve, after learning the local progressive talk station was going to replace the popular "The Thom Hartmann Program" with a financial advice show. : He told management he wanted to keep the daytime lineup progressive. Rayburn said he was willing to take a cut in wages and benefits to do it. After some negotiation, management didn't back down, he said. : But Tuesday night, officials at The Mic 92.1 reversed their decision and announced Hartmann's program would return. The personal finance show, "The Dave Ramsey Show," will fill Rayburn's old slot. : Clear Channel's local operations manager Mike Ferris said he and program director Brian Turany received an outpouring of e-mails and phone calls from unhappy listeners. Turany said he alone received between 350 and 400 e-mails. : Rayburn said he was not surprised by the about-face but doubts his resignation had any impact whatsoever. : "I think it was that over 400 listeners got active and spoke out. I think that's the reason," he said. : Rayburn said he hasn't contacted the station to get his job back and doubts he will be welcomed back now, especially with Ramsey inserted into his time slot. Rayburn was on from 6 a.m. until 8 a.m. Starting Monday, Ramsey will be on from 5 a.m. until 8 a.m. : "I don't think there is an opportunity there for me anymore," he said. "I am ready to move on, I guess." : While he doesn't exactly regret it, Rayburn said he has mixed feelings about compromising his reputation with The Mic 92.1 and quitting so abruptly. : "I loved doing it every day. I was very passionate about what we were doing. It was a joy of mine, and the fear of them starting to dismantle that was enough for me to put what I've worked for on the line," Rayburn said. : Rayburn, 35, started with The Mic 92.1 the week it launched in September 2004. Initially he did some program director work, and after that Rayburn did some weekend shifts and commentary. He got his show in January 2006. : "I'm ready to move on. I want to try other things. It was exciting to have the opportunity there," Rayburn said, noting that he was honored to fill in on occasion in the Air America lineup, where he earned the friendship of national progressive talk show hosts like Hartmann and Rachel Maddow. : "If I can earn a living broadcasting in Madison, that's all I've ever wanted. I still just want to be a broadcaster in Madison," he said. : Rayburn has been in contact with other progressive talk show hosts across the country discussing the possibility of developing a cooperative or collective of online regional progressive voices, as an alternative to conservative commercial talk radio that dominates the airwaves. : Rayburn acknowledges that it is a bad time for him to quit with the down economy and the bleak job market. : "I don't think it was the best timing, but I wasn't thinking in terms of timing, I guess. I was doing what I thought was right for what I loved," he said. : Rayburn has no other job lined up and no second job. : "My buddy at MadCat (Pet Supplies) would probably let me stock the shelves for cat food if I get desperate," he joked. : : A group of about 50 listeners met with Ferris and Turany Tuesday night at the Dardanelles restaurant on Monroe Street. Mostly, listeners vented about Ramsey and defended Hartmann's show. Many also lamented the loss of Rayburn, calling him an important local progressive voice. : "Lee Rayburn remained steadfast in his principles up to the end," said listener Tim White. "Throughout his career at The Mic, he constantly gave a voice to the downtrodden, the working class and the oppressed. He shed light on local politics and gave air time to progressives running for office." : Rayburn, meanwhile, said his biggest regret is leaving the audience he woke up with every morning. : "It's amazing what a rush that was. I hope I can do it again and I hope that time is soon," he said. "I walked away from an audience that I really loved. But hopefully that audience will find me down the road." : Rayburn said he is both excited and nervous for what's next. : "Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will find a place and be able to talk again. I look forward to that," he said. : "I can't stand just talking to my cat. It drives me crazy. It drives her crazy. It drives us both crazy."

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