Ten years ago on this day (Oct. 6) “The Karen Hunter Show” debuted on Sirius XM airwaves-paving the way for a new range of dynamic interviews, community conversations, caller interactions and more on Urban View, Channel 126.
Since the inception of “The Karen Hunter Show,” Karen Hunter has been able to grow an audience that is well into the millions because of her commitment to “feed her audience” every day.
“I started what was going to be a show on entrepreneurship, but Mike Brown was killed during my 30-day trial run and everything changed,” said Karen Hunter, who came to SiriusXM as a former journalist and publisher (www.karenhunterpublishing.com). “We became an action show, an empowerment show that helped take down the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse following the racially motivated murders of the Charleston 9, and that helped get almost a million people to register to vote in 2018 during our HBCU campus tour.”
Hunter started her career as a journalist, where she earned a Pulitzer Prize and Polk Award while at the New York Daily News. It was there that she also started her radio career in New York as a host of the “RL Morning Show” at the now-defunct WWRL-AM.
Each day of “The Karen Hunter Show,” which airs live Monday-Friday, 3-6 p.m. ET, has a theme—from #MotivationalMonday and #ThriveThursday, to #FoolishnessFriday-which she spun into a sold-out comedy tour in 2022.
During her 10 years, Hunter has interviewed everyone from politicians to celebrities to activists. Her Town Hall with Denzel Washington and the cast of Fences went viral, garnering several million views on Instagram and TikTok. Her first viral moment was with then-presidential candidate Ben Carson, who told Hunter about the time he was held up at gunpoint at a Popeye’s in Baltimore.
“I was shocked as the audience as he was telling us how he directed the gunman to one of the workers,” said Hunter. “He was leading in the polls before that interview. Afterward, he dropped dramatically. I don’t want to claim responsibility for his failed campaign, but…”
But she says it’s the everyday people—her audience—that have made the last 10 years feel like no time at all.
“I get to be with some of the most amazing people who listen to our show and channel,” said Hunter, who taught journalism, publishing and talk radio at Hunter College in New York for 22 years. “It’s therapy for me. I get to see how real people think about the important issues of the day and I gain insight from them. When people say we’re divided, I know we’re not! There are so many people ready to roll up their sleeves and fight for something better!”
Hunter has also used her platform as a launchpad for several voices including former show regulars, Clay Cane, Laura Coates, Lurie Daniel Favors, Lamont King, Dr. Greg Carr, Qasim Rashid, L. Joy Williams, Omi Bell and Dr. Robin L. Smith-who all now have their own radio shows on SiriusXM.
“I’m proud of the work ‘The Karen Hunter Show’ has done,” said Hunter. “But I’m most proud of expanding the platform to give rise to other voices that are changing the world!”
On Columbus Day, Hunter will be expanding her brand with the launch of The Women’s Empowerment Network (WEN), a podcast network that will be produced by SiriusXM.
“Your first and best teacher was probably a woman, so why not have an entire network featuring voices that lead, teach and nurture?” said Hunter of the platform that will feature her own podcast, “Karen Hunter is Awesome” as well as podcasts on finance, relationships, business and entertainment. “This is for everyone. They say that a thriving society depends on empowered women. I’m making sure WEN provides that.”
Before coming to SiriusXM, Hunter was running Karen Hunter Publishing (a joint venture with Simon & Schuster), which published more than 30 titles including New York Times bestsellers by E. Lynn Harris, Janet Jackson and Kris Jenner. Before becoming a publisher, she co-authored more than 20 books, including eight New York Times bestsellers with stars like LL Cool J, Queen Latifah, La La Anthony and Wendy Williams.
“But radio is the best thing I have ever done because it allows me to be me and connect on a real level,” said Hunter, who was born and raised in East Orange, New Jersey, and graduated from Drew University with a B.A. in English Literature. “My audience has changed my life! I look forward to rocking with them for the next 10 years and beyond!”
