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Member Spotlight - Richard Cobb
Richard Cobb is originally from Alabama and grew up in the small mountain town of New Market, located just north of Huntsville near the Tennessee state line. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of North Alabama and a master’s degree in history from Mississippi State University. He is currently a second-year Ph.D. student in School of Media & Communication at The University of Southern Mississippi.
Richard works in radio broadcasting, where he hosts the “Breakfast Club” morning show on WBBN (B-95), a country station in the Laurel-Hattiesburg area of Mississippi. He also voice tracks the evening show for the classic rock station Rock 104.5 (WZRR).
In addition to his professional commitments, Richard is active in both community service and academic volunteerism. As a dedicated father and longtime member of the Boy Scouts of America, he is Wood Badge qualified and has served as a Cub Scout den leader and Pack Master, participating in numerous scouting projects. Academically, he frequently volunteers to review conference papers or serve as respondent or chair for conferences hosted by the Alabama and Mississippi Communication Associations. One of his recent highlights was volunteering at a university debate tournament, which left him inspired by the next generation of student leaders.
What inspired you to pursue a career in radio?
Oh wow. The short answer is: it’s my wife’s fault. My wife, Renee, actually has a degree in communication from Mississippi University for Women—which is the reason I ended up at Mississippi State University. When she was a junior,
she was scheduled to co-host a radio show on WMUW, but her co-host had to drop the shift. It was a nighttime slot, and since she would’ve been alone, she talked to the station manager, and he gave the okay for me to sit in as my future wife's
co-host. I still remember one show when I looked over at Renee and asked, “People really get paid to do this?"
How do you connect with your audience and keep them engaged?
I’ll spill the tea for you on this, be consistent and unpredictable. I realize that sounds contradictory, but consistency means setting appointments with benchmarks for listeners, but as consistent as I am with placement the content must be
fresh. Think of it like a restaurant that you love going to. You probably order the same dish or two, but you know that if you decided to try something new you’d enjoy it because of consistency. Another quick note is the rule of threes.
You should be able to define your radio show based on three words. For example, my morning show is God, country, family and my nighttime rock show is beer, bikes, babes.
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced while working in radio?
Being fired. They say that you haven’t really worked in radio unless you’ve been fired… multiple times. In all seriousness, I was fired from my very first commercial radio job. I’ve been fired in small places, been part of
management shakeups, received a “reduction in force” sit-down with the head of HR. There’s a thrill to the moving and climbing to get to a major market, but eventually you realize you're living out the radio version of AC/DC’s
“It’s a long way to the top if you wanna’ rock and roll.”
What does Phi Kappa Phi mean to you?
Being asked to join the prestigious Honor Society of Phi Kappa Phi is an extraordinary honor, and more than a mere milestone in that it marks quite a significant change in my personal growth and direction. It marks the transit of a liminal space in
my life because beginning in the Fall ’25 semester I have accepted a scholarship and an assistantship at USM as I work to complete my Ph.D. For the first two years of the doctoral program, I’ve maintained my hosting duties on the morning
show, but this will be a shift of priorities and responsibilities as I leave the Breakfast Club in early August.
What is one thing most people would be surprised to learn about you?
To be as open as I am on-air about my day-to-day life, most listeners would be surprised to know that I have been pursing my Ph.D.
Is there a particular memory you’re most proud of?
That’s a tough question because I’ve been fortunate enough to been granted access to some really cool events, had the opportunity to work with and met lots of amazing people along the way, and I’ve literally lived my dream of
hosting a morning show in a major (at that time) market when I went to Detroit.
What is your favorite holiday, and why is it your favorite?
Christmas because of what the holiday symbolizes, the gathering of friends and family, and at least for folks in the south the cooler temperatures and lower humidity.
Do you cook? If so, what’s your favorite meal to cook?
I love to cook, grill, and bake. My absolute favorite is a recipe I learned about from Pat McNamara called “Hoosh.” It’s a little bit of everything in one dish and can be made with a variety of ingredients.
Where’s your favorite place you’ve traveled to, and why?
Without hesitation, Kansas City. I hosted afternoons there on WDAF-FM and fell in love with the city, the people and the culture. I was a Chief’s fan before Mahomes, the Super Bowl wins, and Taylor Swift.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
I am a motorcyclist and ride to work and school daily and I’m also a member of the Iron Butt Association for endurance motorcycle riders. I am also a firearms enthusiast and collector, and I
compete in annual local matches like the Mississippi CQB State Championships.
To learn more about Richard and connect, visit his profile within our online member community here.
Is there someone you would like to see in the spotlight? Send your nomination to news@phikappaphi.org, and include background
information for the nomination.
