From High School Hallways to Celebrity Circles: My Journey Building a Website for a Nationally Syndicated Satellite Radio Show

In my early days, I delved into various content management systems. Among them, my first extensive experimentation was with a platform called NewsPro. What made it stand out was its flat-file structure, eliminating the need for a backend database.

While it efficiently handled content management tasks and boasted understandable code, its limitations became evident. Without database support, executing more complex functionalities proved challenging.

Although I initially enjoyed NewsPro and utilized it on ThirdGeek and several other websites, I eventually required a more robust solution. That’s when I turned to MoveableType by SixApart. I employed it to run my personal blog, my high school gossip website, and any other project that demanded a database-powered blogging platform.

Initially, the template system seemed daunting compared to what I was accustomed to with NewsPro. However, I quickly grasped its functionality and seamlessly transitioned my workflow. Leveraging the templating system, I was able to customize the appearance of my projects to precisely match my vision.

It wasn’t long after starting ThirdGeek that I began experimenting with other blogging and content management systems, like MoveableType. This opened up new avenues for me to expand my skills, particularly in creating templates using the system’s tools. I was thrilled by the possibilities a database-powered content management system offered, especially the ability to craft templates with HTML and a few simple PHP calls.

Growing up, my household was a political melting pot. My mom was an independent, while my dad leaned Democrat, so discussions at the dinner table were never dull. After 9/11, I found myself unexpectedly defending Republicans, swept up in the patriotic surge and security debates. But as high school progressed, things shifted. I started questioning the policies I had been supporting and realized I didn’t fit neatly into any political box. Instead, I became more focused on finding my own way, challenging both sides as I drifted further into the middle ground.

One of the key turning points came courtesy of my high school government teacher, a Democrat who encouraged us to critically analyze both parties. His lessons constantly pushed me to reevaluate my views, and bit by bit, I noticed my leanings began to align more with Democrats. It wasn’t about picking a side—it was about following the arguments that resonated with me, no matter where they came from.

Fast forward to 2004. Just as before I was always one who liked stirring the pot in my staunchly Republican town. The place was a sea of red, especially during the election, and I—never one to shy away from controversy—decided to paint my car in support of John Kerry. Now, truth be told, I wasn’t particularly thrilled by either candidate, but I knew slapping a Democrat’s name on my car would get people talking. And in a town like mine, sometimes that’s all you needed to do—get people thinking, questioning, and maybe, just maybe, seeing things from a different angle.

Around this time, I also began tuning into liberal-leaning radio stations on the Internet. With high-speed Internet now at my fingertips, I could explore satellite radio stations that had previously been out of reach. It was then that I discovered The Majority Report with Sam Seder and Janeane Garofalo on Air America Radio, a fledgling liberal talk station that aired on XM Radio and launched in the spring of 2004.

As I delved deeper into politics, I found myself increasingly drawn to the issues affecting me personally, like the No Child Left Behind Act. As a high school student, this policy directly impacted my education, and the more I learned about it, the more determined I became to make my voice heard in the political arena.

Every day, I tuned in to The Majority Report and found myself increasingly captivated by the world of politics. It wasn’t just the hosts that drew me in; it was the guests, the debates, and the sheer breadth of opinions being shared. I was hooked—each episode left me questioning my own beliefs and hungry for more.

What really amplified my curiosity was the community aspect. After every show, the hosts would post a discussion thread on their website, inviting listeners to comment on the day’s topics and guests. Before long, I was diving headfirst into those threads, engaging in conversations that challenged my perspective and opened me up to a wider range of political opinions. The discussions were lively, and I found myself growing as much from the comment sections as I did from the actual show.

But the more I participated, the more I started noticing some frustrations with the site. The system wasn’t user-friendly, and I figured they could do better. So, in true “go-getter” fashion, I sent a blind email to Sam Seder, the host of the show, offering to build them a brand-new website—completely free of charge.

Why? Well, the current site wasn’t the real hub of the action. The show had a station-hosted website, but that’s not where the most engaging and vibrant conversations were happening. The real energy was on this smaller, independent platform. I saw an opportunity to give it the upgrade it deserved—powered by MovableType, the site could really come to life. And I knew it would be a game-changer, not just for the listeners but for Sam and his team, too.

I fired off a blind email to Sam, outlining my experience with MovableType and offering to create a demo version of a new website for The Majority Report. I linked to some helpful documents and posts about MovableType, and I threw in a bit of info about running a TypePad-based site, which was basically MovableType without the headache of managing it yourself.

To my shock and surprise, Sam actually responded—and he was all in! He thought the idea was really cool, and before I knew it, I was deep into building the demo.

In just a few days, I had a working prototype of the site ready to go. Sam was thrilled with the progress, and we even chatted over the phone—about the site, of course, but also about politics and my newfound passion for the subject. It felt surreal to be collaborating with someone I had admired from a distance, and now here we were, building something together.

A few weeks later, the new site was live. And then came the real surprise: I received a check from Sam as payment for the work, totally unexpected! Naturally, I did what any tech-obsessed person would do—I took that check straight to Best Buy and treated myself to a brand-new satellite radio system for my car. I swapped out my stock speakers, upgraded everything, and set myself up to listen to The Majority Report—and my favorite music—in style.

I had no expectations of getting paid—I just wanted to help, flex my web skills, and maybe make the internet a little better in the process. But the whole experience taught me something deeper: when you dive into something with passion, with no agenda other than to contribute, amazing things can happen.

I reached out blindly, not knowing if I’d even get a response, let alone the opportunity to build something meaningful for a show I loved. What started as a simple email turned into a project that challenged me, connected me with someone I admired, and rewarded me in ways I never anticipated—both financially and personally.

The lesson? Sometimes, you just have to take the leap. You may not always see the outcome, but when you show up with intention, enthusiasm, and a willingness to learn, the universe has a funny way of rewarding that. Whether it’s a new skill, a surprise paycheck, or just the satisfaction of seeing your work come to life, it’s always worth putting yourself out there. So go for it—send that email, offer your help, and trust that good things will follow.