The LA Talk Radio Story
The Little Radio Station That Could!
If you’ve found your way here, you’ve discovered something a little different.
LA Talk Radio wasn’t built by a giant media company or a celebrity with a massive following. It was built by people who simply love great conversations and believe everyone has a story worth sharing.
Our story began with one simple idea.
Founder Sam Hasson had always dreamed of hosting his own radio show. At a time when traditional radio was dominated by syndicated personalities and celebrity hosts, breaking into the industry seemed nearly impossible. But instead of giving up on the dream, Sam saw the Internet as an opportunity to create something entirely new.
In late 2007, after discovering the emerging world of Internet radio, he envisioned a station that would be mainstream, entertaining, and filled with original programming—not just another place to hear the same voices saying the same things.
So he decided to build it himself.
On February 4, 2008, LA Talk Radio went live from a small studio on the 36th floor of a downtown Los Angeles high-rise. The panoramic skyline was inspiring, but the real excitement came from the talented hosts who quickly embraced the idea of creating fresh, original talk programming.
The station launched with just three daily shows and six weekly programs, broadcasting around the clock. Listeners began finding us—mostly through word of mouth. Not everyone was convinced. After our very first day on the air, one critic famously described us as “monkeys with microphones.”
We took it as a compliment.
As more creative people discovered the station, LA Talk Radio became known as a place where hosts had the freedom to be themselves. There were no corporate scripts, no rigid formats, and no limits on creativity. Just authentic conversations and passionate people doing what they loved.
On June 4, 2008, the station, which was named BBS Talk Radio before, officially became LA Talk Radio, with a mission to bring the energy, creativity, and personality of Los Angeles to listeners around the world. Before long, hosts from across the country joined the network, adding new voices and perspectives to an already diverse lineup.
Growth came quickly.
In 2009, we launched a second channel to accommodate even more hosts. As our audience expanded and our reputation grew, so did our programming. Eventually, LA Talk Radio featured more than 80 weekly shows covering business, health, entertainment, relationships, technology, politics, sports, comedy, self-improvement, and just about every topic imaginable.
Then, in 2014, we launched our third channel dedicated to video programming. Complete with green-screen technology and virtual studio sets, our hosts could now produce professional-quality video podcasts alongside their audio broadcasts.
At our peak, the network produced up to 85 shows each week, with multiple live productions happening simultaneously. Our studios became home to an incredible community of broadcasters, podcasters, authors, entrepreneurs, coaches, entertainers, and industry experts—all sharing their knowledge and passions with audiences around the globe.
Like so many businesses, 2020 brought unexpected challenges.
The pandemic forced us to close our studios and transition entirely to remote broadcasting. Although our hosts continued producing their shows from home, we missed the energy and collaboration that came from broadcasting together in a professional studio.
Fortunately, that chapter didn’t define us.
In 2024, LA Talk Radio reopened in beautiful Tarzana, California, welcoming a new generation of podcasters and content creators.
What started as an Internet radio station has evolved into a full-service podcast network while staying true to the values that inspired it from the beginning: creativity, authenticity, and giving talented people a platform to be heard.
Most importantly, LA Talk Radio has always been about people—our hosts, our listeners, and the community we've built together over the years. Every show, every conversation, and every new voice has helped shape who we are today.
We're proud of where we've been, excited about where we're going, and grateful you're here to be part of the journey.
Irreverent. Entertaining. Cool. That was the vision then. It's still the vision today.