#1 John Richards: A New Generation Of Dads
John Richards is one of the most recognized radio voices in Seattle, and the host of the John in the Morning show on KEXP 90.3 FM. During his lengthy career on the air, Richards has helped uncover and promote bands like Interpol, Death Cab for Cutie, Fleet Foxes, Of Monsters and Men and others.
But his love of music followed years of pain and turmoil as a child. His father was an abusive alcoholic and his parents divorced when he was young, and Richards struggled socially and ultimately dropped out of high school when he was 14 years old. He turned to a series of music tapes given to him by his brother that introduced him to seminal bands like The Smiths, REM, The Replacements, The Clash and The Pixies, and his life was forever changed.
In the debut episode of Paternal, Richards discusses the moment he first heard those tapes and how music saved his life, as well as how he's navigated a complicated relationship with his estranged father. He also talks about his own failed marriage and a custody battle for his son, how his father's death shaped his voice on the radio and how he's used his experiences to shape his own approach as a dad.
