By Katie Klemmensen | MavRadio.FM
OMAHA — For more than two decades, KAT 103.7’s Hoss Michaels has been a familiar voice across Nebraska airwaves. But behind the microphone, the midday host is just as passionate about people and community as he is about country music.
“I’ve always believed that radio stations are licensed to a community,” Michaels said. “It’s a public license that we hold. Therefore, we have to serve that audience.”
Michaels, whose real name is Jeff, earned his nickname during an early-career interview in Kansas City. “The program director asked me what name I wanted to use on air,” he recalled with a laugh. “He looked at me and said, ‘There’s just one name you need.’ And that was it, I became Hoss.”
Over the years, Michaels’ authenticity has been key to connecting with listeners. “Talking with you now is who I am on the radio,” he said. “Listeners pick up on that sincerity, that genuineness.” That human connection, he said, is what keeps him in radio even as the industry evolves with technology and streaming. “Playlists can’t do what radio does,” Michaels said. “When a family lets me be part of something intimate, like dedicating a song at a funeral, that’s something to be cherished.”
Recently, KAT 103.7 earned the Nebraska Broadcasters Association Pinnacle Award for Best Radio Station, a recognition Michaels says reflects his team’s dedication. “It was a very proud moment,” he said. “Our staff works hard every day… and it’s an honor to see that recognized.”
Beyond music, Michaels and his team invest heavily in community service, from fundraisers for Children’s Hospital to their annual Day of 5-thousand Thank-Yous, which collects cards for veterans. “We ended up with almost 7,000 cards,” Michaels said. “To hand those cards to veterans in person is pretty special.”
Wear Black Give Back, the University of Nebraska at Omaha’s annual giving event that supports student organizations like MavRadio.FM, is coming up this week. Michaels emphasized the role of college media. “College radio is so important,” he said. “That’s where you find your groove and figure out what you love.”
Michaels encouraged alumni and community members to support MavRadio. “It’s a fresh take,” he said. “The next big broadcaster could be coming from right here.”
Looking to the future, Michaels acknowledged the role of artificial intelligence in broadcasting but stressed that technology can’t replace human connection. “Some companies have tried using AI voices,” he said. “It wasn’t a win or a loss, it was flat. That tells me to invest in the human.”
For Michaels, the heart of radio remains simple: “Music truly can be therapy,” he said. “It’s done wonders for me, and I’ve seen it work for others. That’s what keeps me behind the mic.”
