Podcast Summary: Stories That Stick—Lessons from Joe Pardavila

Podcast: Becoming NEXTonSCENE™
Host: Jackie, NEXTonSCENE Media, LLC
Guest: Joe Pardavila
Release Date: October 30, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively and insightful episode, host Jackie welcomes radio industry veteran, bestselling author, and creative storyteller Joe Pardavila. Together, they explore Joe’s formative years in New York radio, his transition to podcasting, the art of unforgettable conversations, and his book Good Listen. The conversation is candid and peppered with practical advice, self-awareness, and stories from behind (and off) the mic—showcasing what it takes to both survive and thrive in fast-changing media landscapes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Meaning of Gray: Fashion, Individuality & Cultural Shifts

[01:07]–[03:36]

• Gray as a color choice signifies neutrality, wisdom, and conservatism—yet Joe insists the rules don’t matter for core colors: “All these other pattern rules, they go out the window when it comes to dealing with those basic black grays and white colors.” (Joe, 01:34)
• Gray’s ubiquity in New York fashion and furniture leads to a playful discussion of patience, individuality, and practical design choices.

2. Soundtrack of the Season: Music as Mood & Identity

[03:41]–[05:34]

• Jackie asks each guest to share two songs for their era; Joe picks:
  • “Can’t Stop This” by Alex Warren—a gym-worthy anthem of motivation.
  • “Golden” from K Pop: Demon Hunters—a pop affirmation that transcends age.
• Joe observes, “I’ve always gravitated to younger sounding music…most of my music choices are always going to tend to be a little more uptempo.” (04:41)

3. New York Radio: Grit, Gratitude, and the School of Experience

[05:34]–[12:09]

• Joe’s 24-year stint at 95.5 WPLJ as an intern to executive producer is a rarity: “I was very fortunate. I had a very much an outlier career…same job, in the same market, in the same radio station.” (05:49)
• He dropped out of college for a radio gig, finding real education in hands-on work: “I went to the college of Scott and Todd…I learned about communicating. I learned about what not to do when it came to communicating, what it meant to be a leader…” (05:49)
• The grind: waking up at 3am, a sense of luck earned through hard work, and moments of stopping to appreciate being in the heart of NYC: “Sometimes we all get caught up in the rat race…not sitting and enjoying it…most of the time there, I was thriving. But there were those survival days.” (10:03)

4. Live Radio vs. Podcasting: The Creative Rush

[13:19]–[14:35]

• What does Joe miss most from live radio?
  “Nothing will replace the rush of live. Nothing…doing a show without a net.” (13:30)
• The transition to podcasting brings flexibility and new forms of creativity, but the adrenaline of live broadcasting is unique.

5. Book Lessons: Good Listen and Real Communication

[14:35]–[18:20]

• Joe’s book stems from discovering that most people don’t know how to prepare for or have great conversations, insights honed through years in radio, improv, and coaching clients.
• Key misconception: Many confuse hearing with listening.

  “They don’t know the difference between listening and hearing...they’re just waiting for their turn to speak.” (Joe, 14:48)

• Improv taught him the value of attentive listening, respect, and building on what others say.

6. Media Consumption, Pop Culture, and Preferences

[18:25]–[23:41]

• Rapid-fire “this or that” questions reveal Joe’s personality—he chooses NY bagels over Southern cuisine (18:38), classic stage comedy over film sets (21:22), and creative collaboration when the project calls for it.
• Recommended TV:
  • Task (HBO Max, Mark Ruffalo)
  • Black Rabbit (Netflix, Jason Bateman & Jude Law): “If you are from New York and know like the New York restaurant scene…it’s so much fun.” (19:11)

7. Evolving as a Conversationalist and Creator

[23:49]–[25:19]

• Joe sees his work moving beyond listening skills to broader self-improvement: “What else can we do to become better humans?”
• He prefers hosting to being a guest: “I think it’s probably the control freak in me…but that host part of me I take with me in real life.” (24:40)

8. Future-Proof Skills & The Power of Video Short-Form

[25:19]–[27:37]

• Joe’s advice for would-be influencers: Learn to create and edit video, especially short-form content.

  “If you want to be a person of influence…the ability to create and edit video content is incredibly important…” (Joe, 25:35)

• Platforms are doubling down on short-form videos—embrace it or risk becoming a “dinosaur.”

9. Unforgettable Conversations: Preparation Sets You Apart

[29:56]–[32:44]

• Use podcast prep in real life: Before family gatherings or interviews, do your homework—scan social feeds, find a few nuggets, and use them to generate genuine conversation.

  “If you show a little effort and just do a little homework about people, it’s a great way to bridge that divide…” (31:16)

• Listening well can make you memorable and reduce social anxiety.

10. Adapting in Media: The Only Constant is Change

[32:44]–[36:20]

• Joe’s most enduring media lesson:

  “Change is the one thing the media industry has taught me...the economics of radio didn’t work…all of a sudden, the shoe’s on the other foot. Now television is that dying medium…change is inevitable.” (32:50)

• The pattern: radio, then TV, now film—and AI will bring more change.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On taking big swings:

  “You got to take big risks…a risk is what takes you forward. If you don’t take any risk…the people that succeed are the people that are successful take risks.”
  (Joe, 41:48)

• On luck and hard work:

  “I know a lot of it, the good fortune I made for myself…it’s like, you know, what do they say? Luck doesn’t happen. You work to get luck or whatever it is that cliche is. I mean, that’s how I view my career. Like, I was very fortunate, but I also worked my ass off.”
  (Joe, 12:09)

• On listening vs hearing:

  “They think they’re listening, but they’re really not. They’re just hearing what’s happening, and then they’re just waiting for their turn to speak.”
  (Joe, 14:48)

• On preparing for family gatherings:

  “Imagine your uncle’s going to be your guest on a podcast…just find a couple nuggets about a person…it’s a great way to bridge that divide…”
  (Joe, 29:56)

Additional Highlights & Timestamps

• [05:34] Joe’s “red carpet” moment in New York radio and the shift from intern to co-host.
• [10:03] Relishing the rare quiet of NYC at dawn: “Just stopping in the middle of 31st street…looking up and seeing, like, Madison Square Garden…and I just looked up and said, this is so cool.”
• [32:44] Advice for the media industry’s future: embrace the need to adapt.
• [38:33] Joe’s breakthrough moment—taking a risk with a Jennifer Aniston interview leads to an unexpected, “full-circle” live radio conversation.
• [42:40] The value of sharing positive stories in a media space dominated by negativity.

Where to Find Joe & Final Words

• Website: joepartovilla.com
• Book: Good Listen—available on Amazon (audiobook, softcover, ebook)
• Final thought: Joe’s journey is an inspiring reminder that self-awareness, adaptability, and the courage to take creative risks are core to thriving—whether as a media professional, a podcast host, or simply a better human being.

For more inspiring stories, follow NEXTonSCENE and stay tuned for the next episode.