
In this Episode, Bubba sits down and talks with Big Steve from The Big Steve Morning Show 97.9 WVOK about his journey and radio.
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Bill Bubba Bussy
This podcast is brought to you in part by Russell Lands Coke Buffalo Wild Wings Central State Bank Dr. Thomas Dudney Sunrise Docks Bice Motors the Green Monster Fishing Lights. Now back to Bubba on the Lake.
Bubba on the Lake Chorus
B U double B A on the lake hey wishing I could listen to the show every day hey gotta hear what Bubba and his buddies gotta B U double B A on the lake in the mellow yellow studio putting on a show Betty say what she always on the go we got hunter bus sitting at master control don't wanna miss a moment cause Bubba's got the flow B U double B A on the lake hey wishing I could listen to the show every day hey gotta hear what Bubba and his buddies gotta say on B U double B A on the lake Hey B U double B A Hey B U hey hey B U double B A B A on
Bill Bubba Bussy
the lake hello again friends, neighbors and associates. I am Bill Bubba Bussy, your semi retired, mostly washed up host. Formerly the Rick and Bubba show and now your host for Bubba on the Lake. We are broadcasting from Melayella Studio. Our website is bubba on the light.com youm can shoot me an email bubba@bubbaonthelake.com Been getting a lot of those with car names. Also our message line 308-244-5253 or better known as 308 Big Lake. Leave your message might make it to air. We listen to all of them and we certainly get a lot of enjoyment out of that. Don't forget to subscribe, turn on notifications. You don't miss a thing from the show. Also follow us on our social media. We we have a lot of posts between shows with things that are but we're about to have a lot more. We're, we're about to embark on a little bit of a road trip. I'll tell you about a little later and we're going to be updating that quite a bit and I can't wait. It's a bucket list item. I'll have to tell you about making my bucket list out four years ago. Never really had one. But when I was diagnosed with liver cancer and I was laying in the bed not knowing what they were going to do to fight that if I was going to face chemo or face radiation or you know, more surgery. Really didn't know. I decided I would make a bucket list of things that I would like to do and this was on it. This was definitely on it. So I'll tell you more about it. Four years in remission now by the Way. We have another scan coming up in July. Keep us on your prayer list. If we can clear that one and one more, we're officially cured. And that's a term that we all love to hear. If you have been a cancer survivor. Cured. I like that. All right, so we. I wanted to tell you a little. There's several things here I got to get you updated on. There is a lot of things going on at Lake Martin. If you're in the central Alabama area. Central eastern part of Alabama, Lake Martin. Um, you know, there's a ton of things going on. And to keep up with it all, you need to go to Russelllands.com the website, or they have an app, either one, and they tell you everything going on. I have to go to it and look at it myself because I get lost sometimes with everything going on. One of the big things right now is called Friday on the Green. It's family friendly. You can come out there and you can bring your dogs and, you know, you got to keep them on a leash. Bring you some insect spray and bring your lawn chair and you can enjoy some really good music. Food is available nearby, Catherine's Market, spring house fannies. And from time to time, they have trucks out there to. Food trucks. It's just a big family friendly, fun event on Friday night. I have some neighbors that do not miss it. I mean, they will run over you to get there. Friday on the Green. So it's a lot of fun, a lot of fellowship. And if you want to know more about it, go to that website, Russelllands.com or the app Russelllands.com and they can tell you all about it. And folks, you'll never know who you're going to see. A very, very short time ago, there were people out there playing Friday on the Green. Riley Green, Ella Langley. Those names ring a bell with anybody. They. You really never know. You never know who you're going to see and what they're going to turn into. By the way, speaking of that, did have any of you seen the collage webpage? That's the restaurant collage here at Lake Martin. They posted a picture of Ella Langley performing on their deck. Now, the deck performers have a microphone, and they're usually standing there playing a guitar. And there's usually not a lot of people there. Okay, there's a few, but not a ton. And just a few years ago, Ella Langley is out there performing. Is that not hilarious? And you see she, you know, you can tell she's a little younger, but she's just out there Playing her heart out. Like all people that are musicians that love music do. They don't care if there's one or a stadium full. They like to sing. And I will tell you when, when it comes to Friday on the green and Karaji and the whole lake area, you just never know who you're going to run into. You never, never know who you're going to run into. I've run into several celebrities at Collide while I was dining there, and you wouldn't believe it. But we love the food. We love Stacy the manager there anyway. But it's always a lot of fun, but you really never know who you're going to run into. It's. It's crazy this time of year. So if you're ever in the neighborhood, great place to eat. I would highly, highly suggest it. All right, let's see, what else do we have here? Okay, we have an interview with Big Steve, and I'll tell you, doing a morning show for 31 years, you get off the air, you do some show prep for the next day, whatever. You really are kind of burned out listening to the radio stuff. So I never got to hear many other radio morning shows. Obviously, we were on there at the same time. But, you know, when you're done, you didn't want to go back and hear a podcast version of it. You retired and all that. But I have really enjoyed getting to listen to some other morning shows. WFAZ and Ashland Coach Chris and that those guys, I go over there and hang out with them like once a month. Always fun, always fun. And I've had them on the podcast. Another guy who I've really been impressed with, his name is Big Steve and he's on 97.9W v. Okay. Oxford, Alabama. They cover Oxford, Calhoun County, East Central Alabama. Chuck Woodard is the manager and owner there. He does a great job and I sit down with him recently to talk a little bit about him and his history and how he got into this. Big Steve is an interesting guy and he is full of energy. You can tell that in this podcast. So he's always fun. I got to sit in with him a little bit one morning and we've done some cross promotion with bub on the lake and all that, but I wanted to have him on and let you get to know him a little bit better. I think you will be very much entertained. So we'll be right back in just a minute. We want to thank all these sponsors that make the podcast possible. And we'll be right back with a sit down Interview with big Steve from 97.9Vok in Oxford, Alabama, right after this.
Big Steve
Where's Bubba?
Commercial Announcer
I'll tell you where.
Bill Bubba Bussy
He's on the lake.
Commercial Announcer
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Bill Bubba Bussy
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Bill Bubba Bussy
We're back, folks, and we have a very, very special guest with us. I was lucky enough to be on his show a few weeks ago on 97.9 V Oxford, Alabama, serving Calhoun and eastern Alabama. Big Steve. Steve. What's up, man?
Big Steve
B U, double B, U, double B.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know it.
Big Steve
I love it.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Isn't that a code in that code?
Big Steve
I love it, right?
Bill Bubba Bussy
And you know, a listener did that and it's AI AI generated. Can you believe it?
Big Steve
Wow, what an honor it is to be here with you, my brother.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Listen, let me tell you, it's an honor here. Enjoy listening to you. I told you for 31 years I was on there, so I didn't get to hear morning shows, right? And when I got done, I was pretty, pretty much done, you know, with, with the radio for the day. So it has really been Fun. Getting to hear the morning shows and going and getting to be a guest on several around and of course, coming to Jack Stay lot. I was listening to vok. Can't miss it. And you're doing a great job, man.
Big Steve
Well, thank you so much. You know, I was a part of a two man radio show for years and now I'm doing just the solo show. And it's kind of tough, you know, but I have such a great time, man.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, you can tell, you know, and if you're having fun, I think the listeners are having fun. And that's, that's the key. And it is tough. People don't realize how tough it is, especially solo.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I mean, you're in there and you're, you're having to generate your own friends.
Big Steve
Yes.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But you communicate with the audience so well.
Big Steve
Well, that's one of the biggest compliments, you know, that anybody in this business can receive. And I remember back in the day, I was sitting in the, the little studio at WLBB in Carrollton, Georgia, and I was asking him, how do you sound like you're talk and there's nobody there. And they said, one of the guys, he said, put a Coke can right here or a soda can and talk to it like you're talking to a best friend. And I was like, I'll never be able to do that, you know, because I'm just thirsty now.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know what I did one time when I first started at wpid, which is no longer there, drove by the day, broke my heart. I actually drew stick people on a piece of paper and stuck it up in the window and I would talk to them. Really, it was almost like a flat Stanley audience, you know, I love it that way. And I also learned this was funny because people, they always talk about how we used to beg for food on the air. We would have these groups that were having a yard sale or a cake sale, and they would call up wanting an announcement on the radio.
Big Steve
Right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Because a nonprofit, we want it for free.
Big Steve
Right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Which station owner loved. And I would tell them, I said, well, you know, I really can't do that, but if I'm eating a piece of cake and talking about where it came from then, and that really has a better tie in. So that's where I learned to beg for food on the air.
Big Steve
If you're in radio, you learn how to beg. That's right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
That's right. So when I first heard Big Steve and I had not seen you, I thought Steve must be a man of size like myself. Or he's real skinny, you know, they're making a joke. Then I saw your picture. Then I met you. You are big, Steve, man. You could play tight end in the NFL, man.
Big Steve
Well, the thing is, I wear my.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You're a beast.
Big Steve
I wear my son's clothes and he's. And so it makes me look bigger, you know, so. But, you know, how tall are you? I'm six four. And I. I weigh around, say. Well, when I was competing, I was about 270.
Bill Bubba Bussy
So. Your bodybuilder?
Big Steve
Yeah, I was. And then a shoulder injury. I've still got to get surgery on it.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Oh, boy, that's fun.
Big Steve
Yeah, I heard you had it as well.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, I didn't have shoulder. Had knee replacement.
Big Steve
Knee replacement. That's it. Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And then I fail. Playing pickleball the other day. I thought I broke my wrist. No, no, it's. It's. It's sore. Yeah, but we're going to live, you know. Pickleball is very dangerous, Steve. A lot of people don't know that. See, they make fun of that.
Big Steve
My wife wants to start this. Any. Any pointers you can give me.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, it's addictive, and in our neighborhood, your social outcast if you don't play. Yeah, but it's. It, you know, you can be too competitive, I guess. And that's why I was laying on the court, spread out, you know, and then spent yesterday morning at the doctor's office getting an X ray.
Big Steve
Oh, no.
Bill Bubba Bussy
The doctor. Let me tell you, the orthoped guys love pickleball.
Big Steve
Do they?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Because it's buying them boathouses. You know what I mean? They love it. They love. Matter of fact, I think some of them are even advertising at pickleball courts now. You know, just bring them on in. Bring them in.
Big Steve
Getting the banner plane to fly over, you know. You know.
Bill Bubba Bussy
So, Steve, where did. Where are you from? Give us the story. How did you start?
Big Steve
Well, I am from Carrollton, Georgia, originally.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Were you just over the border?
Big Steve
Just right over the border? I was. I lived there. We lived there for a couple of years. Mom married a man, he moved us over to Alabama. Divorced, we moved back to Georgia. Really a shy, backwards young man. Stuttered really bad. And I went to this dance in high school and I met this guy from Z93 over in Atlanta. His name was Steve McCoy. Yeah. And he was doing, you know, how people in radio will do side jobs, right?
Bill Bubba Bussy
DJing the dance.
Big Steve
Yeah. I thought that would be the coolest thing in the world to do radio, you know, So I Go up and I ask him, I said, how do you get into radio? And he said, well, first you've got to lose that stutter. And I said, what stutter?
Bill Bubba Bussy
It's only when I'm nervous.
Big Steve
It's only right. Yeah. And so I did the speech classes, did drama classes, anything to try to overcome it, and had surgery on the bottom part of my tongue. And I knew I wanted to do it. It was no questions. And I was 14 and I bugged them to pieces over at WLBB as
Bill Bubba Bussy
I said, yeah, the local station.
Big Steve
And the GM said what he saw was a 14 year old boy. And he was like, yeah, next week he's going to want to do NASCAR or whatever. And he said, I tell you what, if you still want to do it in six months, I will, I will hire you on here. And I said, okay. So every day I would still go by to tell him I'm still, I'm still wanting to work here.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah.
Big Steve
And sure enough, six months, he said, okay. He said, you're, you're hired. Start Sunday morning with the Sunday morning.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Oh, man. That's where we all started.
Big Steve
That was it, man. That was awesome.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And it was a paper preacher deal, right? Bring the check or you don't let them on.
Big Steve
We had a, we had a, we had a studio where we were above the bottom, the pit and there was a red light on, you know, when the, when the mic was hot, right. And you know how some of the preachers get, they get a little long wind. They were supposed to go and they
Bill Bubba Bussy
said cut them off.
Big Steve
I had to cut them off. And I thought there's commandments against that, but there's got to be like in second parentheses or somewhere there's got to be a commandment against cutting a preacher off. But, but that's how I got started. And, and, and I wanted to do mornings. I wanted, that's what I wanted to do.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Did you end up doing mornings there?
Big Steve
Not there? I moved across town. Did the afternoon drive.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Worked your way up.
Big Steve
My boss would come by and pick me up from school and take me to work. And so I did that. And, and then I did overnights at an FM station. And then I did start doing some mornings when I got out of school and I did other things, you know, trying.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, mornings is what the whole radio day is built around.
Big Steve
Right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And even the radio people, you know, they think if you get them in the morning, you got a better chance keeping them all day, which is true. Probably.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But boy, that, that morning get up time how you do on that? It.
Big Steve
You know, like I've heard you say, I'd love to tell you that you get used to it, but you don't.
Bill Bubba Bussy
No, you just learn to survive it.
Big Steve
That's it.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I mean, I quit. Every morning the alarm went off, you know. You know what I thought, Steve? The very first thought I had the morning, can I pay my bill selling insurance, you know.
Big Steve
I know. I know what you mean.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But now, after I got up, got my shower, got on the way and got to work, I felt like it was the greatest job in the world.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, I would have done it for nothing.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah. I didn't want to tell the boss that.
Big Steve
Well, that's what I tell Chuck, my boss. I say, you know, I do the show for free. You pay me to get up.
Bill Bubba Bussy
That's exactly. Exactly.
Big Steve
But, you know, I was wanting to get back over here to Alabama and live and work, and a girl that I was dating at the time said, have you ever heard of K98? And I said, no, I haven't. I said, all I've ever heard was, you know, HMA, AL 100. And so we went by there, and I actually got hired on at Alabama 100. And I put my application in at
Bill Bubba Bussy
K98 over to the old radio building.
Big Steve
This one was over in the. The other building, the Commerce.
Bill Bubba Bussy
They'd already moved. Oh, yeah. Over to the. Yeah. And so the big tall one.
Big Steve
Right. And so they. They told me to start Saturday, you know, on weekends, but they wanted. The boss there at the time said that more people are working on Saturdays and they need some entertainment. And. And I said, okay, great. Well, K98 called Thursday and I said, well, I've already got a job, but. But k98 just felt better to me. And so I told them at Alabama 100. And, well, they had a few choice words to say.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah, sure. But they appreciated it. Yeah.
Big Steve
And. And so. And, and rightfully so. I mean, I, you know, but K98, I. I came over here in 96, started doing the weekend stuff, still doing mornings over in Georgia. And then in 2001, it just opened up to be able to do mornings.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, you got a great signal, great station. Chuck Woodard that you mentioned. I've known Chuck probably, gosh, going on 40 years, maybe knew his dad that started all this. They're good operators, good station, sounds good.
Big Steve
Yeah. And good music. The call letters. I mean, everybody in Alabama, wvok, back
Bill Bubba Bussy
in the Joe, it was a legend.
Big Steve
Yeah. And one of the biggest compliments I get is from the older people that listen to the show. My show is for everybody, eight to 80.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Blind, crippling crazy. Right, Exactly. That was always our demographic. We'll take you, man. We don't care.
Big Steve
I don't care.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Right.
Big Steve
But the older generation, they say, you know, you sound like a modern day Joe Rumor, the way you talk to people. And that's a big compliment, that is. He had this way of making everybody feel like they were friends.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And he. He was probably, I guess, the first well known morning show guy in Alabama.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I'd met his son before, and he did a show from his house.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And he talked to everybody that came by, and, boy, he could sell, you know, ice to Eskimos. And, you know, back in those days, there were so few stations. I mean, he had like, you know, an 80 share, you know, which is impossible now. You know, it's just physically impossible. But he. I think he was the legend that we all chased.
Big Steve
You know, he is. There's.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I remember him barely hearing him when I was a kid when they. Because VOK was AM at the time. And, you know, when they would power up, we could hear them.
Big Steve
I remember just barely myself hearing it back in the day. And there's not a week that goes by that I do not hear something about Joe Rue more.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Right.
Big Steve
And, you know, here's the thing is he was never vulgar.
Bill Bubba Bussy
No, no, he was.
Big Steve
And that's what I tell people now. I say, look, you know, you don't have to be that way. You can be funny and be fun, be, you know, a good broadcaster, you know, and. But it. But it's been a really great ride. And while it's just the big Steve Morning show, it seems like it's. It's just gaining more and more traction and.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, you're having fun.
Big Steve
I am.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, that's why I, like, listen to it. I anxiously wait till I'm in range because I'm driving from, you know, Timbuktu down at the lake to get up here.
Big Steve
Listen, I've got a.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But I can hear you pretty quick.
Big Steve
I can do the show from the backseat of your car. And that way I want you to be able to hear it all.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Okay. You like that Tesla?
Big Steve
I do. By the way, are you giving that to me after this is over?
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, I've still got a few payments left. Well, okay, so I can't. I can't deed it over yet.
Big Steve
I've got to ask you, how did. Was there someone that you listened to growing up that you were like that's the man right there. That's.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, there were several, I think that influenced us. I was going to ask you the same question. There was a guy, he was on WA here named Marvelous Marvin McCullough. And my dad used to listen to him because all they had was an AM radio. And I just felt like I knew him now I've read about him since then. He was quite a character off the air. But I know when he would be suspended every now and then for something, you know, it was a big drama. But we listened to him when I was a kid and then, you know, we listened to a lot of the Clear channel stations at night from Chicago and Louisville and all that and. But Rick And Dennis on Q104, when I was growing up, they were huge. Mark and Brian, you know, they had a huge influence. Dave Donnell on Wind Radio, you know, gonna go make me a winner, gonna pay my house note. You know, I mean I loved it, I loved it and because I loved urban music growing up, so. Right. Yeah. And I got to meet him. He was actually worked it in our company when we were there, when we first got there at sun. So. Yeah. But yeah, those guys, I felt like I knew them. You wanted to wear, you know, the stations all had jackets, you know, had silk jackets with embroidery logo on.
Bubba on the Lake Chorus
Yes.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And you just wanted one of those so bad and you know, you couldn't get them, couldn't buy them for any amount of money. And I remember the Q104 guys coming to our pep rally, you know, they had their. And I thought, you know, if I had one of them jackets, it would just be the end of the world.
Big Steve
Couldn't tell me anything. It's like a cowboy in a Stetson, you know, that was it.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And. But you, you know, and I think that's the beauty. Radio is a very personal, personable medium.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And I think a lot, sadly the operators have, you know, they, they saw the iPad, I mean the ipod coming, they saw satellite radio and they kind of panicked and went into low budget mode where, you know, you can't out playlist somebody that can build their own playlist. But personality, somebody they trust, somebody they want to know and the music flows into that, you know, you enjoy the whole thing. And I think, I think a lot of the operators made a. Made a mistake. They, they gave up the high ground, I call it, without a fight. And they should have took the high ground. Had personality. You couldn't get that. So you couldn't load the per. You couldn't load Big Steve On a. From an ipod somewhere. Now, we make it available now because you want to be as widespread as you can. But, you know, nothing replaces good old radio to me. I mean, I love the industry, I love the, the medium. And it's took a beating, you know, it has the past few years and I hate that.
Big Steve
And see, I'm all about personality driven radio also because, you know, that's why
Bill Bubba Bussy
people are listening to you.
Big Steve
Well, you know, you can get your music, like you say, anywhere you want, anywhere. You've got to give them a reason why you've got to separate yourself from the rest of the herd.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And isn't it funny how many people, and I know they come up and tell you this because they always did us. They said, I feel like I know you.
Big Steve
Yes.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And you've never met them in your life.
Big Steve
Never met them.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But that's the beauty of that, that that medium, you can connect with people. They're in their cars a lot of times. It's just, it's a wonderful thing and I hope that it can rebound and get some of its robustness back.
Big Steve
I do too. And I feel like it is a little bit.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, it's going to take people like
Big Steve
you well in the show, brother man, but you paved the way.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And Julie and Jock and y' all do a great job here at V.
Big Steve
Ok. We are very blessed to be here and to be in this community because, you know, you know, some of the areas, the type of show that I do, I wonder if it would fit, you know, because I am Southern, you know.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, we are what we are.
Big Steve
Exactly.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But, you know, nobody retires and moves north, so we got something going on here that we can offer. You know, I think it's barbecue.
Big Steve
What do you think?
Bill Bubba Bussy
I had a barbecue pizza for lunch. It's definitely barbecue.
Big Steve
I appreciate you.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Only us would put pizza on a barbecue.
Big Steve
Exactly. Right?
Bill Bubba Bussy
I mean, barbecue on a pizza.
Big Steve
Right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I'm ready for a nap. You can tell after lunch.
Big Steve
All right, man, go ahead, go ahead. I'll just, I'll hold you my arms with a spoon.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Okay, but how long have you been
Big Steve
doing the show morning or mornings here? Since 2001. So 20.
Bubba on the Lake Chorus
Wow.
Big Steve
24 years. Coming up on 25.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Built up quite a following year.
Big Steve
You know, I have people that will come up to remotes now with their kids and when I first met them, they were kids.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yep.
Big Steve
And. And I. That is so huge to me, man. They're like, you know, I was their age when I first met you. And here's my son and I'M like, oh, my gosh. How about that? You know, I'm like a bad rash. I won't go away.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I know you do a lot of different segments. I hear them. Some are themed based on days. What is one of your favorites? What do you like the best? Probably you like them all, obviously, but
Big Steve
I guess my favorite would have to be Therapy Thursday.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, I was going to say
Big Steve
that I like that one because you
Bill Bubba Bussy
handle it well, too. You're nicer than I would be. Somebody will call and say, you know, my daughter's married to this guy and they won't keep a job, and what do I do? And you try to work them through it. I'm like, throw the bum out. I'm hollering at the radio, throw the bum out.
Big Steve
Throw him out. Throw him out.
Bill Bubba Bussy
If he won't work, throw him out.
Big Steve
Well, I want to, but I owe these people money. But that's my favorite one because you get to hear how people think. You get to get more people on the show.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You get a lot of people emails of topics.
Big Steve
I do. And one of these days I want to make a book about the ones that I wasn't able to use.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Right. You know, because they were a bit too much. Well, you were talking about being clean a minute ago. I think if you're funny, if you're entertaining and you're clean, you have a wider audience now. If you want to be dirty, you're going to. You're going to. You're going to just throw away a big part that don't want to hear that. And certainly it has its mark.
Big Steve
Oh, it does.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, it does. It does. But I think from a mass appeal, if you can keep it clean and you can. You can be suggestive or you can have innuendo, and we skirt that. Yeah, and you do. Yeah. But that's. That's what my. Yeah, I love Thirsty. That's one of my favorite days.
Big Steve
I love it. I do. We, like I said, some of the ones we. I can't use. I'll show you. One of these days, I'll get you back there in the office. I'll show you.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Now I. Big as you are, I bet people don't ask for a free T shirt, you know, unless you offer them.
Big Steve
My mom, she still can bend me over her knee. But I, you know, people tell me they'll say, well, you don't look like what I thought you would look like, you know, and. And I'm like, well, is that a good thing or is it a bad? Thing.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, with social media, they ought to be able to look at you.
Big Steve
Well, yeah. And.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But when they see you, you taller than you look on those pictures.
Big Steve
Yeah. And ceiling fans are my number one enemies. You know, that's what happened to the hair, right? That's what happened to the hair. Right. But it's. I'm very. Like I said, I'm very blessed to be here to do this. The big Steve Morning Show. It's a show for everybody. It is.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, tell us something that people don't know about you that you haven't told on the air. Is there anything, or are you an open book all the way?
Big Steve
I am. You know, I'm pretty much open. Open. Except. Well, now I am. I'm a constant worrier about. Did I spend enough time with that person at. Seriously at remotes, or was I kind to them?
Bill Bubba Bussy
And that's hard to do if you have a mob out there, which I know you have.
Big Steve
You know, somebody once told me, they said the 100th person that comes up to you to tell you that they love your show or something like that, they don't realize they're the 100th person. Person.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah.
Big Steve
You know, and so treat them as good as what you did. The first person.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, it's funny you mentioned that, because I'm gonna tell you something that scarred me. Okay. Gary Lee. Love that. Used to do night times on Q104. Went on out to Texas. You know, it's a big deal. He was probably as popular a night guy as I've ever known in my lifetime. Well, he came to our school and he's signing autographs, right? Well, it's this huge line, and I'm in line. You know, I'm some little junior high kid, and I get right up to him. I'm next. And they say he's got to go.
Big Steve
No.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And there's still people in line. Now I realize there's time restraints because we. We had to do that, too, a few times. But I always tried to stay as long as I possibly could.
Big Steve
Right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Because I remember that. And it was like, scarred for life. I was next. I didn't get an autograph.
Big Steve
Yeah, I know. And you remember that to this very day.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I'm 62, and I'm still scarred by it. It was in junior high. I mean, it's like seeing your girlfriend kiss somebody else at the dance. You know, you never forget it.
Big Steve
Hey, you dated her, too.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah.
Big Steve
You know, I.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Some horror stories there.
Big Steve
Exactly. We. I remember years ago, and you were. We were talking about the people that influenced us growing up. Well, you know, buying Rick Ds.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I love Rick Ds.
Big Steve
If you listen to me, you hear some Rick Ds coming out.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Disco Duck.
Big Steve
Disco Duck. You know, Steve sleaze. Well, there's Rick D. Sleaze. Grease, man. You know, I love the Grease, man.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, I read and of course, the Disco Duck thing. I was so young, I don't really remember the details. I remember the song.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Of the Duck. Rick D's did that as a parody and his station, it actually became a hit. Yes. I mean, it went up the charts. Nation 1 Every morning show playing that. But his station would let him play it.
Big Steve
They would not let him play it. And as a matter of fact, they fired him over it because. Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Now, was it because they didn't like the song or was it because he was profiting from it and they thought it was going to be a payola problem? I never understood exactly what the conflict was.
Big Steve
I asked him the same question. He was on, on my show years ago.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Oh, you taught. You met him? Yes. Oh, gosh.
Big Steve
Oh, I've got to tell you that story, man.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Oh, wait a minute. Let's take a break. We'll come back. I want to hear about Rick D. All right.
Big Steve
Great.
Bill Bubba Bussy
All right. We'll be right back with big Steve from 97.9Vok, Oxford, Alabama, in just a minute. You're listening to Bubba on the Lake. One, two, three. We'll be right back. On the water or off. Experience lake life to the fullest at Russell Lands on Lake Martin. Spend your mornings with breakfast at Fanny's. Afternoons you can explore over 100 miles of trails through Russell Forest. And for dinner, how about the southern farm to table flavors at spring house? Whether you're here for the weekend or you've made your home at the lake Russell lands is where community and the land come together. To learn more about upcoming events, visit Russelllands.com come see what lake life is all about.
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Buffalo Wild Wings Announcer
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Bill Bubba Bussy
SP. We're back. And we are in the studios of 97.9 WVOK, Oxford, Alabama, serving Calhoun in eastern Alabama and their morning show. Man, Big Steve. Steve. How are you, sir? Man, I'm doing.
Big Steve
My hair's still okay.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You look great. You look great. We're glad to still be here. And we were just talking about Rick dude. And he was. Every radio guy knew Rick D's. And you said you met him, you had him on the show.
Big Steve
I, I followed him forever. When I got into radio and I wanted to do mornings, I called Kiss FM thinking he was going to pick up. I didn't know how it worked. You know, I just thought he was going, hey, how you doing? You know, I got. Do you remember the Bobby Poe conventions back in the day?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah. Oh, yeah.
Big Steve
I was working at a station. We were invited to go. He was getting. He was going to win some award there. I thought, I get to finally meet him.
Bill Bubba Bussy
He won a few.
Big Steve
Yeah. Just a few.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah.
Big Steve
He wasn't there. He couldn't make it. So all these times I was never able to meet him until I got this email from a morning show service that we all subscribe to and it said, rick D's is available for interviews about a book that he's doing.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah, he's probably on a book too, or something, pushing something.
Big Steve
So I was like, yes, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. What do I need to do? And so they, they sent me the, the confirmation that he was going to be on my show. I could not sleep. It was like meeting you. Seriously. No, no, no, no, no, I'm serious.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Because seriously, you're so funny. I was.
Big Steve
He. I'm sitting there and I'm looking at the phones. I was like, he's going to call. He's going to. 15 more minutes. He's going to call. He going to. And then the phone range and it was the handler, you know, in between. And he said, you've got about five minutes. We're gonna. Before we go live. You've got 10 minutes, you know, please stay within your time. I said, okay.
Bill Bubba Bussy
So he probably had a hundred calls
Big Steve
lined up, you know, so here I am, Steve Stevens in Oxford, Alabama, and I'm listening to them as they got me on hold. He's talking to Man Cow. All right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
From Chicago.
Big Steve
From Chicago Man Cow to big Steve,
Bill Bubba Bussy
you know, so Mad cows. He was a bird, too.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I mean, he went from shock jock to being a regular on Fox as a conservative. I mean, you talking about reinventing himself.
Big Steve
He did, man.
Bill Bubba Bussy
He did.
Big Steve
And so finally it was my turn, and I did not know what to say. I. It was just. I. I started off.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Oh, you froze.
Big Steve
I froze. I was like. And so. But he. We talked and we just. We hit it off. There was something about it. And so he said. He said, steve, he said, what? Would you. Would you like to come out and do your show from my studios sometime?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Oh, buddy. And I said, did you just pass out right on the spot?
Big Steve
I said, me? I said, yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Are you talking to me? Somebody else on the line here?
Big Steve
Yeah. And so he said, sure. He said, just get the plane ticket and everything and we'll settle up. He said, I'll have somebody call you after the show. And I thought, yeah, sure he will.
Bill Bubba Bussy
That's how he gets rid of me. Drops me off.
Big Steve
He will never send you flowers, Bill. I kid you not, bubba. An hour after the show, my phone rings and it was Rick Dees himself. And we talked for two hours about radio, you know, but anyway, he emails me. Every so often, I'll email him and we still stay in connection with each other.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But that is great.
Big Steve
It was.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Is he totally out of it now? I know his son started doing.
Big Steve
He is. He's. He still does a little bit. He owns that. There's a music service also. And he.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Didn't he get a partner later on? Didn't he have a female he was working with?
Big Steve
He did. And he's. He was. He was doing mornings again at an urban station, and. But I think now he's. He's looking toward just being out of it. You can still hear the countdown.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah.
Big Steve
Oh, yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And everything. But how old is he now? You think he is?
Big Steve
Gosh, what is it, 70?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah. He's got to be older than I am.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Maybe 10.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
15 years old.
Big Steve
Yeah. But just a great guy. And I still haven't been able to get out there.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You didn't go?
Big Steve
I can't. It's one of those.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Oh, my God.
Big Steve
If I Can get some sponsors, you know.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah, well, you know, we, we didn't have exactly that scenario, but it's. We were trying to figure out what we were doing, how we were going to do it.
Big Steve
Right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
We went to LA, we carried a listener. Well, two listeners out there and left one of them for 20 years, Willie and Wanda. And we, we actually. I called up Mark and Brian show, got on the air with him.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Started cutting up, told them we're from Birmingham. They said, come out to this, come to the studio, we want to meet you. And I was like. I thought I was going to pass out.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
So we went out there to KLOS and they were out shooting basketball behind the scene.
Big Steve
Are you serious?
Bill Bubba Bussy
And I had a whole. I was already. I had a list of questions of things I heard that I 95 that I wouldn't know if it was real or not. And they were just so nice. So nice. They didn't have to give us time of day. They can tell, you know, and they, they, they bent over backwards. And I always remember that. I really appreciate.
Big Steve
You know, and, and you.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And it motivated us to do what we were doing. Yeah.
Big Steve
And. And you're so. I was always worried about meeting the people that were my heroes, you know,
Bill Bubba Bussy
because sometimes it's disappointing and you catch them at a bad time. You know.
Big Steve
Brother. Getting to know you and meeting you was honestly just like that. No, I'm serious. Because I've been at areas where you all were at and, and I wanted to go up to you, but I didn't want to. I knew you were busy, you were working and everything.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And well, there's, there's pinch points where you got to be somewhere. You know, it's like Gary Lee Love I was talking about a minute ago. But I always tried to do that because, I mean, I'm from here. I know all these folks, you know, you start high hat and them buddy, they'll wear you out at the old. At the next family get together, you know.
Big Steve
Exactly.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Have that.
Big Steve
Yeah. You know, another person that I used to. That was inspirational to me was Rhubarb Jones.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yes.
Big Steve
You know Rhubarb Jones? Yes, yes, Rhubarb.
Bill Bubba Bussy
We got to be on his show.
Big Steve
Did you really?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yes. We were doing the book tour in Atlanta and he put us on and don't you love promoted? Well, I used to see his commercials here, you know, when they were advertising Y104, Y106 and we almost. This is. I'm supposed to be interviewing you here stories. But we. When we were In Gaston, we got a call from. What was it? US 101 Chattanooga, which is legendary. Legendary country station.
Big Steve
Right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Sammy George was the gm. He wanted to hire us to come be the mornings. And, you know, we were like, oh, my gosh. This is. You know, they win all these awards. The station is just off the top. But, you know, we didn't know if we'd fit a country format at that time. And. And I'll never forget, we went to dinner, and he. He looked over at me, he said, you remind me of Rhubarb Jones. And I thought you had meant hello. You know, I mean, and I did wear a lot of jerseys at the time.
Big Steve
Like, rubber.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Always had a jersey.
Big Steve
Always.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah. And he was kind of short and my built, you know.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But he was. Listen, he was so nice. I think the first time that I met him, he actually called us and was listening, and he said, man, y' all are having a great time. This is great. Love it. And was super nice. Super nice.
Big Steve
He was. If you never got a chance to meet Rhubarb Jones, you really. You missed out.
Bill Bubba Bussy
He was a legend. He. One of a kind.
Big Steve
I went to Y106. A buddy of mine was working up there, and they were having a staff meeting, and he said, you want to go up there with me? And I was like, sure. So here I am. I'm 15 years old at this time. Okay. I carried a joke book, and I'm just sitting there reading jokes, and this guy comes up, he sits down beside me, and he's like, what you reading there? I said, ah, just a joke book. And we talked back and forth a little bit. And he said, what's your name? And I said, steve. And he said, rhubarb. Rhubarb Jones. And I had no idea. I was like, r. Rhubarb.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yes, I know.
Big Steve
We stood, we sat there and talked forever. And, like, he knew me, you know, and. And. And I was like, that's what I want to be like right there.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, the. It always seemed like the bigger guys got the nicer they were. And, you know, every now and then, you'd run into somebody. It was a little bit of a, you know.
Buffalo Wild Wings Announcer
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Donkey. And. And usually they were. They were low in the totem pole.
Big Steve
Yes.
Bill Bubba Bussy
So the guys. I don't know if they just naturally were nice. That's how they worked their way up, or they got nicer when they got up or, I don't know, whatever. But Rhubarb was. He was Top Chef, man. Awesome guy.
Big Steve
We I would. I would see him at boot camps, morning show boot camps, you know, DJ school and everything.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And, you know, attend any of those. I know nobody ever, ever, you know, complained. We went to too many of them, that's for sure.
Big Steve
That was back in Hurricane Steve days. So I don't remember a lot of them, but I remember going to Rhubarb's every time and we would just sit there and talk. And he told me something a long time ago. He said, people will remember a funny bit that you did for a while, but they will remember an act of kindness for the rest of their life. And I've tried to remember. I've tried to always instill that, you know, and everything.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, I see that in what you do. And like a minute ago how nice you were on Thursdays when somebody would say, loser out.
Big Steve
I got one more rhubarb story. Have you got. Have we got time?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah, we got all. Hey, it's a podcast. I got all the time in the world.
Big Steve
I was doing a remote over at one of the businesses over at the Exchange and Wow, that place is growing. Oh, it has gotten huge. Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And thank goodness that's Tesla superchargers.
Big Steve
Hey, that's right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah, I give it visit often when I'm in this area.
Big Steve
We need to have a stage statue of you out there.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, we need to filling up.
Big Steve
But I'm doing a remote over there and I hear this, this voice coming across the parking lot. Is that that old Stevens boy? And I was like, who in the world is that? And it was Rhubarb. He said, man, I've been listening to you coming down I20. He said, kind of remind me of a young me out here. And I said, what?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Not worthy? We're not worthy?
Big Steve
But he was, he was teaching over at West Georgia, I think, wasn't.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Didn't he. He went into teaching when he got out of radio and he.
Big Steve
He was doing great and. But yeah, there's those. Those are the ones that I, that I. That I.
Bill Bubba Bussy
We have a lot of common there. We common guys.
Big Steve
Rhubarb was the class of the field, man. He really was.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And I think you. You reflect a lot of that. I see that in the way you deal with people. What? You've been super nice to me, brother. And a whole lot of other folks.
Big Steve
I never ever imagined that I would be able to share a microphone with. Seriously. No, I'm telling you, I'm kidding.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I won't be fit my head in that Tesla. What are you talking about?
Big Steve
I Met your wife. I met your wife a long time ago.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You told me you went to a church that she was speaking at.
Big Steve
And. And I heard that she was going to be there because she had some family members there.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah.
Big Steve
And I was like, I get to meet Bubba. I get to meet Bubba.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, I wasn't there. She said, this is one of the first speaking things she did. She said, I think I'll be nervous if you're there. I said, betty, we live together. We've had children together. How can. How can I make. She goes, because you do this.
Big Steve
I've kissed you on the nerve.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah, yeah. I mean, you know, I'm sitting here in the shower. I mean, how can I make you nervous, you know?
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Golly. But that's the case. I said, okay, look, I'm not. I'm not gonna push it. I don't want to make you nervous.
Big Steve
Oh, brother. I was long faced after. I'm not saying anything about. But I was just saying, so hoping I was going to be able to meet.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, that thing too. I didn't want to, you know, steal from her moment. Let her have. And look, she is the funny one of the family. If you listen to the podcast, everybody goes, why she doesn't have her own podcast? I go, well, you know, I. I kind of wish she did. And I wish I was not on it and I would be fishing and she could do it because she is naturally funny. I have to slow her down a little bit sometimes.
Big Steve
Yeah, but she's learning. You and I both have married women that are funny. You know, that's what mine is, Stacy. She's country as cornbread, you know, and
Bill Bubba Bussy
nothing wrong with that.
Big Steve
No, nothing wrong with it at all.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Because they're strong.
Big Steve
They are.
Bill Bubba Bussy
They load their own luggage and they don't want no help. You know what I mean?
Big Steve
Sometimes she loads me up. Whenever I can't walk, she'll be on her back.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But
Big Steve
she's the funny one of the two, you know, of me and her also.
Bill Bubba Bussy
How did y' all meet?
Big Steve
You know, we met 20 years ago at a remote.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Really?
Big Steve
Yeah. And we have.
Bill Bubba Bussy
How long you've been married?
Big Steve
Since last July. Almost a year.
Bill Bubba Bussy
So a little break between meeting and getting married, huh?
Big Steve
Just a little bit other tours of duty. So we. But we met at a health fair that I was. I was speaking at. And she said, hey, are you Steve? And at the time, I was doing mornings with. Was it Julie? Yeah, Julie. And so I said, yeah. And she said, oh, my gosh, I just love you. And she said, somebody get a picture. And so somebody took a picture and they sent that picture to us. When we got married, the person still had that picture.
Bill Bubba Bussy
How funny.
Big Steve
And. But, you know, she was single at the time. I was single at the time. And I was talking to her sister about her, and I said, I never hear from Stacy anymore. How's she doing? She said, well, she's single now. And I said, really?
Bill Bubba Bussy
How about that number? How about them digits?
Big Steve
I said, I always wondered what it would be like to date her, you know? She said, what should call her? I said, I can't call her. She said, why not? I said, because she's Stacy and I'm Steve. Come on. You know I'm not worthy. Yeah, but she said, she texted me back. She said she's waiting for you to call.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And so got the green light. Yeah. That's a good feeling in it.
Big Steve
Well, you know, I actually texted her first time.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, still you communicate.
Big Steve
You want. You want to hear how sway and day bony I am.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah. What'd you take?
Big Steve
The first text was, once upon a time, there was a man named Steve that wanted to know what it was like today. Stacy. And she married me anyway.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And she went for it.
Big Steve
Yeah, she.
Bill Bubba Bussy
What was your first date?
Big Steve
First date was the first time we went out. It was me, my son Nick and her at a Mexican restaurant on a Saturday afternoon. Just spur of the moment.
Bill Bubba Bussy
So, like, instead of having coffee, let's have burritos.
Big Steve
Let's have burritos and smell really good afterwards.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah. That's a tough first day. It was. Because you never know, you know, Mexican can go bad on you. It can.
Big Steve
Yes, it can. You know, there's nothing more romantic than, hey, pull my finger.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah, I know you might want to stand back, but.
Big Steve
But we.
Bill Bubba Bussy
So good.
Big Steve
But we have a. We have. We. We are both just. We love to have fun and we love to laugh and joke and cut up. And she gets.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But I mean, technically, you ask a listener out.
Big Steve
I did.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Which was, you know, I always heard was a no. No.
Big Steve
It was a no. No.
Bill Bubba Bussy
That's right. Because a lot of them, you know, they might not be right.
Big Steve
I've had a couple of responses and still kind of look at her side by side eyed a little bit after
Bill Bubba Bussy
you've had a few, you know, paint the window of the studio or, you know, key your car, you're like, yeah,
Bubba on the Lake Chorus
maybe.
Big Steve
Maybe she's not the one after all, you know, I don't know, man. But. But she gets the whole radio thing. Also.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Give me that Line again. That was a good one.
Big Steve
Once upon a time, there was a man named Steve. Wanted to know what it was like to date Stacy.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And what did. What was her reply?
Big Steve
Her reply, honestly, I still have it on my phone, is, what's up, big papa pump?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Really?
Big Steve
That's what her reply.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Did you take that as a yes?
Big Steve
I said, well, hello there.
Bill Bubba Bussy
How about Mexico? Just three of us.
Big Steve
How about you, me and my son? Big stuff. He's 16 and thinks he's 22.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Sure, sure. We all did. And 16 going on 30. My case, Bubba.
Big Steve
When did I got to know something? Now, Hunter is. Is. How old is he?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Gosh, you had to ask me that. 28. Something like that. Ballpark. Let's say he was born in. I know when he was born. He's born in 98, so it's 2 plus the year. So he's 28.
Big Steve
28. I went from being dad to bruh
Bill Bubba Bussy
or dude real quick.
Big Steve
Yeah, yeah. And. And he cannot say a sentence without bruh legit. Do they ever grow out of that?
Bill Bubba Bussy
He's hip, huh?
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Hip to the groove.
Big Steve
So pray for me.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah, well, it's. That's. That's a tough time. It's a tough time.
Big Steve
It is.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, they. I knew. And for me, too. It's funny how you think your parents are holding you back. They don't want you to go to that party where everybody's going to be. They don't want you to do this. They don't want you to date certain people, and they just seem like they're so backwards, so stuck in the mud, don't want to have fun. And you go through those teenage years, then you get, you know, in your 20s and about 25, it seems like they got real smart. They know how to buy cars. They know how to buy a house. They know how to do things. They know how to pay taxes and run a checkbook. And you're like, man, why wasn't y' all this smart when I was a teenager, you know, why weren't you this cool?
Big Steve
My mom, growing up, I thought she didn't understand anything. She doesn't understand. She was born 45, you know, I mean, she doesn't know about 16. And now she's the smartest person that I've ever.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I remember when my mom. I thought she. She was pretty smart. Yeah. And I knew then I had grown up, you'd grown up, and I. My kids have, for the most part, grown up. They still have their moments. They still not excellent with money. And I Tried to teach them that, you know, they're just bombarded with people that you have no control over. All these credit card offers.
Big Steve
Oh, yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, I've told my daughter. She's funny. She lives in D.C. and she does. She's a real go getter. She's worked at the Capitol for several years, and she. Matter of fact, she's. She works for a major communications company now and handles some campaigns nationally.
Big Steve
Wow.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And he's just so funny. I will. I will teach her about having an emergency fund.
Big Steve
Right?
Bill Bubba Bussy
And then you. You do other things over here, but you don't touch the emergency fund unless it's an emergency. Now, my definition of an emergency is my car is broke down on a deserted road in a bad part of town.
Big Steve
Right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Okay. That's an emergency. After dark.
Big Steve
After dark, right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Her idea of an emergency is I don't have shoes at night. You know, I mean, it's a whole different way of looking at stuff.
Big Steve
Her name is it? Stacy is my wife.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah. Yeah, that's, you know, so it was my son. An emergency is. There's a new Apple product I don't have.
Big Steve
Oh, my gosh. See, my wife and I love her. Don't get me wrong.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah, we do. We all. We love the wife.
Big Steve
I'm like that. I see. I'm always okay. We got to save because, you know, we. Something could happen and everything. So she wanted the new iPhone, you
Bill Bubba Bussy
know, and they're a little pricey.
Big Steve
And they're a little pricey.
Bill Bubba Bussy
They're nice.
Big Steve
They are. They're really nice. They. They, you know, could even help your tire wear. But, you know, she said, I want the new iPhone. And I said, well, baby, right now we're, you know, I'm trying to get us caught up on some stuff, you know.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Right, right. And dead snowball, right?
Big Steve
Yeah. She was like, all right. So she kept at me and at me and at me. And then finally, her birthday was coming up, and I thought, damn, I'm gonna. That's what I'm gonna do. So I thought, okay, this week, her birthday, I'll take her to the store. We'll get that iPhone for her, you know, So I get.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I wish you hadn't told that because my wife needs a new phone.
Big Steve
Oh, did I say iPhone? No, no, no, no, no. So I got finished.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Thank you. I have questions after this podcast there.
Big Steve
So I got finished doing the remote, and I knew that I had, you know, we get a remote fee, you know, and all that kind of. So I thought that I'm Gonna use that also. And so I said she was there and I said, hey, baby. I said, what you doing? She said, nothing much. She said, get in the car. We're gonna go get my new iPhone. I said, huh? She said, yeah, I just went and bought it while ago. I said, really? Seriously?
Bill Bubba Bussy
Right? Ate your birthday, right?
Big Steve
At your birthday. That was the whole thing. So I thought, what do I do now? Yeah, okay then. All right. She's like, what? I said, that was going to be your birthday present. Now I got to think of what else I can do, you know?
Bill Bubba Bussy
See, I'm not good at buying stuff that's not electronics because I don't know. I don't know what Sephora is and all that.
Big Steve
I don't know. I have no idea. But I told her, I said, remember this? No matter what, I get you. I texted you there was a man named Steve.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, if you don't have a wood plaque on the wall as that on it, there's no judging. I mean, right in the den.
Big Steve
Right in the den, right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
That's so funny.
Big Steve
I'm afraid she'll get mad at me and hit me with it, though.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, what, What Betty does. See, if you, you know, you're operating on a budget and, you know, you. Which Betty thinks budget is a four letter word, which it is not. It actually to me means freedom if you stick to it. But when we buy extra things, bigger things, if I get something, that means we have to not spend anything else. And then a little while later, we'll get something for her. You know, it's back and forth. Like a gear. Yeah, you know, back and forth.
Big Steve
Right.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, Betty looks at it, oh, you got something. So I have to have something to balance that out.
Big Steve
We gotta have the same time at
Bill Bubba Bussy
the same time, and I don't know, we gotta stagger, stagger, stagger.
Big Steve
You don't understand, honey.
Bill Bubba Bussy
The.
Big Steve
The earth will get out of the. You know, the whole thing.
Bubba on the Lake Chorus
You know, we.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And I love Dave Ramsey. Oh, yeah. He's another guy. It's just super nice. Been real nice. Yeah. Several times. He's super nice. But I. I told Dave, I said, dave, I can't be on the Dave Ramsey plan because I would be divorced and that would cost me more than the mistakes I'm making now, you know? And I mean, if you just look at the big picture, I come out ahead by not exactly following your plan. It's Dave Ramsey. Like, you know what I mean? It's kind of like, you know, dot three, you know, out there. Because if I stayed on your plan. I would be broke because she would have half, you know.
Big Steve
She would have half. Yeah. And looking for the other half. Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Oh, yeah, yeah. Her to lawyer boyfriend be all over me, you know?
Big Steve
I know, man.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I know. Steve, anything else that the listeners need to know about Big Steve?
Big Steve
Just that, you know, when I say I love you and I mean it, I mean it, you know, You're a believer, I'm a believer.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, I can see it.
Big Steve
And, and, and I. To say thank you for the last 30 years of me being here at this station and then the 25 years of doing mornings. You know, most. Most radio people don't even live that long.
Bill Bubba Bussy
No, they don't, because they've had a steady diet of pizza and cigarettes, you know, It's a bad combination.
Big Steve
Yeah, it does. And so I'm in awe that the phones still ring in the morning. And I'm like, they're still listening. They're still there. I can't believe it. Even though we've gone through consultants and changes and all that kind of stuff.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You love consultants like I did. I can tell. You know, look, it's always good to get input from other people.
Big Steve
Nothing wrong with that.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Keep it keeps the tree from growing, you know, the family tree from being a straight line. You know what I mean? You got to graft in some new ideas. But it was always tough to take advice from somebody who had never done it.
Big Steve
Yes. And you know, the job is hard enough as it is, regardless of what people think, it is a hard, tough job, you know, and you're sitting there and you're like, okay, am I doing anything right?
Bill Bubba Bussy
I mean, to radio people, consultants are the. I mean, they're the. They're the worst. You know what I mean? They're looked at like. They're just horrible.
Big Steve
Yes, we had.
Bill Bubba Bussy
That's what I need to do now is be a consultant.
Big Steve
You know what.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Charge big fees to tell everybody what they're doing wrong.
Big Steve
You could do it. Oh, yeah. You could do it.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I need to quit knocking them. Enjoying them, you know?
Big Steve
Right. And then. And then Betty could have what she wants at the same time. You get it, right?
Bill Bubba Bussy
This is so funny. I got to tell you this, this consultant story. We had a guy, we were trying to get on a station in Birmingham, and the consultant for the station was telling us, no, he didn't. He didn't want us. He didn't understand what we were doing. You know, all this stuff. Well, we ended up getting on the station. Go to number one. He does Interviews about how he turned the station around. I have them framed. It is the funniest thing. The guy that didn't want us taking
Big Steve
credit for taking credit.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Isn't that funny?
Big Steve
Oh, my gosh. You know, only in our business, you know, that's true. I, you know, I don't. And I'm like you. I, hey, let me know what I. What I can do, what I can improve on, you know, and maybe I don't see it. And there were things that he had said about, you know, hey, you may want to do this.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yeah. It's good to listen to it.
Big Steve
Yeah. Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Because we all have blind spots. I'm not, I'm not, you know, and,
Big Steve
you know, after so long, you get comfortable in that certain thing and you, you know, and sometimes I will do something until it's worn out, pretty much, you know, but one consultant told me to limit my brakes. And if you don't know, in the radio biz, brakes is how long you're on the air for a certain segment, no more than two minutes. And for morning radio, you know.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, see, I think that was a mistake that, the card reading thing. I'm done. I think again, this goes back to personality.
Commercial Announcer
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Big Steve has got to shine, Julie. You gotta shine and you can't do it in two minutes. No, but that's the difference. That's why people want to tune in. That's the difference in that and my playlist on my phone.
Big Steve
That's it. That is. That is it. And he would write down everything that I was supposed to say, do you love?
Bill Bubba Bussy
I'm having flashbacks.
Big Steve
And I was sitting there and I started to. One page, I keep you not. It was the last part of the. The show was here at the very bottom of it, of the page. And it was like, I want to thank the sponsors to the show, the Big Steve Morning show, and blah, blah, blah. And then it said turn page. I almost read the turn page just. Just to do that, you know, like Biden.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Yes.
Big Steve
The thing that. Thanks for listening to the thing. But I just, you know, I'm like, they've got a place. I'm sure, you know.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, it. Again, I think it's good to get input, but you have to weigh it.
Big Steve
Yeah.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And nobody knows your audience better than you.
Big Steve
Yeah. I would tell him, I would say, you know, hey, people are hating the new show, you know, and he was like, well, who cares? They're not who we're trying to target. I'm like, I'm trying to target everybody.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, see, that's to me, the ultimate is, are the listeners responding to it?
Big Steve
Yes.
Bill Bubba Bussy
And if you were doing good, the ratings are doing good, and then salespeople have to turn that into money.
Big Steve
Right?
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know, and again, that's. Sometimes you go, well, they're not selling it, so you got to change. Well, maybe it's the salespeople, you know, I mean, nobody wants to talk about that.
Big Steve
That's true.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Maybe they're no good.
Big Steve
You know, there's that, you know, but.
Bill Bubba Bussy
But, you know, we crossed a few radio lines today.
Big Steve
Yes, we have. And today we will probably be my last day here.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You know big Steve from 97.9V. Okay, Oxford Steve, thanks for taking time.
Big Steve
Bubba, listen, this has been a dream come true. It really has.
Bill Bubba Bussy
We got to have you on again. Let me know next time we'll do it on pontoon boat. Oh, now that's an interview.
Big Steve
And I'll have my Speedos on and everything.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Man, you wear whatever you want.
Big Steve
Hey, question before we go. Is it true that we do get a free Tesla every time we're a guest on your show?
Bill Bubba Bussy
That is not correct at this point, but now I wish it was okay.
Big Steve
I wish it was okay. Not every time. Just one. The first time.
Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, we're. We're working on that deal.
Big Steve
Okay.
Bill Bubba Bussy
It's not complete.
Big Steve
Bubba, I want you to know I love you. I mean it.
Bill Bubba Bussy
My man enjoyed it.
Big Steve
You are the. You're the class of the field.
Bill Bubba Bussy
You are out of here.
Big Steve
I'm just.
Bill Bubba Bussy
I got drug along for the ride. I enjoyed it. It was fun. And I enjoy listening to talented people like you. Big Steve from 97.9Vok, Oxford, Alabama. And Steve will have you on again for sure. We'll be right back with more Bubba on the Lake.
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You're listening to Bubba.
Bubba on the Lake Chorus
Bubba on the Lake.
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Bill Bubba Bussy
On the water or off. Experience lake life to the fullest at Russell Lands on Lake Martin. If you love the outdoors, then naturalist Marianne's classroom is where you need to be. She brings the outdoors to you at Russell Crossroads. Or you can see Lake Martin and thousands of acres of undisturbed forest. Taking a guided horseback trail ride through the stables. If you're here for a weekend or you've made your home at the lake. Russell Lands is where community and the land come together. To learn more about upcoming events, visit Russelllands.com come see what Lake life is all about.
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Bill Bubba Bussy
Well, we're back and I hope you enjoyed our conversation with Big Steve. Big Steve is doing a great job. He's a great guy and I know it is onward and upward and he's going to continue to have a great show there on 97.9 Voke. All right, as we wrap up here, we've got some emails. It is Several topics seem to dominate the email this week. Several Tesla names still out there. This comes from Dina Dunson. She says, I'm a Disney girl, so Tink. The Tesla I think is cool, but if you wanted something different, call it Mr. Allen. Well, there's a flashback. My first boss in radio that, hey, let me say Tina. Is that how you say T E N A? That is. That's a good one. How about that one? Caught me off guard. I didn't expect to see Mr. Allen in this. Several other names. David James says Galactica. That, that's pretty good. I'm. I'm taking it from this from the sci fi, not the game. I don't know. This comes from Shelley. She says bubba's Bubble. I don't know about that one. Shelley. This is a good one. This is a good one. This comes from Carol Godsey. She says, hey Bubba, my husband listens to the show all the time. And we were listening while you were talking about your car. I think you should name it Betty White. It is White. We have a Betty. Betty White, he said. Or you could call it Betty too. That comes from Carol. Carol. A lot of interesting names and they keep coming in, some of them clever that I don't know how we looked over. You know, I just forgot. But right now, as it stands. Annie, are you okay? Annie, are you okay? And that from the Michael Jackson song Smooth Criminal or if you've been taking CPR lately, I don't know why that hit me but that there's several good ones out here in the email. Okay. Not just this but the other emails. But we're going to hold with that one for right now. But you know, if something hits you and it feels right, go ahead and share it with us. Also in the email. A lot of feedback about our last podcast. Number 60 with Kirsten and Betty. This comes from Tim Sanderson. Bubba, I just thought or I just got through listening to the latest podcast while working. Thankfully no one was around because of any of the comments on me. I think Betty and Kirsten need to do their own podcast. I hear that all the time. They are hilarious together. Thanks again for the podcast. I look forward to each week hearing the next. Take care and enjoy some pontoon time on the lake this summer. And this is Tim Sanderson from Middle Tennessee. Tim, let me I've got another email on this from Ron Hammond says Bubba, this was the most funny and entertaining episode you have had so far. I laugh so much at this. Maybe that can be a regular segment. Have different guests sit around and sit with Betty. Lol. And just as I was typing this, you read my email. I was just sending you the chat GTP explanation of Pearl Jam. That was you, Ryan. Okay, we covered that. Also name for the Tesla, Mr. Roboto. Now how did I look over that one? How being a sticks fan that I am, did I miss that? Golly, that that may have been a winner there. Chicken dinner, right? That was a good one. It really was. Roy, remind you also if you are in the geographical area of Lake Martin central eastern Alabama. Well, really I say that we have folks that come in for the weekend from Atlanta and other places all the time. You need to check out the Russelllands.com website or their app to see what's going on Friday on the green Going on big now by the way, did I did I mention how much fun we had at the Black Jacket Symphony? It was at the Amp last Saturday, which is the amphitheater here and Black Jacket Symphony. If you've never seen them, you've missed out great musicians. They, they do these big acts. Exactly. They sound exactly like them and they do an album. Then they take a little break and they come back and they do the best of catalog. So we had Bon Jovi and it was excellent. And my hats off to those guys. They are great musicians, a great showman and I'm still singing Bad Medicine in my head. So that that continues to go on. Folks, we want to thank you again. We've been here in the Mellow Yellow Studio. Our website bub on the lake.com email me I love to get to email Bubba bondhelake.com or even better leave a message 308 Big Lake 308 Big Lake they don't all make it to air, but we enjoy each and every one of them. Don't forget to subscribe, turn on notifications and follow us on Instagram the next week or so. Following us on all the social media is going to be important. We're going to be doing some things you'll want to see and I'll tell you more about that a little bit later. So thank you so much for being a part of all of this and always tell you to support our sponsors when you can. And even if you don't need their product in the immediate, let them know you appreciate them being a sponsor. So until we sail into port next time, remember God loves you and so do we. And thank you for being a part of Bubba on the Lake.
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You're listening to Bubba on the Lake.
Big Steve
Hit Me Bad.
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Bill Bubba Bussy
On the water or off. Experience lake life to the fullest at Russell Lands on Lake Martin. Want to know what's going on around Lake Martin? Check out the calendar of seasonal events that include Fridays on the Green, naturalist events, fireworks, concerts, poker runs, boat shows, juried art shows, boat parades, and much more. If you're here for the weekend or if you've made your home at the lake, Russelllands is where community and the land come together. To learn more about upcoming events, visit Russelllands.com come see what lake life is all about.
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Bill Bubba Bussy
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Bubba on the Lake Chorus
on the lake hey Wishing I could listen to the show every day hey Gotta hear what Bubba and his buddies gotta say on B uba on the lake in the mellow yellow studio putting on a show Betty say what she always on the go we got Hunter Bus sitting at master control yo don't wanna miss a moment cause Bubba's got the flow B u bubble B A on the lake hey Wishing I could listen to the show every day hey Gotta hear what Bubba and his buddies gotta say on B u double B A on the lake Hey B u b A hey B u B A hey B u B A B U B A on the lake.
Host: Bill "Bubba" Bussey
Guest: Big Steve (97.9 WVOK, Oxford, AL)
Date: June 11, 2026
In this engaging episode, Bill "Bubba" Bussey invites Big Steve, the energetic and beloved morning show host from 97.9 WVOK in Oxford, Alabama, for an in-depth conversation about the world of local radio, life in the South, and the personal and professional journeys that connect their careers. The discussion features heartfelt nostalgia, tales from radio history, reflections on community impact, and plenty of laughter.
“The older generation, they say, you know, you sound like a modern-day Joe Rumor...that is a big compliment.”
— Big Steve (20:42)
“I would say, you know, I do the show for free. You pay me to get up.”
— Big Steve (18:33)
“Once upon a time, there was a man named Steve that wanted to know what it was like to date Stacy. And she married me anyway.” (49:18)
“Maybe it’s the salespeople. Nobody wants to talk about that.”
— Bubba (63:05)
“Just that, you know, when I say I love you and I mean it, I mean it, you know. You’re a believer, I’m a believer...” (58:19)
The episode blends warm, down-to-earth storytelling with genuine insights into the emotional and communal fabric of southern small-market radio. Both Bubba and Big Steve champion authenticity, fun, and kindness—on and off the air. It’s a celebration of local radio’s ability to connect generations, lift spirits, and create unforgettable moments.
For radio fans and those new to the world, this episode offers a heartfelt look at the profession’s joys, challenges, and enduring community impact.
For further episodes, listener participation is welcomed via email and the "Big Lake" message line, and the podcast community is encouraged to follow Bubba on social media for updates and upcoming local adventures.