His voice has filled the air waves in Greenville for 18 years. Rob Dempsey is the Program/Operations Director and Host of HIS Morning Crew with Rob, Alison, & Jim on HIS Radio 89.3. The radio station is heard by nearly half a million people every single week. The station’s home base is in Greenville, SC. The station broadcasts through the Southeast, including major cities Charlotte, Raleigh, Fayetteville, Asheville, Columbia, Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Hilton Head, Savannah and Athens. Rob has also appeared as a radio DJ in the major motion picture I Can Only Imagine, starring Dennis Quaid. Now, here’s your chance to meet the man that I get to call my dad.
360: How long have you been in the radio business and how did you get started?
Rob: I have been in the radio business for 31 years. I was in radio in 1987. I started at a small southern gospel station in New Port Richey, Florida. Six months later, in Tampa Bay, I was on in the middle of the night on a station called JOY 88. Today, it is known as the JOY FM. I was there from 1988-2000. In 2000, I moved here to Greenville to join HIS Radio 89.3. I’ve done a lot at these two radio stations – from overnight announcer, production director, program director and on air for the afternoon drive in Tampa Bay. 18 years ago, I joined the HIS Radio 89.3 team as programming & operations director and morning show host.
360: What sparked your interest in radio?
Rob: I was kicked out of my house when 16 years old. I had no address. I bounced around to different couches and lived under bridges and a garage. Finally, I moved into a palace – a single wide trailer. That was a palace to me. Through all that time there was one constant thing – a Christian radio station known as WCIE. It was that music and those announcers that spoke life into me. I became a Christ follower because of that radio station and I wanted to do something to give back. So, I pursued getting into radio. I thought it was a good way to communicate to people and make a difference in their lives.
360: What do you love the most at being HIS Radio 89.3?
Rob: I love connecting with people! I get a kick out of talking to people on the air. More so, I enjoy meeting them in person at events, concerts, & on location broadcasts. I love stories. When you listen to HIS Morning Crew with Rob, Alison & Jim, you will always here stories about people and from people. We always have listeners on the air. I also love that HIS Radio 89.3 has the liberty to think forward, meaning we understand how quickly technology is changing. We have a new app debuting, and we are on Amazon’s Alexa and will soon be on Google Home. We are the only station in the country that streams our show not only on radio, but also on video, which you can watch on most streaming devices such as Apple TV and Roku. All of this happens in Greenville, South Carolina.
360: You’ve been seen by locals running at Lake Conestee & the Swamp Rabbit Trail. You’ve also been spotted cycling up to Caesars Head, Paris Mountain, or other roads in the Golden Strip. What is it about Greenville that keeps you so active?
Rob: Up until 2005, I was an unhealthy guy. I had gained so much weight that I was over 315 pounds. It wasn’t until my relationship with the YMCA of Greenville and partnering with them for Rob’s Big Losers that I found health. Every year since 2005, Rob’s Big Losers continues with the YMCA for people to pursue a healthy lifestyle It was in my journey of loosing over 130 pounds that I found a joy in endurance sports. I started running and cycling. You’ll see my often in Free Hub Bicycles on Woodruff Road. They help me continue my love of cycling. Greenville is one of the best cities to have a healthy lifestyle. We have many trails and outside activities to keep the family active.
360: When you’re not on air or on your bike, what else do you love to do in Greenville?
Rob: I love downtown. We have a lot of Christian music artists that come by our radio station. The first place I bring them is downtown. Every guest I bring raves about their experience in downtown Greenville. I enjoy walking down Main Street. I love spending time at Falls Park, or bringing my computer into one of the coffee shops and getting some work done for the station or HIS Morning Crew. I’m very active at the church I go to, Brookwood Church. I’m involved as one of the leaders in our youth group, Crave. At Crave’s worship, you’ll occasionally see me up onstage playing the guitar. Since I was homeless at 16 years old, I have a passion to invest in today’s youth. I hope to be that person in their lives that I didn’t have when I needed it the most.
You can find Rob on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn. Click here to watch video replay or on demand videos of HIS Morning Crew- Rob, Alison & Jim. You can also listen to him on HIS Radio 89.3 weekday mornings 6-9 AM.
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