Hello Kankakee—and faithful listeners everywhere! This week, the Kankakee Podcast takes you behind the microphone into the heart of local radio and the spirit of community collaboration. For episode 200, I sat down with my good friend and local media mainstay, Josh Carman, to discuss his journey from Kankakee kid to morning radio voice, the power of breaking down competitive media barriers, and why telling our community’s stories is more important than ever.
A Radio Rivalry Broken Down
You may know Josh as one of the voices behind Star Radio’s Morning Roundtable on WKAN, but he’s equally known for his generosity in building bridges across Kankakee’s media landscape. Years ago, while I was launching Kankakee Podcast (and still at Milner Media—yes, technically “the competition”), Josh reached out and invited me onto his radio show to talk about my new podcast.
“…I really think it’s just a testament to your character. You care about the community…You did that because you’re like, okay, I think this is something the community would be interested in.”
– Jake LaMore, on Josh’s inclusive approach
Josh’s willingness to focus on what benefits the community—not just station competition—set a tone we both hope more outlets will follow: “The more we work together, the better things can be.”
From Kankakee Roots to Radio Dreams
Josh’s journey is a true Kankakee County story. Born in 1986, he grew up in the Herscher/Limestone area, moving from Indian Oaks (now TriStar Estates) before settling in Limestone. As a kid, Josh didn’t dream of a media career—he was just another youngster who listened to the radio in the car and loved classic movies with his family. But acting in plays at church and high school slowly fueled his creative side. Despite his introvert nature, the radio eventually pulled him in at Olivet Nazarene University, thanks to professors and radio mentors like Rob West and the late Carl Fletcher.
Josh shared, “I found myself really excelling at these different things there. So that’s why I was like, you know what? Maybe this is the route I need to take.”
Learning the Craft, Finding a Voice
Like many in broadcasting, Josh worked his way up: running boards for ONU sports at Shine FM, producing, voicing weather spots, and finally earning his own Saturday evening show. “At first you think it’s like, oh, this is awful…But looking back—it’s an important job running the board because once you get your own show, then you know how the board works.”
He then parlayed college experience into internships and a full-time job at Star Radio, covering everything from news-writing (he still swears by keeping it to a fifth-grade reading level!) to city council meetings, before landing the gig as host of the Morning Roundtable in 2018.
Stories, Service, and the Power of Local Media
What keeps Josh going every morning? The ability to connect listeners with the real decisionmakers and events that shape Kankakee County—and to set the record straight amid a sea of social media noise and misinformation.
“The most important thing is that you could make or break someone’s day. Think about that with what you say.”
—Quoting his journalism professor’s advice
His Morning Roundtable mixes local stories, newsmakers (from mayors to event planners), and honest, timely discussion. As I told him on the show, “It’s a great way for people to stay plugged in. You’re constantly having on a mayor or someone from the area that’s got something worthwhile to talk about.”
Tackling Negativity, Celebrating Community
No episode about Kankakee would be complete without a little honest self-reflection on our local mindset. Josh addressed a common challenge shared by many town leaders: negativity and skepticism when new projects are proposed.
“There still seems to be a lot of people who still want to be negative about everything that happens here…But there’s good things happening in Bradley, in Bourbonnais, in Kankakee. All over. We need to open our eyes and be excited!”
From the Kankakee Riverfront project to the Grove in Bourbonnais, Josh urges locals to focus on constructive conversation and excitement for the future—even while voicing concerns.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
We finished our conversation with stories about early days in the industry (and plenty of radio pranks and ties—a mark of old-school newsmen everywhere!). Josh’s love for history, storytelling, and community shines through, whether he’s interviewing the mayor or helping a fellow broadcaster.
“I really love your history episodes,” Josh shared. “As much as I love movies, I think I probably love history a little bit more.”
Tune In, Get Involved
If you want to stay in the know about Kankakee and connect with the people shaping our community, listen to the Morning Roundtable with Josh Carman, weekdays from 7–9 am on WKAN (1320 AM, 101.3 FM, or live online).
And of course, don’t forget to keep up with the Kankakee Podcast for more stories of local life, legacy, and change. Big thanks to all our listeners and supporters—especially our Patreon members—who make episodes like these possible.
Until next time, keep building bridges, celebrating the good, and tuning in to the stories that matter in Kankakee County!
