Born and raised in the Lehigh Valley, what was it that made you want to continue your career here?
I love the Lehigh Valley. This is my home. I’ve had the good fortune to announce all over the country—actually, all over the world. But every time I went somewhere, I couldn’t wait to get back to the Lehigh Valley. It’s been great and I’ve enjoyed everywhere, but I couldn’t wait to get back to the Lehigh Valley.
As you reflect on your career, what stands out to you the most?
That is a tough question—I can pick several things but I could never pick one thing, because the thing about me is that I’ve kind of worn three different hats all my life. Most people have one thing and that’s what they do, and I’ve never done that. My first hat is my radio career, which includes announcing some of the biggest music acts in the world. I’ve announced them all over the country. My second hat is I announce professional boxing and through that I’ve met some of the biggest names. And then my third hat is announcing professional wresting—and again I’ve had the pleasure of working with some of the biggest stars in the world, including The Rock and Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan. I have pictures all over my office wall and sometimes I take everything for granted, because it’s just another day at work. But sometimes I look back and I say, you know, I’m with people all the time that the average person only gets to see on television or the movies.
What advice do you have for someone looking to make it in broadcasting?
When I was 17 and I wanted to be in radio, they told me to forget it—you’ll never make it. And they kept telling me that. Well, I proved them wrong; I worked, and I worked hard, and I got to be with some of the biggest radio stations in the country. I’ve won more awards than most people will ever win in radio. Then, the same thing happened when I wanted to switch and do television—they told me, you’ll never get into television. And again, I proved them wrong. So, the thing I’m going to say is: you’ll be told a million times you won’t make it, but you can’t listen. You’ve got to work hard. If you want to be somewhere, you want to work somewhere, don’t take no for an answer.
Mike Mittman | Voices of the Valley s20e11
Published as "3 Questions With" in the February 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
