Judith Siers-Poisson thinks that she has the best job in the world. And it’s easy to see why. As the producer of The Larry Meiller Show, she schedules between five and nine different programs each week on topics as diverse as pet care, history, health issues, food, fitness, gardening and more. “I love the guests that join Larry on the air. They are smart, helpful, and really glad to share what they know with our listeners.” And those listeners make her days brighter as well. As the on-air producer, Judith helps the callers structure their questions so that they get the answers they need. “And how can you not love listeners that thank you by name for answering the phone!”
Working with Larry is a real privilege, too, Judith says. “To be able to work alongside someone who has been on the air at Wisconsin Public Radio since 1967 is like getting a free PhD in broadcast journalism."
Judith enjoys her role as producer, and filling as the guest host when Larry is off as well. “I think hosting makes me a better producer, and producing makes me a better host. So I’m always improving my skills, no matter what job I’m doing on a given day.”
Judith grew up in Chicago, and has lived in Madison since 1988. Producing The Larry Meiller Show has taught her more about her adoptive state in the last few years than she ever learned in the decades before that. “I love that the topics we cover are of interest to people all over Wisconsin, and that our callers come from every corner of the state.”
While radio production might seem a far cry from her academic background of Russian history, Judith thinks it adds to her work at Wisconsin Public Radio. “Everything I’ve done in my life has brought me to this point, and has made me a well-rounded person. I wouldn’t change anything about the meandering route that led me here!”
