(Geared Up)
No, this is not an article about Todd Hancock. But stick around because he might make an appearance.
Todd Hancock is a part of the history of Vancouver music. A well-known radio persona on The Fox 99.3 for “damn near 15 years.” But that’s where this ends because as I said, this is not an article about Todd Hancock.
(The Sound Off Podcast)
I got into radio because it gave me permission to ask my friends about the story-telling facts of what makes them, them. You might be reading this like “Wow… no you’re so wrong I feel entirely comfortable asking my friends those hard editorial questions to get in to their root!”
But I’m a neurodivergent and sometimes there are social standards about asking invasive questions.
So I found radio, and eventually I found the Radio Arts & Entertainment Program at BCIT. After nearly a decade hiatus from school, and cohosting a show on Co-op Radio, I’d finally found something I was passionate enough about to spend that actual money on. I remember going to the orientation meeting night that was the year before the program would begin. My sweet Mama came with me, because my anxiety about doing round 2 of post-secondary and the fear that this might be a terrible mistake was about to make me back right out.
(BCIT Business + Media / Facebook)
But I have an amazing Mother, and she recognized that my body was having a hard time understanding the difference between fear and excitement. The two physiologically feel the same you know. So she came as my buffer. I remember the professors starting to list off the things you’d be learning, the hard-work it would take to accomplish it, that if you didn’t have this hard-work demeanour you wouldn’t achieve what you needed to in this program. Sweat started to bead on my forehead, I was ready to leave. UBC had done such a number on my worthiness that I wasn’t sure I was ready to enter another environment like that.
They separated us into our factions, Radio, TV, and Journalism, and what was a room of 50 was now a more manageable group of 15. Todd Hancock was about to lead us through a tour of the Evolution radio station. I started to see the equipment, I felt the more relaxed vibe I was looking for, and suddenly the list of goals seemed fun. I’d introduce myself to Todd that evening. My boyfriend, a local Audio Tech at Vancouver’s Rock Shop, had met Todd previously through the music scene. When I’d said to my boyfriend that I was thinking of bailing out on the evening, he had reassured me that Todd (the only teacher he knew at the program) was a cool cat. Like the kind of people I was already surrounding myself with here in Vancouver. That if I said hello, mention his name – so I did. I doubt that Todd remembers that.
(Fog Fotág / Facebook)
Later as my first semester at BCIT was in tow, Todd would come to one of our classes and give a bit of a speech about what to expect when we’d see him next in Practicum. He told us more about his life. His time with The Fox, and his endeavour now with Toddcast Podcast. He’s throwing shows, made a career as a radio persona. This was the kind of trajectory I hoped for. This is what I was trying to do with No Apologies Necessary. Building my radio presence and learning how to throw epic fundraisers of music. At the end of that class I told him as much. I offered my volunteer services in any way if I could shadow him with the podcast. He noted this, but at this point I realized probably just how many of these requests he gets.
You see when your profession is in music, you meet a lot of faces all the time. You’re also faced with a large amount of those people wanting to get in on the magic. So I decided my words weren’t coming out as I wanted them to be heard and not to push the matter further.
Now we are in Practicum, you see, and coincidentally Todd Hancock is my mentor for all three parts. I’ve be able to learn more about him, the persona he’s cultivated, and how this comes across to the rest of the world. And I’d like to think he’s gotten to know more about me.
I’m not a shithead snot-nosed kid who is just trying to climb the ladder. I am authentically me, and just figuring out how to navigate that.
You see in this past year at BCIT I think one of the most wonderful things I’ve taken away from the Radio Arts & Entertainment program is my education of how to bring what is authentically me into my career. I don’t need to have a Work Volante and a Personal Volante, like something eerie out of Severance. I was both at once. Dealing with depression, now its part of my Digital Assignment. Struggling with world affairs, well that’s my topic for the next podcast. Fear of public speaking? Well there was a whole class to sort how certain events or subconscious biases made me that way. It’s like this whole program was a big kick in the affirmation of self.
(Adobe Stock)
So here I am with Todd Hancock as a mentor. I run in and out of his office during my Online Writing phase, “Can I say this?” “Yes.” “Can I write an article about this?” “Yes.” “Is it ok if I say the vocals bring you towards Satan.” “Totally.”
Somehow I had found myself in a space where each and every of my ideas were encouraged, and I was getting guidance in the right spaces. Sure Todd might have some dated colloquial sayings:
“Really /BLEEP played a wonderful game of fetch the dog on that one.”
Or,
“I’ll give you just enough rope to /BLEEP make a wonderful craft yourself with.”
But someone who might’ve seen me as just another ladder climbing fan before was being met with my genuine self and giving genuine self back.
So you see, this article is NOT about Todd Hancock. It’s about a funny series of events that surrounded Todd Hancock that ultimately led me to a spot where I am creating something that is genuinely me.
(Adobe Stock)
Written by Volante Matheson, Radio Arts & Entertainment at BCIT
Contact: vmatheson1@my.bcit.ca