Why I Just Stopped Listening to Howard Stern

After 14 Great Years, It Became a Show I Couldn’t Recognize Anymore

I have listened to Howard Stern for almost 15 years, ever since he first made the move to satellite radio. I was in college and happened to be one of the lucky few early subscribers to Sirius. I don’t remember why I decided to outfit my car with satellite radio — probably like most 21-years-olds, I thought it was cool.

And it was — uninterrupted commercial-free radio blasted from orbit. But the real game changer came when Stern moved his show onto Sirius in 2006. He became the sole reason I faithfully paid for the satellite service year after year, until June 2020 when I reluctantly cancelled my subscription.

Howard Stern was a broadcasting pioneer. He changed the medium of talk radio and outraged many conservative pearl-clutchers in the process. He’s been at it for decades, but I didn’t take notice until he moved to Sirius.

When you think about it, Stern was one of the original podcasters. He created (or at least popularized) the long-form, uncensored talk format. His show was up to four hours long in the early days at Sirius. He was finally free from the FCC and could say and do whatever he wanted. His unique mix of unfiltered candor, comedy, and long-form interviews was instantly appealing. Over the years, Howard, Robin, the staff, and the Wack Pack came to feel like a part of my family. I eagerly awaited each Monday morning. The show gave me comfort and a sense of belonging. The only values were “no bullshit” and entertainment above all else.

Unfortunately, Stern gradually gradually neglected and then abandoned those values entirely when the coronavirus panic hit a fever pitch in the Spring of 2020.

Just Another Voice in the Liberal Media Chorus

I’m disheartened to see what’s happening to this country right now. It feels like a majority of the populace have allowed panic and political finger-pointing to prevail over reason — or maybe that’s just the distorted reality the media is selling. It’s hard to tell anymore. The coronavirus is terrible but it never merited the wholesale lockdown of the economy — and of our civil liberties. I’m saddened to see so many silently give up their freedom at the altar of “safety,” especially when that safety is an illusion. Or maybe it’s just a vocal minority — again, hard to tell anymore.

Stern’s show changed from the no-bullshit voice of the everyman to a politically charged arena of doom and gloom. What I had expected to be a refuge from the fear and panic that has enveloped the world, has become just another place infected by liberal groupthink.

Instead of being an escape from the tragedy and madness, Stern became another voice in the chorus of the everything-is-Trump’s-fault media machine.

Don’t misunderstand, I’m no Trump defender or even a conservative for that matter. I don’t identify with either political party. In fact, I believe the two party system has created an artificial us-vs-them, winner-take-all mentality, which has fomented strife and division in our nation. My outlook can be described as mostly libertarian — emphasis on the lowercase “L”.

Where Did All the Fun Go?

Maybe I expected too much of Stern. Maybe I unfairly looked for him to be a leader in all of this when he is, if fact, just a talented broadcaster. I bet we all do this to a degree — we expect our favorite celebrities messiahs instead of flawed humans like the rest of us.

Nevertheless, I believe that consensus is dangerous. Back in the day when decency-minded conservatives were lobbying the FCC to take Stern off the air, he pushed back. He became a rebel — a proponent for the First Amendment — and pointed out hypocrisy where he saw it.

Where did that Stern go? What happened to the guy who pushed back? Consensus — especially media consensus — gets my spidey-sense tingling. When everybody agrees, we eventually have fascism. I never expected Stern to fall into the consensus crowd.

Less Politics, More Entertainment!

In a time when everything is so politically charged, we need those who present alternate perspectives. This is why I believe Joe Rogan is so popular right now. We need people who will unite — not divide — us. We need broadcasters who will bring back the entertainment-first focus. We need a refuge from the madness.

Maybe Howard is consciously shifting the show towards a more narrowly defined audience. If so, I can respect the pivot. However, I don’t think so. I think the New York elitist mentality (or maybe just media-induced panic?) has finally overpowered the walls of his once independently-minded show. It has grown increasingly political — and increasingly partisan. Of course, I’m only guessing. I can only point out what I’m seeing from the cheap seats.

I am hesitant to publish the article because I don’t want to add to the political discord. I want my work to unite instead of divide. But after almost 15 years of devoted fandom, I felt I needed to say something — even if nobody reads it.

I am eternally grateful for the years of entertainment that Stern, his crew, and Sirius gave me. They helped get me through some dark times. I feel inspired to pay it forward one day and share that joy with others. I thank Stern for the trail he blazed for future broadcasters and entertainers. But most relationships don’t last forever and neither do fandoms.

Much like Battlestar Galactica, the show was better than the ending, but a bad ending doesn’t undo a great overall body of work. Hopefully someone else can deliver as much joy in the future. But he or she has some big shoes to fill.