As we enter the eighth month of 2026, I have been all over the place when it comes to doing my live RichJams 90s shows.
I started the year still going strong on Mixcloud. Then one day, I had a show scheduled and just did not feel up to it. I realized I no longer had the same passion I had felt for more than seven years of doing some form of radio broadcasting.
So, I took a break.
Then in February, I had my first-ever colonoscopy. Please get this test when it is time for you to. The good news was that my colon looked great, but my doctor found inflammation and ulcers in my small intestine.
Stay with me. This will not get too gross.
He suspected Crohn’s disease, and after several weeks of testing, everything confirmed it.
Then I entered what I like to call insurance purgatory.
The medication my doctor originally wanted was not approved. We appealed, the appeal was denied, and eventually we had to move on to another medication. I have talked a little about this in previous posts, but the whole process took time.
During all of that, I started feeling like going back to doing RichJams shows on Mixcloud.
Then Mixcloud started having major issues. It has always been a little buggy, but this time I could not even go live. So I moved back to my old platform, Stationhead. I had a few fun shows over there, and it was great reconnecting with some old friends.
Then we finally had a treatment plan, and I stepped away from live shows again.
I still wanted to have a hobby, but I knew I could not commit to doing live shows consistently while going through treatment. That will take a few months, and there is still no guarantee that it will work.
One thing I have learned about these radio show apps is that you need to be consistent if you want to build and keep an audience. I cannot do that at the moment, and I may not be able to for quite a while.
That is when I remembered how much I enjoyed having a Live365 station from September 2024 until May 2025.
So I reactivated the station.
And I have been having so much fun with it.
I was even doing programming work while hooked up to an IV during one of my at-home treatments. I have uploaded most of my 90s CDs and continue searching the shelves of thrift stores for new music to add.
It has been a blast, and no matter how I feel during the day, it is something I can do.
So what happens to RichJams?
Right now, I am not sure.
I never want to say never, but for now I really enjoy taking care of 90s Plus Radio. I have also been able to spend more time listening to audiobooks and watching movies. Even with an uncertain treatment outcome, my days have been going really well.
The biggest thing I miss about live shows is connecting with my listeners. Both Mixcloud and Stationhead have chat rooms, and we all enjoyed chatting with each other during the shows.
What I do not miss is looking at the numbers.
I admit that I have a hard time when shows are not well attended. I completely understand that people have a lot of demands on their time, but for some reason I tend to take it more personally than I should.
I do not miss planning a show, getting excited to go live, and then having no one—or only a couple of people—tune in.
It could be very up and down. One show might have 15 or 20 people, and the next might have two or three.
Again, I understand. Life happens, and fun things like entertainment naturally move down the list of priorities. But it can still be hard not to take it personally. I have talked with plenty of other hosts who struggle with the same thing.
So there is definitely some relief in no longer having that pressure.
For now, let’s just say RichJams is on a very long sabbatical.
I like to think he climbed aboard a spaceship and headed back to the 90s to relive the good old days.
He may come back one day.
He may not.
But 90s Plus Radio will go on regardless.
If you have not had a chance to listen yet, please check it out. It is 24/7 90s hits and operates more like a traditional music station: a few songs, a short 60-second break, and then back to more great music.
Please also stay in touch with me through 90s Plus Radio on Instagram and Facebook. I have not—and never will—forget about you, even if I sometimes forget to check in as much as I should.
Send me a DM and let me know what you have been up to.
I am incredibly grateful for the continued support of longtime online friends, and I look forward to connecting with new people along the way.
Finally, as I always tried to say on my shows, please take good care of your mental health.
If you are feeling down, reach out to a family member or friend. Reach out to a mental health professional if you need to. There is no shame in asking for help.
And please check in on the people you love. If someone seems a little off, let them know you care. Sometimes simply knowing that someone noticed and cares can mean more than we realize.
Psychology Today has resources that can help you find mental health professionals in your area.
Most of all, please know how much I appreciate your support.
Whether RichJams eventually finds his way back from the 90s or decides to stay there a little longer, I am still here.
And the music is still playing.
