An Interview with Tim Disa Jr.

He oversees the overall day-to-day operations of both the consumer site RadioMD.com and the B2B Healthcare.RadioMD.com. He works closely with all facets of the operation, including web/IT, editorial content, show production, accounting, hospital client production, social media, sales and more. Mr. Disa Jr. communicates regularly with key business partners such as EmpowHER, Life Extension, American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) and others. Mr. Disa Jr. has a rich history and radio background, having worked in both terrestrial and online radio for more than 15 years. He was key to HealthRadio.net winning the 2011 “Best Single-Stream Webcaster” (RAIN award). He is a natural leader who manages with a firm hand and a kind heart. The many hosts and doctors, clients and customers he has worked with over the years have great respect for him and enjoy his leadership. Mr. Disa Jr. is an avid sports enthusiast both on and off the field. He resides in Chicago, IL, one of the greatest sports cities in the world.
 
 
Health E-Insights: Where will the most significant growth occur at RadioMD.comin the next few years?
 
Mr. Disa Jr.: Mobile. The emerging mobile market is huge. As hundreds of millions of people continue to acquire the latest smartphones, tablets and other devices, and as more and more cars are sold with in-dash Internet entertainment systems, demand for mobile content will continue to grow. RadioMD’s live, interactive health talk shows will be a part of what will be tremendous growth in Netcasting as opposed to Broadcasting. Our On-Demand conversational health audio will accommodate people’s busy lifestyles. In fact, RadioMD will be launching a 24/7 channel on iHeartRadio Talk this summer. We also anticipate that our B2B services will continue to grow at a rapid rate. We provide a Health Talk Audio Digital Platform service to hospitals, clinics, nutraceutical companies and others. We interview their doctors and other experts, or provide expert guests, and the conversational-style audio is made available on their website with an embedded widget. It gives them a “talking” website and provides excellent, sticky content for their on-the-go clients, patients and customers.
 
Health E-Insights: Will technology change the radio industry even more in the next few years?
 
Mr. Disa Jr.: Absolutely. It was not long ago that people relied mostly on terrestrial radio to listen to music or talk programming. All of that changed with mobile broadband and people are using their smart phones and tablets as listening devices to access what they want, when they want it. It’s the automobile that, excuse the pun, drives the audience. And now that most auto manufacturers are including in-dash Internet entertainment systems, the playing field has been leveled. In the next few years there will be as many people listening to netcasts as there are broadcasts—maybe more. And on-demand listening will grow as content continues to be produced and new devices come on the scene.
 
Health E-Insights: If you could wave a magic wand and make a change, what would it be?
 
Mr. Disa Jr.: I’d be the starting center fielder for the Chicago Cubs. Oh you mean with RadioMD? That’s easy. More users, more quickly. I’ve never been a very patient person and I’d like to wave that wand and make more listeners appear immediately. Although our growth has been really fantastic, I always want more. Since I don’t have a magic wand, RadioMD will continue it’s growth strategy by partnering with the best health personalities and organizations out there and also by stepping up our advertising and by upping promotion of our conversational, entertaining, informative and useful health advice shows. We are also doing more contests and giving away sponsor prizes. Our listeners love winning healthy prizes and our sponsors love working with us to award their products to our health conscious consumers.
 
Health E-Insights: What are the top two metrics to which your organization pays the closest attention?
 
Mr. Disa Jr.: New and returning users is number one, and we also watch closely the amount of time users spend on our site.
 
Health E-Insights: What are the most popular shows on RadioMD.com?
 
Mr. Disa Jr.: Healthy Talk with Dr. Michael A. Smith that we produce in conjunction with Life Extension, HER Radio with Dr. Pamela Peeke and Michelle King Robson in partnership with EmpowHER.com, and Healthy Children in conjunction with the American Academy of Pediatrics, hosted by Melanie Cole, MS. We expect our newest show, Sharecare Radio (debuting July 2014), to be extremely popular as well.
 
Health E-Insights: What would you do if you weren’t in your present position?
 
Mr. Disa Jr.: Center fielder for the Chicago Cubs. Seriously, probably marketing or something in another area of healthcare or sports, as I enjoy both, as well as working with people.
 
Health E-Insights: What excites you most about RadioMD.com?
 
Mr. Disa Jr.: Knowing that we are on the brink of something big, creating health talk audio at a time of huge change both in the health field and in how people are consuming information, as well as being part of a historical technical revolution that is changing the way we receive content. No matter who I speak with, the reaction is always the same. People love the concept of RadioMD and most people genuinely care about their health. We provide an entertaining way in which people can absorb their health information on our website, via our audio partners like iHeartRadio and TuneIn, or by providing health audio for other websites like hospitals, nutraceutical companies, insurance companies, clinics and more.
 
Health E-Insights: If you could get one hour of business advice from a known expert you respect, what would you discuss?
 
Mr. Disa Jr.: I would love to spend that hour with (NBA owner of the Dallas Mavericks) Mark Cuban. I would fight my urge to discuss sports of course, but would love to pick his brain and see what someone with that kind of success would do with RadioMD.com.
 

Sheldon Baker is well-known for creating nutraceutical brand marketing and public relations campaigns. For Health E-Insights interview consideration, contact him at Sheldon@NutraInk.com. And follow him on Twitter @NutraInk.