S3E1: How Radio Shaped The Media Mentor – David Spencer
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David Spencer - known across the industry as The Media Mentor - joins me for the first episode of ChatterBeans Season 3. From a childhood obsession with radio to a career spanning journalism, teaching, and mentoring, David shares how curiosity and community shaped his path. We dive into the changing world of radio and podcasting, the emotional pull of music, and how coffee culture reflects who we are. Expect inspiring life lessons on personal growth, creativity, and the importance of giving back.
Chapters
00:00 - Introduction to David Spencer and His Journey
05:46 - The Evolution from Radio to Journalism
11:47 - Becoming the Media Mentor
17:52 - The Importance of Emotional Intelligence in Mentoring
23:56 - Passions Beyond Media: Music and Sports
29:55 - The Impact of Music on Personal Identity
36:02 - Advice on Initiative and Passion Projects
41:54 - Reflections on Vulnerability and Personal Growth
Connect with David Spencer and his work as The Media Mentor and on Instagram
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Transcript
[00:00]
Isaac: Hey, welcome back to a brand-new season of ChatterBeans. I’m your host, Isaac Kong, and this is the podcast where every cup holds a story. Today, I’m kicking off Season 3 with David Spencer, otherwise known as The Media Mentor. From being a kid obsessed with music—playing records and talking between tracks—to building a long career in media, journalism, and radio, David’s now mentoring people all over the world. We also get personal—how he met his wife—and you’ll hear his love of music, radio, and podcasting throughout. I’m excited to bring you this episode: ChatterBeans with David Spencer.
Isaac: David, welcome to ChatterBeans.
David Spencer: It’s fantastic to be here at last!
Isaac: I’m genuinely happy we made this happen. You’re known as The Media Mentor—we’ll get into that—but we met earlier this year on the Radio and Podcasting course.
David Spencer: What a fantastic course. So much fun.
Isaac: We had Talia and Mimi on the show earlier. And pronunciation matters—Talia like Alitalia, right?
David Spencer: Exactly. Little newsroom tilt there—pronunciation is important!
Isaac: Season 3, we’ve got you. Tell us about your work, your journey—how you got here.
David Spencer: Dangerous question! I can talk, as you know. I’ve been very lucky. My dad always said he’d lived a “charmed life” in the civil service—I feel the same. He could have been a journalist: knew a lot about a lot—perfect for journalism. At 11 or 12, I realised I liked talking out loud and playing music. I’d put on Mum and Dad’s records—Beatles, even 70s oddities like “Convoy”—and talk between the songs. I loved radio: Peter Powell, Bruno Brookes. I started making tapes for friends—charts we voted on each week. They probably never listened, but it made me happy.
David Spencer: I left school at 16, got a factory job, earned money, bought loads of records… then got dumped. At the end of the long breakup, she said, “And you reverse into parking spaces”—which made sense to me! A colleague at work, Brian, said: “Get over it. Go do hospital radio. Do that radio thing you keep talking about.” I did—Wexham Hospital Radio in Slough. Domino effect: someone there told me about a nearby course. A radio boss turned up, said, “We’re launching a station in Slough—who wants in?” I put my hand up. We interned for free, did everything, never went home. Within six months we were on air—alternating evening shows. I always wanted evenings: fewer listeners but more invested. Competitions that made you think, a narrative, people really listening. It was amazing.
[00:05:00]
David Spencer: After a few years, I leaned into journalism. Launched podcasts, and now I’m at Reuters doing a news podcast. Honestly, I probably wasn’t a great presenter.
Isaac: Why?
David Spencer: You just had a long answer—imagine the links! But here’s a bit I love: I met my wife because of my show. She was a listener. When my evening show ended, a group of regulars—women who often called in—took me out for a farewell meal. That’s how I got to know Anne. I use it in teaching: radio is intimate—one-to-one. That connection is magic.
David Spencer: I loved when someone rang to say, “What was that song?” Pre-Shazam, that happened a lot. Sharing music is magical. I love playlists.
Isaac: And the news side?
David Spencer: I was a newsreader—well, I prefer “news presenter.” I never loved the term reader. Friends would hear me on Smooth and say, “I recognised your voice.” News limits your personality, but I loved breaking stories. The night Boris Johnson announced the lockdown, we were on air within moments. The adrenaline rush—similar to playing a brand-new track you chose yourself. Curating music was a privilege.
Isaac: And The Media Mentor—how did that begin?
David Spencer: Colleagues often came to me: “Can we chat—career/work issue?” I realised I was good at it. I was self-employed, looking for work, and in the 2000s started posting jobs I found on social media. Two things happened: I created what we now call a “side hustle,” and the name The Media Mentor stuck—this was about 20 years ago. People shared problems, I gave advice. I enjoy it. I’m better at advising others than myself! A recent client moved from Australia to the UK; after sessions on CVs and framing his experience, he emailed, “Tomorrow’s my first day at a big sports production company—wouldn’t have got there without you.” I don’t believe in pure altruism—it gives me a lot. Honestly, more than breaking big, difficult stories ever did. Helping people is meaningful.
[00:10:00]
Isaac: It’s leadership—seeing people’s strengths and helping them get better.
David Spencer: I pride myself on that—emotional intelligence, reading people. I don’t think everyone should “do everything.” At talkSPORT a colleague told someone, “Go work for David—you’ll get better.” That’s all I wanted: have people join the team and improve. At Reuters I train people and they say, “You really are a teacher.” I never planned it. I was shy. Evenings on radio suited me because no one else was in the station; daytime felt exposing—speakers in the office, people watching. We were even in a shopping centre behind glass! Teaching came from timing: University of Westminster invited me in after I’d said there were too many BBC voices teaching journalism. I left school at 16—no degree—so teaching forced me to examine everything I do. I’m better at work because I teach, and a better teacher because of the work.
Isaac: On your course, you spotted different talent in everyone.
David Spencer: That’s the trick—seeing where someone should move towards. In one newsroom, everyone I inherited was in the wrong role! City Lit courses—big warm hug. Fascinating people, different reasons for being there. Tuning into that is part of the skill.
Isaac: Do you still enjoy listening to radio?
David Spencer: I can with some presenters—Richard Allinson on Greatest Hits Radio is a consummate pro. But generally, I’m terrible to be around when the radio’s on. Once you’ve worked in it, you can’t not hear the flaws—bulletins, links—things regular listeners won’t notice. I actually listen to podcasts far more. Plug in the phone; it’s your own radio station. I’ve always enjoyed listening to myself—which says a lot!
Isaac: Where do you want to take The Media Mentor?
David Spencer: My “Mrs Mentor” says: make it the thing. I launched the podcast this year—obvious for someone who talks for a living and makes podcasts. It’s a step towards making the brand bigger. Early on, someone told me: “Why take a job? You’re a brand.” Odd to hear, but The Media Mentor is a brand. I’m proud of it—and there still isn’t anyone doing exactly what I do. People message: “I’ve had a terrible day—what do I do?” I love being that person. Tech will replace some tasks, but not the human bit. I’m leaning into that.
[00:15:00]
Isaac: Away from media—what do you love?
David Spencer: Music. My favourite band is Del Amitri—someone once told me that’s a “weird” favourite. I’ve been angry about that ever since. Don’t criticise someone’s taste. For a while, my wife joked I ranked third in my own life—after Del Amitri and Reading FC. Football used to affect my mood too much. Reading nearly went out of business recently—someone came in and saved us. For many, a club is life. We all need a “thing”—football, music, whatever.
David Spencer: Justin Currie of Del Amitri has written about having Parkinson’s—he’s only 60. That hit me hard. I went to Barrowlands in Glasgow last Christmas as a kind of pilgrimage. Everything had to go right—train, gig—it did. I went with a former client, Colin—perfect person for the night. These attachments become part of you. I even ran into Lisa—someone I’d randomly met en route to a previous show—we bonded over the same band book. You realise it’s a community; it’s not just you.
Isaac: Do younger people still have that depth of fandom?
David Spencer: Yes, but different. Swifties are a huge community, for instance. When I grew up, music tribes were more segregated—new romantic, goth, etc. You had to pick. Now we can listen to everything, so tribes blur. But attachment still exists. Twenty One Pilots, for example, have a great, supportive community.
Isaac: Theatre fans too—Oscar’s Starlight had people seeing it 40–50 times. We met Titanic superfans—133 viewings!
David Spencer: There’s always someone more into it, and that’s great. Let people be. I’ve listened to the Titanic podcast; the film isn’t for me, but the devotion fascinates me. Same with Miami Vice—I loved it.
[00:20:00]
Isaac: Coffee—do you like it?
David Spencer: I do. A bit basic: latte, one shot—pretty weak. But if it hasn’t happened by 11 a.m., I can feel the headache coming—my brain says, “Your drug is due.” I love that coffee’s become a thing. My wife and I like going for coffee. High streets are full of coffee shops now. I’m not a pub person, so I love that culture—though prices are rising.
Isaac: It’s getting pricey. Do you buy beans, single origin?
David Spencer: I like independents and better beans, though single origin costs more—so I balance it. It’s like reading: you start with page-turners, then you get to Gatsby or Tess of the d’Urbervilles. With coffee, you go Costa/Starbucks/Nero, then climb the ladder—get pickier (maybe snobbier!).
Isaac: Coffee with anyone—dead or alive?
David Spencer: I’ve been mocked for my answers, but: Bono. With the Live Aid anniversary, I’m reminded how cool he was then. In sixth form, I queued music on a tape deck; U2’s “Bad” was everything. I once joked I’d interview Bill Clinton to ask what it’s like to be a president’s wife—a cheeky nod to Hillary’s run back then. People hated the answers—but I stand by them. I’m a reverse music snob: I like a lot of “rubbish,” and I’ve been unkind about Coldplay before—unfairly. Music is personal. If Coldplay’s your favourite, brilliant.
David Spencer: My wife and I connected over music. If she didn’t love it, we might not have worked. When someone says, “I don’t really like music,” I don’t know what to say. For me, Del Amitri have soundtracked my life—there’s a song for every great and awful moment.
David Spencer: One lovely radio story: I recorded a song from Miami Vice onto tape, took it to my show, and asked, “What is this track?” A listener from Windsor phoned: “It’s The Church—‘Under the Milky Way.’” What are the odds? That’s radio magic.
[00:25:00]
Isaac: Life lessons—what do you want people to take away?
David Spencer: Have initiative. Help before you’re asked. See opportunities and step in. Passion projects matter—run that book club or start that podcast alongside your day job; you never know where it leads. I was lucky with domino moments, yes, but initiative kept me in the room. Once, the station’s system crashed—we played CDs all night. I stayed up, chose the tracks. It buys you a lot of credit, and you learn.
David Spencer: It’s complicated—unpaid work can be exploitative and it’s a diversity issue. Some people can afford to do it; others can’t. But where you can engage, maximise the opportunity. In media, you can end up anywhere—don’t fixate on one path. You don’t have to present the news or host music shows. There are many ways to contribute.
Isaac: I love podcasting—editing, posting, social. It’s fun. It may take off or not.
David Spencer: When I was 13, recording tapes was going nowhere. Now everyone can broadcast—do it. Don’t just wish—publish.
Isaac: Quick fire?
David Spencer: Go on then!
Isaac: First thing you do in the morning?
David Spencer: Look at my phone.
Isaac: Bag packed right now—where to?
David Spencer: Mid Wales—Garth in the Brecon Beacons. Childhood holidays. My wife knows if I disappear, that’s where I’ll be!
Isaac: One thing that always lifts your mood?
David Spencer: Music. Always.
Isaac: Something you swear by?
David Spencer: Shazam. Favourite app. I don’t know how it works—but thinking back to the pre-Shazam days, it’s magic.
[00:30:00]
Isaac: Pro tip: hold the Shazam button—it records the whole class. Great for building playlists.
David Spencer: I’m still not paying by phone—my wife flexed buying coffee that way. How is she ahead of me?
Isaac: Pleasure you’ll never give up?
David Spencer: Music. If it’s the classic “deaf or blind” hypothetical—cheery!—I couldn’t live without music. I go to it every day.
Isaac: One risk you’re glad you took?
David Spencer: When Anne said, “Would you like to meet again?” I’ll write a radio book called Breaking Rule Number One—because yes, she was a listener. For five to ten years after we got together, I felt guilty. Bosses show you Play Misty for Me and say, “Don’t fraternise.” I regret carrying that guilt. Who cared? No one. And what a beautiful way to meet.
Isaac: No one cares. And those who care don’t matter.
David Spencer: That’s something I’m still learning. Most people don’t care what you’re wearing or how you’re speaking—and if they do, they don’t matter.
Isaac: I recorded with Abby earlier—her advice: “No one cares.”
David Spencer: Here’s a story that explains me a bit: Anne bought me a beautiful long coat. I wore it once. On the tube, some boys laughed. I assumed it was at my coat and never wore it again. I’ve been very self-conscious—poser as a teen, but insecure. Wanting to be seen and not seen. I don’t wear over-ear headphones—feels like everyone’s looking at me. Podcasting has helped open these conversations up.
Isaac: I bought a cropped Uniqlo shirt labelled “women’s blouse”—it was on a male mannequin. I questioned it for weeks. Now I wear it. No one cares.
David Spencer: When I saw you, I thought, “Great shirt.” I didn’t tell my wife the coat story for 15 years—felt like admitting a mental health wobble. I’m prone to low moods sometimes. People call you “moody”—I hate that. We all have moods. I’m usually upbeat, so when I’m not, it’s obvious. I’m glad we can talk about this stuff now.
[00:35:00]
Isaac: Last two quick ones. Time travel—forward, back, or stay?
David Spencer: Back—to 1984. Best year ever.
Isaac: Small joy, recently?
David Spencer: The musical Sing Street—everything for me links to music. Also, the joy of surprise new music on a Friday—when you don’t know an album’s dropping. A student told me The Weeknd’s new album was out—I had the best drive home. And emails from people I’ve mentored: someone moved from Australia, got a job; another said they now work in podcasting because of a session we did years ago. That fuel means a lot. I’m quite happy to admit I’m needy—we all are.
Isaac: We are. Where can people connect with you?
David Spencer: The Media Mentor podcast is on all platforms—mine isn’t visualised like yours (controversial… yet!). Google The Media Mentor and it should pop up. Get in touch with questions—I love hearing from people. I don’t push paid sessions; just have a listen. I’m proud of where it’s got to. Someone I taught early on—Kate—became a client during a transition. She thanked me for the CV help, and said she’s listened to episodes two or three times because they’re informative. That’s all I want. If five people love it, I’m happy.
David Spencer: Final teaching tip: I listened to one of my episodes in the car—different context—and thought, “I’m happy with it.” That’s what matters. Whatever you make, be happy with it. I’ll help you make it better—but ignore the noise.
Isaac: Thank you so much. You’ll be the first to know when new episodes drop. More content on YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram at @chatter.beans. Until next time—keep chatting, keep sipping, and I’ll see you soon.
David Spencer: Pleasure.
