Any Fans of Dr. Ray Guarendi?

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I listen to him fairly regularly. He has some good insights. I agree with a previous poster that he does a good job of depathologizing a lot of behavior and addressing it head on.

Personally he drives me nuts. He spends WAY too much time enjoying the sound of his own voice and blathering on and meandering all over the place when there are callers waiting on the line. He spends at least 15 minutes out of every show (at least it feels like it) either bragging or fake bragging about himself and/or engaging in trying to wheedle compliments out of callers. When he drops that annoying schtick, he has a LOT to offer, but he is so pleased with himself and that game gets old really quickly.

I was very sad when the female psychiatrist left the program and we ended up with Dr Ray five days a week instead. She was much more respectful of her listeners and callers time and had great advice as well.

I wish Dr Ray would quit with his love affair of being a radio personality and stick to what he does well, share thoughtful useful advice.
 
Seems a little extreme. I listen to him a lot during the summer, when I’m driving my car. What’s the problem?
 
So, books are a good place to start, lest I experience a Dr. Ray burnout.
 
I haven’t read his books and am not familiar with his writing style so I honestly cannot know. I’d like to think you don’t have to skim through pages of manologue (that’s what he calls his schtick) and pompous bombast and lame jokes to get to the heart of the matter, but I can’t imagine him simply sharing information without trying to get a reaction outta you as payment in advance.

Truly, I don’t hate the guy, but sometimes I have to turn off his show because his blather is so long and annoying
 
On the other hand, humor may attract people who are put off by other methods. He started his career as an entertainer, and uses that gift to open ears that would normally be closed. IMHO in our overly sensitive world some good, clean sarcasm is like a ray of sunshine.

Have you ever read his Christmas letters? They are so funny! http://www.drray.com/assets/family2.pdf
 
Hi do you remember the name of the female psychologist? Thank you for your (name removed by moderator)ut
 
Yes, apparently some people love his “humor”, maybe I just don’t get it. Constantly telling us how great he is, and his over the top fake offense when people don’t tell him how great he is, may be funny once a week, but not 30 times a program.

That being said, he’s better than he used to be. I think that now that he has the show to himself he’s less insecure and therefore doesn’t have to be quite as over the top as he used to when he had competition a few days a week.

I really feel he wastes too much of his program (and there are already so many commercial breaks) trying to sell himself, when the best way to do that would be to actually take calls and share his solid advice.
 
The one I can’t stand is the “Splendor of You” lady. When ever I hear her goofy voice, I change the station to anything else. I’ve never heard a person go on and one for so long and literally not say anything. Women are really under-represented in radio in general, but not only are they under-represented in Catholic radio, they’re poorly represented! Aside from “Splendor of You” lady, we’ve got the one in the morning show about the history of the Catholic Church in St. Louis. Her only purpose seems to be to introduce the show and say things like, “Wow!”, “That’s amazing!” while Father talks. Then we got the Catholic Connections lady who I used to like but not any more since she made disparaging remarks about my neighborhood. The only one I like is Mother Miriam. She’s cool! We need more women like her on Catholic Radio.
 
No, I’m sorry I do not. She hasn’t been on for awhile. I’m sure someone here will remember.
 
Allegra said:
She’s cool! We need more women like her on Catholic Radio.
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I think that there are so many very dynamic women making podcasts that just haven’t crossed over or may never cross over to radio. The nature of our media consumption is changing so fast.
 
Allegra said:
Then we got the Catholic Connections lady who I used to like but not any more since she made disparaging remarks about my neighborhood.
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To make disparaging comments about Teresa Tomeo on a public board without any frame of reference is a little less than charitable. Can you link to her comment?
 
Here’s my take on it. He has a unique opportunity to share his gifts and his Catholic perspective on the radio. His time is purchased, often via sacrificial giving, by people of faith and people dedicated to sharing the faith. He uses a large % of that time to grand stand and show boat and do his own version of open mic night.

Sometimes I’m driving, look at the clock and think…it’s 18 past the hour, surely he’s taking calls by now, and turn on his show only to find he is STILL talking, and even admitting that he’s wandered far off course of where he was intending to go. Then he spends the last five minutes of the show telling all the people holding on line to call again tomorrow, they’ll be put first. Then he pontificates and says he doesn’t understand why most of the people don’t call back. Well, Dr Ray, I can tell you why, because they don’t have the luxury of sitting on hold while you blather on and make jokes by yourself in the studio, only to be told to call back so the next day they can repeat the procedure.

My suggestion to anyone who wants to make sure their call gets taken is to immediately tell the person answering the phone that you can’t wait to tell Dr Ray how amazing, superb, intelligent, and handsome he is, and that will shoot your call straight to the front of the line, apparently, and not only that but the voice clip of you saying that will be played repeatedly on his program for months to come.

I wish I was joking or exagerrating, but I’m not. The other way to get on is to say you disaggree with him because he loves a challenge. Yup, use reverse psychology on the psychologist and you MIGHT get your five minutes of fame. Lol.

I’m shocked that the producers of the program haven’t addressed this. Or am I honestly the ONLY person who feels this way?
 
I used to find Theresa very rude, sarcastic and snarky, but I feel that she’s toned down a bit. I wasn’t able to listen to her for more than a few minutes a few years ago because of her tone and tenor.

Maybe that’s just the trend in reporting styles and I’m not up to snuff. Now there’s another woman on Morning Glory and I do like her style. She is straightforward and unapologetic but I never feel she is being insulting or haughty. I’m afraid I don’t recall her name…Monica maybe?
 
HolySpirit said:
He drives me nuts, and I don’t know anyone who listens to him. I also work in Catholic Radio.

How he has a job is beyond me.
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Do you have anything more to add other than this? Is there something we should be aware of?

I listen to his show sometimes. I like his approach, but not always his delivery.
 
I think I’ve recieved some good information here. Thank you everyone! I’ve ordered two of the books and been warned of some possible pitfalls of calling into the radio program.

Discussions of his style seem fair and topical, but we should be careful. If we pile a bunch of criticism out there on public forums, we discourage new people from putting themselves out there on Catholic Radio. We are left with the radio personalities we deserve.

I’m not saying discussing your preferences is wrong. I’m not sure what I’m saying.
 
Yes, I think it’s important when we talk about this stuff to say what we feel and why, so if they take a look they can see what it is the public is reacting to and decide if they choose to address it or not. Just slinging hate does no one any good.
 
It’s not Teresa Tomeo, it’s the local lady that introduces the show and does the “local news” segment. I’m not sure where I would find a transcript of what people say on the radio. Is that available? It wouldn’t be too hard to find. I could tell you the exact date. It was the Friday before Mardi Gras. THey were discussing a table that some seminarians were setting up at our community’s Mardi Gras celebration, trying to get out information on the Church and evangelize. She stated that she couldn’t possibly participate in such a ministry because she’d have to burn her shoes after being in the Soulard neighborhood. SHe’s also been known to make comments about entire neighborhoods in the St Louis area being full of “thugs.”
 
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HolySpirit said:
He drives me nuts, and I don’t know anyone who listens to him. I also work in Catholic Radio.

How he has a job is beyond me.
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i am glad i am not the only one who feels this way.
i tried watching his show a few times on
EWTN and i did not care for him at all.
i can’t put my finger on it.
 
PS- I will say that Teresa Tomeo has been known to run a smart mouth as well, particularly when discussing political issues. It is not “uncharitable” to dislike listening to a certain announcer because you don’t care for their attitude. They have the right to say what they want. I have the right to say that I don’t like it. That’s how “free speech” works.
 
Okay, so it was not on “Catholic Connections” but in the local radio staff. Thanks, Teresa Tomeo is a lovely lady and our Catholic media needs more women like her!!

Heck, I’d be writing to the radio station about that local host saying such things. Catholic radio is not about bashing your local community.
 
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