McVay & Orchard ‘Flip The Format On Fear’
• Veteran programmer and consultant Mike McVay has partnered with second-generation broadcaster-turned-psychotherapist Kelly Orchard on a new project aimed squarely at radio’s most human challenge: the fear of failure. Their collaboration, Flipping the Format on the Fear of Failure, draws from Orchard’s decades in broadcasting and clinical mental-health work to provide a framework of emotional intelligence and positive leadership that resonates across every level of the industry.
“This project captured my interest because of the human need that exists,” said McVay, founder of McVay Media Consulting and a 2025 inductee into the Radio Hall of Fame. “People in our industry are facing more than ratings pressure; they’re facing uncertainty, stress, and burnout. Kelly’s approach connects those realities to real, actionable tools.”
The book introduces Orchard’s “W.K.R.P. Framework — Winning Mindset, Know Thyself, Resilience / Responsibility / Respect, & Positive Psychology” — a modern operating system for managers, programmers, and talent navigating disruption. Each section blends Orchard’s professional therapy training with authentic stories from inside America’s radio stations.
“Radio taught me how to lead, how to fail, and how to get back up,” said Orchard, M.A., LMFT. “I was raised in the business — my father engineered the first ‘Boss Radio’ broadcast at KHJ/Los Angeles — and those lessons shaped my work as a therapist. Now I get to give them back to the industry that raised me.”
McVay and Orchard are also developing companion workshops and presentations designed to help stations and corporate groups “flip their internal format” by strengthening mindset, communication, and culture. Their message: mental health and leadership health are inseparable.
For interviews, speaking engagements, or review copies, contact McVay at mikemcvay@mcvaymedia.com or visit KellyOrchard.com.
