Two Boston radio broadcasters who have been on the air for decades — and who both used their shows to promote causes and “help save lives” — said farewell Friday morning after Audacy cuts hit the region.
Mix 104.1’s Erin O’Malley and Magic 106.7’s David O’Leary were among the Audacy employees who were laid off by the radio conglomerate this week.
Both O’Malley and O’Leary were on the air Friday morning, reflecting on their time with their respective Boston radio stations and thanking listeners.
“I really love you, Boston,” O’Malley said on Karson & Kennedy. “You have been so good to me, so thank you… Don’t give up on yourself, believe in the positive because I’m living proof it can happen.”
O’Malley has been on the Mix 104.1 midday show for 24 years.
Over the years, she has shared her journey with breast cancer — inspiring people to get checked out and bringing her positive attitude to help get people through dark times, listeners said.
“That means so much to me, thank you so much,” O’Malley said, as she choked up on air. “This has been my dream since I was 12, you know, little girl holding my brush pretending it was a microphone and I was on the radio. And I never in a million years would have thought that being on the radio, I could help save lives.
“The fact that I still get e-mails all the time from people who thank me for reminding them to check themselves because they ended up finding cancer,” she added. “I never imagined I could have had that kind of impact. It will forever be part of my heart.”
O’Malley explained why she never wore wigs or hats during her cancer treatment.
“If other people saw me, I wanted them to know you can still have a life,” she said. “I wanted to inspire other people not to be scared if they got a diagnosis, or if somebody they loved got a diagnosis. It’s going to be OK, and that’s the reason I never got hats or fake hair or anything because I felt the good in it.
“It’s so crazy but when I got that diagnosis, I was like, ‘I’m going to make good of this. I’m going to find a way to help people with it,’ ” she added.
O’Malley said she doesn’t want her radio days to be over.
“I absolutely want to still do it in some form or fashion,” she said. “And I have lots of stories to tell… I still want to make people smile.”
Over on Magic 106.7, O’Leary reflected on his 21-year run at the station.
“I’m thrilled to have had such a long career at Magic,” he said. “And just to have been on the radio for so long in Boston, I’m really an anomaly that way. A lot of people kind of move into the city or move out of the city, but I grew up here and to be on the radio in Boston my entire career for the most part, it’s really something to be proud of.”
O’Leary during the show has spread awareness about the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.
“Magic has been great about letting me go on about it on the air to create awareness about that,” he said. “That’s one thing that I’ll miss is being able to share info and just awareness about mental health with Magic listeners.”
He admitted that he’s excited to not wake up at 4 a.m. for the early show.
O’Leary finished his goodbye by thanking the listeners.
“Thanks for being so caring and warm and respectful of all of us,” he said. “Thanks for enjoying what we put out there. I’m really proud of the show. I’m thrilled to have worked with you guys. It was a great run, but there’s plenty more ahead for me, and I’m looking forward to what’s in the future in the next adventure… Thanks Magic listeners. Love you all.”