A Look Back at Ten Years of Brain & Courtlin in the Morning

November 10th, 2024 was a BIG day for our morning show! It marked ten years of me living in the state of Iowa, which means it also marked ten years of Brain & Courtlin!

I moved to Iowa in 2014 when I was only 23-years-old. I had been interning and working in radio around three years in a very small Michigan market, when I decided that it was time to make a change. I reached out to the career services department at the broadcast school I attended (which no longer exists!), and within a few weeks, I was flying out to Iowa for my first interview.

When I first heard that I was applying for a job in Cedar Rapids, I had to look up where it was. I had never heard of the city, and I had no idea it was in the state of Iowa. I don't know if you've ever Googled Cedar Rapids, but the first thing that came up was lots and lots of photos of the Flood of 2008. Not a great first impression!

When I landed at the Cedar Rapids airport for the first time, I remember telling my boss that I was expecting to see a city, not endless cornfields. He took me to Wild Hogs, where I met Brain for the first time (in person), and I attended my first ever Listener Lunch. Not your typical job interview, but then again, radio isn't your typical job!

I moved to Iowa only a few weeks later, never having seen my apartment before moving in. I remember sitting on my grandpa's old recliner, just sobbing uncontrollably while the movers brought in my things. I couldn't BELIEVE that I had agreed to leave behind everything and everyone I had ever known to live eight hours away and pursue a career with a low success rate. What was I thinking?! I swore I would be out of here in year.

And yet, here I am. A decade later.

Moving to Iowa was the greatest decision I've ever made. I have built a wonderful life here full of incredible people, and I have an amazing job where I get to work across from one of my best friends every day. I had no idea how my life would change when I was sitting on that chair bawling my eyes out, but then again, you never really know what can happen until you take that leap. I still don't know how I mustered up the courage to leave everything behind, but I'm so glad I did.

Thank you, dear listeners, for everything you've done for me in the past ten years. For supporting our show, calling in to chat with us, offering advice and recommendations and encouragement, engaging me in the world of country music, and welcoming me with (mostly, LOL) open arms. I know that me taking over as morning show cohost was a big change for you guys, too, but I'm thrilled that you've accepted me as an Iowan.

And thank you to Brain. For everything. I never imagined that I would find a cohost that feels like family, and I could not be more grateful to be on this journey with him. Here is a look back at the last ten years of Brain & Courtlin in the Morning: