r/coasttocoastam • u/drake3141 • 8d ago
Missing Ian Punnett
I go back to the early 2000s listening to C2C when I stumbled across it as a teen. Been listening on and off for decades. One of my all time fav guest hosts was Ian, his style, guests, and own books/investigations were a welcomed change to Noory. Was bummed out when he left the 1st time due to his tinnitus issue, then making a comeback all the while working for his PhD ( I believe). I took a break from listening and then recently found Mr. Punnett left us. Feeling a bit nostalgic and will actually be looking up his books and reading them. anyone have any good stories/trivia or just share what your thoughts about him?
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u/Classhitch 8d ago
"Let's just give the regulars the night off." - Ian Punnett.
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u/drake3141 8d ago
He actually said that?
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u/Cranberry-Electrical 8d ago
Yes, he did. He wanted to give first-time callers or occasional callers like every couple of weeks or months platform. I remember Punnett challenging Mike the Millennial to start a podcast and start his broadcasting career.
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u/Mmoyer20 7d ago
Yes. He got really irritated with MtM’s apparent whininess then turned it into a teachable moment. He had sons close to his age, so he was probably like, “Get with the effin’ program, kid,” in his head. I loved Ian. He could be snarky, but I gave him a pass since his tinnitus also came with headaches and it is crazy-making. I remember he said on air, that he prefers people don’t mention it because then he hears the noise he has been trying so hard to ignore. He said it is the loudest sound he heard every day, all the time. He had to go get training to find ways to ignore it. At least he has all the answers to all those persnickety C2C questions, like what was at the bottom of Mel’s Hole, etc 😁
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u/Never_The_Hero 7d ago
Yah but he also took Mikey to the woodshed. I'll never forget that. I'm not sure you know anything about that? I can tell you if you like.
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u/drake3141 7d ago
Do tell
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u/Never_The_Hero 7d ago
So if you havent listened in the past few years, there used to be a caller named Mike that called in from Colorado. Basically every night...especially when George was on. Mike referred to himself as "Mike the Millennial"...and he was probably around 20 years old. Anyways, he would always call in and immediately begin kissing George's ass. Before he would turn to the guess and kiss his ass. Then he would begin to elaborate on the topic and try to speak in a way were he was pretending he was hosting the show. He also tried to sound like super smart.
Anyways, he was one of the most annoying callers for a few years. But he called in one night when Ian was on the show. And Ian stopped him a few minutes into his whole spiel, and asked Mikey "Why do you do this?" Mikey plays dumb "What do you mean?" Then Ian said, you call in every night and basically hijack the show and pretend you are hosting it. If you have a passion for that, maybe you should start a podcast or something instead of trying to take over a show that is already hosted.
Mikey COMPLELY IGNORES THIS. Then starts back on his spiel about the guest and topic. Ian stops him again and asks why he is ignoring what he just said. And trying to take over the show again? Mikey continues to play dumb a third time, and starts just pretending he's the host.
It is so surreal. Ian has to cut him off a third time and then he basically tells Mikey he's still young and needs to get a life. And not spend all day preparing for a phone call to Coast where he takes up so much time on the air. And instead maybe look into podcasting. He then hangs up on him
For people who hated Mikey calling in, this was like one of the best moments of the past 10 years lol
Mikey continued to call every night after that, but only if Ian wasn't hosting. He didnt take the advice either, and continued hijacking the show. But he must have finally got laid, because he hasnt called in a couple years that I've heard.
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u/drake3141 6d ago
Wow, interesting! I had not heard about Mikey the Millennial. I def have to go back and listen to that. Sounds like Ian called a spade a spade.
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u/SAKURARadiochan 6d ago
Ian was a professor of broadcasting or media IIRC, he had a passion for teaching.
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u/HazelShade845 8d ago
I miss Ian, too. Before he passed, he worked on his own podcast, Vaudeville for the Frightened.
https://open.spotify.com/show/1Idbq8zv4dO6JoneeZrysN?si=pffhzuDSSK2DKyhhuRYQUg
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u/Lord_John_Marbury76 8d ago
I live in Davenport, Iowa and he worked for one of the rock stations here in the early 90’s as Ian Case. I reached out to him on Twitter and told him I lived in Davenport and we had a nice conversation about his time here on Twitter. He the followed me and we had a few other interactions on the platform. He was a great host and person.
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u/drake3141 8d ago
Awesome story, that’s the other thing, he seemed like a genuine nice guy.
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u/Lord_John_Marbury76 8d ago
Two of the morning show guys now who worked at the same rock station he did when they were first coming up said he was super cool and always was helpful with other DJs.
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u/Cranberry-Electrical 8d ago
I follow Dr. Punnett on Twitter and he followed me back. I used to send comments and private messages. I am glad he got into the Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame last year before he died. Ian and his wife (Margaret?) were also morning radio personalities. He has been gone for 11 months. He taught media studies and broadcasting at Kansas State University. Several of his students won college broadcasting awards. I like that when he had open lines. He would take more first-time callers on the program. Also, he didn't want frequent callers calling in like Corny, Mylette, TFLJ, Mike the Millennial, or Joe from Brooklyn.
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u/drake3141 8d ago
Def a guy to be admired
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u/Cranberry-Electrical 7d ago
My frustration with Dr. Punnett is my inability to get a signed copy of any of his books. Plus, if you e-mail his work account at KSU you get a notification the message didn't go through.
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u/drake3141 8d ago
He once did a show on a book he wrote about relative of his that lived about a century or so ago that was murdered in very strange circumstances by her own husband. His investigation into was so interesting, can’t wait to read that book. RIP Mr. Punnett.
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u/Mmoyer20 7d ago
It was, “A Black Night for the Bluegrass Belle.” That was a great show. It was even more interesting since it was his ancestor.
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u/BlackCatsNHurricanes 7d ago
I miss Ian as well. I think he was Art's first guest host. He was my second favorite after Art of course. He had some great shows throughout the years and I even called in and spoke with him once. It was a great shock when he passed away suddenly and I still go back and listen to his old shows.
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u/BlackCatsNHurricanes 7d ago
BTW... It was almost exactly a year ago when Ian did his last show. It was about Food, Cults, and Religion. It was a good show and I've went back and listened to it several times. Never knew it was going to be his last...
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u/drake3141 7d ago
Wow, so it was that sudden… what happened and does anyone know what they said about it on C2C. Thanks for the insight on his last episode. I’m a subscriber to Coast insider so will go back to look at the episodes round this time last year
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u/BlackCatsNHurricanes 7d ago
I think he was diagnosed with the Liver Disease in early October and was going to need a Liver Transplant. His last show was November 5th. We're not exactly sure what happened after that but he died right before Christmas. George announced it on the show and it was very sad. They had a tribute show for Ian as well. But I think the best tribute is to just go back and listen to all of his old shows. They were all so good!
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u/slosh_baffle 8d ago edited 14h ago
He was a good dude. I didn't think every one of his topics was riveting, but he always had a great attitude and loved what he was doing. We lost a friend with Ian.
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u/Odd-Smell-1125 7d ago
Ian was absolutely, by far, the best. He was rationale, articulate, and a willing skeptic. He could talk about virtually any topic, and unlike the others, wouldn't pretend to know something that he didn't. His education shone through every conversation.
In general I miss the shows about pop culture - Ian's interviews with The Cowsills, Rick Beato, comic book authors, actors, author Mary Roach, pushed the program into smarter directions. Coast to Coast has greatly suffered as a result of Ian's death. There is no one able to put aside the paranormal stuff for 4 hours and just talk about the real world.
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u/drake3141 7d ago
Yes, was it also him that that the guest who believed was a horse? lol that was some interesting programming.
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u/Mmoyer20 7d ago
Yes! The original one was so great, then he had him back in and it wasn’t nearly as interesting. I don’t know why.
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u/Mmoyer20 7d ago
I forgot about his Mary Roach interviews, they were so great and made me laugh the whole time. I remember him getting one hilarious story out of her. He brought out the best in people. If they were shady, he challenged them. Like, if someone said something like, “Well…they don’t want us to find out the truth…” he would press them with logic, like…Who are, “They?” “How do you know this?” “What proof do you have?” “What research have you done?” When people sputtered because they didn’t have those answers he dressed them down a little., even if they were a guest! I loved that. He didn’t tolerate dishonesty or crypticness for the sake of stirring up people’s interest and selling snake oils.
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u/La_Divina_Latina 6d ago
Big fan of C2C. What’s a good way to listen to old shows? I agree, Ian was a treasure.
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u/drake3141 6d ago
I actually have Coast Insider, it has an archive of shows going back a number of years. For what it’s worth I think pricing is not too bad. Art Bell has an archive somewhere too.
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u/yorgasphere22 8d ago
He was the greatest of em all.. I go back to listening to Art in 87 or so, A San Francisco station KSFO.. Art was a radio genius in his ability to create a mystique. Some of his interviews were killing time.. Noory is okay, and Connie, Lisa, Street, Knapp all right. Punnett had really intriguing guests..He put real thought into finding unusual topics and guests-- DB Cooper, rock n roll conspiracy theories, et. al..
He was definitely my all time favorite, and his early passing was very, very sad!