I’m making my CBC Radio debut in Nova Scotia! And BC! And Yukon! And Saskatchewan! And…
How is this possible, you ask?
Through the magic of CBC Radio Syndication. I didn’t know this existed, but when I reached out to Sandy of Ontario Morning to talk about The Emergency Doctor’s Guide to a Pain-Free Back, he suggested syndication.
Through syndication, you’re assigned a producer who submits an open call to CBC Radio shows across the country. The shows bid on you during the day, and then by 3 or 4 p.m., you get a schedule of which shows you’ll speak to from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. the next day.
“But…what if nobody wants to talk to me?” I said.
My producer, Vanessa, laughed. “I’ve never seen that happen.”
Still, I was concerned, until I got my Thursday schedule.
10:00 |
Gander – Central Morning Leigh Anne Power – Host Twitter: @centralmorning |
10:15 |
Ottawa – Ottawa Morning Robyn Bresnahan – Host Twitter (show): @OttawaMorning |
10:30 |
Kitchener-Waterloo Host: Craig Norris Twitter: @cbckw891 |
10:40 |
Ontario AM Wei Chen – Host Twitter: @CBCOntMorning |
10:50 |
Cape Breton (Sydney) – Information Morning Steve Sutherland – Host Twitter: @InfoMorningCB |
11:15 |
Sudbury – Morning North Markus Schwabe – Host Twitter (show): @MorningNorth Twitter (host): @cbcmarkus |
11:45 |
Kelowna – Daybreak South Chris Walker – Host Twitter: @cbckelowna |
12:00 |
Prince George / Prince Rupert – Daybreak North Hosts: Russell Bowers (PG) Carolina DeRyk (PR) Twitter handle (show): @daybreaknorth Prince George hosts: Carolina: @rupertsmaven |
12:15 |
Vancouver –The Early Edition Rick Cluff – Host Twitter (show): @cbcearlyedition |
12:30 |
Whitehorse – A New Day Sandi Coleman – Host Twitter (show): @cbcanewday |
12:45 |
Regina – The Morning Edition Host: Sheila Cole, Twitter handle: @sheilacolescbc |
My son Max said, “So, you’re going to be flying for ten days?”
“No, that’s the power of radio. I’m driving to Ottawa, and then I’m going to talk to people from coast to coast about back pain.”
My husband laughed at me. “Miss ‘What if nobody wants to talk to me.'”
Honestly, I didn’t know this was possible. Amazing. I love, love, love the CBC. And then tonight, I’ll be making my debut at Chapters Rideau with Stockholm Syndrome before coming back for more syndication interviews on Friday.
On the weekend, I’ll storm the Cornwall and Area Pop Event.
Then I get a day off before I’m the hospitalist at the Glengarry for the week.
WOOT.

I asked my host, Alexandre, to take a picture of me in the lobby, using my laptop. He obliged. Ottawa Morning’s Robyn Bresnahan admired my boots! She looked fabulous, even though she only had three hours of sleep. It’s a gift, I tell you.
If you want a chance to win a signed copy, drop me a line in the contact form with CBC as the subject and a message with your address and why you want to win.

Yay! You can buy it on Kobo.

Yay! You can buy it on Amazon.ca Also available through your local booksellers and other e-tailers.
P.S. I’m writing this on Parliament Hill. A security guy asked me what I was doing. I was standing at wall, typing on my laptop, instead of sitting like your average person. Because I’ve got this book on back pain. And, like I told Markus Schwabe of Morning North, “Sometimes, you have to decide if you’ll do the healthy thing, even if you look weird. I’ve always chosen looking weird, myself.”
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This time I try to show UP!!!!
At least showing up electronically
That works! Thanks, Mike.
Good luck! The hard part is to keep yourself fresh and excited while answering the same questions for the nth time.
Author Melissa Yi How to get syndicated on CBC radio https://t.co/8b6GZOCvpy #amreading #amwriting #writers
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How to get syndicated on CBC radio https://t.co/8b6GZOCvpy @dr_sassy
You go girl!
Way to go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
U go girl!
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Awesome!
Look at u! Nice job!
Two thumbs WAY up Melissa!! Congratulations!! 🙂
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Well done missy!
So happy for you, Melissa! Congratulations
Awesome!!!!!
That is awesome! Congrats Melissa.
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Nothing but success for you Melissa and happy travellings.
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Thanks, everyone! Peter Graefe, have you had media experience/syndication? I’m curious! Please feel free to PM me if you’d rather. For me, my challenge was that the Chapters signing went well (sold all my Hope Sze books on the table), but I didn’t get to bed until midnight and felt gross driving in for my second round this morning. Still did it, though. Only one more interview to go–Yellowknife!
I’ve done it a couple of times, although never to talk about my own work… just to do some context around some political event that I have now forgotten about. Since they distribute the same interview script to all the hosts, you often find yourself saying the same thing over an over again. You have to work hard not to get bored with yourself! But some hosts like to do their own thing, or take an interview in a natural direction, which is a nice change.
I’m sure your commentary was interesting, and it must’ve been cool to hear yourself across the country. I never realized that hosts can use a script. I did like the hosts who were able to laugh and improvise a bit, but everyone was super. It was also interesting to check out all their Twitter feeds and see how different things are across the country, e.g. crocuses in bloom up north, Vancouver worrying about bike theft, bumper crop of bison–who knew?
I’d also like to give a shout out to Lynda Turner. She encouraged me to try more in-person events, even though that means risking failure, in my mind. So Cornwall and CAPE, I’m gunning for you this weekend!
Good luck to you!! Can’t wait to hear all about your successes!! I’ll be at Live the Smart Way Expo in Ottawa! 🙂
How to get syndicated on CBC radio https://t.co/oqDCByuoxy
Very exciting!!!
Way to go Melissa!!
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You are amazing Melissa Yuan-Innes. I am so happy for the success you are having.
Congrats & enjoy your travels & be well
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