Spencer Streichert is getting ready for his new gig as a fill-in host on CKUA. The experiences he’ll bring into the radio booth are diverse. He’s been an athlete, a rodeo bareback rider, an actor, a stuntman, and a comedian.
Streichert grew up on a ranch in Eastend, Saskatchewan. His high school graduating class had just five students in it. His mother and his grandparents encouraged him to try new things, including rodeo riding. He describes his grandfather as “a horseman through and through,” and this led Streichert to pursue rodeo as a teen. “I was just always around horses,” he says, “I made the semi-pro finals in bareback riding when I was 15.”
Working as a stuntman seemed like the next things to try after rodeo work, he says. “As I got into Grade 12, I realized rodeo would not be career for me. I didn’t have the natural ability. But with stunt work, I got paid no matter what happened.”
Seeking work as an actor came next. “Stunt work was good, but performing pulled me in. It is way more fun to not get hurt,” he says. This strategy seems to have backfired, however. At the time of this interview, Streichert has his wrist in a cast. It got crunched during a set change in a performance of Beauty and the Beast. “It’s true!” he laughs. “I used to ride bulls, but I hurt myself doing musical theatre. After the show I went for an X-ray. Yup, broken wrist.”
Now, as he prepares for his hosting duties at CKUA, he’s excited about the opportunity to connect with community. “When I first moved to Calgary, I was active at CJSW. Radio was always something I have wanted to do, but it’s hard to break into the industry without community stations. It always seemed out of reach, but CJSW made it possible.” He launched a podcast with a friend, and kept in touch with CKUA’s Content Director, Arianne Smith-Piquette. Now, he says, “The timing is right. CKUA has always been on my radar, and now I’ve put myself on CKUA’s radar.”
Listeners can expect an eclectic mix during Streichert’s programs, with a strong emphasis on Albertan and Calgarian artists. “I would probably pick alt-rock and indie folk as my favourite styles of music. My goal is to showcase as many local artists as I can. In the last ten years, it’s been cool to see how the scene has shifted. My taste has expanded. I love old music and country music, and now there are so many great new artists, too. My record collection is full of LPs from artists who are right here in the province.”
