McVay Media president Mike McVay has joined forces with licensed psychotherapist and broadcaster Kelly Orchard to launch Flipping the Format on the Fear of Failure, a project designed to help radio professionals navigate industry challenges through emotional intelligence and positive psychology.
The collaboration merges Orchard’s clinical expertise with her decades of radio experience to provide a framework for leadership and mental wellness tailored to programmers, managers, and on-air talent. Central to their approach is Orchard’s W.K.R.P. Framework—Winning Mindset, Know Thyself, Resilience / Responsibility / Respect, and Positive Psychology—developed to promote self-awareness, adaptability, and effective communication in high-pressure media environments.
Beyond the book, McVay and Orchard are building a suite of workshops and corporate presentations for stations and media groups seeking to improve organizational culture and staff engagement. The goal is to give broadcasters actionable tools to manage stress, rebuild confidence, and strengthen team dynamics amid constant technological and market change.
“This project captured my interest because of the human need that exists,” McVay said. “People in our industry are facing more than ratings pressure; they’re facing uncertainty, stress, and burnout. Kelly’s approach connects those realities to real, actionable tools.”
Orchard added, “Radio taught me how to lead, how to fail, and how to get back up. I was raised in the business—my father engineered the first ‘Boss Radio’ broadcast at KHJ in Los Angeles—and those lessons shaped my work as a therapist. Now I get to give them back to the industry that raised me.”
Flipping the Format on the Fear of Failure extends Orchard’s previous work on workplace resilience and integrates McVay’s decades of programming leadership. Together they aim to destigmatize mental health discussions in broadcasting and offer a practical roadmap for emotional balance and professional growth in a demanding creative field.
More information on the book and upcoming workshops is available through McVay Media and Kelly Orchard.