- Did you guys know this episode Marks the end of season one of "Vibe 309"?

- [Audience] Aww.

- Thanks guys.

You didn't have to do that.

Truly, we've had some remarkable guests, incredible people.

People who represent the very best of this city.

People who wake up every day and choose to be a positive force in the lives of others.

And honestly, there may not be a better example that than my guy Greg Batton.

Greg's one of those people, if you run into out in the wild, he's gonna shake your hand, look in the eye and make you feel like you matter.

And that sticks, man.

People will remember that sort of thing.

On the radio, he does the same thing, but at scale brings in voices from all over Central Illinois, all walks of life, gives people a chance to tell their story, do good, be kind, go home, repeat.

That's his motto.

And if you know me, you know I'm a sucker for a good motto.

I've got a motto of my own, a guiding principle, if you will, I try to live by, I think Greg embodies this one too.

And that is to widen the circle.

I genuinely try to make people feel included, not excluded.

I want people to feel like they belong, like they're part of something.

If there's one idea behind this show, it's that.

It's to widen the circle.

We've been able to do that through live audiences here at WTVP.

Shout out, give it up one more time.

(audience applauding) Amazing audiences, people from the community coming in, being a part of the production and seeing how, as the Todd father says, "The sausage gets made," which that's actually a pretty disgusting process.

I like to think this process is a little more fun than that.

We've also been able to do it in our vibe checks, during those outta studio segments, you hear from people all over the region, different backgrounds, different stories, all adding to the bigger picture.

This show is meant to lift others up, to make people feel proud of their hometown, to highlight all the good stuff happening around here, just like Greg's been doing on his show for over two decades.

If we've done that even a little bit, then I'd say season one was a success.

But we're just getting started.

Season two picks up right on schedule next month.

Great guests, great vibes on deck.

And that is a promise.

And that's my take.