How A Kid From Georgia Built Radio Giants And a Wonderful Life

Get in Touch with Dan by Texting NowWhat does it take to lose almost everything as a kid, find your footing in the Marines, and then build not one but two major radio companies? Terry Jacobs joins me with his wife Susan at his side to trace a remarkable path from small-town Georgia to the highest levels of insurance and broadcasting, and back to the values that has kept their family steady.We start with the early blows: a father’s death at nine, a house lost, and a football dream ended by injury. The Marine Corps reshaped Terry’s mindset, turning discipline into opportunity as he attacked actuarial exams that most never finish. Promotions at USF&G and Aetna came fast; Prudential tapped him to help launch a new personal lines venture. When the fit soured, Cincinnati called. That jump unlocked a new chapter at a premier company in Cincinnati. He then go to found Jacor, mastering the buy-improve-trade-up game, and landing crown jewels like WLW and WEBN. He shares the real cost of leverage, the calculus behind two sales to Clear Channel, and why a third swing taught him to respect “enough.”Beyond the boardroom, this is a love story and a community story. Terry and Susan relive chaotic, laughter-filled ski trips with friends, the teenage meet-cute at Susan's parents general store, and the nightly prayers that still anchor them after sixty-three years. Their investment in Morehead State football—facilities, fundraising, belief—helped spark a record-breaking comeback win and offered a lifeline to players who needed a shot at college. The advice hits hard: whatever difficulty you expect, double it; whatever money you plan, triple it; decide not to quit—then prove it when quitting feels logical.If you’re an entrepreneur weighing risk, a leader navigating conflict, or someone searching for a compass that points to what’s right even when it hurts, this story delivers hard-won lessons with heart. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a push, and leave a review telling us which moment stayed with you.