Michele Wilson and the Rise of Culture Mix Radio
When Culture Mix Radio launched in February 2025, it started with a simple but bold idea: create a space where local voices could grow into strong, consistent media brands. Powered by K101.2 POP Richmond, Culture Mix Radio (CMR) began as a hybrid radio station with just two shows, yet it didn’t take long for the momentum to build. What started as a weekend concept quickly evolved into a powerhouse lineup of nine shows and counting, built on collaboration, community, and the steady leadership of its founder and creative force, Chef Michele Wilson.
A station built from vision and willingness to learn
Michele Wilson has always been drawn to media. Even before Culture Mix Radio became a recognizable name, she carried a clear interest in building something that blended creativity, culture, and communication. She is also the first to admit that her technical knowledge of radio was not where she wanted it to be in the beginning. But what separates Michele is that she didn’t let that slow her down. She leaned into learning, stayed open to feedback, and proved that media is a lane she can successfully navigate.
That willingness to grow became part of the station’s DNA. CMR was never designed to be a closed circle. Instead, it became a place where hosts could learn together, create together, and sharpen their craft while building something bigger than any single show.
From two flagship shows to a full lineup
Culture Mix Radio launched with two shows that set the tone for what the station would become.
The Stoop, currently hosted by Chef Michele Wilson and Chef Nashaye Bowser, also known as Chef Verde, brought energy, personality, and a community centered feel that made it easy for listeners to connect.
Thee Informal Podcast, hosted by Keith “Like The Country” Spain and Peter “Big Pete” Jordan, delivered conversation driven content with chemistry that quickly helped define the station’s voice.
Those two shows served as the foundation. As interest grew, so did the lineup, and CMR began to feel less like a small weekend block and more like a destination for informed, local programming.
More than a station: a media incubator
One of the most important reasons CMR has grown so quickly is that Michele has positioned the station as more than a broadcast platform. Culture Mix Radio has become a media incubator. That means hosts do not just show up, record, and leave. They’re invited into a culture of development and partnership.
Michele offers her hosts opportunities to collaborate with each other, host social mixer events, and take part in informative brainstorming sessions that help ideas become actionable content. She also provides marketing and branding solutions, reinforcing that a show is not only a creative outlet but also a product that can be packaged, improved, and grown.
This approach turns individual hosts into a connected ecosystem. It builds loyalty, strengthens consistency, and helps listeners feel like they are tapping into a full community, not just a schedule.
Honoring excellence and building tradition
Culture Mix Radio is also creating traditions that deepen its identity. A major example is Michele recently hosting her 2nd Annual Chef Honors ceremony at Pauline’s Restaurant in Chesterfield, Virginia. The event celebrated excellence and commitment within the CMR family, including honoring Thee Informal Podcast for their dedication and for helping grow CMR into a successful radio brand.
That kind of recognition matters. It shows that Culture Mix is not simply chasing growth. It is building culture, rewarding effort, and reminding its team that the work behind the microphone is valued.
A weekend broadcast that keeps listeners informed
CMR’s programming has become a key part of its appeal. The broadcast starts at 11am on Saturdays and Sundays on K101.2 POP Richmond, offering listeners an informative lineup with distinct voices and topics.
Saturdays
• 12pm: The Stoop with Chef Michele and Chef Verde
• 1pm: Thee Informal Podcast
• 2pm: Kickin’ It With KULA hosted by local Richmond rap icon KULA Voncile
• 3pm: Gurl Whet with Astar J and Lomien
Sundays
• 11am: PART 2 with Dr. Tasha
• 12pm: The Financial Hour with Nate Banks
• 1pm: Live in the Salon with Benita and Rita
• 2pm: 4 the Luv Of Baby Boomers with Delores Mc
This lineup reflects the heart of what CMR is doing. It’s informative, locally rooted, and designed to serve multiple audiences without losing its identity.
A blueprint for sustainable creative partnership
At its core, Culture Mix Radio is proof of what can happen when local creatives stop operating in isolation and start building together. Michele has used CMR to demonstrate how partnerships can be useful and sustainable, not just exciting in the moment. By giving hosts a place to grow, a structure to plug into, and opportunities to collaborate, she has built a model that strengthens everyone involved.
Culture Mix Radio’s rise is not only about adding shows. It is about building a brand that supports its people, creates community centered programming, and shows Richmond and beyond what’s possible when leadership meets consistency. With nine shows and counting, and a culture that keeps expanding, Michele Wilson is not just running a station. She is building a movement around shared creativity, shared opportunity, and a shared belief that local voices deserve a strong platform.
