Interview with Rich Larson (New Owner of KYMN)

Community Still Has a Voice — and It Sounds Like KYMN Radio

One of my favorite parts of running Starlight Productions is the people it connects me to. Artists, educators, business owners, volunteers — people who genuinely care about where they live and who they share it with.

That’s exactly why I was so excited to sit down with Rich Larson, the new owner of KYMN Radio, and why I’m even more excited to share part of that conversation with you.

KYMN isn’t just a radio station. It’s a living, breathing part of the greater Northfield and southern Minnesota community — and after talking with Rich, it’s clear that its heart is in exactly the right place.

A Winding Path That Led Home

Rich’s journey to radio ownership wasn’t a straight line — and honestly, that’s what makes it so compelling.

“It’s kind of a circuitous path,” Rich told me. “Since I was about 16 years old, I wanted to go into journalism… but life didn’t quite work out that way.”

Instead, life led him through sales, the 2008 economic crash, bartending, working with the Minnesota Twins, and eventually into local media. About bartending, Rich laughed and said, “If you live in a small town and want to get to know a lot of people, go get a bartending job. That’ll do it.”

That people-first education followed him into radio. When he was unexpectedly asked to step into the role of news director at KYMN, something clicked.

“I fell in love with radio immediately. Immediately,” he said. “I love being here. I love running this place. I love doing radio. And I love being part of this community.”

That love is evident in everything KYMN does.

Why Local Radio Still Matters

In a media world dominated by national headlines and endless scrolling, KYMN has made a deliberate choice to focus close to home.

“People want to hear what’s happening in their backyard,” Rich explained. “And hyper-local news like this isn’t always the easiest thing to find anymore.”

As newspapers shrink and resources disappear, KYMN has stepped up to help fill that gap.

“It breaks my heart,” Rich said, speaking about the loss of local journalism. “But it also leaves a major void. So we’re trying very hard to fill that.”

From local news and arts programming to nonprofit spotlights, hobby shows, music, and high school sports, KYMN is working to be exactly what small-town radio should be.

“We’re really trying to just be the hub of communication for the area,” Rich said.

Why This Partnership Matters to Me

When I asked Rich what made Starlight Productions a good fit for KYMN, his answer meant more than he probably realized.

“Arts are so important,” he said plainly. “I was a theater kid. I was a choir boy. Music is one of my great passions.”

But he went deeper than nostalgia.

“When kids get cast in a show or study music, they start pulling everything they’re learning together,” Rich explained. “It gives them a clearer vision of how the world works — how everything is connected.”

That connection, he believes, is where real growth happens.

“You start fostering creativity, and you develop critical thinking skills,” he said. “And we need that in this world these days. There’s a real shortage of critical thinkers.”

That belief is exactly why this partnership feels so aligned. We both see the arts not as an extra, but as essential.

Old Media, New World

KYMN is proudly rooted in radio — but it’s not stuck in the past.

“You have to keep up with the times,” Rich said. “The way people consume media has changed, and we have to stay with that.”

KYMN now streams live, offers podcasts on all major platforms, and is available through apps like TuneIn.

“I don’t even see it as changing with the times,” Rich shared. “I see it as exciting opportunities to expand who we are.”

You can be across the country — or across the world — and still tune in.

“You could be in Pakistan and listen to KYMN Radio,” And people do.

Community Still Matters

If there was one message Rich wanted people to hear loud and clear, it was this:

“Community matters.”

He talked about knowing his neighbors, his listeners, his local shopkeepers and librarians.

“We live in small towns for a reason,” he said. “When people are working toward the same goals, with a love for where they live — that matters.”

And that philosophy doesn’t stop at city limits.

“We all do better when we all do better,” Rich said. “Let’s send some support back and forth and see what happens.”

That belief — that collaboration strengthens everyone — is exactly why this partnership exists.

A Shared Mission

At the end of our conversation, Rich said something that perfectly sums up why KYMN and Starlight Productions work so well together.

“What you’re doing is giving young people opportunities they might not otherwise have,” he told me. “And we just want to support that.”

So whether you’re tuning in on AM 1080, FM 95.1, streaming online, or listening to a podcast later — know this: there are still people behind the mic who care deeply about telling local stories, supporting the arts, and strengthening community.

And that’s a voice worth listening to.