Living On Air

Adventures in Broadcasting

By: Joe Cipriano, Ann Cipriano

Narrated by: Joe Cipriano

Length: 5 hrs and 54 mins

Publisher's summary

Living On Air is a coming of age tale about a small town boy who makes it to the top of his profession in the world of radio and voice-over. It's a heart-warming, funny story filled with the ups and downs that people face on the rollercoaster ride to success, including some laughable encounters with major celebrities.

Living On Air is narrated by author Joe Cipriano, considered one of the top voice-over talents in America. Instantly recognizable as the voice of TV networks, award shows, games shows and more.

©2013 Joe Cipriano (P)2013 Joe Cipriano

Great book about the radio business

As an old radio guy I loved this book about Joe's journey from hanging around a small radio station, to becoming one of the biggest network voice over artists in the country. The extra production elements added to the audio book are spectacular, and really add to the story!

Just Wonderful

It's great to find somebody who loves what they do and can tell you why, and Joe Cipriano is the champion of that. His inside look at moving up through the ranks of radio, TV and voiceovers gives not only the secrets of the trade, but of the meaning of life--find something, ignore the odds, and rise like the sun. Unlike some well meaning audiobooks, this one is -- naturally -- professionally produced, and a joy to listen to whether on an airplane, in the shower (caution for appropriate electronics), or scraping used Nicorettes off Don Imus' desk. You'll never see Cipriano crucified for crudity, skank, or desperation tactics--and yet he's got the fastest comebacks of them all and in a duel of wits, look out. A pleasure to listen to!

Amazing Audiobook

This audiobook tells a beautiful story. It takes listeners on a journey from a small town in Connecticut, to Washington D.C. and on to the bright lights and big studios of Hollywood. It covers the ups and downs of radio and voice acting.

Joe Cipriano is an amazing storyteller, with such a legendary career to back it up. The work and audio production From Joe & Ann Cipriano, AJ McKay and others is simply fantastic.

This book has meant so much to me personally. When I was having a difficult time, this audiobook got me through. When my father had two strokes, he listened to this, to pass the time.

Very fun, exciting and worth the listen. The best part, the voice of practically every network TV promo, is your guide.

A warm, fascinating, wonderful story.

This is a warm, loving tribute to a fascinating industry, and a memoir of a huge talent who’s as humble, gracious and kind as the people he lovingly talks about in his story.

Wow! Loved, loved, loved this book!

This took me back and reminded me why I do what I do. I can’t put into words how much this book reminded me of my own childhood and my love of Radio. It would take me much longer to find myself working at a radio station than it did Joe but I can honestly say I really identified white his emotions as if I were experience this journey myself.

The production was out of this world. Kudos have to go out to AJ Mackay as this was very different from any other audiobook I have ever listen to but it was also what brought this story to life. I felt like I was listening to my am/fm radio in bed at night losing sleep before the next school day! You rocked it Tim, I mean Dave. Or was it Joe? Awesome and I do plan to listen again. Great stuff!

Great story and great narration, obviously...

If you could sum up Living On Air in three words, what would they be?

This was a cool insight to the life and progression of a "voice" I have listened to since I was child. Most of the time without even knowing it was him!

Who was your favorite character and why?

My favorite character is the only character really, but my favorite part of his life/book would be when he was a kid learning to be a DJ. It's the time when he was still young and innocent to the ways of adult life and it amazed me how sure Dave was about what he wanted to do. As he said, with some determination and a TON of luck, you can make you dreams come true. What a great way to achieve it!

Which character – as performed by Joe Cipriano – was your favorite?

Usually, I only listen to unabridged, straightforward narrations. A little change in voice for different characters is good, but once all the sound effects and drama re-enactments come in to play, I tend to lose interest. However, in this book, the sound effects were used so well, it really took you back in time to the moments that Dave was talking about. I truly felt the "era" of each sound. In a chronological piece like this, it worked perfectly. It also really helped the comedy stand out and brought you into the stories.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I laughed a ton, a few times out loud. Which isn't something books can often do for me. I think the fact that this was read by one of the world's best voice artist just drew me into the book and helped make it so real. Sometimes narrators can lose and audiences interest. That didn't happen once for me the whole time!

Any additional comments?

I'd say this is a definite great listen! Not like any other biography I've read or listened to, this feels almost like a novel. I would highly recommend it!

Fantastic!!

This is a great story and you can't beat the narration by the great Joe Cip! It's funny, touching and an all around good read (listen). The fact that he turned the audio version into more of a production than an ordinary audio book really brings it to life.

Highly recommended

Very inspiring story. A well produced and performed audio book. A great listen for anyone in entertainment or just feeling stuck.

Story of my life!!

Would you consider the audio edition of Living On Air to be better than the print version?

The audio version is so much fun to listen to, Joe brings so much humor to this listening experience. I couldn't imagine just reading it.

What does Joe Cipriano bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

PpJoe has a great sense of humor and you can tell that a lot of time and care went into the production of this piece.

The sound effects seemed to put you to the right time and place as he re-examined his life journey!

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I listened to Joe's story and it reminded me of myself as a child and loving radio, having the feeling that "I have to be on the air"...

Myself not even close as Joe's carrier took him, I seemed to live vicariously through his travels, took me back in time before MS took most of my vision and made it more difficult for me to travel from town to town in radio.

Any additional comments?

Most important, at 43, Joe gave me a new outlook on my carrier and the optimist spirit that Joe puts into his life, I now think I can do what I thought was unimaginable!!!

This book is truly funny and uplifting, even if your travels don't take you into radio or TV, it's just as fun to listen to.

Joe brings the goods in spades

If you could sum up Living On Air in three words, what would they be?

Educational. Inspiring. Fun.

Which character – as performed by Joe Cipriano – was your favorite?

Don Pardo

Any additional comments?

Joe tells his story in a fun and inspiring manner. He shares his dreams, fears, accomplishments and failures throughout his youth and career and offers great insight to the world of voiceover. But this wasn't just Joe's story, or a book about voiceover; for me it was a reminder and a call to action to keep pressing forward. There are risks and rewards in life, and having listened to Joe's story, I can see how Joe's "luck" in the industry came down to preparation meeting opportunity. He's VERY gifted, but in the end, it came down to Joe never giving up and doing whatever he needed to do to fulfill his vision of becoming one of the top voice artists in the world. Well done, Joe!