Tom Ashbrook is annoying. Why? Well he has such wonderful guests on his program and when they are talking, and I am trying to listen, Tom Ashbrook is grunting and, humming, and moaning, and driving me crazy.

Why do this? Because you are nervous? Well if you are nervous, get someone else to present the show. The women presenters do not grunt and interrupt the speakers with annoying noises which are doubly amplified over the air. Let the guest talk. If you feel that the guest is running over, interrupt with words, not grunts or “u-huh”’s

In general I get the impression the Tom Ashbrook wants to talk during the entire time he is on-air. This is boring and rude.

I do read the comments although when they’re a back and forth between two people who are regulars, I tend to skip over them or skim them.

A partial wish list off the top of my head at 12:30 am when I should be sleeping.

I’d like to be able to track comments, all or a specific thread via RSS.

I’d like you to advise people that they ought not use comment threads as personal blogs. I’ve noticed that a few people feel that they have to answer every question when things get heated. Maybe limit comments by a single author in a particular thread or, have a timer running so that a single author can’t comment more than X times in an hour, a day, a thread.

Comment threads sometimes need moderation to stay on track but if you and your staff don’t have time, please make it explicit that discussion ought to stay on the topic of the show.

Many people are commenting before listening to the show, or, are commenting without ever listening to the show. While I’ve made general comments before shows start, it would seem to me that listening to a show ought to be encouraged so as not to create two different worlds, the folks who are responding to the show, the folks who are discussing a general idea but aren’t basing discussion on the content of the show.

I think the site redesign is great and the comments add a lot to it.

I’d love to see more integration of comments here with the shows and so, you might announced a day ahead of time that you’re taking questions in the form of comments on a particular topic and then choose from those questions to use on the air. No doubt there are plenty of articulate writers here who aren’t calling up but who could post comments/questions as or more considered than telephone callers. I’ve been listening for years but have no desire to call in.

That would be a great way to integrate what goes on here into the show.

Again, keep up the great work and do let us know if you plan to use comments to feed shows, that’s something I’d surely want to take part in.