MENTOR’S SPACE

MENTOR’S SPACE - RADIOSTAR ’26

Welcome Mentors — This is where the ideas come to life.

Thank you for being part of RadioStar ’26. This page contains all finalist submissions for Challenge 1, along with any updates or tweaks they’ve added. Your role is simple but incredibly important: review each idea, score it, and provide honest, constructive feedback to help shape the next generation of radio creators. You are the backbone of The Idea Year.

Bit of advice - USE YOUR PC / :LAPTOP ...bit busy for a mobile

Start Reviewing

Your Role as a Mentor

This year, it's a very different RadioStar! An idea‑driven contest. The IDEA is the star! Lots of this year's finalists are not radio people, not presenters, and not producers — they are just people with imagination, passion, and a spark worth developing. The idea can be either a show idea, a feature, a radio station format... basically anything that can shake it all up!! Your job is to help them refine that spark. For each finalist: Review their original submission (either text, audio, or video or both, or all 3), Read their Challenge 1 paragraph, Score their idea, Provide short, constructive feedback. Your feedback will help them prepare for Challenge 2 and Challenge 3.

PS…As you review the finalists’ ideas, please remember that all creative concepts belong to the finalists. If you ever feel inspired by something and would like to use it in your own work, just let us know first so we can ask permission — and of course, credit the creator. Fairness and respect keep our RadioStar family strong.Thanks for being the wonderful humans you are. We appreciate you.

Scoring System (Out of 100)

Our playful & structured guide to evaluating potential radiostars!

1. Clarity of Idea

Score: 1–20

Is the core concept easy to grasp and pitch? We are looking for sharp, instantly understandable shows , features or radio format themes.

2. Originality

Score: 1–20

Does this bring a fresh voice or dynamic twist? Stand out by avoiding cliché radio formats and showing creative spark.

3. Listener Benefit

Score: 1–20

Will the audience love this? We measure active engagement, entertainment value, and immediate listener connection.

4. Radio Suitability

Score: 1–20

Does the format translate perfectly to pure audio? Pacing, sonic delivery...Does it fit the radio medium.

5. Execution Potential

Score: 1–20

Is it realistic to produce and sustain? We are looking for amazing concepts that are logistically and creatively ready for launch.

⭐ Total possible score: 100

★ RadioStar Mentor Zone ★

Your Feedback (Confidential)

Please provide: 2–3 sentences of feedback, 1–2 suggestions for improvement, 1 highlight (what you liked most). All feedback is strictly confidential. Finalists will receive your comments privately through us — not directly from you. Your honesty helps them grow. Your encouragement keeps them going.

How We Use Your Scores

After all mentors submit their scores: We will add up the Mentor points… Create a Challenge 1 Score Reveal video, Premiere it on YouTube, Share your private feedback with each finalist. They will use your guidance to refine their idea for Challenge 2. This process repeats for Challenge 2 and Challenge 3. At the end of October / early November, we will reveal the overall scores and crown the RadioStar 2026 Winner.

Behind the Scenes — What Finalists Know

Finalists have been told:

  • You are on their side
  • You are here to help them fine‑tune their idea
  • Their ideas are strong
  • This is a development journey, not a one‑shot contest
  • They should tweak their idea before you see it
  • Their Challenge 1 paragraph helps you understand the emotional core
  • Their feedback is private
  • Their scores will be revealed publicly
  • You are the people who could help shape their idea into something real

They are excited. Nervous. Motivated. And they are ready for you.

Finalists’ Challenge 1 Submissions

Idea 1: Light Gold

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 1_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

🎵 Elevator Pitch Audio Stream

This audio / video file is the finalist’s original pitch recording. It may include a spoken explanation, a rough demo, or an early creative sample. Please listen to understand how the finalist expresses their idea verbally and how it might sound in a real broadcast environment.

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:

"The heart of my idea is nostalgia with warmth made for a generation navigating a very different chapter of life—taking care of aging parents, experiencing loss, thinking about retirement, becoming an empty nester, and sometimes wondering why life doesn’t look the way they thought it would. I don’t want listeners to feel despair; I want them to feel joy, calm, connection, and the comfort of a happy memory. The music becomes a way to reconnect with the songs, people, places, and simpler moments that shaped us. I want to create a show or format that gives listeners a reason to pause, remember, smile, and feel good for a little while. When they connect with me and share those stories, we create a sense of companionship, community, and shared experience that makes this idea feel personal and familiar to the listener.

Thank you,
Jen Millerd"

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 2: Erroneous

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 2_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

🎵 Elevator Pitch Audio Stream

This audio / video file is the finalist’s original pitch recording. It may include a spoken explanation, a rough demo, or an early creative sample. Please listen to understand how the finalist expresses their idea verbally and how it might sound in a real broadcast environment.

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:

Hello,
I've written a paragraph about my pitch. I've also come up with an idea of how it would look with a draft running order. Which I'll attach with the pitch concept as it's header. But below is my paragraph about the idea and why I think it would work and why an audience might enjoy it.

"History is often presented in a very dry manner, as it's just a matter of fact, but my show flips that on its head, championing history knowledge but also comedic creativity and improvisational skill into ultimately a silly show. It's a simple philosophy — for me, radio is inherently silly, and its silliness is its strength. You don't necessarily remember the newsreader reading the bulletin, but you probably remember something that made you laugh, or when something went wrong. History can be a very dry subject, but I believe this concept should give the listener a smile and a broader understanding of history."

The concept is partly mapped out in the above document with a draft running order.
Thanks
Kind Regards
Danny

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 3: Globetrotter

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 3_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air: 
 
"The heart of the show is a fast-paced, hourly quiz thrill that blends high-stakes tension with the discovery of foreign lands and cultures. When listeners tune in, they are immediately hooked to see who secures the ticket, broaden their knowledge through play, and feel that infectious sense of wanderlust, realizing the vast world is within their reach.

Best regards and good luck to my 10 fellow finalists,
Nouri Streichert"

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 4: The Gavin Wallace Show - Prep Call

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 4_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience
(This is Part 2 - The progress / evaluation of original idea)

Open PDF Proposal

🎵 Elevator Pitch Audio Stream

This audio / video file is the finalist’s original pitch recording. It may include a spoken explanation, a rough demo, or an early creative sample. Please listen to understand how the finalist expresses their idea verbally and how it might sound in a real broadcast environment. 

(nb -PART 1 :This is their original entry submission which got them into Top 11.)

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:

"Hello! 

Challenge 1 from Gav & Chris 🙂 

The listener should feel like they’re stepping into a natural, funny, easy conversation with two people who have good chemistry and a real flow together. A clear sense of direction, but still feels spontaneous — full of genuine humour, unexpected moments and a relaxed back‑and‑forth that never feels forced. It’s broadcast‑ready, accessible to anyone, and not tied too tightly to local references, yet still carries  personality and authenticity. Overall, the listener should feel engaged, comfortable and entertained, as if they’re part of a real conversation that has shape without losing its spark.

We are looking forward to what’s next 🙂 

Gav & Chris"

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 5: Parody Roulette

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 5_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:

Radiostar 26 Challenge 1 – Craig Metcalfe Parody Roulette

Parody Roulette is a parody-based feature where the listener or co-presenter has 30 minutes tocome up with a parody song chorus based on a word that gets picked out of a hat at random. Theycan use any song they want, but it must be a real song. The listener should feel joyful when theyhear the creative and potentially woeful new choruses that have been created. Hopefully, they willalso feel inspired to release their silly side, come up with their own parodies, and take part thefollowing day.

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 6: InstaRadio Drive Live

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 6_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

Demo Video

VIDEO TRANSLATION
Russian to English

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:

Hi everyone!

My name is Grigorii, in case you’ve forgotten - or never knew me I have more than 15 years of experience in radio broadcasting, working as a host, line producer and Program Director.
I’m currently based in Phuket, and I don’t want to lose that radio energy and excitement. So I’ve decided to create my own radio project here.
Launching a traditional radio station in Phuket is quite complicated for various reasons, with quite a few “hidden obstacles” along the way. So, for now, I’ve decided to start with InstaRadio PhuketFM.

The current format is video shows recorded inside a moving car. Of course, I want to develop the project into something much more structured - with daily service features such as weather, traffic updates, local news and more, as well as weekly features such as ticket giveaways for concerts and other events, event guides, and so on. These are things I’m already experimenting with.
I’d also like to add short interviews with interesting guests - musicians, actors, media personalities and other people with stories worth hearing.
I hope this project will grow into something much bigger. And, ultimately, I’d love for it to become a real radio station.
But more than anything, I want radio as a format to continue living for many years to come))

Grigorii Fox

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 7: Shadowwave 80s

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 7_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

🎵 Elevator Pitch Audio Stream

This audio / video file is the finalist’s original pitch recording. It may include a spoken explanation, a rough demo, or an early creative sample. Please listen to understand how the finalist expresses their idea verbally and how it might sound in a real broadcast environment.

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:

" Hi , I'm Steve. I've never done radio and not even on social media but i have an idea for radio 

...ShadowWave 80s is that feeling you get when you switch on a radio late at night and it sounds like it’s coming from somewhere you’re not supposed to know about. It’s the hum of old synths, the crackle of vinyl that’s been dragged to too many gigs, the stories from people who actually lived it and never let it go. It’s the underground frequency you always wished existed! Shadowwave 80s is real voices, real memories, real music that shaped you without ever asking permission. It’s not nostalgia, it’s a pulse. A secret signal. A place where the cool side of the 80s finally gets the airtime it deserved."

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 8: Sparks

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 8_Concept_Multi Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:

SPARKS is about people.
SPARKS is about connections. One song starts a feeling. That feeling starts a memory. Someone shares a story. Someone else adds theirs. The music keeps opening little doors. It’s warm, easy, real — the kind of chat that only happens when the right song plays at the right moment. SPARKS is that moment. SPARKS is that feeling — the spark that jumps from one person to another and keeps the whole room glowing.

thanks, Marcus!

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 9: Music Trees

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 9_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:


Greetings Mentors,

Music Trees is about roots & about where sound comes from, and how every artist grows from someone before them. I believe music carries memory in family, culture, history, the same way stories are passed down. My Ghanaian roots taught me that rhythm connects people, and that every beat has an ancestor. Music Trees is my way of showing that no artist stands alone. Everyone has a musical family, and every sound has a story behind it.

Thank you very much! 

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 10: ADHD: Fast Lane Mind

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 10_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:

My brain is a fast lane.
Loud, jumpy, chaotic, funny and always five thoughts ahead. Growing up I always had a  fire in me, ADHD feels like living life on turbo mode. People think it’s “hyper,” but it’s the deep stuff too! The panic, the overthinking, the random genius, the forgetting-your-phone-while-holding-it moments.This show is for everyone who feels “too much.”
We’re not too much, we’re just wired different.I’ll chat with athletes, creators, influencers, business bosses and all the fast‑lane people. We’ll laugh, overshare, go off‑topic, and somehow make it make sense.If your brain runs like mine, welcome home.

✍️ Score & Review

Idea 11: Muse Radio

Finalist:

Submission Media & Concept

Idea 11_Concept_Document.pdf

This PDF contains the finalist’s full idea submission, including their written pitch, layout notes, format explanation, and any visual elements they chose to include. Please review this document first — it provides the clearest understanding of the finalist’s concept, structure, and intended listener experience

Open PDF Proposal

Challenge 1 Paragraph

Challenge 1 — Emotional Core
Below is the finalist’s Challenge 1 response. This paragraph explains the emotional heart of their idea — what they want the listener to feel when the concept is on air:

Hello!

Muse Radio exists to awaken the quiet delight of learning. It offers a moment of calm in a restless world, a place where thought can breathe and curiosity can flourish. Each day brings a small spark of wonder, something to lift the mind without burdening the heart. It is radio for those who cherish ideas, who find comfort in conversation, and who believe that knowledge, when shared with grace, can be one of life’s most reassuring pleasures.

Sincere Regards,
Ben

✍️ Score & Review

Thank You, Mentors

Your time, your expertise, and your generosity make RadioStar possible. You are helping creators from all over the world develop ideas they never thought they’d get to share. Thank you for being part of this journey.

Tracey Lee, RadioStar / OnAirCoach