Toni Grant
Encyclopedia
Toni Grant is an American
psychologist
and talk radio
host. She was one of the first licensed psychologists to have her own radio talk show, and a pioneer in the advice-giving genre.
in 1942, Grant received her B.A.
degree from Vassar College
and her M.A.
and Ph.D.
degrees in clinical psychology
from Syracuse University
. While in college, she married Dr. Neil Holland, an internist, and they had two daughters, Kimberly and Courtney. (Brown, 1977), before divorcing after 14 years of marriage. (Peterson, 1988) Grant's radio success occurred mainly in southern California, where she had moved with her family in 1970.
. (Brown, 1977) She first got started in radio as a guest expert on psychology
on controversial Los Angeles talk show host Bill Ballance
's Feminine Forum, in 1972 on station KGBS, and then on KABC
. Grant was so well-received that in 1975, she got her own call-in advice show on KABC radio. Almost immediately, she gained a sizeable following and received critical acclaim for her ability to handle the advice-giving genre, while being both informative and entertaining. Said Los Angeles Times
media critic James Brown, "Grant... is a soothing, reinforcing sounding board for people with problems." (Brown, 1979) In fact, in a world of increasingly angry and confrontational talk hosts, Grant came to be known as "the Doctor who tells it like it is, but in a nice way." (Shuster, 1999)
Beginning in 1982, Grant and several other KABC personalities, were syndicated nationally via satellite, on the ABC radio network. This brought her show to a much wider audience. That year, it was reported that she was earning more than $100,000 a year, more than other radio psychologists. She was also considered more credible than some radio advice-givers because not only was she a licensed clinincal psychologist but she was also a member of the American Psychological Association. (Fleming, 1982) From 1986 to 1988 her program was heard on the Mutual Broadcasting System
.
. During the following years she and her husband travelled extensively, and she also assisted him in his business ventures. In 1991, she and her husband relocated to Dallas, Texas
, where she continued to write and do speaking engagements. In 1997, she returned to the air with another syndicated radio call-in program.
Brown, James. "Talk of the Town." Los Angeles Times, 4 December 1979, pp. H1, H8.
"Dial Dr. Toni For Therapy." Time magazine, 26 May 1980.
Fleming, Louis B. "Tuning in to Talk Show Therapists." Los Angeles Times, 2 July 1982, pp. B1, B3, B24.
Peterson, Karla. "Advising the 80s Woman." San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 March 1988, p. E1.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
psychologist
Psychologist
Psychologist is a professional or academic title used by individuals who are either:* Clinical professionals who work with patients in a variety of therapeutic contexts .* Scientists conducting psychological research or teaching psychology in a college...
and talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host. She was one of the first licensed psychologists to have her own radio talk show, and a pioneer in the advice-giving genre.
Personal life
Born Toni Glickman in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1942, Grant received her B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from Vassar College
Vassar College
Vassar College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college in the town of Poughkeepsie, New York, in the United States. The Vassar campus comprises over and more than 100 buildings, including four National Historic Landmarks, ranging in style from Collegiate Gothic to International,...
and her M.A.
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
and Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
degrees in clinical psychology
Clinical psychology
Clinical psychology is an integration of science, theory and clinical knowledge for the purpose of understanding, preventing, and relieving psychologically-based distress or dysfunction and to promote subjective well-being and personal development...
from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
. While in college, she married Dr. Neil Holland, an internist, and they had two daughters, Kimberly and Courtney. (Brown, 1977), before divorcing after 14 years of marriage. (Peterson, 1988) Grant's radio success occurred mainly in southern California, where she had moved with her family in 1970.
Radio career
Prior to getting into broadcasting, Grant maintained a private practice, counseling former Vietnam veterans and later working with autistic children and people with schizophreniaSchizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness. It most commonly manifests itself as auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, or disorganized speech and thinking, and it is accompanied by significant social...
. (Brown, 1977) She first got started in radio as a guest expert on psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
on controversial Los Angeles talk show host Bill Ballance
Bill Ballance
Willis "Bill" Ballance , was an American radio talk show host.Ballance studied journalism at the University of Illinois before serving in the United States Marines. He had radio station stints in Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Honolulu and San Diego. Ballance was the evening personality late...
's Feminine Forum, in 1972 on station KGBS, and then on KABC
KABC (AM)
KABC is a Los Angeles radio station, and a West Coast flagship station for the Cumulus Media company. A pioneer of the talk radio format, the station went "all-talk" in 1960 and was one of the first stations to do so...
. Grant was so well-received that in 1975, she got her own call-in advice show on KABC radio. Almost immediately, she gained a sizeable following and received critical acclaim for her ability to handle the advice-giving genre, while being both informative and entertaining. Said Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
media critic James Brown, "Grant... is a soothing, reinforcing sounding board for people with problems." (Brown, 1979) In fact, in a world of increasingly angry and confrontational talk hosts, Grant came to be known as "the Doctor who tells it like it is, but in a nice way." (Shuster, 1999)
Beginning in 1982, Grant and several other KABC personalities, were syndicated nationally via satellite, on the ABC radio network. This brought her show to a much wider audience. That year, it was reported that she was earning more than $100,000 a year, more than other radio psychologists. She was also considered more credible than some radio advice-givers because not only was she a licensed clinincal psychologist but she was also a member of the American Psychological Association. (Fleming, 1982) From 1986 to 1988 her program was heard on the Mutual Broadcasting System
Mutual Broadcasting System
The Mutual Broadcasting System was an American radio network, in operation from 1934 to 1999. In the golden age of U.S. radio drama, MBS was best known as the original network home of The Lone Ranger and The Adventures of Superman and as the long-time radio residence of The Shadow...
.
Later years
In 1988 she re-married, to business executive John McCulloch Bell, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Bell Packaging Corporation. She also wrote a best-selling book called Being a Woman, which she advised women to return to more traditional roles and embrace the idea of home and family. (Peterson, 1988) In 1989 she took a "sabbatical" from her radio program, which by then was originating at Los Angeles radio station KFIKFI
KFI is an AM radio station in Los Angeles, California. It received its license to operate on March 31, 1922 and began operating on April 16, 1922 as one of the United States' first high-powered, "clear-channel" stations...
. During the following years she and her husband travelled extensively, and she also assisted him in his business ventures. In 1991, she and her husband relocated to Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, where she continued to write and do speaking engagements. In 1997, she returned to the air with another syndicated radio call-in program.
Works cited
Brown, James. "Relating To People in a Caring Way." Los Angeles Times, 27 November 1977, p. P124.Brown, James. "Talk of the Town." Los Angeles Times, 4 December 1979, pp. H1, H8.
"Dial Dr. Toni For Therapy." Time magazine, 26 May 1980.
Fleming, Louis B. "Tuning in to Talk Show Therapists." Los Angeles Times, 2 July 1982, pp. B1, B3, B24.
Peterson, Karla. "Advising the 80s Woman." San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 March 1988, p. E1.