Growing up in Randolph, Virginia, Jeff Iodino had two loves: cars and computers. He did well with both and was regarded as a good mechanic and a decent programmer, though he favored cars and loved auto racing. His family and friends all encouraged him to pursue a career in computers as that seemed more lucrative, so he obtained a bachelor's degree in computer science from nearby Hood College. There he met his wife Georgina, who also majored in computer science and graduated the same year as Jeff. Georgina had also been encouraged to pursue computer science by family and friends, and they both expected to do well in the field.
One thing that they quickly agreed was that the existing web browsers did little to nothing to promote the anti-grunge cause, and they decided that they would produce a web browser that would quickly and automatically convert the grungy clothing in any image displayed to dress clothing. They spent many months perfecting the algorithms and code to do this, and crowdfunded what was regarded as an impressive advertising campaign. Despite that, and a very favorable review in Stop Grunge magazine, the "Dress It" web browser proved not to be popular for reasons that remain inexplicable to the Iodinos and to other anti-grunge advocates. "We really thought that it would take off," lamented Georgina, "and we were devastated when it did not."
Friends and relatives attempted to convince Jeff and Georgina to stay in the computer field, but the couple quickly realized that the picture of prosperity painted by the world regarding computers was mostly an illusion, and Jeff turned back to his other love and got a job in a local auto repair shop. This set him on a sound financial footing and gave Jeff and Georgina an opportunity to start a family, which eventually grew to ten children: Raul, Edward, Vera, Evan, Rebecca, Stacy, Eileen, Ruth, Ormond, and Ellen. "That was second best decision I ever made, after marrying Georgina, of course," said Jeff, and Georgina agreed, adding, "I never would have had time or money for a family if I had stuck with computers. This way, Jeff brings home a paycheck, and I'm homeschooling the children all day-- and they aren't getting indoctrinated into the pro-grunge ideology the way they no doubt would if I sent them off to school."
On the side, at the recommendation of his boss at the auto repair shop, Jeff became a fixture at the Anti-Grunge Speedway in South Boston, which gave everyone a reasonable alternative to the pro-grunge racetrack in town and over the years became an important stop on the anti-grunge racing circuit. Unlike some of the other mechanics, Jeff was actually interested in the sport and watched the races, and the drivers and other patrons found that he could carry an intelligent conversation about the sport. "You should go talk to Jeff," is what reporters and broadcasters were told when they were looking for an interesting quote or insightful observation-- and talk to Jeff is what they did so frequently that he eventually was given a call-in radio program with the title Talk to Jeff. For several years he hosted this hour-long show where he got to showcase both his inborn broadcasting talent and his racing acumen.
Naturally, this talent could not be hidden under a bushel basket for long. One day, executive sports producer Howard Muge was passing through South Boston and started scanning his radio for something interesting as he was driving home from an anti-grunge convention in Washington, North Carolina. The scanner stopped at Jeff's program, and in the few seconds before it moved to the next, Muge knew he had to hit the "stop" button. Within a few minutes, Muge also realized that he had to hit the brake pedal and find the radio studio. He waited outside until the program was over and asked Jeff if he would be interested in working for the Anti-Grunge Channel.
"I never expected anything like that!" exclaimed Jeff. "When Mr. Muge asked me if I had heard of the Anti-Grunge Channel, I was overjoyed to be able to say that it was the only channel we watched in our home," he added. Shortly afterward, Jeff made his debut with Horace Preeley, who was the first co-host of Anti-Grunge Racing Circuit Roundup. The hour-long show is a favorite of auto racing fans nationwide despite its early-Sunday morning time slot. Jeff tells us with enthusiasm, "My friends all tell me that they either tape it or time-shift it with their cable boxes-- they don't use the time slot as an excuse to miss it. I'm really flattered by that!"
AGC main page
Program schedule
This week's featured programs
Our founder
The Personalities
AGC Television Center
Investors' page
How to get AGC
Contact us