'Loveline' host tells students to follow instincts about careers

When it comes to finding the right career, "everyone should listen to his or her instincts," Dr. Drew Pinsky said Thursday night.

That advice is why he has a career in radio and television.

The host of the radio call-in show "Loveline" and author of the book "Cracked: Putting Broken Lives Together Again" spoke to nearly 1,000 people at Academic Auditorium at Southeast Missouri State University. His speech was a part of the Southeast Missouri State University Speaker Series.

Speaking to mostly college students and university staff, Pinsky described how he became involved in radio.

"I was just a normal medical student, and I lived in a neighborhood where a radio station was right behind us," said Pinsky, 51.

The radio station called him in, he said, because it wanted to make a show about relationships and promoted him as a real doctor to talk about pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases. He was 24 years old then.

Pinsky said speaking about such topics was not easy.

"It was a difficult time to step out of the pack," he said. "But still I had the instinct that there was something right about what I did."

While hosting "Loveline" since 1984, Pinsky has produced several TV shows, including "Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew."

Pinsky made the crowd participate in the event with a question-and-answer session, which started with him asking a question of the audience.

Carrie Walker, an English major at Southeast, said she was interested in what Pinsky had to say.

"My older sister listened to his show first, and I joined her," Walker said. "I thought it was really cool, because he spoke about taboo subjects. I like that he brings awareness to addiction issues."

Nick Anderson, a marketing/advertising major from Webster University in St. Louis, said he used to listen to Pinsky's radio show when he worked in a restaurant as a teenager.

"I drove to Cape Girardeau from St. Louis to see his show with the girl I am dating," Anderson said. "I think he really has good things to say."

Southeast freshman David Schatz said he liked what he heard when he listened to "Loveline" three years ago,

"I thought it was a kind of a laid-back talk," the music education major said.

Joanna Shaver, adviser for the Student Activities Council at Southeast Missouri State University, said he was satisfied with the attendance.

"The crowd seemed very enthusiastic and enjoyed the show," Shaver said.