Richard Cross, a familiar voice to Mississippi listeners, shared his journey in broadcasting with the Oxford Rotary Club on Tuesday during their lunch meeting at the Courtyard Marriott.

Reflecting on his career, he described the twists and turns that led him to his new role, calling the experience both humbling and exciting because of the opportunities it has provided.

According to SuperTalk, Cross’ career began in local sports broadcasting while also working as an account executive for SuperTalk Mississippi Media. By the mid-2000s, he was hosting a statewide sports show under the SuperTalk Mississippi umbrella while calling games for the Sun Belt Conference and working as a sideline reporter for the University of Mississippi.

Eventually, Cross’s voice carried beyond Mississippi, landing him contracts with ESPN and the SEC Network, where he became a familiar presence on major broadcasts. Even as he worked on national broadcasts, he remained a staple of SportsTalk Mississippi, discussing the state’s biggest sports stories for over a decade each afternoon.

He transitioned into morning radio last October when he began filling in for the late Paul Gallo, a longtime SuperTalk Mississippi morning host. During his interim tenure, Cross interviewed political figures from Jackson to Washington, as well as university presidents and award-winning artists.

Gallo passed away in January, and SuperTalk officially announced Cross as his successor earlier this month.

Mornings with Richard Cross airs weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m. on SuperTalk Mississippi.

While shifting from sports to news and politics might seem like a leap, Cross told the Rotary Club audience that he has found surprising similarities.

“Whether it’s sports or politics, it’s all about storytelling,” he said. “You’re still talking about compelling characters, dramatic moments, and the passion people have for the topics that shape their lives.”

That shift, however, brought one major adjustment—waking up earlier.

“I set my alarm for 4:45 a.m. every day now,” Cross said. “That’s been an adjustment.”

Cross said there are days when he feels like the “luckiest man on Earth.”

“This career path, with some twists and turns along the way, has given me the ability to have the family I wanted, live where I want to live, and chase the dreams I wanted to chase,” he said.