This Saturday, I did something that would baffle my teenage self of 20 years ago: I purposely bid farewell to my own radio show on 710KNUS, my weekly on-air sanctuary since September 2013.

As they say, all good things must come to an end. For me, that time has come, thanks to a mix of personal and professional considerations. I will be forever grateful to KNUS for the opportunities I’ve had since I graduated Regis University on May 8, 2011, and guest-hosted for the first time at age 20.

I’ve sunset my program amid tectonic shifts in radio — shifts that embody the fabric of our ever-changing media ecosystem today. Talk radio must rejuvenate if it will live on for new generations.

To truly understand what’s needed, we must start at my beginning.

In the summer of 2003, wedged between my seventh and eighth grade years, I went golfing with my Grandpa Walt in Albany, New York. Grandpa flicked on the car radio, and suddenly, a thunderous voice erupted from the speakers.

It was Rush Limbaugh. While the late conservative radio titan was a familiar presence around my grandfather, that particular day initiated me into the captivating world of talk radio.

Rush wasn’t just spouting conservative politics; he was channeling an infectious energy, contagious enthusiasm, vibrant humor and genuine fun. His dynamic persona gripped my not-quite-13-year-old self, leaving me hungry for more of this fascinating fusion of politics and entertainment.

Back home, Rush became a fixture in my routine. Whether tagging along with my mom to King Soopers or on a family drive, his voice constantly emanated from the trusty portable radio clutched in my hands.

Soon, Sean Hannity, Bill O’Reilly and Hugh Hewitt joined my must-listen list — offering a symphony of political talk that captivated my imagination.

Before long, I was making my own radio shows on cassette tape, foreshadowing a future in the business, and listening to 710KNUS — my future radio home — riding my bike to and from high school. Later, when I entered Regis University as a freshman in 2008, I launched my weekly campus talk show, “Seng Center.” It was a blast.

Growing up, I studied under the tutelage of Limbaugh and Hewitt, alongside local luminaries like Mike Rosen and Peter Boyles — learning the ins and outs of keeping a show flowing, holding audience attention, managing listener calls and conducting interviews that were informative and engaging.

Talk radio, I learned, is a truly intimate platform — a voice speaking into a microphone, offering opinions you’re free to embrace or discard.

Without distracting pictures or videos, listeners get to know the host — their personality and passions, what makes them tick and gets under their skin. That familiarity becomes deep and powerful.

Talk radio is, as Jon Caldara recently wrote, “immediate and spontaneous at its very core.” You never know what will happen next during a live broadcast. If a listener doesn’t like what the host has to say, they can instantly call in and bring a challenge.

As a millennial, I’ve always been an outlier when it comes to talk radio, but its survival hinges on adapting to the new media era.

Morning Consult recently found that Gen Z and millennials actively seek out news less than the older generations that have dominated talk radio listenership. Talk radio must bridge generational divides by creatively embracing other media formats like podcasts, video, social media and even online games.

Still, content is king. Crossing into other platforms might draw audiences in. Keeping them is something else. Listeners must be motivated to tune in.

Limbaugh’s tenure was marked by decades of humor, bombastic personality and an irreverent attitude that didn’t take things too seriously. Today’s talk radio landscape suffers from a political temperature that’s red-hot with negativity and void of enthusiasm. Hosts tend to take themselves too seriously, depriving younger audiences of the authenticity they seek.

Of course, this is a challenge for the media writ-large, but if talk radio hopes to engage younger demos, it must give them a reason to listen. “Angertainment” won’t cut it, especially among more politically disengaged generations.

Make us laugh. Make us smile. Make us think.

Sadly, originality is lacking. Listeners increasingly complain of hearing the same stuff over and over, with little new to be learned.

Perhaps that’s because hosts increasingly come from backgrounds that have nothing to do with radio. You’d be hard-pressed to find many “radio guys” these days who truly understand what radio really means.

Likewise, audiences crave live and local content. Nothing can replace hearing people who might be your neighbors call into a show about something happening in your own backyard.

Unfortunately, talk radio keeps moving to nationally syndicated programs — driving the impression that it’s the same thing on repeat.

Let’s be real: If Denverites want to hear how my beloved New York Giants are doing, they’ll seek out a national program. They’d rather hear talk about the Denver Broncos from a local perspective. The same goes for news and politics.

Even as I close this chapter, talk radio may remain in my future. Whatever happens, things won’t be the same. The talk radio business needs to recognize that, too — or it’ll find itself adrift in a sea of content.

Jimmy Sengenberger is an investigative journalist, public speaker, and longtime local talk-radio host. Reach Jimmy online at Jimmysengenberger.com or on X (formerly Twitter) @SengCenter.