"I decided I liked it and kept coming back," Obar says of his first few shows. "I haven't grown tired of it yet."

GREG ABAZORIUS, Hometown Weekly Staff •

With minds across the nation fixed on the economy, Congressman Barney Frank has been a tough interview to score due to his busy schedule. Not to be outdone by the likes of NBC and CNN, Walpole's own Sam Obar not only secured the Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee for his radio show, he did it at the age of 16.

Obar's show, the aptly titled "The Sam Obar Show," recently celebrated its one-year anniversary on AM 1170 WDIS. Devised as a means to provide a local forum to discuss local and national political issues, the show has twice hosted Frank, as well as former MA Governor and current Canadian Ambassador Paul Cellucci, Boston University professor and Iraq War critic Andrew J. Bacevich and Wrentham State Senator Scott Brown.

Before he was hosting political heavyweights, though, Obar was a young Walpole kid with a fascination with journalism.

"I have always been interested in media," he says. "I used to publish a newspaper for my neighbors and school, 'The Walpole Gazette', when I was younger, and then started hosting a television show about local history on Walpole Community Television."

Having gained experience in different forms of media, Obar soon realized that Norfolk had its own radio station, WDIS, and he called them with a proposal for a new talk show.

"They were more than enthusiastic to help me create a show," Obar recounts.

After receiving the approval from Dan Collier, station manager at WDIS, Obar was given a time slot at 4:00pm on Saturdays. Aside from helping his mom with a music show at a college radio station, Obar admits that he had "never really spoken on the radio before," but he was nonetheless excited for his opportunity.

"Basically, it was a learning experience for me and I decided I liked it and kept coming back," he says. "I haven't grown tired of it yet."

Obar began to think about what he enjoyed personally in radio shows and tried to implement some of those ideas. Once Obar found his footing, he used his show to primarily discuss current events and political issues, inviting people to call in at any time. He details that issues are often fleshed out and uninterrupted, because of his freedom to take commercial breaks when he wants. The format has won over listeners and garnered a fan in the station's general manager.

"Sam's show has added to our lineup of local issue driven talk radio. We are a local relevant business talk radio station and Sam has done an amazing job of contributing to the local aspect of the station," says Collier.

Obar's show has also attracted the attention of several politicians. While Obar maintains that all of his guests are his favorites, he has especially fond memories of his chats with Frank.

"(Frank) is in the middle of nearly every domestic issue in Congress right now," Obar says. "He was fun to interview, because of his quirks and very straightforward answers to questions."

Obar also remembers his interview with State Rep. Bill Bowles as a fond one.

"He stayed the entire hour of the show," Obar remembers. "He had some thoughtful things to say."

Despite the portfolio he has built, Obar states that nerves still make their way into the studio before most shows.

"I get nervous all the time, not only because I'm asking questions, but also because I get worried that there will be technical difficulties because during radio interviews I am dealing with a lot of electronic equipment!" he says.

With Obar's guest list reading like a who's who of important politicians, one might question the wisdom of trusting a teenager to ask hard-hitting questions. To Obar's listeners and station bosses, though, he has been nothing but professional from day one.

"I appreciate the fact that the management at my radio station have taken me so seriously and provided me with the ability to host this show," Obar says. "I also appreciate the support from my family that I have received, and especially I am thankful to all of the politicians who have taken the time out of their obviously very busy lives to be on my show."

Obar relates that he does his homework, so to speak, before interviewing guests and feverishly follows the news. When preparing for an interview with Brown, for instance, Obar noted that most other radio shows he had appeared on had not mentioned the closing of the North Attleboro RMV branch. Knowing that many local residents use the branch, Obar decided to ask Brown about it.

In the future, Obar sees himself sticking with journalism in some capacity, although public relations work has also entered his mind as of late. In the meantime, the Walpole teen will continue to produce a show that he and others love, asking questions that many stations won't bother with.

"Most radio stations in Massachusetts are in the major cities, which mean they only cover the major topics that have to do with the state as a whole," he explains. "I like to bring local issues into the discussion, which is what I am mostly interested in anyway."

Listeners can hear "The Sam Obar Show" live on Saturdays at 4:00pm, with a rebroadcast on Sundays at 4:00pm. The show is also available online at www.wdisam.com. For more information about Obar and his program, visit his blog at www.samobar.com.