Thom Hartmann Biography
Thom Hartmann is an American radio personality, author, businessman, and progressive political commentator. Hartmann has been the host of The Thom Hartmann Program, a nationally syndicated radio show, since 2003. Additionally, he served as the host of The Big Picture, a nightly television show, from 2010 to 2017.
Thom Hartmann Age / Birthday
As of 2023, Hartmann is 72 years old, he was born on May 7, 1951, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the United States of America. He celebrates his birthday on May 7 every year.
Thom Hartmann Height / Measurements
Hartmann is of average body stature and stands at an approximate height of 5 feet 10 inches tall.
Thom Hartmann Partner / Wife
Hartmann’s wife is Louise Hartmann. They have been married since around 1972. Louise has been a key partner in Thom’s work and life, contributing significantly to his various ventures. She co-founded with Thom, and they both served as leaders for The New England Salem Children’s Village and The Hunter School, institutions providing innovative approaches to treating abused children and educating learning-disabled children.
Louise has been a constant source of support for Thom’s various endeavors, particularly during his early days as a psychotherapist and author. She shares Thom’s progressive values and dedication to social justice, often accompanying him to events and participating in various advocacy efforts.
Thom Hartmann Kids / Children
Hartmann has three children with his wife Louise, although he prefers to keep their lives private and out of the spotlight. He has expressed his love and dedication to his family on multiple occasions, but he avoids sharing their names or photos publicly.
Thom Hartmann Family / Relatives
Hartmann, the individual in question, is the son of Carl Thomas Hartmann, an ardent Republican who actively supported Barry Goldwater in the 1964 presidential election. Thom’s mother is Jean Hartmann, and he has three siblings, although specific details about them are not publicly disclosed. Thom’s paternal grandparents hailed from Norway, and his overall ancestry includes Welsh and English roots.
Born in Detroit, he spent part of his early years there before growing up in Lansing, Michigan. Fascinated by politics since his youth, Thom was brought up in a conservative, right-wing, Midwestern family. At the age of thirteen, he engaged in political activities by participating in the campaign for Barry Goldwater alongside his staunch Republican father.
Thom Hartmann Education
Hartmann faced expulsion from high school in the tenth grade due to his involvement in launching a newspaper that opposed the Vietnam War. He later obtained a GED and pursued an education at Lansing Community College, eventually transferring to Michigan State University to study electrical engineering. In 1968, Hartmann ventured into entrepreneurship by establishing a repair shop called “The Electronics Joint” near Michigan State University.
Simultaneously, he took on the role of a part-time disc jockey at the local country music station, WITL-FM. Engaging with the Students for a Democratic Society, Hartmann continued his activism against the Vietnam War. Since his early years, Hartmann harbored a keen interest in consciousness and spirituality, transitioning from the hippie subculture to exploring Christian mysticism by 1969.
Thom Hartmann Business Career
Hartmann embarked on his entrepreneurial journey in the early 1970s, co-founding The Woodley Herber Company during his 20s. Specializing in herbal products, potpourris, and teas, the company thrived until 1978. Simultaneously, Hartmann pursued degrees in herbology and homeopathic medicine. His dedication to herbal knowledge led him to establish The New England Salem Children’s Village in New Hampshire, where he served as the Executive Director for five years and remained on the board of directors for over 25 years.
In 1983, Hartmann ventured into the travel industry, founding International Wholesale Travel and its retail arm, Sprayberry Travel, based in Atlanta. Over the years, this business generated substantial revenue, exceeding a quarter of a billion dollars. Notably, Sprayberry Travel gained recognition in 1984 from the Wall Street Journal as an early adopter of frequent travel programs, akin to the emerging frequent flyer programs in the airline industry.
During the late 1970s, Hartmann also contributed his expertise to advertising and marketing as a trainer for The American Marketing Centers. Upon his return from Germany in 1987, he founded the Atlanta-based advertising agency Chandler, MacDonald, Stout, Schneiderman & Poe, Inc., operating as The Newsletter Factory. He later sold his interest in the company in 1996, marking his second retirement, during which he chose to settle in Vermont with his family.
Thom Hartmann Net Worth
Through Hartmann’s career as a radio personality and writer, he has been able to accumulate a net worth that ranges between $2 Million and $ 2.5 Million.
Thom Hartmann Talk Radio Career
Having served as a DJ and news director at Lansing radio stations from 1968 to 1978, Hartmann initiated a radio show in February 2003 on a local Vermont station. A month later, it gained traction on the I.E. America Radio Network and Sirius Satellite Radio. Hartmann’s national program, on air since 2003 is currently in the noon to 3 pm ET time slot. Was selected by Air America to replace Al Franken on most of its affiliates in 2007. Talkers Magazine ranked Hartmann the most popular liberal talk show host in America from 2008 to 2011, climbing from number 10 in 2008 to number 8 in 2011 and 2015.
As of March 2016, the show was broadcast on 80 terrestrial radio stations in 37 states, along with SiriusXM Progress channel 127. Additionally, Radio Builsa in Ghana, a community radio station in Africa, airs the show. Numerous local cable TV stations also simulcast the program. The show features a diverse array of guests expressing various perspectives on social and political topics.
While some guests share progressive views akin to Hartmann’s, more than half represent conservative, libertarian, or Ayn Rand Institute viewpoints. Regular phone-in guests include Congressmen Mark Pocan (Mid-day with Mark) and Ro Khanna, both members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Daily Washington commentary is provided by Ellen Ratner of the Talk Radio News Service. Occasional appearances are made by Victoria Jones, the White House correspondent for Talk Radio News Service, and Ravi Batra, an economics professor at SMU.
Thom Hartmann TV program
Hartmann hosted The Big Picture, a one-hour daily TV show airing at 7 pm ET from Monday to Friday. The show, editorially directed by his wife, was broadcast from the RT America news network studios in Washington, D.C. Featuring numerous conservative guests engaging in regular discussions with Hartmann, the program was a platform for diverse viewpoints.
Hartmann co-produced the show with RT, which provided studio and carriage support, while he maintained complete editorial control. The program was distributed globally via Dish Network, DirecTV, and selected local-origination and public-access television cable TV channels. After seven years as the host, Hartmann announced his departure on September 29, 2017.
Thom Hartmann Books
Hartmann is a prolific author with over 25 books to his name, covering a wide range of topics including politics, economics, healthcare, the environment, and even ADHD.
- The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight: The Fate of the World and What We Can Do Before It’s Too Late (2009): This book is a call to action on climate change, arguing that we are on the brink of a global catastrophe if we don’t take immediate action.
- Unequal Protection: The Rise of Corporate Dominance and the Theft of Human Rights (2004): This book argues that corporations have become too powerful and that they are using their power to erode our rights and freedoms.
- Screwed: The Undeclared War Against the Middle Class – And What We Can Do About It (2012): This book argues that the middle class is under attack from both the government and corporations and that we need to take action to protect ourselves.
- Legacy of Secrecy: The Long Shadow of the JFK Assassination (2010): This book is a critical examination of the evidence surrounding the assassination of John F. Kennedy, arguing that there is more to the story than the official explanation.
- Walking Your Blues Away: How to Heal the Mind and Create Emotional Well-Being (2000): This book is a self-help guide that draws on Hartmann’s experience as a therapist to help readers overcome depression and anxiety.
Thom Hartmann Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram
Hartmann is active on his social media accounts. He has about 225k followers on his Facebook Page, about 196.9k followers on his Twitter account, and around 12.9k followers on his Instagram account.