Why Mathew Blades is leaving the Mix 96.9 morning show

Mathew Blades will leave the “Mathew & Priscilla in the Morning” show on KMXP Mix 96.9, an iHeartRadio hotadult-contemporary station based in Phoenix, on Dec. 10.

The host announced the news on air with co-host Priscilla Ornelas on Monday, his birthday. In a letter posted to the radio station’s website, he wrote that he was giving himself a birthday gift.

“For 27 years, I’ve walked into a radio studio and done my absolute best to be your guy,” he wrote.

“To be the guy you listen to on your way to work. To laugh at my ‘outstanding’ sense of humor and to cry with me when things got hard.”

Blades has been a morning host at Mix 96.9 since 2010.

“I will miss parts of my job, my morning conversations with Priscilla, those regular callers who seem like my friends,” he wrote.

“To the crew behind the scenes here and in the Berkshires, you handled this the highest way possible, and I’m forever grateful. Thanks for getting me.”

In addition, Blades hosts a podcast called “Fathers Like Me,” which has a goal to get parents, especially dads, to connect with their kids more often and on a deeper level.

In his letter to listeners, he shared a few plans for the future while admitting that he’s not sure what he’ll do next.

“I’m almost done writing my book,” he wrote. “I’ll continue my high-paying job as a youth hockey coach, but am also working on a passion project for mental and spiritual health. A movement we’ll call #LearnFromPeopleWhoLivedIt.”

He’s also working to fine-tune his speech skills to better deliver that message.

“There is nothing wrong with you. You just have to step into your life’s purpose,” he wrote.

Reach the reporter at ed.masley @arizonarepublic.com or 602-4444495 or on him on Twitter @EdMasley.