Mike Morin

I’m not one for making New Year’s resolutions, but after a recent social media post of mine about a radio station stunt I pulled in 1989, I resolved once again to never allow myself to be buried alive. That would seem to be a no-brainer, you would think.

I pulled the stunt three times in five years for various reasons. The first time, I allowed myself to be put into a wooden box, a little larger than a coffin, where I would “live” for 48-hours, broadcasting live. The site of my premature burial was a marine dealership in Woburn.

After being hypnotized by the master of ceremonies, who presumably put me in a trance to distract me from my obvious lapse in judgement, I stepped into my temporary home. The above-ground crate was covered with recyclable trash, as I was calling attention to the importance of recycling paper products. I would preach the message on air for two days.

The freakiest part about preparing for this stunt on 93.7-WCGY, was the actual trance I was put into. It was not my first time being hypnotized. To demonstrate the power of suggestion, Dr. Silkini had me balance my body between two folding chairs. At one end, my head would rest on the seat. On the other chair, I rested my feet. With eyes closed (you’ll find out why in a minute), Dr. Silkini began his trance-inducing monologue.

“Put your arms at your side and imagine your body is stiff like an iron beam,” he soothingly suggested. After repeated hypnotic commands to become a “stiff,” I obeyed his command.

My eyes remained closed as I felt a very light touching sensation on my stomach. Remember, nothing was supporting my body other than just my head and feet on the edges of two oppositely positioned chairs.

Years later, when I finally saw the video of that moment, I was shocked to see Dr. Silkini walking on my unsupported torso. He was not a big guy, but I weighed in at around 140. I was 38, and apparently had abs of rebar.

In the early 1990s, I was lured to the midway sideshow world of radio promotions again, this time I would live in the center of a 5,000-pound block of ice for 48-hours at a car dealership in Lowell. I would spend time in this massive ice cube to raise money for a local charity. To add to the drama, I spent my time in this ice structure wearing only a T-shirt and gym shorts.

Confession time: A clear Plexiglas box for me inside the ice allowed visitors to look in, where it appeared I was entombed in ice, but in reality warm air blew all around me while people thought I was, once again, putting myself in harm’s way. It was an ingenious set up and got me to thinking I should leave radio and join the circus.

For 2022, I resolve to use the GoFundMe platform to raise money. It’s safer.

Contact Mike Morin at mike morinmedia@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @MikeMorinMedia. His column runs the first, third and fifth Sundays of the month.