Chart Beat Podcast: Elvis Duran on Trump, Receiving a Hollywood Walk of Fame Star & 'Making People Happy as Much as We Can'

Duran discusses his legendary Radio Hall of Fame career, including more than 20 years of waking up listeners on Z100 New York.

"I have no problem with someone who disagrees with my life. That's your right to feel that way. But, once laws start coming down, then I have a problem."

In the latest Chart Beat Podcast, Radio Hall of Famer Elvis Duran, host of Premiere Networks' syndicated Elvis Duran and the Morning Show, originating from iHeartMedia's WHTZ (Z100) New York, joins Billboard Chart Beat Podcast host Gary Trust to chat about a wide variety of topics, including the current political climate in the U.S.

Says Duran, who came out in an on-air broadcast in 2010, and who has had the President-elect on as a guest (long before his campaign; he's also worked with the Eric Trump Foundation), "I happen to know personally that Donald Trump does not have a problem with gay people. But does that mean our rights will be taken away? It's not solely up to him, or his vice president. That's the way it's set up. I hope it stays that way."

As for music, Duran muses about how Elvis Duran and the Morning Show has become an epicenter for pop artists promoting new material, with the program reaching an estimated audience of 10 million on more than 80 radio stations. Not that he focuses only on product; unlike a brief performance and perhaps no interaction with a late-night TV host, an artist can go in-depth with Duran for up to an hour, as guests including Bruno Mars recently did. "It's a missing link to the story when you can't spend time with them, like we do," Duran says.

During the podcast, Duran also discusses his upcoming honor of receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "It's my hope and dream," he says, "that it's in front of the most dilapidated building." Why? "That's going to be the first building they rehab if they clean up Hollywood."

Ultimately, the affable and genuine Duran says, "Our sole mission on this show is to make people think, make people feel, and make people happy as much as we can."

Enjoy the entire latest Chart Beat Podcast and check back for more upcoming episodes with artists, label executives, radio programmers and personalities, songwriters, producers and more. And, to receive every episode automatically in your inbox, subscribe to (and rate) the Billboard Chart Beat Podcast on iTunes!