GFQ Network audio podcasts

Radio broadcasters can’t ignore the shift to on-demand listening—and podcasting is a key part of that evolution. On this episode of This Week in Radio Tech, we hear compelling insights from Mike McVay on why embracing podcasting is no longer optional for stations that want to stay relevant. Craig Bowman from Futuri Media joins us to explain how technology is making it easier than ever to turn broadcast content into compelling digital assets. Together, they outline both the strategic importance and the practical pathways for getting started. If you’re thinking about extending your station’s reach beyond the airwaves, this episode is a must-listen.

We’re tackling a question every broadcast engineer faces: should you buy new equipment, or can used gear deliver the performance and value you need? We’re on location inside the MaxxKonnect used equipment warehouse in Birmingham, Alabama, where Josh Bohn gives us a firsthand tour of aisles packed with everything from mic preamps to full transmitters. We also hear from Adam Robinson on the financial tradeoffs, and Mike Hutchens on real-world engineering use cases where used equipment makes solid technical and operational sense. Whether you’re planning a new build, a backup system, or a budget-conscious upgrade, this episode offers practical insights you can apply immediately. Join us for a candid, informative look at how smart engineers balance cost, performance, and reliability.

The guys start off discussing some of the news of the week, including Ronda Rousey not being planned for any more AEW appearances anytime soon; her Revolution appearance apparently had to do with sticking it to TKO. They also talk about all the things that happened on WWE TV this week, including CM Punk and Roman Reigns' confrontation on Raw, and more Danhausen. AEW Dynamite saw Kenny Omega and MJF being made official for AEW Dynasty this week. The guys speculate on what that means going into Double or Nothing and All In this summer. Does it eventually lead to Will Ospreay getting the title? Plus, WWE HOF Update, Unreal gets Emmy nominations, Tama Tonga’s fine, your questions, and more!

On this episode of This Week in Radio Tech, we dive into the practical side of regulatory readiness with Ched Keiler, who joins us to discuss the SBE Self-Inspection Guides. Developed by the Society of Broadcast Engineers in partnership with the NAB and industry experts, these guides are quickly becoming essential tools for ensuring FCC compliance across AM, FM, LPFM, and television facilities. Ched walks us through how to effectively use these guides, what a proper self-inspection process looks like, and how both engineers and station management can benefit from a structured approach to compliance. With strong early adoption and hundreds of downloads right out of the gate, these guides are already making an impact. Join us for a highly useful and timely conversation that can help your station stay inspection-ready.

This week, the guys break down this weekend's AEW Revolution pay-per-view, offering thoughts on what direction it might take, especially in the main event between MJF and Hangman Page. They also break down this week's Dynamite episode and MG Geek’s disappointment with the main event press conference. Also, as Peacock continues to remove more WWE content, NXT is moving its PLEs to YouTube, starting with Stand and Deliver. The guys discuss whether this is a good or bad thing and what has happened to the NXT product in recent months. Plus, notes on a WrestleMania main event, SmackDown and Rey de Reyes previews, your questions, and more!

Episode 791 of This Week in Radio Tech features broadcast engineer and entrepreneur Matt Lightner, President of Lightner Electronics, Inc. Matt shares practical insights from years of designing and building radio studios for individual stations, clusters, and network facilities, along with lessons learned from transmitter site installations in the field. We also explore how his company has expanded into corporate audio-visual system integration—an area where A-V and broadcast engineering practices often overlap. Finally, Matt talks about applying engineering discipline and business strategy to radio station ownership, now operating nine stations in Central Pennsylvania. It’s a wide-ranging conversation about engineering, integration, and entrepreneurship in modern broadcast.

The guys react to Road Dogg's departure from WWE as a producer/writer and discuss why that job is difficult to keep. They also discuss the fallout from Elimination Chamber, including the debut of Danhausen and what's happening with Drew McIntyre, Randy Orton, and Cody Rhodes going into WrestleMania. Then, on Raw this week, another great promo exchange between Roman Reigns and CM Punk. Also, a recap of this week's AEW Dynamite and the build to Revolution next weekend. Plus, an update on WrestleMania plans, David Finley's decision, your questions, and more!

Kirk Harnack is joined by frequent co-host and longtime broadcast engineer **Chris 'Doc' Tarr for a fun and practical conversation about “Doc-isms.” These are the short, memorable sayings that Chris has developed over years of troubleshooting transmitters, studio gear, and broadcast workflows under pressure. Each phrase—like “Work the problem,” “Just think in reverse,” and “We’re not going to get any more off the air than we already are!”—comes from real-world engineering situations where clear thinking and good habits make the difference. Whether you’re responding to an off-air emergency or designing systems for long-term reliability, these Doc-isms capture the mindset of experienced broadcast engineers. Tune in for practical wisdom, a few laughs, and lessons learned the hard way. Doc-isms: "We're not going to get any more off the air than we already are!". That's code for slow it down and take your time. "Work the problem!". That means take a break, sit down, and think things through a bit. "Just think in reverse!". My phrase for troubleshooting. The most effective way to troubleshoot is to start at the place the thing isn't working and go backwards. “You know they make those - they’ll even ship them to your door!” Sometimes it’s a better idea to just buy something than to cobble something together to save money. "Failure is not an option!". This isn't as dramatic as it sounds. It's just a reminder that we sometimes don't have the luxury of just walking away when things get tough. It may mean some sort of temporary or hacked together solution until the bigger issue is resolved. "Let's take the victory lap!". Usually said when I leave the site after the problem is fixed and I stop for my iced coffee refill. Guest Chris ‘Doc’ Tarr, CPBE, AMD, DRB, CBNE - Field Engineer at K-LOVE and Air1 Host Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube. Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.Angry Audio and the new USB Phone Gizmo - Put VoIP callers on-the-airThe new MaxxKonnect RMT416 Multi Tuner - 4 to 16 AM/FM/WB/HD web-connected tuners in 1 RU

The guys break down the latest on the merger with Paramount and WBD. What does this mean for AEW and media distribution in general? They also preview the Elimination Chamber, which takes place on Saturday and will help define how WrestleMania is shaping up.Plus, AEW Dynamite and the lead-up to Revolution, AJ Styles' new role in WWE, Bronson Reed's injury, and more!

In this episode, Kirk Harnack is joined by Adrian Berkovits, creator of Prism, a new audio distribution ecosystem designed for modern radio networks. Michael Dosch of Angry Audio also joins the conversation to unpack the hardware and real-world functionality that makes this new model possible. For over 40 years, radio broadcasters have relied on satellite distribution for network audio—news, sports, talk shows, and even full music formats. But today, C-Band spectrum is being squeezed by cellular services, while Internet delivery has become remarkably reliable—especially when used in aggregate. The result is a fundamental shift in how audio and metadata can be delivered from content creators to radio stations. Adrian and Michael walk through the technical and operational details of this emerging distribution model, explaining how reliability, redundancy, hardware integration, and workflow come together in a practical, broadcaster-ready ecosystem. If you’re responsible for network audio delivery—or thinking about what replaces satellite—this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Andrew makes his return to the show as the guys kick things off by talking about ESPN airing the Royal Rumble this weekend. Could this potentially lead to PLEs being broadcast live on ABC/ESPN in the future? They also cover AEW, bringing Double or Nothing to Queens' Louis Armstrong Stadium and share what fans should know if they're attending the show that weekend. Plus: a full breakdown of this week's AEW Dynamite, a preview of Revolution, and... what's in the box?

Join Kirk Harnack for an informative preview of the SBE Ennes Workshop at NAB 2026! In this episode, "TWiRT 788," we sit down with workshop organizers David Bialik and Fred Willard for an exclusive look at the valuable, career-building sessions planned for broadcast engineers. Learn about the essential topics and technical deep-dives coming to Las Vegas on April 21 & 22. Get all the details on why you need to attend these popular sessions in the North Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center during the NAB Show. Don't miss this insider's guide to advancing your career in radio technology! In this episode we also make a quick trip to the National Religious Broadcasters Convention at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville.