WJPZ at 50

Chris Bungo and Rocco Macri met at WJPZ when they were working in production and promotions, respectively. Their friendship has led to a business partnership of over 3 decades, creating the first-of-its-kind software for radio stations, Promosuite.As members of the Class of 86, today's guests have the rare vantage point of joining the station on AM, but witnessing the transition and the power of the move to the FM dial. In fact, you'll hear a hot-rocking, flame-throwing promo Chris produced for the station's first FM birthday in 1986. Did it sound a lot like Z100? Depends on how you define "statute of limitations." (Spoiler: there are lasers.)Chris tells a great story of how he had to beg, borrow, and plead to CRANK UP 89.1's audio processing to make it sound more like a CHR.Following graduation, Rocco was working in promotions at Hot 103 in New York, Emmis's predecessor to Hot 97. But there was no software to do his job. He enlisted his buddy Chris to figure out what they need. It was a lot more than either of them bargained for, but PromoSuite was born.In the time since, they've hired notable WJPZ alumni like Jana Fiorello ('02) and Christy (Ogonis) Vincent ('05). Chris and Rocco share how the company has grown, and how the lessons they learned at Z89 inform them to this day. We also talk about what's next for the company, as their new products seek to serve both giant radio companies and mom and pop stations alike.Rocco also talks about the starts of the Alumni Association and Banquet, and the great pride he feels to have seen these entities become as successful as they are.More: https://promosuite.com/Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

There have been several long-lasting relationships formed over the 50-year history of WJPZ, and today we look at a special one - Alex Brewer ('12) and Molly Nelson ('14).Two avid sports fans, from Maine and West Virginia, respectively, both came to Syracuse for the student media capabilities. When Molly arrived, Alex was already two years in, and she developed a crush. A future ESPN employee who didn't need help with her fantasy lineup, she nonetheless asked Alex for his help. At the time, he didn't realize she had ulterior motives.Alex was General Manager when the station's expansion and renovation started. And Molly, who was was also the assistant general manger of Citrus TV, was there to see the project through. Both guests talk about how proud they are of that accomplishment and how it served them well in their Emmy-winning careers.Molly and Alex both ended up at ESPN - Molly working on everything from the Australian Open to the launch of the ACC Network. Alex worked on everything from NASCAR coverage to College Gameday. Alex tells a great story of being at Ole Miss when they knocked off Alabama.For Molly, she was quarterbacking the logistics of the ESPN team being in Greensboro, North Carolina, to cover the men's and women's ACC tournaments....in March of 2020. While most of us were returning from Syracuse unscathed, Molly all of a sudden had to coordinate getting the entire team back to Connecticut. She continued this work helping run SportsCenter with a skeleton crew, some remote, in the earliest, scary days of the pandemic.In 2017, this Mainer and West Virginian got married - but in neither of their hometowns. They brough their friends and family back to campus, got married at Hendricks Chapel, and had their reception at Dinosaur Barbecue. (Yes, Otto joined). And while Molly and the girls were doing hair and makeup, Alex and the guys were right back where it all started -on the air at Z89, on his wedding day. We have a clip.The pull to the 315 was always strong with today's guests. When they wanted a change, Alex got a remote job, at Chess.com, which freed them up to go anywhere. Soon, Molly landed a gig at Sidearm Sports in Syracuse, and they returned to the Salt City.Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

(Disclaimer: This episode contains more "explicit language" than most. That's what happens when two Malden kids get together.)If you've been to the annual WJPZ Birthday Banquet, chances are you've enjoyed the jokes from our MC, Class of 1995 alum, and stand up comedian Stephen Donovan. And if you came to this episode needing to laugh, you're in the right place. Steve takes us through his very unusual path to Syracuse University and Z89. He also shares a morning show story involving a certain part of the male anatomy.But in a bit of an unexpected turn, this episode gets deeply personal. Steve shows a vulnerability not often seen publicly in our group. He was let go from his last radio gig 18 months ago, and spends some time self-reflecting on his childhood and own insecurities. How much does one need the "social proof" of ratings, laughs, and more? He talks about a place that so many of us have been in as we transitioned out of traditional media, and how the friendships of WJPZ have helped sustain him.We do bring it back around to WJPZ though. Jag asks Steve how he preps the "roast" part of his Banquet monologue every year, speaking to the importance of including all generations of WJPZ'ers. Then, our conversation take another unexpected twist: where we recall a joke that Jag felt went too far (at the time), and how the two of them mended fences after. (And yes we include the jokes.)Think Steve is funny here? Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Jeff Kurkjian hasn't been out of college a decade yet, but he's already been a successful major market morning show host in Cleveland, Las Vegas, and now Philadelphia. Today, we go through his time at Syracuse, as well as his many stops since. You'd be hard pressed to find a more positive guy in our organization, and you too will likely come out of this listen with a smile on your face.Jeff's radio journey actually began before Syracuse, when as an 11 year old, he tagged along with his Dad (ESPN's Tim Kurkjian) to a Baseball Hall of Fame Induction in Cooperstown, New York. There. he was interviewed by Fordham University's WFUV, and he became enamored with the interviewing side of the business. Jeff actually followed his sister to Syracuse, with many ideas for what he might want to do professionally. But when he first started on the Z Morning Zoo, he just knew. Through his time as a student, Jeff relied on many of our prominent alumni to listen to his tapes - folks like Ralphie Aversa, Ryan Sampson, Josh Wolff, Craig Hoffman and more. This feedback gave him the talent and confidence to start sending out tapes prior to graduation. He tells the story of how he landed his first job - and having to do an "emergency morning show," of sorts.At his first stop in Cleveland, Jeff continued to rely on our alumni to answer questions he may not have been comfortable asking his new co-workers. He also talks about using our network to land his next gig in Vegas.In Sin City, Jeff met his wife on Tinder. And thanks to country artist Ashley McBride, he actually has a picture of their first date - which lasted 8 hours.Shortly after getting married, Jeff and Emily were faced with the reality of the business when station changes meant a move to Philadelphia. That meant yet another radio move for Jeff, and an even bigger move for Emily, born and raised in Nevada. Fortunately, the love Philadelphia and are thriving there.Jeff talks about some important lessons he learned at WJPZ about teamwork, understanding, and patience, and how that has served him well in his career. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of digital and how that interplays with traditional radio going forward.Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chances are, Chris Godsick has been chewed out by more Hollywood A-listers than you've met in your lifetime. But we'll get to that.As a member of the Class of 1987, Chris was a sophomore when WJPZ moved to the FM dial. He really captures the enthusiasm and excitement of that moment. The radio station's passionate staffers could now be heard in the market, and soon they were pulling ratings away from 93Q, "The Bagel Station."During this episode, we also remember the late Larry Barron, and what an influence he had on the radio station at that time. Chris tells us about the year that WJPZ was able to secure the exclusive announcement of when to buy SU Basketball tickets, and the entire campus was listening, waiting for Larry to make the announcement. Then, if you know Chris, he follows that story with one that Larry would probably rather forget, may he rest in peace.Following his time at Syracuse, Godsick went out to LA, where he started in the mailroom at William Morris, working his way up to messenger, dealing with everyone from Bea Arthur to Richard Simmons. Eventually he was at one of the premiere desks for the co-head of the motion picture department. He was yelled at by Si Maslow (Tom Hanks' agent), Sir Sean Connery, and Mel Brooks. But let's be honest, who among us wouldn't want to be roasted by Mel?When he became an agent, Chris went after some untapped markets. He found Rowan Atkinson (aka Mr. Bean) in the UK, and eventually formed a company with a man he met in Asia. That would be director John Wu. He and Chris did Face Off and Broken Arrow together, along with (Chris's words) "some really horrible" stuff. We press him on that. Throughout his career, Godsick spent time behind the scenes with the US Military and other organizations, and it was an invitation to shadow the US Marshals that spawned the idea for his latest project, a true crime podcast called Chasing Evil, which we highly recommend.https://www.chasingevilpodcast.com/We wrap up talking about Chris's time working on HBO's Veep. He tells us about Julia Louis-Dreyfus nailing her audition, and we hear about Chris's invitation to then-Vice President Biden's home that the writers were able to turn into this scene in the show. Oh yeah, and he won some Emmys too.https://youtu.be/DU-0Xi6aafoJoin Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today we are joined by another member of the great WJPZ Class of 1995, Mark Verone. Mark grew up listening to the station, even when they worked with Whirlin' Disc DJ's coming to East Syracuse Minoa High School.Mark was determined to work at Z89 - even if it took a brief detour to Onondaga Community College before eventually transferring into Newhouse and SU. The first half of the 90's were a great time to be at WJPZ - as they refreshed the logo and sound, and gave away a car at the New York State Fair. You'll actually hear the promo in this podcast (8:11). The promo won the station national recognition and a story with Bill Maher.After graduation, Mark spent a decade in radio. He worked with former Soviet countries through Metromedia International to get radio stations running. He also spent time at Jacor, ClearChannel, and their Critical Mass Media, where he began learning about ad tech and digital sales.The next phase of Mark's career was on the digital side, working for Orbitz and GoGo, before marrying his tech knowledge and radio routes at TuneIn. He shares how his company's discovery platform is opening up the entire world to content creators.Mark's also done extensive work with the alumni of Syracuse University as a whole, serving as President of the national alumni club, and recruiting other WJPZ alums into the fold. (By the way, he met his wife through the Chicago alumni club, as he shares.)WJPZ taught Mark a lot about working hard and playing hard. He talks about learning scrappiness at Z89, and how that hustle has served him well in his career. And he also talks about 507 University Ave. You'll have to listen to the podcast to hear those stories.More:TuneIn Website: https://tunein.com/Listen to this podcast on TuneIn: http://tun.in/pnKwaJoin Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It would be most football fans' dream to work backstage with NFL legends Howie Long, Terry Bradshaw, Jimmy Johnson and more. Today Bernie Kim, from the Class of 2002, takes us on his journey from WJPZ to what's known as the "Avocado Room" at Fox Sports in Los Angeles.Like many in the WJPZ Family, Bernie got to Z89 with an intense love of sports - and he was able to marry that with comedy on-air with the Z Morning Zoo. It was there where he honed his comedy chops, parodying everyone from LFO to DMX.Following his time at Syracuse, Bernie headed out to Los Angeles to further study the intersection of sports and comedy while working for The Best Damn Sports Show Period. And he's spent most of the last two decades with FOX.He's worked with Fox covering golf (he shares a great Mike Tirico story), baseball and more. It's often on Bernie and his team to come up with funny bits during coverage of major events. He tells us about creating the "Hamm Slamm" chain with Jon Hamm at the MLB All Star game.Most of Bernie's focus is on the NFL though. He spends his week coming up with bits for Fox's football coverage. And on gameday, he's working with the network's top analysts to hone what they're going to cover at halftime and beyond.We ask Bernie for his best advice to current students and young alumni. It's simple - network, network, network. He talks about how it's helped him in his career.Finally, here's the clip that Bernie referenced - redemption for himself with Donovan McNabb, years later.https://youtu.be/ZYCkQ3wdQa4Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hall of Famer "Merry" Mary Mancini has done it all - both in her time at WJPZ and since. When the University took over WAER, she found a better, more tightly formatted, home at the world's greatest media classroom. Starting (like many of us) as an overnight jock, she eventually became part of the Crazy Morning Crew and also music director.While she's quick to give credit to other Hall of Famers that put the station on FM, the new sound at 89.1 was carefully crafted by Mary. She made it a point to play all types of music within the CHR format. Throughout Syracuse, reaction to the FM station was big. Mary witnessed an uptick of record sales for songs she put on the air. The morning show's phones were lighting up. The station was no longer just a place to learn radio - it was having a real impact on its listening area.Following Syracuse University, Mary takes us through her "twisty turny" journey - from working with Rocco Macri at Hot 97 in New York, to moving to A&R for a record label, and eventually packing up and heading to Nashville, Tennessee.Imagine this former music director's horror to find that the city did not have an independent record store. She created one, "Lucy's Record Shop," in 1992. It quickly became a community staple. Its all ages shows attracted musicians, visual artists, and thinkers alike.Following the record store, and a career in IT, Mary's radio roots pulled her back in - getting on the air talking politics in Nashville. As her profile grew, more opportunities opened up, becoming executive director of Tennessee Citizen Action, and eventually chair of the Tennessee Democratic Party. She credits what she learned at WJPZ for helping her every step of the way.As she ponders her next move, she created a podcast, featuring the "kids" from Lucy's Record Shop, now 30 years older. You'll find it here: https://www.lucysrecordshop.com/We wrap up with a story involving Mary, Jag, and a favor from a very famous distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee. The story is a microcosm of what WJPZ alumni do for each other.Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

On social media, you won't find a more enthusiastic supporter of WJPZ than Jordan Hayes, from the Class of 2014. He tells us how he first found the station in fifth grade as we played "Summer Girls" by LFO. Once he found out the station was run by Syracuse University students, he knew that's where he wanted to be. At Baldwinsville High School, he worked at WBXL. From there he went to OCC and eventually transferred in to SU.At the station, Jordan had 3 goals. He wanted to do something nobody had done before at Z89, he wanted to be on the exec staff, and he wanted his own show. He learned some tough lessons along the way, but eventually Jordan accomplished all three of those goals.We spend some time talking about the mentors who worked with Jordan, and from a larger perspective, the folks who have helped keep WJPZ alive for 50 years. And Jordan tells us about one of his favorite episodes of his throwback show, done with the alumni of The Pulse one Banquet weekend.More: Jordan's Friday night online radio show: https://jordanhits202.web.app/Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

You may know today's guest as a former General Manager of WJPZ. You may know him for his major market news career, between Seattle, New York, Philadelphia, and now KNX in Los Angeles. But you may not know how much of the current station was built with his hands. We cover all of that today with Alex Silverman, from the Class of 2010.Alex talks about getting to Syracuse and loving radio, but not being sure which career direction that love would take him in. He became VP of Operations and GM at Z89, tracing every wire and learning how everything works. Meanwhile, he ended up getting an opportunity to anchor weekends at WSYR-Syracuse, and that cemented his love for news radio.Alex talks about networking by accident. And how a tweet about 4/20 as a student led him to Wayne Cabot at WCBS New York, eventually leading Alex to a job as a reporter then into station management. We then trace his career to Philadelphia and now Los Angeles. (There may be a question about Philly sports fans in today's show.)There are a number of lessons today's guest learned at WJPZ that have served him well - from how to manage people to how to handle the University bureaucracy when they overstepped their legal bounds.We spend a fair amount of time talking about Alex's technical contributions to Z89 as an alum. Most notably, he was part of the station rebuild in 2012, when they secured funding to revamp and expand the entire station. He, Rob Crandall, Stephen Kurtz, and more worked with the staff over winter break to do a month's worth of work in a week. Alex also talks about a new transmitter, upgrading our 100 watt flamethrower to 1,000, and more.Finally, we talk about the current state of radio. For radio to survive and thrive, Alex feels two things must happen. Provide the content our audience wants, where they want it, and do a better job of marketing where to find it.Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today we sit down with Mitch Reiter, WJPZ Class of 1979, to go through his journey from AM 1200 in Syracuse to running Camp Towanda in the Poconos.Mitch paints a picture of the old station inside of Spectrum Sundries, now the site of the Sheraton on campus. And we spend some time talking about the leadership of classmate and WJPZ Hall of Famer Mike Roberts. Mike recruited Mitch to the radio station, and empowered him to become promotions manager, then eventually station manager. It was on these classes from the late 70's to keep alive what the founders before them had built.After graduating, Mitch worked at WPIX-TV in New York, doing everything from field producing to being their first ever satellite coordinator. He also worked on ABC's "After School Specials," before pivoting and following another true passion of his, summer camps.Camp Towanda is a seven-week summer camp in the Poconos area of Pennsylvania. The kids are unplugged. No devices. They have to communicate face to face (imagine that?). But running the camp is a year-round job, doing corporate retreats in the fall, and of course planning the next year's events. Mitch does a great job explaining how his experience at WJPZ prepared him for this job. And yes, the camp has done television, radio, and even podcasts.Mitch throws out the idea of a big WJPZ reunion, with all of our families, at his facility. This may be an idea to look into...More:Friday Night Flix, Camp Towanda's Highlight Reel: http://www.fridayniteflix.com/Camp Towanda Website: https://www.camptowanda.com/Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Allie Gold, Class of 2015, joins us today. She's a former general manager of WJPZ, and is currently the digital content manager for Elvis Duran and the Morning Show at Z100 New York. Allie, like many of us, talks about her obsession with the radio growing up. Given how far out on Long Island she was, she was more of a WBLI P1 than Z100. But BLI is what made her fall in love with radio.She got to Syracuse, however, thinking she wanted to get into television. But it was a chance meeting with Craig Hoffman at accepted students day in the Dome that brought her to WJPZ. After training on-air, she quickly became a part of the Z Morning Zoo with Jeff Cucinell and Luke Walsh.Allie had aspirations of being General Manager, but after spending a semester in Florence, she didn't think it would work out. But it did, and she ended up choosing Z89 over a second semester in Italy. Back stateside, she had to re-establish the community of the station after a remodel. The station had been voice tracked out of Newhouse for a semester during construction, and it was on Allie and her team to rebuild the social fabric of WJPZ. She did this with by establishing a kickball rivalry with Citrus TV, social events like "HallowZeen," and more.The lessons Allie learned at WJPZ, and the relationships she built, eventually landed her at Z100 in New York. We close the podcast by talking about what Allie sees as radio's future in a post-pandemic world. She talks about the importance of positivity and rebuilding communities.Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chances are, you won't find an alumnus from our group who interfaces with current students the way Josh Wolff ('03) does. Sitting on both the the Alumni Association Board and the WJPZ Board of Directors, this former station Program Director is always there to answer a student question.We open today's show by asking Josh about his journey to Syracuse and Z89. Jag talks about how Josh was instrumental in helping him land both his first full time radio job, as well as his Major Market gig in Detroit.We could have asked Josh about his long career in radio, with positions in Binghamton, Greenville, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Phoenix, Allentown, and more. But he's much more comfortable talking about others - students like Mina Llona, Sam Kandell, Corey Crockett, Alex Silverman, Steven Krainin, Jacob Belotti, and more, all the way to the station's current leadership.Some of you may not be familiar with the on-site work that some of the alumni do in the summer in Syracuse (and often year-round for that matter). Josh talks about being in town when it's not snowing - with folks like Stephen Kurtz, Alex Silverman, Rob Crandall, Matt DelSignore, and more - helping the station leadership with everything from G-Selector clocks to upgrading our "100 watt flamethrower" to 1,000.Jag and Josh wrap up with a funny story of innocence lost in Greenville. We also find out what's in the fridge of a guy who's never cooked.Join Us in Syracuse for Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hall of Famer Ed LaComb, from the Class of 1985, has been involved with the station for years. He started his own imaging company, Digital Sound and Video, in 1998. He's spent most of the time since then working with the Program Directors of WJPZ to help refine the station's sound.Ed was also at Syracuse when WJPZ moved to FM. He walks us through his time playing records overnight on carrier current to then the station moving to FM and some real "wow" moments in that process.We also go through Ed's career, bouncing between snowy upstate New York and sunny Daytona Beach, Florida, where he started his company. He shares his advice for both aspiring business owners and audio producers, including his current thoughts on the radio industry today. Spoiler: he's not a fan of stations being bought by the same company and cross-promoting each other.We wrap up with a Rick Wright story. Always the station's best ally, we hear about how Dr. Rick gave an impassioned speech to the Student Government Association when the station was trying to secure funding for the move to FM.Join Us in Syracuse for The Banquet on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today we are joined by four WJPZ Hall of Famers, who will take us through the station's move to the FM dial in the 1980's - Bob Flint, Phil LoCascio, Eric Fitch, and Chris Mossman.In the Summer of 1982, there was a confluence of events, as Bob puts it. WJPZ owed Syracuse University $5,000. The station's antenna was taken down, leaving it only to broadcast on TV's and carrier current (we explain that). And oh by the way, the school was going to build what is now the Sheraton on the site where the station stood.Through allies, including advisor Rick Wright, and Mark Ellenbogen in the Student Government Association, the tide started to turn. The University found WJPZ a physical home, but the station had to find a home on the radio dial. The station had to be incorporated, with bylaws and a continuity plan. All of this needed to happen to the satisfaction of both Syracuse University and the FCC.Our guests today take us inside the old AM studios, and how they had to find ways to keep the station going. Chris explains what it was to "slip cue" a record. Eric talks about dealing with the bureaucracy of a large University (and how it helped him in his professional life). Phil talks about the culture they walked into at WJPZ, and how it became incumbent upon them to keep it going.Chris tells us story's happy ending, in the summer of 1984, when he went to the station mailbox, and found the approval from the Federal Communications Commission.The late Dr. John Oldfield gets....um....a shoutout in this episode - turns out he was a thorn in the station's side when we moved in to Watson, and when we moved out.Of course, the guests today have many great stories. They include a cleaning lady unplugging the radio station, and Dr. Rick Wright....let's say.....always putting the education of his students above all else.Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Stacey Simms, '93, has done it all. She's worked professionally in radio, in television, and now in podcasting. (She also voiced the Greatest Media Classroom documentary for WJPZ's 40th anniversary!)Stacey temporarily walked away from Z89 early in her Syracuse career, but it was the staff of the station that eventually brought her back into the fold as an upperclassman and an alum. Today, we walk through her professional journey from Syracuse to Utica and back, then eventually to her current home in Charlotte.Stacey's podcast, Diabetes Connections, was created when she saw a void in the space. Her son was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, and while many shows focused on lifestyle and stories, this newswoman craved information. So her news-center diabetes podcast was born, it became a business and even two books! We actually take a few minutes in this episode to dispel a few myths, misconceptions, and stereotypes about the disease.Stacey has been an advocate for women both in the media industry and even among the WJPZ Alumni Association. We ask her about the gender gap, what can be done, and even some bigger picture issues within the radio industry.Naturally, there are WJPZ connections throughout Stacey's life, and she shares one story in particular - living in Utica with WJPZ legend Sharon Goodman, aka BB Good.More info:Stacey's Podcast, Diabetes Connections: https://diabetes-connections.com/Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

T.J. Basalla and Kevin Rich are the best of friends, and like many of us, that relationship got its start at WJPZ. Oddly, that wasn't what brought them together originally. It was a shared love of another team - Michigan Football. And while their initial connection was born out of Maize and Blue, their careers and lives since have a distinctly Orange hue.Both of today's guests talk about some significant station moments they were witness to. When then-GM Kevin was faced with FCC license renewal, he reached out to the alumni - Dena Giacobbe in particular - who could help walk him through it.For T.J., he was there for the return of local high school football on WJPZ. He talked about what that meant to the community covering games, and one story in particular that will always stay with him.Kevin and TJ represent the alumni association as a whole pretty well. They both started in radio, but one (Kevin) stayed in it while the other (TJ) has gone on to a successful marketing career. We learn about what they've both been up to in a decade and a half since graduation. This includes what they learned at WJPZ and how that knowledge has served them both.We wrap up with a New Year's Eve story about a night involving Vermont, Quebec, and Tim Hortons. If you've ever met these guys, you'll certainly appreciate it.Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Matt DelSignore was elected to the WJPZ of Hall of Fame in 2022, and will be inducted at this year's Banquet celebation.Growing up outside Watertown, New York, Matt's parents had season tickets to Syracuse Football. But while most other Walkmans (Walkmen?) in the Dome were tuned in to the game on WSYR, Matt's headphones found Z89, then programmed by our own Neon Dion Summers. The station sounded so good, Matt never thought it would have been run by students. Joining the station upon his arrival on campus was a no-brainer.Then, like several of his classmates from the Class of 2002, this freshman was tapped by then GM Harry Wareing as a future leader of the radio station. In the 1998-1999 school year, the station staff was small. Harry and broadcast consultant Dena Giacobbe new they had to empower the next executive staff. Harry suggested Matt run for General Manager and Program Director, and Matt talks about his sense of "serving his community," a tradition his family has deep roots in.The dual role is not an easy one. While Matt relished the opportunity to program a station like WJPZ, it was also his responsibility to keep the lights on. And while the station was making enough money to pay its monthly bills, it was facing an enormous debt the current students inherited. But it was the passion and personalities Matt found at the station that helped keep it going. Those relationships continue to this day.Matt also takes us through his post-college career in news (and why he chose reporting over records) - from Watertown to Syracuse, Albany, Pittsburgh, and Washington, D.C.Finally, Mr. DelSignore tells us a hilarious personal story about himself, Redman, Method Man, and the movie How High.Bonus: Matt's Summer 1999 Playlist. Hard to believe these all hit that summer! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6HbF5OilemvmkfxePsJXbA?si=518052ef610f4361Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mike Couzens grew up listening to the radio in White Plains, New York. So it's no surprise that when he got to Syracuse, he immediately gravitated to both WJPZ and WAER, spending far more time in those facilities than on coursework.Today he tells us about being surprised, as a sports guy, when his predecessor Alex Silverman suggested he run for General Manager. Throughout this episode, Mike talks about lessons he learned as GM, and how knowing "all aspects" of a broadcast help in his current play-by-play role at ESPN. And while the sports department had "one of their own" in that role, Mike was always cognizant of the push-pull between music and sports. The station didn't only flourish with its play-by-play. The station launched a competition for local musicians, had a presence at the annual Mayfest, aired its public affairs show, Orange State, and more.Mike takes us through his career post-graduation, using the Syracuse network, and never saying no to an opportunity. That includes covering volleyball and wrestling, and driving 12 hours round trip to call a game in Wisconsin. His career path wound through the Midwest, had a stop in Vermont, and eventually wound up with him at ESPN.This year, he's moved closer to his roots - doing less games on television and more on radio. We talk about the power and opportunity that comes with calling games on the radio.Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Today is a very special episode of the podcast. Three of Jag's classmates from the Class of 2002 reflect back on a day at the beginning of their senior year - September 11, 2001.Dave Peterson, aka "Peterman," was the station's GM and morning show host that morning. Leah Hoffman was his co-host, out on campus interviewing folks about the Syracuse primary elections, scheduled that Tuesday. Brett Bosse was the news director, and Jag was on in afternoon drive.Peterman and Leah start the story in the morning when the towers were hit, and how they had to get information, with no televisions in the station, only one other station in the market that would come in to the new WJPZ facilities, and no internet.Brett picks it up with the station's skeleton news crew. Having just come back to a rebuilt studio after a year in an off-campus house on Ostrom Avenue, he was trying to rebuild the news department as the school year started. And Jag chimes in with what happened in the afternoon of 9/11.You'll hear some raw emotion in this episode as the four of us recount our memories of that day, and a very personal connection for one of our cohosts. But you'll also hear about the power of the WJPZ family - not only how everyone stepped up to help in any way possible, but how the station became a gathering place for so many. In that moment of fear and uncertainty, we all needed to be with our Syracuse Family.This episode isn't all serious though. We wrap up on some brighter notes, reflecting on some hilarious stories from our time at Z89. And Peterman shares two of them - as only he can.Link: Peterman's handwritten notes from the morning of 9/11: https://twitter.com/pieceofpeterman/status/1436749769683124229?s=20&t=cUMIDjlgiL10cxC7_bo9PgJoin Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Chances are, if you have ever been involved with WJPZ, you know Matt Friedman from the Class of 1994. This Hall of Famer and proud Michigander is one of our most active alumni. (In fact, he even helped make some connections for this podcast.) Today he takes us from his journey to Syracuse, through television news, and to the helm of his agency, Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications.Matt actually knew about WJPZ before he ever left Metro Detroit - thanks to alumni like Larry Barron, Scott Meach, and more. While at his local community radio station in high school, WJPZ and Syracuse University, in some ways, became one and the same.A lover of news, sports, and music, Friedman actually found his home in WJPZ's news department, helping run their breaking news coverage of what we now know as Operation Desert Storm (yes, he has a clip). But before getting into station management, he was taught an invaluable lesson by Dave Gorab that he takes with him to this day.Following his WJPZ career, Matt worked in TV, producing newscasts in Atlanta and Orlando, before returning home to Detroit. Eventually he moved out of television and into PR, then starting Tanner Friedman Strategic Communications. We talk about his career arc through many changes, and how Friedman's experiences and relationships from WJPZ have buoyed him every step of the way.When asked for a funny story, Broadcaster Friedman shares a culture clash that's sure to crack you up. It involves the Barrio Boyz, heard here: https://youtu.be/_qR1PL13T-UJoin Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Geoff "Deaf Geoff" Herbert is a machine -serving as WJPZ's GM while working as a morning show host at a commercial station in Syracuse. Oh by the way, he was working a night shift at Blockbuster Video (RIP) and somehow attending classes.Geoff was bitten by the radio bug early, serving as General Manager of his high school radio station in Acton, Massachusetts. This experience made attending Syracuse and joining Z89 a no-brainer. During his time at the helm of the station, WJPZ vastly expanded both its sports and music offerings.Yes, today's guest was born deaf, hearing only about 10% as well as the rest of us (50% with hearing aids). He talks about giving himself his nickname/on-air moniker, his lip-reading skills (which come in handy during Syracuse basketball games), and even how he became the instructor in a music production class.It was another SU class - taught by Dr. Rick Wright - that landed him an internship at Hot 107.9, that he eventually turned into a full time producer gig before even graduating. And his instincts were good - preparing to leave commercial radio just before his show was taken off the air for syndication.In the time since, he's become a prolific writer for Syracuse.com and the Post Standard, maintained his music chops as a Wedding DJ, and fallen in love with Syracuse as home.Referenced in this podcast:Eamon: "F*ck It (I Don't Want You Back): https://youtu.be/QYwyaCd8MyIResponse Track: Frankie: "FURB:" https://youtu.be/B1K0pUSSFUoJoin Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Brian Lapis refers to himself as the "court jester" of WJPZ, but in today's interview, you'll hear the true passion he has for the radio station. In fact, he starts by telling us about his biggest regret from his time at Syracuse - not joining Z89 sooner.Brian actually came in as a freshman working for Y94FM in Syracuse, before really becoming more involved with WJPZ in the second half of his career. This was in part thanks to some peer pressure from some folks who would go on to do very big things in their own careers.Lippy talks about doing engineering off-air, including a great story from the top of Day Hall with Scott Meach. Eventually he came to be Chief Announcer at the station in addition to his on-air work.Following graduation, his radio career took him from Hartford to Philadelphia to Providence. But he was simultaneously exploring another career route - television meteorology. Thanks to some advice from classmate Dave Roberts, Brian became certified in broadcast meteorology, and joined WWLP-TV in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1996. And he's been there ever since.WJPZ's favorite "Weather Entertainer" takes us through a day in the life of a television meteorologist in 2022, before we circle back to the many lessons learned at Z89.And you know I had to ask Lippy for some of his favorite funny stories from the station. You won't want to miss those!Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Scott Meach's contributions to both WJPZ and the Alumni Association are nearly immeasurable. In two stints as General Manager, he and his team helped shepherd the station out of a mountain of debt, bring in some major market coin, and pull off some big-time promotions in the Syracuse market.In his time since graduation, he's served as President of a revamped Alumni Association, created the bylaws for the WJPZ Hall of Fame, and so much more.In today's wide ranging conversation, we cover the financial turnaround of WJPZ in the late 80's, what the station overcame on and off the air, and how it ushered in what we now know as the "Flamethrower" era. We also talk about how the Alumni Association has evolved over the last two decades.Scott also talks about his professional journey, from working with "Up With People" to radio promotions and contest insurance, ultimately to starting his own business in the secondary ticket market, SecondTicket.Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In the 50 year history of WJPZ, there have been many trying times and events. But dealing with a once-in-a-century global pandemic was certainly a first for the station. That's what Kyle Leff, Class of 2022, walked into when he was elected General Manager in the Spring of 2020.In this episode, Kyle walks us through 4 semesters of COVID-19 on campus and at WJPZ. When everyone the campus shut down in 2020, the staff had employ technology and a skeleton crew to keep the radio station on the air. As was the case for all of us, there was no playbook for how to handle a situation like this.When the students returned in the fall of 2020, precautions had to be taken - from staggering jock shifts to wiping down equipment before and after each person left the studio. And for the entire 2020-2021 school year, jocks were on the air masked. But WJPZ was one of the few campus organizations that could exist in COVID - Kyle talks about what that did for the station's recruitment efforts. Then in the 2021-2022 year, the station slowly got back to normal, now with a much larger staff.Kyle praises the leadership at the station - both before and during his tenure as GM - as working together to solve problems and keep the station running through the pandemic. And it was this lesson of collaboration that has served Kyle well in his first post-graduation job, on the air at B94.5 in State College, Pennsylvania.Beyond COVID, we talk about the radio industry in 2022, through a recent grad's perspective. Kyle believes great radio is still being made by smaller radio companies, and he takes us behind the scenes at his current gig. Live on air, social media content, and more.Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

"Hollywood" Hal Rood is a WJPZ Hall of Famer who programmed the station at an incredible moment in its history. From there, he went on to several radio jobs, before founding his own company, Strategic Solutions Research, 15 years ago.Despite his impressive resume, Hal credits his classmates at Z89 for shepherding the station out of some dark times and into the "flamethrower" days. Folks like Scott Meach, Henry Ferri, Carl Weinstein, Scotty Bergstein, Mike Tierney, and more. This incredible team got the station out of debt and profitable. It ran a successful PR campaign to explain the mission of the station, and garnered some of the highest ratings in the station's history. And oh by the way, it gave away a Pontiac Firebird at the Great New York State Fair.He tells us to great stories, including one about a Mike Tyson fight on Pay Per View, and one that you may know of. Talk about "kicking the competition," Hal shares the story of the famous 93 "Q Ball."More: Hal's Company Website: https://www.strategicsolutionsresearch.com/Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Mina Llona is a radio and social media rockstar. In the 15 years since graduation, she's worked on the air in New York, in Philadelphia, and two stints at SiriusXM.We start today's show with her unusual trajectory toward radio, and the very surprising reaction she got from her Mom when she told her she wanted to switch from pursuing a law career to one in radio.One key constant throughout her career has been the guidance of fellow alum Dion Summers ('95), who first barged in on her shift as a freshman, and now works with her on his SiriusXM Channel "The Heat."Mina recently became a Mom and gives us the perspective of being pregnant while working in the radio industry, including covering the BET Awards in LA while being 7 months along. Reactions ranged from incredulous to incredibly supportive, including some great interactions she had with artists like Lizzo and Ne-Yo. Mina was Program Director of WJPZ at a pivotal time in the station's existence - the transition over to NexGen and the introduction of voice-tracking. While opinions differ on the topic, it's a skill that broadcasters today need to graduate with. Mina talks about how important it was to learn, and teach, new radio software to fulfill the station's mission as the World's Greatest Media Classroom. And it was learning that software that put her at an advantage when she landed her first job after graduation.Finally, we talk about WJPZ at "home." Mina explains how on a big campus, the radio station was always home.More:Mina's Website: http://minasaywhat.com/Mina's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/minasaywhat/Mina's daughter Athena's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/athenathebabydoll Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In a very impressive alumni association, Scott MacFarlane is a rockstar among rockstars, although he'd probably be the last person to say so. A Hall of Famer and currently Congressional Correspondent for CBS News, he joins us today to reflect back on his time at WJPZ, and how it's prepared him for a career on the national stage.Some of the biggest lessons Scott learned at WJPZ were personal ones, including "how to play well in the sandbox." The ability to get along with others is a skill that has helped him make many jumps in his career. We also talk about what he learned about the history of the station in producing "Greatest Media Classroom," the documentary for WJPZ's 40th anniversary a decade ago.Scottie Mac tells the story of a challenge he had to come on his first day live on the air, nationally, on CBS News, and how his professional development at WJPZ prepared him for that moment. Related to that, we also dive into his outstanding reporting around the January 6th insurrection, and how his time covering Congress and federal courts perfectly positioned him to be a reliable source of information. Also, how has he dealt with online blowback to his reporting? And what advice does he have for young, up-and-coming journalists?Finally, Scott talks about the family of WJPZ. And how it doesn't matter if you graduated in 1975 or 2022. You're just "his friend from school."Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For our first episode, we wanted to give you a choice between our full 98 minute interview with Dr. Rick Wright or this one, the 39 minute "radio edit."In this shortened version, we stick to (mostly) the 50 year history of the radio station, beginning with that famous "knock at the door" of Dr. Wright's office in 1975. From there, we wind through the 80's and the story behind the move to the FM dial, Pan Am 103, and the "flamethrower" days of the early 90's, We also touch on the receivership era, and the infamous house on Ostrom that was the station's temporary home for a year.Jag also asks the question all Banquet attendees want to know: When did the old Professor figure out what was happening during "Rick Wright Radio Bingo?"We wrap up with Dr. Wright's thoughts on the current state of the radio industry, and what could be done to save it. And finally, we zoom out to hear his takeaways from 50 years of the World's Greatest Media Classroom.Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For our first episode, we went back to Professor Rick Wright to tell the story of WJPZ. And we put out the 38 minute "radio edit." But we felt many of you would want to hear the entire conversation with Rick - all 98 minutes of it. So we are releasing it here as a bonus episode.Rick tells us about his first stint in Syracuse, and how he left and came back prior to that famous "knock on the door," and the detail of what that first WJPZ-AM studio looked like in 1975. This, again, is the "album cut," full of details about that fateful time in the mid-1970's.This goes in to the story behind the "Lock" scholarship, nearly being shut down by the FCC, the move to cable television, then finally over to the FM dial. For this part of the conversation, Rick gets a little deeper into the details of how the unpopular move of WAER to National Public Radio affiliate paved the way for WJPZ-FM. And yes John Oldfield's name comes up in this version.Also from the 80's, you'll hear names like Sean McDonough, Mike Tirico, and a story about Larry King that many of us know from Banquets past.Next, we talk about Pan AM 103 - and see the events of that day and week through our old Professor's eyes, including the decision to head home to North Carolina that Christmas to be with his Dad, and how he became a representative of the University back in Elizabeth City.Next we dig into the 90's, from the flamethrower days to receivership, and the mixed emotions with which Rick looks back on the latter.You'll be surprised by Rick's memories of the Ostrom House in 2000. He might be the only person that liked our temporary digs.Then, the question we had to ask - Rick Wright Radio Bingo. What happened when he figured it out? Be prepared for a lot of jock names and call letters.We have a bit of an extended discussion of the power of radio, where it was, what it's become, and how it can return to it's glory days. As Rick says, "the fire sale is coming."Finally, Dr. Wright reflects back on his time at WJPZ, and the six decades of alumni he's gotten to know. You'll be happy to hear he's gotten just as much - if not more - out of the station than we all have.Join Us in Syracuse on March 4th: https://bit.ly/WJPZ50BanquetTicketsThe WJPZ at 50 Podcast is produced by Jon Gay '02 and JAG in Detroit Podcasts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

For 50 years, WJPZ Syracuse has been the world’s greatest media classroom, preparing Syracuse University Students for whatever was to come after graduation. In the WJPZ at 50 Podcast, we’ll hear about some of the lessons learned, You'll hear how alumni from six different decades each had their own set of challenges to tackle.And perhaps just as importantly, you’ll hear about the relationships that have formed throughout this giant WJPZ family.The WJPZ at 50 podcast is put together exclusively by the alumni of the world’s greatest media classroom, from artwork and imaging, to production and editing. I’m your host, Jon Gay, aka JAG, from the Class of 2002. I hope you’ll join us as we chronicle the station’s incredible half-century history.It’s the WJPZ at 50 Podcast – with new episodes releasing every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, starting November 7th. With special guest Dr. Rick Wright. Find us at Simplecast dot com slash WJPZ at 50. Or follow the show on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Just search WJPZ at 50. Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.