For five decades, WJPZ Radio in Syracuse has been the world's Greatest Media Classroom. It's always been run exclusively by students and has served as the foundation for post-college careers, whether its alumni have worked in radio or elsewhere. The relationships formed by alumni from six different decades have helped create a true family.
As we celebrate 50 years of WJPZ, we present 50 interviews with the people who have made this institution so special.
Hosted by Jon "JAG" Gay, WJPZ Class of 2002.
Taylor Swift, Baseball, and Type 2 Diabetes: Other WJPZ Alumni Podcasts, Part 1
I wanted to call your attention to some OTHER WJPZ Alumni who are doing great podcasts. In fact, we’ve got a little something for everyone. Today, in part 1, I’m going to introduce you to three podcasts hosted by WJPZ Alumni.There’s no bigger star in the world right now than Taylor Swift – and you’d be hard pressed to find a bigger Swiftie than Molly Nelson, class of 2014. She and her best friend Ryan co-host “Hits Different,” a podcast devoted to all things Taylor, from news to theories, and
Matthew Reschke, aka R Source
We're talking today with Matthew Reschke, also known as R Source, from the class of 2012. Matt's connection to WJPZ started in his childhood, growing up near Syracuse and engaging with the station's DJs through AOL - before even AIM.Matthew's academic path took him from Onondaga Community College to LeMoyne College, where he first dabbled in college radio. His journey to WJPZ was not straightforward; it involved exploring different educational paths and eventually finding a flyer that led him to
What Happens (at the NAB Show) in Vegas
Every year, the WJPZ Alumni Association, via the Berrell Award, sends two students to an industry event. In 2023, GM Grace Denton and former sports director Joe Puccio went to Vegas for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show. We sat down with them to hear about the experience.We've met Grace in her previous episode with PD Maddie Doolittle. So first we meet Joe and get his background. And we hear about their summer 2023 positions- Grace at Taylor Swift's Republic Records (thanks
Kelly (Foster) and Adam Shapiro, Class of 1992
If you don't know Adam and Kelly (Foster) Shapiro's backstory, you might assume it's yet another romance started in the halls of WJPZ. Their story, as you'll hear here, is a much different road than than other Z89 couples.Both members of the Class of 1992, they were certainly friendly in school, and had mutual friends, but didn't spend a ton of time together outside the station. Kelly joined the promotions department, eventually working her way up to legal director. Adam was a sports guy w
Meteorologist Dave Roberts, Class of 1992
While many of us flipped burgers or bagged groceries in high school, Dave Roberts was reading the news on an AM station and (literally) herding cats as a 15 year old. When he toured Syracuse and saw the WJPZ prize van, and he met Hal Rood, Jim Remeny and more. He knew it was where he had to be.After starting on overnights, Dave quickly climbed the ranks to news director and eventually VP of Business. That may sound like a strange trajectory, but Dave's always loved news (and meterology). And
Seattle Mariners VP of Marketing Kevin Martinez, Class of 1988
Kevin Tippy Martinez, '88, is the Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications for the Seattle Mariners. It's no surprise that this New Jersey native, with passions for baseball and broadcasting, found himself transferring in to Syracuse.Once he got to SU, Martinez was actively involved with both Z89 and WAER, where he honed his skills in sports broadcasting and DJing. Not many students worked for both stations at that time, but this chief announcer made it work. He simply couldn't walk awa
Mike Roberts, longtime V103 Morning Man and PD, Class of 1979
Mike Roberts, Class of 1979, is one of the people who helped kept WJPZ alive in the early days. With the station's founders having graduated, Mike empowerd a team to run radio station, passing its educational lessons forward to the next generation of broadcasters.Arriving on campus in 1975, he quickly found WJPZ 1200 AM in the Spectrum Records building and told Bill Bleyle that he wanted to be involved. In addition to his airshift, he learned how to do everything - down to changing the needles
GM Marc Bokoff, '87, on the Sit-In at WJPZ
Today we interview Marc Bokoff, from the class of 1987. A management major, Marc came to the station as business manager under then-GM Larry Barron, before becoming general manager himself. He took over the station in the midst of the station changing from a block format to the much more tighly programmed CHR format it still has today.As GM, Marc and the staff faced backlash for this change, leading accusations of racial bias and subsequent protests. We get his perspective (through his 37-year
Scott Greene, Class of '93: Newspaper to Radio and Back!
Scott Greene, '93, grew up just outside Boston wanting to be a newspaper reporter. He did it in high school and came to Syracuse wanting to pursue that career. But WJPZ quickly drew him in, and he says the only columns he wrote for the Daily Orange ended up being Wrestlemania previews.Scott came to the station as the classes of 90 and 91 were taking the reigns. His group quickly got their footing, and passed the torch to '94 and '95. And yes, Scott names names from all of these groups.Whil
Marty D, Class of 2001, Draws Out The Laughs
Links!All of Marty's current work, including podcasts: https://weeklyhumorist.com/Marty's archive of Z Morning Zoo bits, including the full Rick Wright tour of the Ostrom House: https://www.mediafire.com/folder/ascjv18c57ajw/Z_Morning_Zoo_audioMarty D was best known at WJPZ for hosting the Z Morning Zoo, alongside Peterman and Emily Zizza (now Almas). But you'll learn much more about him in today's episode. You'll hear how he was a radio nerd like most of us, growing up listening to Baltimore
Hollywood Writer John Beck, Class of 1995
John sent some great 1990's pics from the station. You can view them here: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fo/zxxnn6pconq7p45fvidd1/h?rlkey=ny9i0u512pve0tf915i58xtl3&dl=0John Beck, Class of 1995, has gone on to a prolific writing career in Hollywood, having worked on everything from The Hughleys to Fuller House, to Liv and Maddie, and more. A TV guy through and through, it was actually Dave Gorab who approached him, over at then-UUTV, to come do the Crazy Morning Crew at Z89.John is very honest at
Tony Renda, Class of 1995
As the son of a radio station owner, Tony Renda grew up in broadcasting. His dad, Tony Renda Sr, started with an AM station in East McKeesport, Pennsylvania, before growing the company to many station in several markets.Growing up near Pitt, Tony Jr. new about the Big East, and of course Syracuse. His dad was an alum. But he didn't go straight from high school to Central New York; he didn't have the grades. So he spent a year at Ohio University before transferring.Once in the 315, Tony's fra
Tracey Turner ('00), Lisa Phillips ('03), and Sarah Fox ('02)
Today's guests are three ladies, three years apart, who have formed an enduring frienship via WJPZ that has lasted over 20 years.Tracey (Chilandese) Turner got to the station when Harry and Dena were running a skeleton crew, having just shepherded the station through it's second format change (back to Z89) in just a few years. Trace joined the station as a sophomore, just as Matt DelSignore was taking over for Harry as GM and PD. Harry provided guidance for promotions, and let his dynamic duo
"Kid" Michael Rock, Class of 1995
"Kid" Michael Rock grew up taping Casey Kasem and trying to talk up the songs himself. So it's not surprising that he applied to Syracuse, and only Syracuse. And he set out to find WJPZ before his parents had finished unpacking him into Flint Hall. Who was the first person he met at the station? BB Good.Kid got his FCC license and was soon doing every airshift, including mornings with Steve Donovan (then "Abe Froman"). Ironically, they'd end up competing against each other years later.Rock
Play-By-Play Man David Resnick, Class of 2010
Today's guest is play-by-play man David Resnick, a 2010 WJPZ alum. He reached out to us because he wanted to make sure we recognized the All Star sports department he worked with at Z89 - many who have gone on to great success in the sports industry, as you'll hear.As David says, the "Cold War" between WJPZ and WAER had thawed by the time he got on campus, and he got involved in everything he could - working simultaneously at both radio stations AND Citrus TV. He emphasizes that being willing t
Final Program Update from Jag
Hey, it’s Jag. Again, thank you so much for your support of the WJPZ at 50 podcast, which as of today, January 23, 2024, now has almost 13,000 downloads!We’re starting to wind down the series, but wanted to make sure you had a chance to hear from all of the incredible people we’ve talked to, BEFORE we all get together in Syracuse. So from now until we run out of episodes, probably the middle of February, we’ll go back to our original release schedule of every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Jim Gallagher, '90, From WJPZ Mornings to Disney/Pixar to Stand-Up Comedy
We can't think of a better guest for our 100th episode than Mr. Jim Gallagher. He is believed to have spent more hours "in the chair" doing morning drive than anyone in WJPZ history. Today you'll learn how lessons learned in Syracuse served him well in a truly remarkable career. And we open the episode with a classic station story - a live broadcast from the Denny's on Erie Boulevard when he tried to eat 89 pancakes.Following his time at WJPZ, Jim did radio in Maine and Georgia. In Georgia, h
Jen Nycz-Conner, '95, on Applying WJPZ Lessons Through Multiple Careers
Jen Nycz-Conner felt like she applied to every college in the Big East (RIP) before falling in love with the communications program at Syracuse. Once on campus, she found a fellow freshman with a map. She and Steve Donovan went to the radio station, met B.B. Good, and the rest is history.Living above the station in Watson as a sophomore, Jen got more involved with the station, and soon became VP of Operations as she and her 1995 classmates ran WJPZ. Actually, she wasn't technically Class of 1
T-Bone! Programmer Mike Tierney, Class of '91 and '93
Mike "T-Bone" Tierney may have known more classes in JPZ's history than anyone - having worked at Z89 as a high schooler, undergrad, and grad student. So it's no surprise many of his contemporaries consider him one of WJPZ's greatest program directors.T-Bone went to Nottingham High School, and saw a recruitment flyer for summer staffers while visiting Bird Library. He walked in that day, was immediately training, and worked his way up from overnights to the Top 8 at 9 that summer.You'd think t
Ethan Charlip, General Manager and Class of 2020
It's no surprise that Ethan Charlip ended up at Syracuse University. His New Jersey high school classmates Jacob Belotti and Shruti Marathe were already there when he arrived on campus. In fact, Shruti told Ethan he'd be at the WJPZ spring recruitment meeting and tasked Jacob with making sure of it.Like so many of us, Ethan immediately found his tribe at the station, quickly earning a reputation for hanging out there more than even the exec staff. And how badly did he want to join exec? H
WJPZ Legend and Radio Disney Vet B.B. Good - Class of '93
(Note link to additional content at the end of our show notes.)If we were to pick one alumnus who best represented the warm, welcoming atmosphere of WJPZ, it would probably be Sharon Goodman Michaels, aka "B.B. Good" from the Class of 1993. Several Z89'ers have come on this podcast to talk about how she welcomed them to the station, and we are thrilled to welcome her to this podcast.Like many of us, this Massachusetts native grew up loving radio - and she tells the story of how she recruited Ki
Kelly Sutton, '92, WJPZ's First Female GM
Kelly Sutton, '92, is the first female general manager in the history of WJPZ. And, like many of us, the station launched her into a prolific media career.This Buffalo native went to Syracuse, in part, because of the opportunity to double major in both Newhouse and business. And when a local radio owner back home promised a summer job, she knew she needed experience. By the spring, she found Z89, and folks like Scott Meach, Hal Rood, Dave Gorab, Dave Roberts, Dave Morgan, and more. Despite do
Jordan Capozzi, Class of 2019
Jordan Capozzi grew up in Syracuse, and like many Salt City Natives, did not know WJPZ was run by college students. When his high school guidance counselor released how much he liked to talk (sound familiar?) she recommended he look at SU. When Jordan learned that he could work at Z89, the station was one of his first stops.He got involved in sports, music, and the morning show. Jordan talks about the inclusive and welcoming environment of the station to students of all majors. Before long h
SiriusXM Morning Mash Up Host Ryan Sampson, Class of 1999
Many of us have spent time on the air at various radio stations, but if there's one jock the current students know, it's probably Ryan Sampson, '99, the host of the Morning Mashup on SiriusXM's Hits 1.Like many of us, Ryan grew up a news and sports junkie, and considered himself fortunate to get in to Syracuse. He joined WAER and WJPZ, but had more fun at Z89, where he succeeded Scott MacFarlane as news director.After his parents moved to Baltimore, Ryan did some promotions and other work there
Philly's Tina Stoklosa, Class of 1995
Today's guest is one of many alumni who took the lessons of WJPZ and applied it to every job she had before and after graduation.Tina Stoklosa is a Philadelphia native who was obssessed with the news growing up. The first in her family to go to college, she new Syracuse's Broadcast Journalism program was the way to go. And while TV was always her first love, the camaraderie of Z89 quickly pulled her in. She started doing a Saturday morning news update, and worked her way all the way up to ne
"Cousin" Danny Corsun, Class of 1987
"Cousin" Danny Corsun shares much in common with many of our alumni - a New York kid who liked sports and went to Syracuse. But as you'll hear today, his life's journey is as unique as they come.Danny started at WJPZ doing sports, and after the station moved to FM, he found his way to the Crazy Morning Crew. There, he and the late Larry Barron teamed up for one of the most prominent AM drive shows in the station's history. He tells a classic story of the moment when they realized the whole t
Jeanne Schad on Making The Alumni Association More Inclusive
In her current role at LinkedIn and Microsoft, Jeanne Schad (Class of 1994) specializes in employee engagement. So it's not surprising that she's part of the team that's working to make the WJPZ Alumni Association and Hall of Fame more inclusive.We start with our favorite native Iowan's backstory. Jeanne's parents owned a radio station, and she had her FCC license before her driver's license! In high school, she researched the best broadcast schools, and had good instincts - she picked Syrac
A Tribute to Hall of Famer Larry Barron
For episode 89 of this podcast, we wanted to pay tribute to a man who sits on the Mount Rushmore of WJPZ History, Hall of Famer Larry Barron, from the Class of 1987. As we celebrate his life, career, and mentorship, we are joined by several guests. Pete Bowers was Larry's high school radio station teacher and advisor, and the man who his partly reponsible for the long list of Michiganders in the WJPZ family. Danny Corsun ('87) and Scotty Bergstein ('89) were classmates and also roommates wi
GM Shruti Marathe, Class of 2019, on Larry Barron and JPZ Culture
You might say Shruti Marathe was destined to be General Manager of WJPZ. She followed other alumni in working at her high school radio station in New Jersey. And when she got to Syracuse, her peer mentor was none other than Sam Kandell.Shruti, or "Loops," was, like so many of us, taken by the culture and family environment of Z89. She quickly became an AP on the Z Morning Zoo and learned just as much about WJPZ culture as she did about performing on the radio. (And yes, she tells the story
DEI and Higher Ed Guru Kafele Khalfani, Class of 1995
Since graduating SU in 1996, Kafele Khalfani has done it all - moving from the advertising world to following his passion to help young people. Today you'll hear about his career in higher education, as well as his time fostering and adopting kids.Kafele saw a brochure for Syracuse University with a picture of Rick Wright at Z89, and he immediately put all his eggs into an orange basket. He applied early, nowhere else, and got to campus in 1992. It was during a summer program that he found a
Emmy Winning Reporter Eva Zymaris, Class of 2014
Eva Zymaris, Class of 2014, has gone from Z89 News Director to Emmy winning reporter in New Haven Connecticut. And she credits so much of her career success to the WJPZ family.This New Jersey news aficionado quickly learned that Syracuse was the school for her. As a sophomore, despite her desire to pursue a career in television, she was drawn to WJPZ. She mentions the culture set by folks like Jeff Kurkjian, Allie Gold, Jeff Cucinell, and more. Eva went from doing "89 second news updates" t
Sal Capaccio - from WJPZ to the Bills Sideline and Damar Hamlin
Today you will hear two incredible stories from Sal Capaccio, Class of 1995. The first is his own "origin story." At 37 years old, he quit his job to follow his dream. He and his wife moved back to his hometown of Buffalo for part time work on the sports station there. Through hard work, perserverance, networking, and other lessons he learned at WJPZ, he's now a radio and podcast host, as well as the sideline reporter for the Buffalo Bills radio network.This role gave him a unique perspecti
"Hot Shot" Scotty Bergstein, Class of 1989
Today's guest gobbled up every airshift he could, and now makes his living directing commercials, after learning under Ridley Scott.Scott Bergstein came to Syracuse, like many, chasing the sportscaster dream. When he saw what a soon-to-be-famous sportscaster floormate was doing, he decided to go in another direction. Leaning into his passion for storytelling, he joined Happy Dave Dwyer's bunch at WJPZ. The timing couldn't be better. The station moved to FM in the spring of Scott's freshman y
MTV's Matt Gehring and SNY's Sam Kandell, Class of 2018
WJPZ has formed many deep bonds and friendships - and that is certainly the case for Matt Gehring and Sam Kandell, who served as PD and GM respectively, for the Class of 2018.As you'll hear, their origin stories differ greatly, but they've been thick as thieves since fate brought them together on Boland 8 as freshmen. Soon, Matt, a self professed music geek, and Sam, a die-hard sports fan, were treking across campus together for the 4-6am shift.They learned from upperclassmen like Allie Gold a
Julie Bruno, '85. on Reconnecting as an Alum
A few days before Banquet 2023, Jag sat down with fellow Massachusetts Native Julie Bruno from the Class of 1985. Julie's from the small town of Mansfield, and was the first in her family to go to college, and quickly went from being a big fish in a small pond to the opposite.She met people from the far away lands of Long Island and New Jersey, and learned that she (gasp) had a wicked accent. But she had the good fortune of being friends with the coolest girl on her floor - Merry Mary Mancin
"Pop Pop" Mike Murphy, Class of 1995
(Thanks to alum and Newhouse professor Tina Perkins for editing this week's episode.)Mike Murphy, from the WJPZ Class of 1995, has gone from Z89 sports to the face of sports in the state of New Hampshire, having called multiple sports for the University of New Hampshire, minor league baseball, and more.Like many of us, when Mike found out he wasn't good at playing sports, he wanted to work in sports. So Syracuse was the obvious choice. Soon he was auditioning for WJPZ's sports department, landi
Busted Halo Producer and Cleveland Sports Vet Krista LePard, Class of 2012
Today we visit with Krista LePard, Class of 2012. She's a Cleveland native who loves getting paid to watch sports. And her and her husband Clay's career paths brough them back to her hometown.Krista was more focused on TV when she got to campus, but always looked across the hall and saw how much fun Alex Brewer and the crew were having at WJPZ. She knew she didn't want to do sports at Z89, she just wanted to have fun. This turned into airshifts and the morning show.She started dating her now
Pete Gianesini, '94, SU Alum Prez and Friend of WJPZ
Pete Gianesini, '94, did not technically work at WJPZ as a student. But nobody would doubt that he's an adopted member of the Z89 family. He's supported the station and its members from his time as a student, through his long tenure at ESPN, and now in his role as newly-elected President of the Syracuse University Alumni Association.Pete grew up in Connecticut, where his dream job was play-by-play for the Hartford Whalers. When he got to campus, he worked at WAER, eventually doing games for
"Goofy" Bette Kestin, Class of 1993
"Goofy" Bette Kestin, Class of 1993, and currently Old Navy's Director of Media Strategy and Investment, is today's guest. This New Jersey native did not join WJPZ until her junior year, but quickly made up for last time, doing everything from commercial traffic to public service. She jokes that she did jobs "that nobody else wanted." She was also part of a very small skeleton crew that kept WJPZ on the air during a blizzard at the end of spring break 1993.We've celebrated so many of our col
Ben Green '85 On Keeping WJPZ's Teaching Legacy Alive
Today's guest is the always passsionate Ben Green, aka Ben G, aka Mr. R&B, from the Class of 1985. He takes us from humble beginnings at Syracuse (including changing majors when he couldn't afford to rent equipment and buy film), to his tour through New York radio, through creating radio stations as a middle school educator today.At Syracuse, Ben G first went to WAER, but when the University took it over, around the time that WJPZ was preparing to go to the FM dial, it was an easy jump. In add
NFL Senior Coordinating Producer Mike Konner, Class of 1995
(Disclaimer: this was recorded Tuesday after Banquet, before Jag's voice was back to full capacity.)The Super Bowl, The NFL Draft, The Combine, even The Pro Bowl. If it's an NFL "tentpole" event, today's guest is directly involved in its planning and execution. Mike Konner, from the illustrious Class of 1995 joins us today.A Connecticut native and baseball lover first, Mike realized in Com 107 that on-air might not be his eventual career path. But that didn't stop him from being part of a dyn
Tom Giarrosso, '84, on the Production and Comedy of the Crazy Morning Crew
Tommy Giarrosso, was one of the innovators behind the Crazy Morning Crew when WJPZ moved to the FM Dial.We start with this Syracuse native's journey to the Hill, and his involvement with UUTV and WAER. He was there when the latter was taken over by the University and its new administrator, David Anderson. He talks about the conflict between the students, led by Sean McDonough, and the new brass. And while SU may have won the war, changing WAER to an NPR affiliate, Tommy talks about some great
Ryan McNaughton '96 - from small town Ohio to SU Alum Grand Poobah
Today we are joined by our first elected official - Ryan McNaughton from the Class of 1996 has been both President of the Syracuse University Alumni Association, as well as a councilman at large in his current home of Niles, Ohio. You'll hear his passion to serve many constiuencies throughout this podcast.Ryan knew he wanted to go to Syracuse since first hearing about the school as a 15 year old in blue-collar Amherst, Ohio, outside Cleveland. He worked toward that goal throughout high school,
Kat Brady, Class of 2018, On Continuing the Teaching Legacy of WJPZ
Today's guest is Kat Brady, one of many in a long line of great station leaders in the 2010's. This Long Island native wanted no part of going to school in her home state - she wanted to go elsewhere. But at every turn, she kept hearing about Newhouse and SU. And when she saw the school, her parents saw "the look" in her eyes that many of us had. It might have helped that she was on campus on a game day.As a freshman, Kat sought out the TV station at the activities fare, but was quickly "p
Brent Axe - From 89.1 The Pulse To Jim Boeheim Getting Him Fired
Today's podcast is in two parts. In the first half hour, you'll hear Brent Axe's journey from 89.1 The Pulse summer staffer to the premiere voice in Syracuse sports coverage. After we recorded that chat, Brent was fired from his position at Galaxy Media, which is part-owned by Jim Boeheim, ostensibly for being "too negative" in his coverage of Syracuse University sports. Galaxy Media's owner, Ed Levine, spoke of the decision in this interview on Syracuse.comhttps://www.syracuse.com/orangespo
USA Today's Ralphie Aversa, Class of 2007
Ralphie Aversa has done a little bit of everything in this business. His voice has been on radio stations in Syracuse, Scranton, Providence, and New York. He's warmed up the crowd at the Billboard Music Awards, and you'll now see him hosting USA Today's Entertain This.An avid Yankees fan from Niagara Falls, Ralphie was first advised by broadcaster Michael Kay to look at Syracuse. Fun fact: he toured the campus the day of the National Championship game against Kansas in 2003.Before he set foot
Beth (Russell) Gorab, Class of 1993
Beth (Russell) Gorab from the Class of 1993 was a key part of the leadership team that helped Z89 make huge waves in the Syracuse market during the "flamethrower era." She joins us today to talk about her time at WJPZ and her career since.Believe it or not, she almost didn't go to SU, she had her heart set on another school, as she explains. And it wasn't until sophomore year at Syracuse that she found the radio station,. She was working diligently at UUTV and seeing how much fun they were h
A Friday Night Party Reunion 20 Years in the Making
The Friday Night Party was a long time staple of WJPZ, allowing mixers to come in and strut their stuff. Today we revisit the 1999-2001 version of the show with three guests who've gone on to very successful careers in the music world. From the Class of 2001, we have Mike Kruz, aka DJ Komar, as well as Adrian Arenas, DJ Double A. They're joined by Michael Eisner, aka DJ Splyce, from the Class of 2003.Hailing from Binghamton, New York City, and Los Angeles, respectively, each of our three gues
From WJPZ to Rihanna, Fall Out Boy and Lizzo - Adam Eisenberg '95
We've had podcast guests in the radio, news, and sports arenas, but today's episode features an alumnus who has spent most of his career working with artists in the record label world. Adam Eisenberg always knew he had a passion for music. And when he came to WJPZ his junior year, he quickly became friends with Dion Summers, Kafele Khalfani, Marvin Nugent, and so many of the great class of 1995.He was heavily involved in the radio station, both on air and as assistant program director.Foll
Beth (Berlin) Cohen and Jana Fiorello, Class of 2002
Today's episode reunites three members of the WJPZ Class of 2002, as Jag is joined by Jana Fiorello and Beth (Berlin) Cohen. You'll hear themes of lifelong friendship here that are likely reflected in your own class.Beth originally showed up at Syracuse to audition for their musical theater program, but on her high school tour, she found herself talking to then-dean David Rubin at Newhouse about their Television-Radio-Film program. Jana, on the other hand, always loved radio and knew that's wha
NPR National Correspondent Jennifer Ludden, Class of 1988
Jennifer Ludden, Class of 1988, has had an incredible radio reporting career. And it all started at WJPZ. This Tennessee native was recruited by "dorm mom" Sue Mandel (now Weingarten) to come "get a tour" of the radio station. Next thing you know, Jennifer was doing news, as well as music and morning show shifts. After a summer working back home, she returned as a sophomore and quickly released that southern accent needed to go, particularly if she wanted to fulfill her dream of working in
Man vs Food, Downton Abbey, and AARP with Jeffy K, Class of 2006
In our large group of friendly, outgoing people, Jeffy K is truly a standout. This 2006 alum sits down with us today to talk about his journey from Western Massachusetts to Syracuse, then his roles at The Travel Channel, PBS, and AARP. And you'll love how he and classmate T.J. Basalla still manage to endlessly needle each other, 17 years after graduating. Jeff actually planned on going to Boston University, until he saw the Syracuse campus and fell in love. And it was at an accepted students
Melody and Baymes, Class of 2020
Melody Emm and James "Baymes" Grundy are the most recent WJPZ couple in our history, and today we learn about their significant contributions to the radio station. Baymes, a New Jersey native, toured SU on the recommendation of his high school English teacher, and fell in love with the campus the moment he arrived. Melody has a unique origin story in the radio station's history. Her Mom, while in high school, was a frequent WJPZ contributor, though never in an official capacity. Folks like
Hall of Famer Rusty Berrell, Class of 1986
Hall of Famer Rob, aka Rusty the Bailiff, Berrell hopped in his truck to spend a few minutes with us today. Doing his research on the best communications schools in the country, this Fargo kid soon found himself at Syracuse, and then WJPZ just in time for the move to FM. During his time at the station, Rusty did a little bit of everything, as Chief Announcer and eventually station and general manager. There's now quite the Berrell family legacy at Syracuse. Not only did Rusty meet his wife
Sirius XM and Fox Sports' Rich Davis, Class of 2001
Being successful in "The Business," or any business for that matter, requires a combination of passion, hard work, a little bit of luck, and treating others well. Today's guest personifies all of that. Rich Davis from the Class of 2001 has been at SiriusXM almost since the beginning of satellite radio. He's also hosted talk shows, podcasts, and now has a daily show on Fox Sports Radio with his business partner and cohost, Steve Covino. A Long Island native, Rich tells the story of how his high
Fantasy Guru Matthew Berry '92 - From WJPZ to Hollywood to ESPN and NBC
Today's guest needs no introduction for the sports fans in our group. Matthew Berry, Class of 1992, is now a central part of NBC Sports NFL coverage, following a 15 year run at ESPN where he found a niche as the fantasy sports expert. But we start with Matthew's time in Syracuse. He was multi-platform before it was cool - writing a humor column for the Daily Orange, and working on a sitcom at UUTV before joining the Cray-Z Morning Crew at WJPZ. At Z89 he worked with Kendall B, Adam Shapiro, a
The Women Running WJPZ in 2023- Grace Denton and Maddie Doolittle
If you've got a backlog of several episodes of this podcast to listen to, we highly recommend you bump today's to the top of your list. If you were in Syracuse for this year's Banquet, you heard from two of the all-female leadership team of WJPZ: General Manager Grace Denton and VP of Programming (and Lock Award winner!) Maddie Doolittle. Both women are Class of 2024 and were excited to sit down for a wide ranging conversation about where WJPZ sits now, in 2023. We start with a bit of backgro
Quick Announcements: Our Email List, Award Nomination, and Upcoming Guests
Hey, it's Jag. Thanks as always for listening to the WJPZ at 50 podcast. Couple quick notes for you. As I mentioned, we are releasing new episodes every Monday. Hopefully by now you've subscribed in Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or your podcast app of choice. But if you'd like a quick email when we release new episodes, we can do that for you (and no, we won't spam you). Just sign up at JAGinDetroit.com/WJPZat50 - or just click the link in today's show notes. Quick shoutout to podcast guest Sta
Sue Mandel and Rob Weingarten,'85, a Match Made at WJPZ
Note: Thanks to Newhouse Professor Tina Perkins, WJPZ Class of 1993, for editing this episode of the pod. Sue Mandel and Rob Weingarten may be the first marriage to come out of WJPZ. Members of the Class of 1985, they met on campus when they realized they went to rival high schools. In fact, in Sue's pictures of her high school boyfriends playing sports - Rob's often in the picture as the opponent! 35 years, several moves, and two kids later, he's still in the picture. Today's WJPZ power cou
Andrew Scaglione, 2016, on Calling the National Title Game
Andrew Scaglione, Class of 2016, knew about WJPZ long before he was a student. That's because his father is a longtime friend of Hall of Famer Danno Wolkoff. In fact, Andrew's parents actually met at the Wolkoff wedding! Today's guest dove headfirst into student media when he got to campus, working at WJPZ, WAER, and Citrus TV. He did exclusively sports at Z89, slowly rising through the ranks to Orangewomen play by play. In fact, he missed the 2016 Banquet because he was on the road callin
How This Podcast Landed Jason Palladino, 1997, a New Gig
Jason Palladino, aka Jay Sweet, from the Class of 1997, always approaches a new gig with a sense of fearlessness. So it's no surprise that he would be our first alumnus to land a new job because of the WJPZ at 50 podcast. More on that later in the episode. As a Solvay native, SU was always on Jay's radar. As the first of his immediate family to go to college, he was actually in pre-med, before the media bug bit him thanks to WJPZ. Soon, he took on the roles of assistant music director and mo
Christy (Ogonis) Vincent, Class of 2005
Today's guest is an all-star in the worlds of business, digital, and all things WJPZ. Christy Vincent (nee Ogonis), from the Class of 2005 arrived on campus with a passion for music, but it was at an activity fair that Brett Bosse recruited her to come to the news department he was rebuilding at WJPZ. Christy started doing news updates, but after working with Josh Wolff on the Z Morning Zoo, became fully hooked on the morning show, eventually becoming Zoo Producer on the executive staff. As a
Katz Media's Scott Taylor, Class of 1993
Today's episode is a great listen if you've ever been interested in sales or the ad rep side of things. Scott Taylor, Class of 1993, has been at Katz Media for his entire 30 year career, since graduation. We start with him following Larry Barron, Scott Meach, and Guy Cacciarelli, on the Michigan-to-Syracuse pipeline. So, he already knew about WJPZ when he got to campus. And while he started on overnights like many of us, sales soon caught his attention. This was especially true when Kelly
Dr. David Crider, Pulse Summer Staffer
For our first post-Banquet podcast, we get a fresh perspective today. Dr. David Crider, now a professor at SUNY-Oswego, was a high-school summer staffer at WJPZ during The Pulse years. It was the foundational knowledge he learned under the staff there that led him to a career in radio, then higher education. He now advises the student-run station at Oswego, WNYO. As a student at West Genny, David learned that then-Z89 was looking for break staffers to keep the station on the air when the SU
Interviewing our Host: Jon "JAG" Gay, Class of 2002
Today, we turn the tables on our host and put Jon "JAG" Gay, from the Class of 2002, in the hot seat. Doing the honors is his classmate and one of this year's Hall of Fame inductees, Matt DelSignore. Matt starts by asking Jag about the WJPZ at 50 Podcast, how the idea started, and what he's learned by hosting it. From there, we turn to Jag's time at Syracuse and WJPZ. His story is very similar to many previous podcast guests. He got to Syracuse wanting to be a sportscaster, but didn't really
Lauren (Levine) Corriher, Class of 2010
Lauren (Levine) Corriher grew up in Syracuse and in radio. Her father Ed owns radio stations in Syracuse and Utica, and Lauren was listening to WJPZ on the bus to and from middle school. In fact, 13 year old Lauren was recalling a great Z Morning Zoo bit around the dinner table, and she didn't believe her father when he told her the station was run by SU students. That couldn't be, she thought. They sound just as good as 93Q and Hot 1079! (Editor's note: damn right we did, if not better.)
Chris Velardi - WJPZ Class of 1995 turned SU Employee
Chris Velardi, Class of 1995, is the Director of Digital Engagement and Communications of SU's Office of Alumni Engagement. He joins us today to walk us through his time from Connecticut to Syracuse to Connecticut to Syracuse. Chris got to SU from the Nutmeg State, like many of us, wanting to be a sportscaster. He quickly found a job in the Carrier Dome. When that, um, changed, he found WJPZ. There, he earned the nickname "The Weasel," because he weaseled his way into every aspect of the st
Hall of Famer Carl Weinstein ('88) and son Cole ('21)
As we count down to Banquet, we've got a special episode of the podcast today. WJPZ Hall of Famer Carl Weinstein, Class of 1988 joins us along with his sole Cole, who followed in his WJPZ footsteps and just graduated in 2021. Carl talks about discovering Syracuse as a journalism school and getting to WJPZ shortly before the moved over to the FM dial. He went from news to on-air to program director. And later in the episode, we'll hear him talk about the move to the CHR Power Hits format. I
Stephen "Tex" Kurtz, Class of 2005
There are a number of people, on the technical side, that have worked tirelessly to keep our radio station going for half a century. Over the last 20 years though, Stephen "Tex" Kurtz is at the top of that list.Born in raised in Dallas, he wanted something different. And having spent some time in upstate New York as a kid, he liked the area. And when he toured the campus, despite the fact that Z89 was broadcasting from the Ostrom house that year, he immediately fell in love with the people an
A Short Message from Jag
Email Jag: jag@jagindetroit.comHey everyone, it’s Jag with a couple of quick announcements about the podcast.First and foremost, I can’t thank you enough for your incredible support of this project. Thank you to those who have come on the show, those of you who have listened and shared it, everyone who has helped me put this together, and anyone who’s dropped me a nice message about it. And a special thanks to two folks who aren’t in our podcast credits. Matt Friedman, who posts the teasers fo
WCCO's Steve Simpson, Class of 1985
Today's guest is Steve Simpson, morning news anchor and editor at the legendary WCCO in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He's WJPZ Class of 1985, and he tells us some great stories from Syracuse, as well as a lengthy radio career in the Midwest in his time.Steve grew up in Bucks County, PA, near Philly. Like so many of us, he was infatuated with radio, rigging equipment in his basement, and quickly learning that Syracuse was the place for an aspiring broadcaster. And when he got to campus, he saw the
Hall of Famer "Neon" Dion Summers, Class of 1995
For most of our alumni, today's guest needs no introduction. He's a WJPZ Hall of Famer, he's the VP of Urban Programming for SiriusXM, and he's got as charismatic an individual as you'll find in our group. From the Class of 1995, we welcome Neon Dion Summers.Dion talks about finding WJPZ on a high school visit and watching BB Good in the studio. That made the decision to go to Syracuse easy. At SU's Summer Institute Program, he quickly befriended Damian "Governor D" Redman and others, all
Happy/Father Dave Dwyer, '86, Hall of Fame Inductee
Today's guest will be inducted into our Hall of Fame at this year's Banquet. His classmates know him has "Happy" Dave Dwyer, but now his listeners on SiriusXM's Busted Halo show know him as Father Dave Dwyer. Before he got either nickname, he arrived in Syracuse and joined WJPZ, just using his given name on the air. And it wasn't until he started using his nickname from Lawrinson, "Happy Dave," that he really got his footing. This was just before WJPZ launched on the FM dial. Soon, he had t
Imaging Guru Maureen "Mo" Cooper, Class of 1999
Maureen "Mo" Cooper from the Class of 1999 is the first voice you hear at the beginning of this podcast. An imaging guru, she and Ed LaComb ('85) have done the production for this show. A Central Square native, Mo grew up listening to Z89, even if she had to work to get the station to come in that far north. She's always loved radio, and began working in the Syracuse market before she even got to SU. Once at WJPZ, she was there for the format flip to the Pulse, where she learned a lot about
Westwood One Sports Executive Producer Howard Deneroff, Class of 1989
Today's episode is a must-listen, especially for those of that are sports fans or ever had aspirations to get into the field.Howard Deneroff, WJPZ Class of 1989, is the EVP and Executive Producer of Westwood One Sports. He's been with the company since immediately after graduation, and has worked the Super Bowl, World Series, Final Four, Stanley Cup Finals, and more.Like many of us, Howard decided on Syracuse because he wanted to be as involved with sports as possible. He went to WAER, writing
Liz (Doyon) Gupta, Class of 2014, on Rebuilding The Station
Liz Gupta (nee Doyon), always knew she wanted to be an attorney. And when she learned that an undergraduate degree in journalism would provide her a great foundation, she headed off to Syracuse. And while she knew what she wanted to do for a long-term career, she wouldn't have guessed she'd be a 19-year-old general manager of a radio station, asking the Chancellor for a million dollars, and working with general contractors on a massive rebuild.After joining the station, Liz quickly became part
Kendall B, Class of 1992, On 30 Years in Radio
"If you stay ready, you ain't go to get ready." - Sugar FreeThat lyric is a mantra that Southern California native Kendall B has lived by ever since he got to Syracuse University and WJPZ. When a morning show co-host didn't show up, this young overnight jock stuck around to do the show with Jim Gallagher. When the prior host of the Saturday Night Dance Jam didn't show up to train him, Kendall took over the show. And when a slot opened up on the morning show his senior year, he started host
Hall of Famer Bill Bleyle and Carol Mason, Class of 1976
Hall of Famer Bill Bleyle is liking a name you know as synonymous with the founding of WJPZ in 1972-1973. Today he's joined by another trailblazer, his classmate Carol Mason, to take us back to the very beginning of WJPZ.A Buffalo native, Bill grew up fascinated by the technology of radio, picking up stations from Chicago, New York, and Los Angeles at night. By the time he got to SU, he'd already collected a number of spare parts.Carol, a native New Yorker, grew up idolizing former New York Ya
Hall of Famer Greg Hernandez, WJPZ Class of 1976
In the first of two episodes featuring original JPZ'ers from the 1970's, we sit down with Greg Hernandez. In addition to being one of the key figures at the start of WJPZ, he's had a fascinating career since, working with some of the top names at ABC News and having a front-row seat to some significant events in history.Like many of us, Greg first got in front of a microphone in high school, and worked his way to Syracuse. He started at WAER, but Bill Bleyle told him about a new station they w
Hall of Famer Larry "Rocket" Ross, Class of 1992
Today's guest is Hall of Famer Larry "Rocket" Ross, from the Class of 1992. He was at the station when WJPZ-FM was really coming into his own, but we start today by hearing about the one air shift he'll never forget. He explains how Z89 was the only media outlet, at one point in time, that had the list of Syracuse University students killed aboard Pan Am 103. As a freshman covering a midday slot just before Christmas break, he had to field phone calls of terrified friends and family members
Hall of Famer Danno Wolkoff, Class of 1986
How does a goofball from the Crazy Morning Crew end up building a massively successful syndication company? You'll find out in today's podcast, with Hall of Fame guest Danno Wolkoff from the Class of 1986.This Cleveland native starts by telling us how he found out about Syracuse and Newhouse by accident, and then how a dorm mate asked him to do a radio show. This was just before WJPZ moved to FM. After the move to 89.1, Danno moved to mornings with Danny Klass, E Double R, and one of this yea
Consultant Jay Nachlis, '94, on Radio's Past, Present, and Future
You'd be hard pressed to find someone who understands the radio industry as well as today's guest: Jay Nachlis from the Class of 1994. Like many of us, this San Francisco native came to Syracuse with plans of being the next great sportscaster. But as luck would have it, he fell in love with the music at WJPZ, eventually becoming the station's program director. In fact, he's the PD that first brought Selector music scheduling software to the station!Jay tells us about the CHR landscape in the
John Ferracane, Class of 2003, On the Ostrom House and More
John Ferracane was one of the key figures in the survival of WJPZ when the station was temporarily moved to an off-campus house on Ostrom Avenue for the 2000-2001 school year. With the help of an incredibly dedicated staff and some supportive alumni, we were able to keep the station on the air, then upgrade when we returned to Watson - and the new "Menchel Media Center" in the Fall of 2001.As the sophomore Chief Engineer, John and the rest of the team arrived at the station's temporary digs on
Hall of Famer Dave Gorab, Class of 1993
One of the hallmarks of any great leader is sharing the credit with his or her team. Hall of Famer Dave Gorab, Class of '93, rose through the ranks of WJPZ to become General Manager at a very successful time in the radio station's history. From there, he eventually became VP and GM of talk programming at SiriusXM Radio. Throughout this episode, you'll hear Dave give the credit to those around him.That starts with his arrival at the station, and the mentorship of people like Hal Rood, Scott M
Audacy's Corey Crockett, Class of 2015
One of the amazing things about WJPZ is how many of our illustrious alumni actually grew up listening to the radio station. This has been true for decades. Liverpool native Corey Crockett, from the Class of 2015, is no exception. Upon arriving on campus, Corey quickly got involved with the sports and research departments. He eventually became GM at a pivotal moment for the radio station - the construction of the new studio. FoodWorks was going away, allowing for an expansion of WJPZ and Citru
Back to Z89 (and Receivership) with Dena and Harry, Class of 1999
Simply put, Harry Wareing and Dena (Giacobbe) Laupheimer are two people the radio station wouldn't have survived without. Both members of the Class of 1999, Harry first came to the station as a freshman and became a "utility player" for Jeff Wade and Dan Austin when they launched The Pulse in 1995. Dena joined later. working her way through the promotions department and up into management.In 1997, Harry and Dena decided to restore the Z89 brand. They explained what went into that decision (a l
89.1 The Pulse - With Hall of Famers Dan Austin and Jeff Wade, Class of 97
From December 1995 until July of 1997, WJPZ-Syracuse changed formats, to an alternative lean, and re-branded itself as "89.1 The Pulse." Today, we talk to the architects of that transition, Hall of Famers Dan Austin and Jeff Wade from the Class of 1997.First, we hear how they both found the station. For Dan, the native Central New Yorker, it started working summer staff in high school. Meanwhile, Jeff was in high school in Rhode Island, hearing about the station. Soon, these two would become
Behind the Banquet Scenes With Eileen Spath, Class of 2014
For several years, Eileen Spath (Class of 2014) chaired the Banquet Committee. When we all come back to Syracuse every year for one of our favorite weekends, we may not realize what happens behind the scenes to get this show "on the air." Today we go behind the scenes.We start, however, with Eileen's story - how she got to Syracuse and then found Citrus TV and WJPZ. And while she loved her time on the morning show, Eileen also excelled behind the scenes, serving in various roles from human
Damian/JD/Governor D Redman, Class of 1995
You may know today's guest by many names - JD, Governor, or even his given name, Damian Redman. He talks about coming to Syracuse the summer before his freshman year, meeting Dion Summers, and finding WJPZ together.You'll hear Damian's true character come out in this interview, when he talks about his passion for working with on-air talent. This started in his days as Chief Announcer, and continues to this day as an alum, always offering feedback to younger alumni and students. He credits th
Hall of Famers Chris Bungo and Rocco Macri, Class of 1986
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 fo
From Cuse to ESPN and Back - Molly and Alex's WJPZ Love Story
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,
Going Deep with Banquet MC Stephen Donovan, Class of '95
(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 certai
Major Market Morning Man Jeff Kurkjian, Class of 2015
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 (
From WJPZ to Broken Arrow, Face Off, and Veep, with Chris Godsick, '87
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
TuneIn's Mark Verone, Class of 95, On The Future of Audio
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
Bernie Kim '02 Takes Us Inside Fox NFL Sunday
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 t
Hall of Famer "Merry" Mary Mancini, Class of 1985
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 poi
Jordan Hayes, '14, Goes from WJPZ Listener to Exec Staff
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 nob
Alex Silverman '10 Builds a Major Market Career - While Helping Rebuild WJPZ
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
Going to Camp with Mitch Reiter, Class of 1979
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 thes
Allie Gold '15, on Going from Z89 to Z100
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 C
Josh Wolff, '03, on Alumni-Student Relations
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 De
Hall of Famer and Imaging Legend Ed LaComb, '85
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
The Move to the FM Dial - Bob Flint, Phil LoCascio, Eric Fitch, and Chris Mossman
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 th
Stacey Simms '93 on Gender Equity, Diabetes, and More
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 curren
T.J. Basalla '06 and Kevin Rich '07, on Friendship, Careers, and International Incidents
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 ren
Matt DelSignore, Class of 2002 and Hall of Fame Inductee
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 arriv
From WJPZ to ESPN with Mike Couzens, Class of 2011
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
Inside WJPZ on September 11th, 2001
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 i
Hall of Famer Matt Friedman, Class of 1994
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
Geoff "DeafGeoff" Herbert, Class of 2005
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 expand
Brian Lapis, '91 Gives WJPZ some Sweet Lippy Love
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
Scott Meach, Hall of Fame Inductee, Class of 1990
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 fin
Kyle Leff, '22, on Being GM During COVID
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
Hollywood Hal Rood, Hall of Famer, Class of '91
"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 te
Mina Llona, aka MinaSayWhat, Class of 2008
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 f
Scott MacFarlane '98, CBS News and WJPZ Hall of Famer
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
Dr. Rick Wright's History of WJPZ (Album Cut)
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 "albu
Rick Wright's History of WJPZ (Radio Edit)
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 e
Trailer
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