WDRT 2024 Year in Review
spintWe are taking time to reflect on our incredible community and share our immense gratitude for everything our staff, volunteers, and supporters like you do to keep WDRT fulfilling our mission every day. And WOW we accomplished a lot! Thanks to you, in 2024 we:
Grew to 129 volunteers
From helping with outreach events, to answering phones during pledge drives, there’s always room for another volunteer at WDRT. Fill out the volunteer form if you are interested in getting involved! You can also check out the WDRT DJ Photo Gallery on Facebook thanks to Hanna Agar Photography
Produced a 24-hour live Vinylthon
On April 20, 2024 we played nothing by vinyl records for 24 straight hours! You can listen to all of the audio from the day.
Hosted our first-ever Block Party
July 27, 2024 was a historic day for WDRT as we hosted our first Block Party, complete with free food, games, activities and a full music line-up of DJs and bands. You can listen to all of the audio here and check out the photo gallery on Facebook.
Raised over $2,000 to help rebuild wART-FM in Marshall, NC
On October 26, 2024 we held a Halloween Dance Party Relief Benefit at the VFW, and not only did we have a great time, we raised money to help another community radio station that was decimated in Hurricane Helene. Listen to our interview with the station co-founder and volunteers on their incredible experience weathering the storm.
Opened up access to the airwaves with 10 new podcasts
- Kickapoo Night Life: Kickapoo Night Life is a news magazine exploring our world after sunset, the stars and planets above, and the importance of keeping our night sky dark.
- Jackie On: A podcast where Jackie, a college student, expert opinion maker, and debater of 7 years, combines her critical thinking and research skills to share her perspective on a variety of relevant issues.
- Soul Up with Kailean Welsh: This podcast offers conversations, tools, and insight to help you respond to life consciously and intentionally from the wisest part of your nature.
- The Pause: Join Rachel Byrd in taking a few minutes to pause from our busy outward-focused lives to explore various ways of looking inward at what is happening in our mind and body, moment to moment.
- Kaleidoscope, The Youth Initiative High School Podcast: with Matthew Voz & Logan Gesell
- Dirt to Rose: An exploration of driftless folklore through the songs and voices of driftless folks, not horses.
- Good Heavens: with astrologer Ryan Evans
- Conservation Connections from the Valley Stewardship Network (forthcoming)
- Crawford Stewardship Project Podcast (forthcoming)
- Vernon County Historical Society Podcast (forthcoming)
Aired 13 original Radio Free Space episodes
Radio Free Space airs every Sunday from 1-2pm. It is a community access hour, and also a time to feature special interviews or podcasts that may not have a regular spot in the programming schedule.
Some highlights from the last year include:
- The Getaway Live – our first “Tiny Desk” concert!
- Interview with Richard Wolff: Members of the Vernon County Resilience Initiative had a conversation with economist Professor Richard Wolff on the topic of Resilience in a Time of Change.
- Pleasant Ridge Waldorf 8th Grade Projects special: Ed Holahan speaks with the Class of 2024 at Pleasant Ridge Waldorf School about their projects.
- Dave Krier’s Viroqua Main Street Improvement Project special
- For The Birds special: Kevin Mattson hosts Laura Erickson live in studio for a special Pledge Drive edition of All Terrain Tonic.
Interested in getting on the air? Email: staff@wdrt.org