Tune in – students shine on the radio

Did you know that the University of Wisconsin–Madison has a licensed student radio station run mostly by students? WSUM 91.7 FM has more than 200 members who play a large role in the organization and production of the shows.

WSUM first began broadcasting in early 2002 and has been going strong ever since. The station is located out of the Student Activities Center in East Campus Mall.

The shows include:

Capitol Eye

Jack Brudvig, show host, is a first-semester senior who transferred to UW–Madison last fall. He is majoring in political science and economics, and is from West Bend, Wisconsin. On Capitol Eye, Brudvig talks about Wisconsin’s political news, such as what legislation is being discussed and passed in the state legislature.

He decided to become a show host after interning for State Rep. Chris Taylor.

“I wanted an outlet to express my personal political opinions, but couldn’t really do so in a government office,” Brudvig said. “I most enjoy having dialogue that isn’t a fight to figure out who is right, but instead is a search for truth together.”

Breakfast with Jam

Breakfast with Jam host Sam Alhadeff speaks on the air. Submitted photo

The hosts are both originally from Buffalo Grove, Illinois: Sam Alhadeff, a graduate student in international public affairs, and Sam Welbel, a senior in political science and economics.

Each episode they choose a topic and play music associated with that topic. They talk about everything from Valentine’s Day to the weather, and play songs such as Love Drunk and Raining Men.

Alhadeff had a radio studio at his high school. “Hosting my radio show is possibly the highlight of every week I have here. I love the opportunity to craft an entire hour of entertainment, think of fun and new ways to make jokes and make people’s lives more enjoyable,” Alhadeff said.

Those involved in EarthSpeak Radio are, left to right: Trina La Susa, Hannah Kasun, Vice President Rashad Tiam-Watt of the Nature and Animal Protection student organization (guest), A.W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow Jessica Lehman (guest), Chloe Wallschlaeger, Haley Burns

EarthSpeak Radio

EarthSpeak Radio presents stories about Mother Nature each week, from the earth to the sea to the sky above. Each week the show is centered around a topic, and the hosts find pertinent news, stories, guests and even music to present the facts with an analytical lens.

Trina La Susa, the host of the show, is a journalism and strategic communications major from West Bend, Wisconsin, who will be graduating in May. “We’ve talked about a variety of different topics, from community gardening, Dumpster diving and recycling to eco-feminism, food access and climate change activism,” La Susa said.

The show is also co-hosted by Hannah Kasun, Chloe Wallschlaeger and Haley Burns.

Hypernormal

Two juniors from Kenosha, Wisconsin, host this show together: Bennett Majerowski, majoring in statistics and strategic communications, and Matt Wulf, who’s studying political science and communication.

The wide-ranging show has funny, serious, sad and happy stories. The goal is to explore the person sharing the story and reflect on them broadly.

“We’ve helped detail stories about setting off the radiation alarm at the White House, living with synesthesia and dealing with a hamster murder,” Wulf stated. WSUM gives students such as Majerowki and Wulf the opportunity to create and share something that is entirely their own, they said.

Pity Friends

This show focuses on pop-culture topics such as fashion, online dating and subcultures. Iman Nasif, the host, is a sophomore majoring in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from Stevens Point, Wisconsin. She enjoys inviting friends on her show to discuss different topics.

“I became a host at the station by finding WSUM at the Student Organization Fair, and then went through training. The people at the station make it super fun and easy to learn the ins and outs of being a DJ or show host,” Nasif said. She co-hosts the show with Walter Egger, a junior studying psychology from Stockholm, Wisconsin.

The Ag Chat hosts, left to right, are Mariah Martin, Abigail Martin, Alison Wedig, Alice in Dairyland Crystal Siemers Peterman (a guest), and Emily Matzke.

Ag Chat

This show is hosted by a group of women who are all members of the Association of Women in Agriculture. On the show they talk about the latest and greatest news about agriculture, and different policies and technologies being used in the agriculture industry.

“My favorite part of being on Ag Chat is spending an hour of my week with like-minded individuals, talking about my favorite subject: agriculture,” said Matzke, who is a sophomore studying animal sciences and life science communication from Sauk Prairie, Wisconsin. “Our show allows us to bridge the gap between the farmer’s gate and consumers plate, and allows us to spread positive information about the food, fuel and fiber we produce,” she said.

Other hosts for the show are seniors Abigail Martin, Mariah Martin and Alison Wedig.

If you’re interested in learning more about hosting your own show or want to listen live, visit WSUM’s website.