WORT FM

07/18/2025

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07/16/2025

🎙 Tune in Friday, July 18 from 12-1pm to hear Feroze Sidhwa in conversation with Esty Dinur about medical relief work in Gaza.

Then, on July 27 at 2pm, Dr. Sidhwa will give a talk at Redeemer Lutheran Church.

07/10/2025

Another casualty of Trump Administration funding cuts, the 988 Su***de and Crisis Lifeline’s specialized services for LGBTQ+ youth are slated to shut down next Thursday, July 17th. The specialized lifeline has been active since 2022 and has received over 1.2 million crisis contacts in the years since.

Wisconsin Democratic Senator Tammy Baldwin wrote the legislation that created the line.

“It is just callous that RFK Jr. and Donald Trump are taking away a literal lifeline for LGBTQ+ youth,” she told WORT’s Andy Moore this week.

Tune in to the Eight O’Clock Buzz tomorrow, July 11th, to hear their in-depth conversation and find out what’s at stake.

07/10/2025

During The Access Hour on July 7th, we did some 50th remembrance. This ad appeared in the December 30, 1978 edition of the Press Connection, which was a local newspaper here in Madison.

This month’s show celebrated the epic 6-hour New Year's Eve music marathon that aired December 31, 1978. Hosts Lizzie Sparks and Craig Johnson were in the studio to talk about how the show was organized, what the weather was (it was a blizzard), who was on the air, and some general remembrances of WORT when it was on Winnebago Street and still 89.7 FM. This show also features clips from the NYE broadcast featuring host Dick Hinchliffe and DJs Deb Anderson, Jim Dilette, Paul Grindrod, Tom Kinney, Rockin’ John and others. Plus, a nice history of WORT from Stu Levitan.

If you missed this show, you can still listen on our website: wortfm.org/new-years-eve-1978-on-the-access-hour/

If you heard the show, we would love to hear from you! We are also looking for tapes, flyers, t-shirts, or any other WORT ephemera from the early years. Email [email protected] if you have something to share, and we’ll get back to you!

07/08/2025

At WORT, we value local, community-driven activism. Check out some recent stories about local activism that were featured on WORT 89.9 FM:

Today on APA, guest host Matvei Mozhaev was joined by YouTuber Tacticool Girlfriend to discuss the spiking demand for gun ownership and gun education, especially among q***r-centered self-defense organizations. They talk about what self-defense and protection mean within marginalized communities in the US. Tacticool says that US gun culture is too driven by consumption, and not driven enough by safety, including environmental safety, and su***de prevention. And U.S. gun culture needs to do a better job of normalizing different gun owners who aren’t the typical cisgender, heterosexual male. But we also have to be careful to not sensationalize q***r people with guns. Instead of leaning into the power fantasy of gun ownership, Tacticool says she leans into the realism of gun ownership.
📸: Tima Miroshnichenko via Pexels
Listen to their full conversation on our website: https://www.wortfm.org/beyond-firearms-reimagining-the-defense-of-marginalized-communities/

Last night’s WORT Local News highlighted the new state budget signed into law last week, which invests more than 361 million dollars in Wisconsin’s child care industry… But state lawmakers shouldn’t be patting themselves on the back. That’s according to Brooke Legler, a child care provider and the co-founder of Wisconsin Early Childhood Action Needed (or WECAN). WECAN is holding a rally this Friday at the state Capitol, urging state lawmakers to make more direct investments in Wisconsin’s child care industry.
📸: Gautam Arora via Flickr
Learn more about this new budget on our website: https://www.wortfm.org/state-budget-gets-mixed-reviews-from-child-care-advocates/

Last week, World Music Radio show host Jeff Spitzer-Resnick interviewed Cecilia Villar Eljuri and discussed her team, called the Amplifying Voices for Social Activism (AVSA). Eljuri said, “We’re a group of activists that have been meeting for months and months. Last year, we did a whole bunch of concerts here. This is my activism arm, but it’s parallel with my music… This year, the AVSA team put together this toolkit that will help hopefully help people turn awareness into action so that they can do something about the frustration they’re feeling and it focuses on five key pillars: women’s rights, climate change, human rights, social justice, gun control, and public safety and civic engagement… I want people to feel like they’re not alone and they can do something actionable towards their socially conscious work.”
Listen to their full conversation on our website: https://www.wortfm.org/amplifying-voices-for-social-activism/

Interested? You know where to go! Thank you for supporting local news and radio.

07/03/2025

What The Hell Is This??🤨

I present to you a Bird Termaline Wattmeter Model 6735-300 dating from 1987.

Once upon a time it was used to tune the antenna and transmitter from a remote location sending a signal back to the WORT studios. [Fun Fact: The antenna for that rig was on a pole that was shoved under a vehicle tire that rolled on top of the antenna base in order to keep it in place and steady].

Calibrated for the 400MHz frequency we used for such remote broadcasts, this meter made sure we were optimally set. We still own the 400MHZ license but now have no equipment to actually use it.

For myself, I am very glad of the internet which allows a very quick connection for any remote site broadcasting we want to do. Keeps me from having to purchase a pickup to haul stuff hither and yon. Although I am still holding out hope that the Board of Directors will someday allow me to purchase a 1969 VW Microbus for an official WORT vehicle.

These insights are brought to you by our incredible Technology and Facilities Maintenance Director, Thom Jones.

07/02/2025

On Monday, Fishbone’s "Stockholm Syndrome" tour hit Majestic Madison, and WORT was there!!⚡

Did you attend the concert? What was your favorite part??

Fishbone’s founding members Angelo Moore (vocals, sax, theremin, percussions) and Chris Dowd (vocals, keyboards, trombone) are joined on this tour by special forces members: Tracey Singleton (guitars), Hassan Hurd (drums), JS Williams (trumpet), and James Jones (bass).

Listen to Chris Dowd's interview on Who Cooks for You? here: https://www.wortfm.org/fishbone-at-ground-zero/
The full show is available at archive.wortfm.org until July 11.

Check out Fishbone and their new album here:
https://fishbone.net/
https://fishbone.bandcamp.com/album/stockholm-syndrome

06/29/2025

Last chance to vote for WORT in Madison Magazine's Best of Madison 2025!

WORT is nominated for three categories: Best Volunteer Opportunity, Best Radio Team (Mel & Floyd), and Best News Website.

You can vote here: https://madisonmagazine.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-Madison-2025/

Thank you for supporting community radio!❣️

Thank you to our loyal listeners for nominating us for Best of Madison 2025! Because of you, we are up for Best Volunteer Opportunity, Best Radio Team (Mel & Floyd), and Best News Website.

Now is the time to vote. The polls are open from now until June 30! You can vote daily on the Best of Madison voting page.

You can vote for WORT in the “Arts & Entertainment” group for Best Local News Website and Best Radio Team. In the “Lifestyle” group, you can vote for WORT as Best Volunteer Opportunity.

Vote here: https://madisonmagazine.secondstreetapp.com/Best-of-Madison-2025/

Thank you for supporting community radio!❤

06/25/2025

Tune in for our latest ticket giveaway!🎟

6 pairs of tickets are being given away over the next three days, Wednesday - Friday.

Call in for your chance to win!!

Here are the shows that the tickets are being given away on:

Wednesday - Journeys Into Jazz & Guilty Pleasures
Thursday - Jazz In Flight & Psychoacoustics
Friday - 8 O'Clock Buzz & Who Cooks For You?

Find out more about Motern Media & Bartell Community Theatre's event here: https://bartelltheatre.org/2025/matt-farley-double-feature/

06/24/2025

This week on Mel & Floyd, Ruby fills in while Mel contemplates: What Is Hip?

https://www.wortfm.org/a-stopped-clock-is-right-twice-a-day/

Scroll to read a message from Mel about his recent injury.

06/19/2025

Deadline to apply for the WORT News Director position is TOMORROW at 11:59 PM! You can help lead the award-winning WORT news department!!

Apply online here: https://www.wortfm.org/wort-seeks-news-and-public-affairs-director/