The living history of radio & broadcasting (with Rachel Lee)

When you visit a museum, do you see it as just a collection of artifacts from the past? The California Historical Radio Society (CHRS) is hoping you don't.  Although their museum in Alameda, California has a great collection of preserved & restored vintage radios, their work is really about the present, the future, and building a vibrant community of audio enthusiasts. For Executive Director Rachel Lee, the real goal of the CHRS is to create a dynamic space where different generations can connect and engage. This welcoming environment often turns casual visitors into dedicated volunteers. As Lee notes, the most rewarding part of her work is watching visitors' eyes light up when they discover a historical space that feels incredibly "alive." Today on Call 'Em Like Museum, Rachel talks about how different generations of visitors respond to the history of radio; why it’s so important to preserve the medium’s roots; and why radio matters a lot more for life in 2026 than you probably realize. Plus: The story of the huge “music box” machines that replaced live xylophone players at NBC. Full transcript of this episode Subscribe to the newsletter This episode was hosted, produced, and edited by Eric Johnson from LightningPod Chapters (00:00) - Introduction (02:49) - The Story of the California Historical Radio Society (09:47) - Touring the Radio Museum's Exhibits (16:02) - The NBC Chimes Machine & Vintage Broadcast Studio (20:19) - Restoring Radios and Preserving Lost Broadcasts (26:46) - Funding the Museum and Future Projects (31:27) - The Meaning & Community Value of Museums (39:53) - Cultivating the Next Generation of Makers (43:39) - Profound Museum Memories & the Gift Shop Music: www.purple-planet.com