WJPZ at 50

Note: This Episode of the podcast originally published November 8, 2022. But given that this week marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, we thought it a good time to revisit this episode with Dave Peterson (Peterman), Brett Bosse, and Leah Hoffman, all seniors from the Class of 2002 at the time. 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 in the morning when the towers were hit, and how they had to get information, with no televisions in the station, only one other station in the market that would come in (with good reception) to the new WJPZ facilities, and no internet at the station. Brett picks it up with the station's skeleton news crew. Having just come back to a rebuilt studio after a year in an off-campus house on Ostrom Avenue, he was trying to rebuild the news department as the school year started. And Jag chimes in with what happened in the afternoon of 9/11. You'll hear some raw emotion in this episode as the four of us recount our memories of that day, and a very personal connection for one of our guests. But you'll also hear about the power of the WJPZ family - not only how everyone stepped up to help in any way possible, but how the station became a gathering place for so many. In that moment of fear and uncertainty, we all needed to be with our Syracuse Family. This episode isn't all serious though. We wrap up on some brighter notes, reflecting on some hilarious stories from our time at Z89. And Peterman shares two of them - as only he can. Link: Peterman's handwritten notes from the morning of 9/11: https://twitter.com/pieceofpeterman/status/1436749769683124229?s=20&t=cUMIDjlgiL10cxC7_bo9Pg Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Note: I published this interview with Jeff Kurkjian as part of The Jag Show. But I wanted to share it here, because Jeff drops such an incredible amount of knowledge! Most podcasts chase downloads. Jeff Kurkjian built something better - a show people actually return to because it feels personal, consistent, and worth their time. If you're trying to grow a podcast, monetize one, or turn short-form clips into real audience loyalty, this conversation pulls back the curtain. Jag sits down with Jeff Kurkjian, co-host of Is This a Great Game or What with his father, Hall of Fame baseball writer Tim Kurkjian, to unpack how the show evolved from a weekly baseball conversation into a three-episode-a-week brand with a clear identity and a loyal niche. Jeff reveals why the biggest growth driver was not Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it was repeatable, scroll-stopping video, ruthless consistency, and understanding that discovery starts with attention, not audio.You'll discover: Why Jeff and Tim decided they were not just a baseball podcast, but a father-son show that happens to talk baseball How grief, family, and baseball shaped the heart of the show after the loss of Jeff's uncle and the family's ongoing ALS advocacy The shift from one long weekly episode to a Monday-Tuesday-Thursday cadence that changed everything Why YouTube completion rate matters more than vanity download numbers How Jeff approaches clips, hooks, and short-form video so people stop scrolling and start listening What joining the Foul Territory Network changed behind the scenes, from production support to sponsorship opportunities Jeff also shares the tools and workflow he uses to produce the show, including Riverside, Ecamm, Adobe Premiere, Adobe Audition, and a Stream Deck, plus his philosophy on what makes podcast marketing actually work: say something real, make it personal, and give listeners a reason to care beyond the topic itself.This episode is essential listening if you're a podcaster, creator, broadcaster, or brand trying to build something that lasts. The message is simple: don’t build for clicks - build for the people who come back. (00:00) Intro (03:29) - The origin story of Is This a Great Game or What? (07:14) - Why the format changed from weekly to three times a week (10:16) - Building an audience before expecting revenue (11:00) - Why podcast discovery starts on social media, not apps (13:54) - What download numbers do and do not tell you (15:59) - Why the show works as a father son podcast, not just a baseball podcast (23:20) - Why personal perspective makes expert content more compelling (24:06) - “We’re only expert on one thing, ourselves” (25:54) - Joining the Foul Territory Network (27:51) - How network support helps with production and promotion (30:35) - Why sponsorships and brand partnerships take time (33:21) - Advice for podcasters without a team (36:08) - Why Riverside, Ecamm, and other tools matter (39:53) - Editing workflow in Premiere, Audition, and podcast hosting (41:43) - Why podcasting should still be fun Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of WJPZ at 50, Jag sits down with Tim Swartz, a member of the WJPZ Class of 2009, to talk about his path from the Bay Area to Syracuse University, his time helping lead the Z89 sports department, and the unique sports media career he has built since graduation. Tim grew up in San Mateo, California, just south of San Francisco. He loved radio and sports from a young age, and that combination eventually led him to Syracuse. Once he arrived on campus, he found WJPZ through a general interest meeting and quickly connected with the sports staff. The station became his home base, along with Citrus TV, and gave him the chance to learn by doing. Tim’s role at Z89 grew quickly. By the spring of his sophomore year, he became sports director (at just 19 years old). The sports department was thin at the time, so part of his job was recruiting new students and rebuilding the system. He helped create structure around pregame shows, postgame coverage, halftime reports, coach interviews, features, and broadcast archives. Some of those systems are still in place today. During Tim’s time at Syracuse, some of the major men’s sports programs struggled. Football had a rough stretch, men’s basketball missed the NCAA tournament, and lacrosse hit a rare low point. But women’s sports were rising. Tim talks about covering women’s lacrosse as it reached new milestones, including an NCAA tournament win and a Final Four appearance. He also covered women’s basketball as the program earned national attention. That experience helped shape how he viewed sports coverage and the importance of giving every program professional treatment. After graduation, Tim built a career that has taken him in several directions. He has called games for Stanford, worked in minor league baseball, done stats work for ESPN, taught broadcasting, and covered a wide range of sports. His current role is with NBA 2K, where he works in audio, writing, voiceover, talent support, and quality control. Tim explains how his broadcasting background helps him write lines that sound natural for announcers like Kevin Harlan, Brian Anderson, Greg Anthony, Doris Burke, and Stan Van Gundy. One of the best parts of the conversation is hearing how WJPZ prepared Tim for a career that does not fit into one simple box. He learned how to lead people, work with coaches, build relationships, try new things, and stay professional around athletes and teams. He also learned how to work alongside talented classmates who went on to major careers at ESPN, Fox Sports, The Athletic, and other national outlets. Tim also reflects on returning to Syracuse and seeing how much has changed on campus while still feeling the same spirit inside Z89. For him, WJPZ was more than a college radio station. It was a training ground, a community, and one of the places that still feels like home. (00:00) Intro (01:37) Growing up in San Mateo and choosing Syracuse (02:40) Finding Z89 as a freshman (05:38) Becoming sports director at 19 (08:30) Syracuse women’s sports rise during Tim’s years (09:47) Recruiting and keeping the station moving (10:26) Alex Silverman’s role in station leadership (12:03) Tim’s career after graduation (13:34) Teaching, ESPN stats, and NBA 2K (16:34) Stanford women’s basketball and cutting down the net (18:54) Writing and audio work for NBA 2K (23:16) Returning to Syracuse (27:00) Learning how to work around teams and coaches (29:37) The depth of Syracuse broadcasting talent (36:33) The Poker Face prank (37:42) College radio friendships and camaraderie Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

We look back on Mike Lacett’s path through WJPZ and Syracuse, and the conversation quickly shows how deeply those years shaped him. Mike explains that he first heard about Z89 from a Radio Disney DJ (you probably know who) before arriving on campus, and once he got to Syracuse, he threw himself into everything he could. He took early morning DJ shifts, worked on basketball shows, contributed news, and balanced that with time at AER. He describes himself at that stage as completely consumed by broadcasting, to the point where he gave up much of a normal college social life because he was so focused on getting better. As he reflects on those years, Mike points to several people who influenced him, including Dave Peterman, Brett Bosse, Josh Wolff, Anish Shroff, Matt Lincoln, Brian Goldman, and others. What stands out is not only the talent level he remembers, but also the atmosphere. He says Z89 felt open, welcoming, and full of people who made him feel like he belonged. That sense of connection stayed with him long after graduation, and even when years go by without speaking to fellow alumni, the bond returns right away. The episode also follows Mike’s professional journey after Syracuse. He walks through stops in Palm Springs, Charleston, Syracuse again, Toledo, Louisville, Grand Rapids, and Charlotte. Along the way, he learned that different parts of the country have different rhythms, values, and sports cultures. He also faced setbacks, including job changes and the cutting of sports departments, but he kept pushing forward. His story is one of persistence and adaptation, built on the belief that if this is the work you are meant to do, you keep going until someone gives you the opportunity. A big part of the conversation centers on lessons. Mike says preparation became one of the most important habits he carried from WJPZ. He learned that talk radio and sports coverage only work when you show up ready. He also learned that trying to do everything at once eventually leads to burnout. That realization helped him narrow his focus and better manage his energy. Looking back, he wishes he had allowed himself to enjoy college a little more, but he also sees how that intense drive laid the foundation for the career he built. The episode closes with advice for current students who want to work in sports media. Mike says they need conviction, originality, and the willingness to stand apart. For him, success comes from developing a distinct voice, taking creative chances, and constantly asking how a story or segment can be made better. He shares examples from his television career where he used animation, visual creativity, and unusual storytelling choices to make his work memorable. In the end, this episode is about ambition, growth, friendship, and the lasting identity that comes from being part of WJPZ. You'll also hear about what happened to this freshman when he was rooting for the Rams in Super Bowl 36 - in a house full of 30+ Patriots fans. That, too, was a learning experience. (00:00) Intro (02:12) How BB Good helped Mike discover Syracuse and Z89 (03:19) Early influences at the station (05:40) The famous 4:00 AM Saturday shift (07:06) Looking back on college intensity and some regret (08:00) Mike’s career path across the country (10:44) Super Bowl memory and Boston sports culture (14:47) Friendships built through WJPZ and AER (15:43) The Comrex road trip story (20:11) Memories of September 11 at Syracuse (22:34) Lessons from WJPZ: preparation and burnout (25:17) Advice for students pursuing sports media (35:37) Closing reflections and thanks (36:33) End credits Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

In this episode of WJPZ at 50, we sit down with Bella Galan and Lizzie Gottlieb, the current GM and PD of WJPZ, to talk about how they found Syracuse, how they found the station, and how they are helping shape its culture right now. Both of them came to Syracuse with strong interests in performance, media, and storytelling. Both found, in Z89, a place that brings all of those interests together. What stands out most in this conversation is how clearly they see the station as more than a radio outlet. They describe it as a place to build communication skills, leadership skills, confidence, and real relationships that last far beyond college. A major focus of the episode is how the station continues to evolve while protecting what has always made it special. Lizzie talks about the programming side and how Z89 still leads with Top 40 music while also making room for specialty shows and new ideas. Bella explains how the team has worked to expand opportunities for students who do not necessarily want to be on air, including web, press, photography, and newly created associate producer roles. Together, they make the case that the station works best when more people feel they belong there and can see a path for themselves inside it. The conversation also highlights the current culture at WJPZ. Bella and Lizzie speak with real gratitude about the mentors who guided them, and they are intentional about passing that same support to younger members. They talk about wanting freshmen to feel welcomed, included, and confident enough to take up space. That emphasis on culture comes through again when they discuss women in leadership, representation, and the importance of amplifying more voices across the station. Bella in particular reflects on how meaningful it has been to see women and women of color in visible leadership roles, and how important it is to keep building on that progress. The episode closes with a look at what is happening at the station right now. They share updates on new shows, new technology, a digital station timeline, fresh social content, and even a full April Fool’s Day format flip built around Glee covers. More than anything, the episode shows that WJPZ is still doing what it has always done best: giving students room to experiment, lead, connect, and turn passion into real work. In 2026, it remains the World's Greatest Media Classroom. (00:00) Intro (01:19) Lizzie’s path to Syracuse and Z89 (04:02) Bella’s background and early station experience (08:25) Lizzie’s first DJ shift and The Morning After (10:54) New shows and taking creative risks (14:38) Why Z89 is bigger than an FM station (17:31) Mentors who shaped Bella and Lizzie (23:52) Bella on the GM role and off air opportunities (26:04) Building station culture and belonging (30:23) April Fool’s Day and Glee89 (33:57) How Lizzie chooses music for the station (35:47) Alumni who made an impact (39:24) Women in leadership at WJPZ (44:49) Representation and diverse voices (46:08) The women’s conference and mentorship (47:57) What is happening at the station right now (51:17) Syracuse Giving Day and WJPZ support (52:49) Closing thoughts Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected] Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.