Radio communication goes both ways

It used to be really really hard to care about our local public radio station WFAE. Lately, it's damn near impossible.

WFAE prides itself on playing it straight and traditional. There's the traditional three-hour blocks of the tedious Garrison Keillor, the well-meaning but tear-your-hair-out-to-listen-to Diane Rehm, the generic black-oriented community concern show hosted by someone with the demeanor of a Quiet Storm jazz show host.

If WFAE was all you ever heard, you'd be tempted to think the spectrum of public radio shows runs from oatmeal to dishwater. But thanks to podcasting, we know there are creative alternatives out there; case in point: the entire KCRW schedule. In fact, there's a website -- Public Radio Exchange -- whose sole purpose is to CONNECT programmers with new and upcoming shows.

With this is mind, I wrote WFAE suggesting they look into one great new podcast/radio show in particular: Filmspotting. It's fresh, it's interesting, the hosts sound like real guys, they discuss movies in an interesting way, and once you start listening, odds are you'll be hooked. WFAE's response?

"WFAE really isn't looking to make any programming changes at the present time."

Fine. As long as that's the case, I guess I'm not looking to make any listening changes at the time. My iPod is doing a better job of bringing me diverse radio programming than my radio station is.

3/27/06 Update: I sent in my donation to KCRW today after hearing yet another beg-a-thon from our local station. It was the usual without-your-help-these-great-programs-will-go-away schtick, and it made me realize that on the flipside all the terrible shows will stay if I do give them my help.