QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio

Paul Mower, VA6MPM, treks across the Canadian Rockies, often for days at a time. Amateur radio connects Paul to the outside world when he is far beyond his cellular telephone coverage. Paul enjoys working Summits on the Air from some of the most remote outposts in the world. VA6MPM is my QSO Today.

Andy Mitchell, VA3CW, as an eleven year old Boy Scout, participated with his small troop in Boy Scout Jamboree on the Air, in 1974. This exposure changed the course of Andy's life, profession, and interests. Getting on the air and working DX are the simple ham radio pastimes that contribute to his free time enjoyment. VA3CW is my QSO Today.

Dr. Brian Callahan, AD2BA, has a background in music, anthropology, Japanese video arcade games and open source software leading him to amateur radio and his Extra Class license. As a new and younger ham, as well as a college professor to younger potential hams, AD2BA shares his experience and insight on how we might involve young people in our hobby. Brian is my QSO Today.

Dr. Robert Nash, G4GEE, discovered early on that amateur radio is a social hobby that makes him a citizen of the World with friendships on every continent. Working DX and dedicating time to his local club, the Coventry Amateur Radio Society, is his formula for ham radio success. G4GEE is my QSO Today.

Alan Thompson, W6WN, was a volunteer rescuer to the Camp Fire in Northern California a few years ago. This experience made Alan an evangelist for the deployment and use of conventional radio communications and the training that saves lives and property, as a backup to the costly but fragile smartphone systems that suddenly do not work in a natural disaster. Alan tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

Mark Beckwith, N5OT, grew up in Southern California, with amateur radio's most famous television producer, Dave Bell, W6AQ, who was his amateur radio mentor in the 1970s. Dave opened a lot of doors to Mark, allowing Mark to build up his contesting and DX on-the-air skills. Mark was a professional opera singer for over 30 years, leading to some interesting conversation both on and off the QSO Today microphone. N5OT is my QSO Today.

Augie, "Gus" Hansen, KB0YH, always had an interest in radio, but did not get his first ticket until he was in his mid-thirties. Gus enjoys operating the 80 meter nets and building antennas, now especially STL or Small Transmitting Loop, also known as magnetic loop antennas. And as this is the 20th Anniversary of the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center, Gus has his own story in this QSO Today.

Jim Condon, AD4YM, listens for the most rare DX, signals from outer space as a radio astronomer, and keeps his fingers in the gear by collecting and restoring the best ham radio boat anchors, including Collins, Drake, Hallicrafters, and Hammarlund. AD4YM is my QSO Today.

Tony DePrato WA4JQS had an early love of radio and a junior high school mentor who helped him get on the air in the early 1960s. An 80 meter DX contact from his native Kentucky to Australia ignited a passion for DX that resulted in Tony leading two DXpeditions to the most sought after DX entities in the World. WA4JQS tells his ham radio story in this QSO Today.

SOTA Operator Rene Lutz, HB9NBG, has the European Alps as his challenge to conquer every summit with his partner Carine, HB9FZC. Together they operate their successful rural Swiss ham radio sales and service center that attracts ham radio tourists. Rene and Carine document their amateur radio adventures on their popular YouTube channel. HB9NBG is my QSO Today.