WJPZ at 50

For episode 89 of this podcast, we wanted to pay tribute to a man who sits on the Mount Rushmore of WJPZ History, Hall of Famer Larry Barron, from the Class of 1987.  As we celebrate his life, career, and mentorship, we are joined by several guests.  Pete Bowers was Larry's high school radio station teacher and advisor, and the man who his partly reponsible for the long list of Michiganders in the WJPZ family.    Danny Corsun ('87) and Scotty Bergstein ('89) were classmates and also roommates with Larry in Los Angeles.  Classmate and frien Carl Weinstein ('88) was instrumental in setting up the Larry Barron Fund for Mentorship (more on the LBFM later), and Scott Meach ('90) has been described as Larry's "favorite mentee."

We start before Syracuse, with Pete's description of Larry in high school -an overachiever who quickly ascended the station ranks and got stuff done.   Naturally, he frequently spoke to Pete's future students, telling his story from Michigan to Syracuse to Los Angeles.  When Pete was researching the best communications schools in the country, he found SU and Newhouse.

We've heard previously in this podcast about the pressure on WJPZ to be a block formatted radio station, but we haven't heard the shrewd move that Larry, a former GM and then-broadcast consultant, pulled to save the station's format and educational mission.   Danny and Carl tell us how Larry pulled a procedural maneuverwith the Student Government Association meeting to delay a vote on forcing WJPZ to go block format.  Before the vote could be rescheduled, the station severed ties.  It remained independent of University funding until 2002.

A couple years after graduation, Larry and his longtime co-host Cousin Danny returned to do a Crazy Morning Crew episode as alumni.   You'll hear the audio of their "burn your buns" bit - which involves Larry conning a sorority girl into auditioning to sing the Star Spangled Banner at a nationally televised basketball game.

Next are a couple clips from Chris Godsick's episode of the pod - the time Larry swore on the air, but more importantly the time he secured the rights to be the exclusive announcement for basketball tickets going on sale.

Carl Weinstein tells us about Larry the person and the mentor - leading the way for both he and his son Cole, three decades later.   This story is backed up by Shruti Marahte, Class of 2019, who Larry took under his wing as she headed out to LA.

Scott briefly tells us about Larry's career - from CNN to entertainment tonight to producing a number of reality TV shows.  But for as much professional success as Larry had, today's panel wanted to spend more time about Larry the person - even his penchant for eating cereal out of a giant bowl.

When Carl and Scott put together two memorials for Larry (Zoom couldn't handle just one), even then, Larry was connecting people.  Everyone had something to say, and the memorials morphed into reunions.   From here, the Larry Barron Fund for Mentorship was born, thanks to Carl, Scott, Larry's parents, and so many others.

Because Larry was such a connector - seemingly meeting people for way more than 3 meals a day, the LBFM endowment, starting in Fall of 2023, will select two SU students to spend their spring break in Los Angeles.  It will be all-expenses paid, and include meetings with folks in their desired career fields.   And of the two students chosen each year, one must be an active WJPZ staff member.

Scott E. Meach joins us for the final part of our conversation, and he shares how Larry mentored him from high school, through college, and beyond - and what an incredible friendship they shared.

More on the Larry Barron Fund for Mentorship, including the application, can be found here:

https://la.syr.edu/giving/barron-scholarship.html

Full Larry Barron Highlight Reel Dropbox Link: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/j432lxlnpkfh34iime2z7/WJPZ-Larry-Barron-Highlight-Reel.mp3?rlkey=uat9o3g5u53wwvbt37gzyqvao&dl=0

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected]

Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/

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You might say Shruti Marathe was destined to be General Manager of WJPZ.   She followed other alumni in working at her high school radio station in New Jersey.   And when she got to Syracuse, her peer mentor was none other than Sam Kandell.

Shruti, or "Loops," was, like so many of us, taken by the culture and family environment of Z89.  She quickly became an AP on the Z Morning Zoo and learned just as much about WJPZ culture as she did about performing on the radio.  (And yes, she tells the story of how she ended up with the nickname that she still goes by now, in Los Angeles).

She talks about how the dynamic duo of Sam Kandell and Matt Gehring were referred to as "Mom and Dad" at the station.  The latter is still "Dad" in her phone, which has led to some awkward moments!

Shruti wanted to continue the family atmosphere she witnessed at the station from day one.  She became legal director, and eventually general manager, where she continued the tradition of making WJPZ the world's greatest media classroom.

Following graduation, Loops went out to LA.  She spent a lot of time under the mentorship of the late Larry Barron.  While most of us know what a legacy Larry left to the station in the 80's and 90's, he was still helping and connecting even our more recent grads, all the way up until his passing.

Shruti really has embraced her Los Angeles Orange community, to the point where she's been asked if she has any local friends that didn't go to Syracuse.   And in her time there, Loops has worked for Ace Entertainment, The Cartel, and now Lilly Singh's company, Unicorn Island.  

We wrap with a laugh, and how the Rednex cover of Cotton Eyed Joe played into her college experience.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected]

Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/

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Since graduating SU in 1996, Kafele Khalfani has done it all - moving from the advertising world to following his passion to help young people. Today you'll hear about his career in higher education, as well as his time fostering and adopting kids.

Kafele saw a brochure for Syracuse University with a picture of Rick Wright at Z89, and he immediately put all his eggs into an orange basket.  He applied early, nowhere else, and got to campus in 1992.   It was during a summer program that he found a staticy station at 89.1 that was playing the music he liked.  He reached out, and Kim Sykes brought him in when school started.

At Z89, Kafele was on the air (you'll hear his various on-air monikers), and worked in promotions, PR, and just about everything else at the station.  WJPZ was home for he and his classmates.  As he said, in a time before most cell phones, if you were looking for someone, they were either in their room, at the station, or eating at Kimmel.   You'll hear many familiar mid-90's names in today's episode.

After graduation, Kafele got into advertising during the dot com boom.  When that boom turned into a bust, he got involved in higher education.  He had such an amazing undergrad experience, thanks in part to WJPZ, he wanted to see a new generation of students have that.  In 22 years in higher ed, he's been a Residence Director, Dean of Students, consultant, and more.  He's also done work in the diversity, equity, and inclusion space.

Kafele always wanted to be a dad, but for him, it wouldn't be easy.  He hilariously explains why.  When his best friend, a social worker, told him about fostering and adoption, he was hooked.   Turns out he'd have to get certified twice - in New York, then when he returned to California.  He tells us the fantastic story of his first foster, who he'd later adopt, and when he finally felt like a Dad.  He's gone on to foster more kids since.

We wrap up the episode by talking about the issue of race at WJPZ.  It's a topic that's been brought up by several of his classmates, and with Kafele's experience in the DEI space, we wanted to get his perspective.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected]

Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/

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Eva Zymaris, Class of 2014, has gone from Z89 News Director to Emmy winning reporter in New Haven Connecticut.  And she credits so much of her career success to the WJPZ family.

This New Jersey news aficionado quickly learned that Syracuse was the school for her.  As a sophomore, despite her desire to pursue a career in television, she was drawn to WJPZ.  She mentions the culture set by folks like Jeff Kurkjian, Allie Gold, Jeff Cucinell, and more.   Eva went from doing "89 second news updates" to the executive staff and co-hosting the Z Morning Zoo.

She was also quick to tap into our amazing alumni network - bringing business cards to her first Banquet.   She shadowed Steve Donovan's morning show.   She spent her second Sirius Radio internship on Rich Davis's morning show.  

After school, Eva landed her first reporting job in Western Massachusetts, after much persistence.  This cultivated a relationship with the 413's favorite native son, Jeffy K.   Eventually, Eva moved up to WTNH in New Haven Connecticut, the former home of Chris Velardi.

Today's guest considers it a privelege to be able to meet folks in her community and tell their stories.   While she loves the human interest side of reporting, she was awarded for her and her team's coverage of a murder case that started before Covid and continues today.  You'll hear about that too.

Eva tells the story of a valuable lesson she learned from PD Rashaud Thomas when the station was temporarily running out of Newhouse.   And she leaves us with some rock-solid advice for students and young reporters who want to pursue a career in the field.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected]

Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/

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Today you will hear two incredible stories from Sal Capaccio, Class of 1995.   The first is his own "origin story."   At 37 years old, he quit his job to follow his dream. He and his wife moved back to his hometown of Buffalo for part time work on the sports station there.  Through hard work, perserverance, networking, and other lessons he learned at WJPZ, he's now a radio and podcast host, as well as the sideline reporter for the Buffalo Bills radio network.

This role gave him a unique perspective of the most harrowing moment of last year's NFL season.  He was on the field when Bills player Damar Hamlin's heart stopped after making a seemingly routine tackle in Cincinnati.  (36:33) He spends the final third of today's episode taking us on the field, in the tunnel, and even on the team bus as the events of that evening unfolded.  You'll be hanging on his every word.

Sal grew up as die-hard a Bills fan as they come.  In fact, he would take a bus home from campus on home game weekends his freshman year so as not to miss the games in person.  And it was his love for sports that brought him to Z89.   He did do some music and morning shifts, but he always was passionate about covering teams - from SU Football to basketball and theSportsline 89 talk show.  We spend some time talking about the relationships he formed with some classmates whose names you'll recognize, and others you may be hearing for the first time.

Following school, Sal had an opportunity to work at a small town Florida radio station, where he did sports (and sales, thanks to what he learned in Syracuse).   This led him to get involved with youth sports, and eventually high school athletics.  He got into teaching and really found it rewarding to work with kids.   As circumstances changed, and his wife was transitioning jobs, he explains the decision to move home and start over, pursuing his dream as he approached 40.

For those of us who always wanted to pursue sports but didn't, we ask Sal to take us through his schedule for a typical Sunday Bills home game.  It's a chance for many of us to live vicariously through him.    And that of course leads to Damar Hamlin.

Sal was reporting from the sideline when Damar Hamlin's heart stopped on the field in Cincinnati.  We revisit that evening, and he shares what he was allowed to see, and what he wasn't.   And of course, all the good that came out of the story of that amazing young man.

But we can't end on such a serious note.  We wrap up with Sal telling us how he talked his way out of being suspended from WJPZ.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected]

Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/

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Today's guest gobbled up every airshift he could, and now makes his living directing commercials, after learning under Ridley Scott.

Scott Bergstein came to Syracuse, like many, chasing the sportscaster dream.  When he saw what a soon-to-be-famous sportscaster floormate was doing, he decided to go in another direction.  Leaning into his passion for storytelling, he joined Happy Dave Dwyer's bunch at WJPZ.  The timing couldn't be better.  The station moved to FM in the spring of Scott's freshman year.

Like many of us, Scott didn't really find his voice until he was given a nickname.  He balked at first when Julie Bruno dubbed him "Hot Shot Scott," but eventually he leaned into it.  So much so, in fact, that students would address him that way on campus, and later, colleagues would in Los Angeles.

Hot Shot shares lessons learned at Z that he has applied to the rest of his life, including:

• "Everything I need to know in life I learned at Z89."
• "Talk less and listen more."
• "Be kind."

While we've extensively covered the station's move to FM in this podcast, one incident we haven't spent enough time on is the night the Student African American Society staged a sit-in at the station.  Scott shares the details of that night, and why the SAAS was protesting more than just a format change.  We also hear how the protest ended - peacefully.

After graduation, Scott moved to Los Angeles, where he worked under Ridley Scott on everything from Thelma and Louise to commercial sets.   He discovered his passion for telling short stories over song intros on WJPZ translated beautifully to directing television commericals.   He began working with a partner in more ways than one - a producer became his wife and they still work together. 

Throughout today's pod, you'll hear Scott's infectious passion for his career and for WJPZ.  It's also why Hollywood Hal Rood believes it was Scott that convinced his son to go to SU.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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.

WJPZ has formed many deep bonds and friendships - and that is certainly the case for Matt Gehring and Sam Kandell, who served as PD and GM respectively, for the Class of 2018.

As you'll hear, their origin stories differ greatly, but they've been thick as thieves since fate brought them together on Boland 8 as freshmen.   Soon, Matt, a self professed music geek, and Sam, a die-hard sports fan, were treking across campus together for the 4-6am shift.

They learned from upperclassmen like Allie Gold and Joey Cosco, and were invited to the Z Morning Zoo by Jeff Kurkjian.  They were also quickly tapped for exec staff.  Matt became research director, and Sam took over legal.  She tells the story of how that almost didn't happen due to a very big (and, in hindsight, hilarious) miscommunication about the application process.

Eventually, "mom and dad," as most of the staff called them, became GM and PD, furthering the passion for paying it forward at the station.   Both made efforts to know the entire staff, Sam secured funding to upgrade the station's power, and Matt was honing his social media mastery, leveraging fan bases of artists to keep the station top of mind, even over the summer.  In fact, his Twitter prowess led to a well publicized feud with Tomi Lahren during the 2016 Presidential election.

At graduation, Matt joined MTV for their reboot of TRL.  When that didn't work out, he and his team were moved over to MTV's social media, and he was "given the keys" to MTV's Instagram.  We spend some time talking about social media for brands in 2023.

Sam went to iHeart after graduation, but wanted to follow her passion for video and sports.  She leveraged connections from a previous internship to land at SNY, home of the New York Mets.   She had to rely on the adaptability she learned at Z, though, as she started in March of 2020.  She talks about how the pandemic totally changed her job, and what it's become now, in 2023.

We wrap up with a story that we are pretty sure is unique in WJPZ's history - Matt and Sam getting legit married on the air, on their Valentine's Day Z Morning Zoo in 2018.  And yes, we have the audio.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

Want to be on the show? Email JAG at [email protected]

Connect with the WJPZ Alumni Association: https://wjpzalumniassociation.org/

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A few days before Banquet 2023, Jag sat down with fellow Massachusetts Native Julie Bruno from the Class of 1985.   Julie's from the small town of Mansfield, and was the first in her family to go to college, and quickly went from being a big fish in a small pond to the opposite.

She met people from the far away lands of Long Island and New Jersey, and learned that she (gasp) had a wicked accent.   But she had the good fortune of being friends with the coolest girl on her floor - Merry Mary Mancini.  It was easy to follow her over to WJPZ.

To use Julie's own words, she was a "tertiary player" at WJPZ, but when she returned from a semester in Italy and the station went on FM, she saw just how popular WJPZ was getting.   She looks back at what that group accomplished, getting the station on FM, and can't believe what that team pulled off.

Following graduation, Julie worked briefly at WXXX in Burlington, Vermont before deciding the on-air route was not for herShe went home and worked at her home town's new outdoor concert venue, Great Woods.  From there she got connected to media sales where she sold television and then radio in Boston, culminating as national sales manager for legendary rocker WBCN.

Julie spends some time talking about how unique and special the WJPZ bond is.  The Banquet has reconnected her with so many classmates and helped her form relationships with folks who came up through the station after her.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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.

(Thanks to alum and Newhouse professor Tina Perkins for editing this week's episode.)

Mike Murphy, from the WJPZ Class of 1995, has gone from Z89 sports to the face of sports in the state of New Hampshire, having called multiple sports for the University of New Hampshire, minor league baseball, and more.

Like many of us, when Mike found out he wasn't good at playing sports, he wanted to work in sports. So Syracuse was the obvious choice.  Soon he was auditioning for WJPZ's sports department, landing a coveted on-air gig.  He eventually worked his way up to sports director.

He got married only weeks after graduation, and he tells the story of informing his bride-to-be what his first job salary would be when they moved to New Hampshire.  And yes, they are still together.

Mike takes us through his journey in the Granite State, working in radio, minor league baseball, and eventually joining the staff of UNH Athletics, where he still does play by play today.

And while our guest has some hilarious stories to share, we touch on some of the mistakes he made at the "world's greatest media classrom."   Mike honestly reflects on some of the things he did at the station that he still feels badly about.

The big lessons, however, are network and say yes to anything.  The latter led to a couple hilarious things that happened to Mike inside the costumes of various mascots.

Finally, if you're Facebook friends with Mike, you've no doubt seen the heartwarming posts with his grandson.  We had to ask "Pop Pop" about that.

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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.

Today we visit with Krista LePard, Class of 2012.  She's a Cleveland native who loves getting paid to watch sports.  And her and her husband Clay's career paths brough them  back to her hometown.

Krista was more focused on TV when she got to campus, but always looked across the hall and saw how much fun Alex Brewer and the crew were having at WJPZ.  She knew she didn't want to do sports at Z89, she just wanted to have fun. This turned into airshifts and the morning show.

She started dating her now husband Clay just before he graduated in December, and they had to navigate a long distance relationship that included much of the first year of their marriage, as they worked in various markets.

As Fate would have it, Clay, a Massachusetts native, landed a reporter job in Cleveland, so it was time for them to be together in Northeast Ohio.    Krista was able to associate direct Indians/Guardians and Cavaliers games for what is currently Bally Sports Ohio.  She did that before and after their daughter was born.  We spend a few minutes talking about not only the changes to baseball, but the precarious financial situation that these Regional Sports Networks (RSN's) find themselves in currently.

After the pandemic, Krista learned that a show she interned for, Father Dave's Busted Halo show on Sirius XM, was looking for a fully remote producer.   The work-from-home flexibility was ideal for her.  And she was the perfect fit for our most recent WJPZ Hall of Famer - as a former intern and fan of the show.    Krista tells us about the show, and puts some misconceptions about it to bed.   One thing that is true though, is the talent and relatability of Father Dave.

Link to Father Dave's Episode: https://wjpzat50.simplecast.com/episodes/dave-dwyer

Urgent: The University did NOT approve funding for this year's WJPZ sports staff to travel to away games, and they need your help.  You can donate here: just scroll down to WJPZ. https://bit.ly/helpz89sports

The WJPZ at 50 Podcast Series is produced by Jon Gay, Class of 2002, and his podcast production agency, JAG in Detroit Podcasts.

Sign up for email alerts whenever we release a new episode here: jagindetroit.com/WJPZat50

Want to be a guest on the pod or know someone else who would? Email Jag:  [email protected].

Want to stay in the loop with WJPZ Alumni events?  Subscribe to our newsletter on the right hand side of the page at http://wjpzalumni.org/

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.