About this podcast
For five decades, WJPZ Radio in Syracuse has been the world's Greatest Media Classroom. It's always been run exclusively by students and has served as the foundation for post-college careers, whether its alumni have worked in radio or elsewhere. The relationships formed by alumni from six different decades have helped create a true family.
As we celebrate 50 years of WJPZ, we present 50 interviews with the people who have made this institution so special.
Hosted by Jon "JAG" Gay, WJPZ Class of 2002.
Episodes
The newest 20 of 133 episodes
- September 11th at WJPZ, Revisited 25 Years Later · 47 minNote: 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…
- Bonus: How Jeff and Tim Kurkjian Built Their Podcast · 44 minNote: 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…
- NBA 2K's Tim Swartz, Class of 2009 · 39 min · Episode 119In 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…
- Mike Lacett '05, A Sportscasting Career with WJPZ Roots · 37 min · Episode 118We 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…
- Lizzie Gottlieb and Bella Galan, Current WJPZ PD and GM · 54 min · Episode 117In 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…
- Savannah Bananas' Chris Sacchi, WJPZ Class of 2021 · 39 min · Episode 116Today we explore Chris Sacchi’s journey from a sports-obsessed kid in Connecticut to becoming a “video legend” with the Savannah Bananas. We start by tracing how early exposure…
- Inside Sports Rights With Dan Girard, Class of 2012 · 47 min · Episode 115Note: The WJPZ at 50 Podcast has returned! If you or someone you know would like to be a guest, email JAG: [email protected] Our first guest back is Dan Girard…
- Replay: 2026 HOF Inductee Stephen "Tex" Kurtz, Class of 2005 · 29 minThere are a number of people, on the technical side, that have worked tirelessly to keep our radio station going for half a century. Over the last 20 years though, Stephen "Tex"…
- Replay: 2026 HOF Inductee Howard Deneroff, Class of 1989 · 49 minNote: This episode originally published on February 15, 2023. In the time since, Howard Deneroff has gone on to be found Stand By Media, as well as becoming the Director of the…
- Replay: 2026 HOF Inducteee Ben Green, Class of 1985 · 37 minToday's guest is the always passionate Ben Green, aka Ben G, aka Mr. R&B, from the Class of 1985. He takes us from humble beginnings at Syracuse (including changing majors when…
- Replay: 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee and Radio Disney Vet B.B. Good - Class of '93 · 38 minEditors Note: In honor of Banquet Week - we are re-relasing the episodes of our three 2025 inductees into the WJPZ Alumni of Fame, beginning with Sharon (Goodman) Michaels, aka…
- Replay: 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee Deaf Geoff Herbert, Class of 2005 · 30 minEditor's Note: This week we are re-releasing the episodes of our 2025 Hall of Fame Class. Here, you'll catch our interview with the inspiring Geoff "Deaf Geoff" Herbert, Class of…
- Replay: 2025 Hall of Fame Inductee Jon "JAG" Gay, Class of 2002 · 45 minEditor's Note: This week we are re-releasing the episodes with our 2025 Hall of Fame Inductees. Here, our host became the guest, as Jag's 2002 classmate and fellow Hall of Famer…
- Taylor Swift, Baseball, and Type 2 Diabetes: Other WJPZ Alumni Podcasts, Part 1 · 7 min · Episode 114I wanted to call your attention to some OTHER WJPZ Alumni who are doing great podcasts. In fact, we’ve got a little something for everyone. Today, in part 1, I’m going to…
- Matthew Reschke, aka R Source · 25 min · Episode 113We're talking today with Matthew Reschke, also known as R Source, from the class of 2012. Matt's connection to WJPZ started in his childhood, growing up near Syracuse and…
- What Happens (at the NAB Show) in Vegas · 26 minEvery year, the WJPZ Alumni Association, via the Berrell Award, sends two students to an industry event. In 2023, GM Grace Denton and former sports director Joe Puccio went to…
- Kelly (Foster) and Adam Shapiro, Class of 1992 · 44 min · Episode 112If you don't know Adam and Kelly (Foster) Shapiro's backstory, you might assume it's yet another romance started in the halls of WJPZ. Their story, as you'll hear here, is a much…
- Meteorologist Dave Roberts, Class of 1992 · 37 min · Episode 111While many of us flipped burgers or bagged groceries in high school, Dave Roberts was reading the news on an AM station and (literally) herding cats as a 15 year old. When he…
- Seattle Mariners VP of Marketing Kevin Martinez, Class of 1988 · 35 min · Episode 110Kevin Tippy Martinez, '88, is the Senior Vice President of Marketing Communications for the Seattle Mariners. It's no surprise that this New Jersey native, with passions for…
- Mike Roberts, longtime V103 Morning Man and PD, Class of 1979 · 33 min · Episode 109Mike Roberts, Class of 1979, is one of the people who helped kept WJPZ alive in the early days. With the station's founders having graduated, Mike empowerd a team to run radio…
