The Story of WHFS & Freeform Radio with Jay Schlossberg on SOUNDS with Tom Needham

On this episode of SOUNDS, host Tom Needham speaks with first-time director Jay Schlossberg about his long-awaited documentary Feast Your Ears: The Story of WHFS 102.3 FM.

The film takes listeners on a nostalgic journey through the golden era of freeform progressive FM radio, spotlighting the legendary WHFS station that broadcast from Bethesda, Maryland during the ’60s, ’70s, and ‘80s. Schlossberg shares the emotional and often surprising behind-the-scenes story of how a teen summer job at WHFS inspired him decades later to launch a successful Kickstarter campaign and finally complete the film nearly a decade later.

The documentary features intimate interviews with iconic DJs like Weasel and Cerphe, musicians including Emmylou Harris and Roger McGuinn, and fans who saw WHFS as a cultural lifeline during a time of war, social unrest, and musical revolution.

Tom and Jay explore the station’s role in championing genre-defying artists like Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, and NRBQ before corporate radio took over the airwaves. They also discuss the challenge of telling a rich visual story with limited archival footage, and how Schlossberg’s creative team brought the era to life.

Feast Your Ears is more than a music doc—it’s a love letter to a bygone era of radio that united a generation. Tune in for a compelling conversation about memory, music, and the magic of WHFS.

For more information about the SOUNDS with Tom Needham Podcast, visit soundsoffilm.com.