WJPZ at 50

We 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 from a Radio Disney DJ (you probably know who) before arriving on campus, and once he got to Syracuse, he threw himself into everything he could. He took early morning DJ shifts, worked on basketball shows, contributed news, and balanced that with time at AER...

In 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, and how they are helping shape its culture right now. Both of them came to Syracuse with strong interests in performance, media, and storytelling. Both found, in Z89, a place that brings all of those interests together. What stands out most in this convers...

Today 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 to Syracuse athletics (the 2000's were a good time for this) and a small sportswriting opportunity in high school helped shape his path. Chris got to Syracuse knowing he loved sports but still figuring out how to channel that passion. Through friendships and...

Note: The WJPZ at 50 Podcast has returned! If you or someone you know would like to be a guest, email JAG:  jag@jagpodcastproductions.com

Our first guest back is Dan Girard, Class of 20120. on how WJPZ helps us find our footing, sharpen our voice, and build friendships that last long after graduation. 

We start with Dan’s path to Syracuse, which begins as a sports fan in New York watching the 2003 Orange title run and dreaming abou...

There 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" Kurtz is at the top of that list.

Born in raised in Dallas, he wanted something different.  And having spent some time in upstate New York as a kid, he liked the area.  And when he toured the campus, despite the fact that Z89 was broadcasting from the Ostr...

Note: 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 Hall of Excellence at the Fountainebleau Las Vegas, a world-class sports and entertainment museum. More here: https://barrettmedia.com/2025/06/05/howard-deneroff-named-director-of-hall-of-excellence-at-fountainebleau-las-vegas/

Today's episode is a must-list...

Today'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 he couldn't afford to rent equipment and buy film), to his tour through New York radio, through creating radio stations as a middle school educator today.

At Syracuse, Ben G first went to WAER, but when the University took it over, around the time that WJPZ...

Editors 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 BB Good.   Due to a prior commitment, she is deferring her induction until next year, but we wanted to showcase her incredible story. 

If we were to pick one alumnus who best represented the warm, welcoming atmosphere of WJPZ, it would probably be Sharon Good...

Editor'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 2005.

Geoff "Deaf Geoff" Herbert is a machine -serving as WJPZ's GM while working as a morning show host at a commercial station in Syracuse.   Oh by the way, he was working a night shift at Blockbuster Video (RIP) and somehow attending classes.

Geoff was b...

Editor'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 Matt DelSignore sat him down to hear his story.

Today, we turn the tables on our host and put Jon "JAG" Gay, from the Class of 2002, in the hot seat.  Doing the honors is his classmate,  Matt DelSignore.

Matt starts by asking Jag about the WJPZ at 50 Podcas...

I 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 introduce you to three podcasts hosted by WJPZ Alumni.

There’s no bigger star in the world right now than Taylor Swift – and you’d be hard pressed to find a bigger Swiftie than Molly Nelson, class of 2014.  She and her best friend Ryan co-host “Hits Different,” a...

We'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 engaging with the station's DJs through AOL - before even AIM.

Matthew's academic path took him from Onondaga Community College to LeMoyne College, where he first dabbled in college radio. His journey to WJPZ was not straightforward; it involved exploring different...

Every 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 Vegas for the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) Show.  We sat down with them to hear about the experience.

We've met Grace in her previous episode with PD Maddie Doolittle.  So first we meet Joe and get his background.  And we hear about their summer...

If 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 different road than than other Z89 couples.

Both members of the Class of 1992, they were certainly friendly in school, and had mutual friends, but didn't spend a ton of time together outside the station.   Kelly joined the promotions department, eventuall...

While 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 toured Syracuse and saw the WJPZ prize van, and he met Hal Rood, Jim Remeny and more. He knew it was where he had to be.

After starting on overnights, Dave quickly climbed the ranks to news director and eventually VP of Business.  That may sound like a strang...

Kevin 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 baseball and broadcasting, found himself transferring in to Syracuse.

Once he got to SU, Martinez was actively involved with both Z89 and WAER, where he honed his skills in sports broadcasting and DJing. Not many students worked for both stations at that time, b...

Mike 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 station, passing its educational lessons forward to the next generation of broadcasters.

Arriving on campus in 1975, he quickly found WJPZ 1200 AM in the Spectrum Records building and told Bill Bleyle that he wanted to be involved. In addition to his airshift...

Today we interview Marc Bokoff,  from the class of 1987. A management major, Marc came to the station as business manager under then-GM Larry Barron, before becoming general manager himself.  He took over the station in the midst of the station changing from a block format to the much more tighly programmed CHR format it still has today.

As GM, Marc and the staff faced backlash for this change, leading accusations of racial bias and...

Scott Greene, '93, grew up just outside Boston wanting to be a newspaper reporter.  He did it in high school and came to Syracuse wanting to pursue that career.   But WJPZ quickly drew him in, and he says the only columns he wrote for the Daily Orange ended up being Wrestlemania previews.

Scott came to the station as the classes of 90 and 91 were taking the reigns.  His group quickly got their footing, and passed the torch to '94 an...