On March 6, 100+ city officials, business and non-profit leaders, local musicians, St. Petersburg Chamber members, loyal listeners and RadioStPete volunteers and show hosts celebrated the grand opening of RadioStPete’s new studio at Thrive DTSP with a ribbon cutting, live music and refreshments.
The new studio is located in the Thrive DTSP coworking space on 4th St. N. Music Director/Vice-President J Kolb and President and General Manager Joe Bourdow cut the ribbon with pride. Bourdow, who started the station in 2013, was beaming. “We are thrilled with the new studio enabling us to expand our daily interviews with arts, entertainment, business, non-profit and government leaders in St. Petersburg and Pinellas County primarily on our Lunchtime Conversations segment six days a week.”
RadioStPete is an all-volunteer, non-commercial 501c3 non-profit radio station for people who call St. Petersburg and Pinellas County home. There are four, 24-hour internet radio station streams, including a popular local FM radio station, outstanding syndicated public radio programming and a robust podcast platform and online/on-air local magazine with audio-blogs and interviews. Led by Mike Rickord, the Florida Sports Stream Channel on RadioStPete.com offers live sports talk shows from Ferg’s Sports Bar downtown and Sea Dog Brewing Co., covering state, local teams and high school student athletes including live play by play coverage.
Says J. Kolb: “We are especially proud to welcome listeners in downtown St. Pete to “Sunshine 96.7 FM” a local radio station playing the best work of 1,000+ home grown singers, songwriters and bands regularly playing in our Tampa Bay area. We have several popular hosts featuring diverse genres including jazz, acoustic, Americana, country, classical, pop, heavy metal and more. There are 3,600 local songs in our library and growing daily.”
New programming and hosts are introduced monthly as RadioStPete.com expanded its local coverage with Green Light Cinema’s movie reviews, Book + Bottle’s book recommendations, Brian Hartz’s pickleball/tennis reports, St. Pete Catalyst’s Bill DeYoung’s Arts Alive interviews and John Miles’ Passion Struck podcast provides inspiration.
In 2024, journalist Nanette Wiser joined the platform as News Director producing interviews and audio/blogs, covering events, expanding the website and newsletters, creating a hyperlocal magazine online and on-air. In addition, RadioSt.Pete.com INSIDER, Karen Carmichael (president of the Downtown Neighborhood Association) produces two podcast series, covers live events and coordinates social media. Her “The 30 Under 30” program interviews rising stars of the St. Pete community and “Sunshine Sisters” features women making an impact in the St. Pete community.
With the new studio, “The sky is the limit as to what RadioStPete can accomplish,” says Bourdon. “We are filling the mission of community radio by highlighting the contributions people make – otherwise people would not know about them.”
LISTEN NOW! RadioStPete’s music, sports and content can be heard nationally and globally. Just tune in to Sunshine 96.7 FM, download the RadioStPete app, logon or simply ask Siri or Alexa to “Play RadioStPete!” to hear a unique blend of talk, music, and live local coverage of all that makes St. Pete a great place to work and play.
BECOME A MEMBER or DONATE: The station is supported by donations from individuals, businesses, and corporations. RadioStPete is a locally-based, nonprofit all-volunteer organization with 501(3)C tax-exempt status and a 10 member local Board of Directors. If you would like to lend your support to help keep the station up and running, you can become an official member for as little as $5 a month. One-time donations can be made by clicking the donation button on RadioStPete.com. Businesses can join at various sponsorship levels and receive acknowledgements on the air. Volunteers are welcome.
TUNE IN NOW to RadioStPete at www.radiostpete.com or click on the QR code for current programming. Be sure to sign up for the free newsletters and enjoy the blogs/audio and podcasts at www.radiostpete.com/podcast-archives/. Check out the Let’s Go Entertainment guide at www.linkedin.com/pulse/lets-go-guide-events-entertainment-february-2024-nanette-wiser-x1aqe/
