Three days of community radio, cultural preservation, indie media, technology, music, storytelling, and hands-on workshops.

‍Note: This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

TRACK A — LEADERSHIP, GOVERNANCE & SUSTAINABILITY

• 1. Governance That Actually Works
  Stella Madrid • Paul Bame
  Practical approaches to building healthy station organizations, including governance, decision-making, boards, and leadership.

• 2. Lessons From the Mothership and Otherships
  Ken Freedman • Sharon Scott • Max Kelley
  Recommendations and hard-earned lessons from established independent and community stations on programming, membership, volunteers, fundraising, and sustainability.

• 3. Volunteer Recruitment & Management
  Sharon Scott • Max Kelley
  Practical strategies for finding, training, supporting, and retaining the volunteers who make community radio possible.

• 4. Underwriting That Actually Works
  Stella Madrid • Paul Bame
  Real-world approaches to underwriting, community partnerships, fundraising, and sustainable station revenue.

• 5. Promoting Your Station Without a Big Budget
  Jim "Radio" Ellinger • Dr. Tim Craig
  Grassroots promotion, community engagement, partnerships, events, and creative ways to grow an audience.

Note: This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

TRACK B — STATION OPERATIONS, ENGINEERING & TECHNOLOGY

• 1. Steal This Station — The LPFM Tool Kit
  Paul Arndt
  A practical exchange of software, hardware, templates, systems, and resources that stations can borrow, adapt, and use.

• 2. It's #^(#^@ing Broken — Can Someone Fix This Thing!
  Pete Tridish
  A hands-on troubleshooting workshop covering signal flow, diagnosis, repair, and basic soldering.

• 3. Using Data Without Losing Your Soul
  Randi Zimmerman
  Using membership, fundraising, audience, and station data to make better decisions without losing the station's mission.

• 4. Making Radio Automation Your Friend
  David Klann • Hunter King
  Practical approaches to automation and technology that support station programming and volunteers.

• 5. FM Translator Applications & Opportunities
  Paul Bame
  A focused introduction to FM translator applications and opportunities for community stations.

• 6.) EAS Compliance & Cybersecurity
  Benn Kobb • William Balancio
  Practical information about Emergency Alert System responsibilities, cybersecurity, and protecting station infrastructure.

Note: This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

TRACK C — PRODUCTION, JOURNALISM, STORYTELLING & DISTRIBUTION

• 1. Media & Democracy
  Spencer Graves • Mark Alian Dery • Ursula Ruedenberg
  Media literacy, misinformation, trust, journalism, and the role of community media in a democracy.

• 2. The Many Hats of Community Radio
  Hunter King
  A look at the many roles involved in building and operating a community station, including technology, systems, programming, and development.

• 3. Podcast Production for Community Radio
  Ursula Ruedenberg • Stephanie Schubert
  Practical approaches to recording, editing, workflow, metadata, and turning station programming into podcasts.

• 4. Nationwide Show Distribution Without Grants
  Jaimie Dell'Apa • Kathy Groneau • James Pagliosotti
  How community producers can distribute programs nationally and build station-to-station networks without relying entirely on grant-funded infrastructure.

• 5. Syndicating Your Work
  Ursula Ruedenberg • Stephanie Schubert
  A practical introduction to getting locally produced programs onto other stations and into larger distribution networks.

• 6. How to Be a Radio DJ
  Steve Cook • Ethan A.D. • Blythe of the Ball
  The craft of making great radio—from music selection and microphone technique to personality and programming.

Note: This schedule is tentative and subject to change.

TRACK D — CULTURE, PRESERVATION & COMMUNITY MEMORY

• 1. Radio PNX — LPFM History
  Pete Tridish • Lena Charles • Govinda • Sean WPNX
  The story of LPFM from the early 2000s through the Opelousas/KOCZ experience, WPNX, and the future of grassroots radio.

• 2. Who's Stories Get Remembered? Who Tells Those Stories?
  A conversation about cultural memory, representation, community storytelling, and who gets to document and tell the stories of their communities.

• 3. Cultural Storytelling & Community Memory
  Oral history, community storytelling, cultural memory, and how local media can help communities tell their own stories.

• 4. More Than a Broadcast: Vinylthon & College Radio Day
  Dr. Tim Craig
  Using collaborative radio events to build audiences, energize volunteers, celebrate music, and connect stations.

• 5. College Radio: The Next Generation
  Student broadcasters discuss music discovery, programming, training, and the future of college and community radio.

PLUS additional KEYNOTE CONVERSATIONS

& MUSIC & FILMS & ART

& RECORD FAIR.

LOCAL INFORMATION ABOUT PENSACOLA:

Transportation

The nearest airport is Pensacola International Airport (PNS), located about 5.5 miles (approximately a 15-minute drive) from the Voices of Pensacolaconference venue.

Uber and Lyft are readily available at the airport, with typical fares being $18 - $25, depending on demand and time of day. Taxis and rental cars are also available at the airport.

A rental car is recommended if you plan to explore Pensacola Beach, Gulf Islands National Seashore, or other attractions before or after the conference. However, if you're staying downtown, you can comfortably attend conference sessions, evening events, restaurants, and nightlife on foot, with ride-share service available whenever you want to venture beyond downtown.

Lodging

The GrassRoots Radio Conference takes place in the heart of Historic Downtown Pensacola, with sessions centered at the Voices of Pensacola museum and nearby venues. Downtown is highly walkable, with restaurants, coffee shops, galleries, breweries, and nightlife just steps away. Each evening, WPNX will host special conference events—including live music, film screenings, and community gatherings—to complement the daytime program. If you need a break, Pensacola Beach is only about a 15-minute drive away, making it easy to catch a Gulf Coast sunset after the day's events.

Downtown Host Hotels

• Holiday Inn Express Pensacola Downtown — Less than a 5-minute walk to the Voices of Pensacola venue. Group rate: $209/night. Reservations must be made by Sept 16.

• Courtyard by Marriott Pensacola Downtown — Approximately 1 mile (20-minute walk) to the venue. Group rate: $169/night.

• Hilton Garden Inn Pensacola Downtown — Less than 1 mile (15-minute walk) to the venue. Group rate: $199/night.

Beach Hotels

If you'd like to combine the conference with a beach getaway, discounted group rates will also be available at:

• Paradise Inn Pensacola Beach — Group Rate $89.99!!! Cool old school beach motel with beach bar and live music at night. Call to reserve. 15 minute drive to conference.

• Holiday Inn Resort Pensacola Beach — Conference group rate information coming soon.

Airport Area Hotels

All of these hotels provide complimentary airport shuttle service and are approximately 5.5 miles from the conference venue.

• Hyatt Place Pensacola Airport

• Hampton Inn Pensacola Airport (Cordova Mall Area)

• Staybridge Suites Pensacola Airport

Airbnb and VRBO rentals are also plentiful in Downtown, East Hill, and East Pensacola Heights.

We look forward to welcoming the grassroots radio community to Pensacola this fall.

Please check back for additional information and wpnx.org soon.