Episodios

  • TWiRT Ep. 781 - Powering Local Radio into 2026 with Chris Marsalis

    TWiRT Ep. 781 - Powering Local Radio into 2026 with Chris Marsalis
    Jan 1 2026
    Listen to This Week in Radio Tech episode 781, “Powering Local Radio into 2026 with Chris Marsalis.” Chris and his wife own two successful FM stations in Ripley, Mississippi—The Shark 102.3 and Kudzu 104.9—and he shares how strong local programming, especially high school sports, continues to drive audience loyalty. He explains how creative sponsorships, including FM RDS messaging and integrated digital advertising across streaming and podcasts, have expanded revenue opportunities well beyond traditional spot sales. Chris also discusses his technical work with Mississippi Public Broadcasting, helping maintain two HDTV and FM+HD transmitter sites in northeast Mississippi. This episode is a practical and encouraging look at how committed local broadcasters can thrive well into the future.
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    1 h y 22 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 780 - I Wear Three Hats with Larry Wilkins

    TWiRT Ep. 780 - I Wear Three Hats with Larry Wilkins
    Dec 26 2025
    Watch or listen to This Week in Radio Tech episode 780, “I Wear Three Hats,” featuring Larry Wilkins—one of the most respected and beloved broadcast engineers in Alabama. Larry has played a pivotal role in advancing broadcast engineering across the state through his work with the Alabama Broadcasters Association, including the creation of the ABA Engineering Academy. He is also deeply involved in the ABIP program, helping stations meet critical infrastructure and compliance goals. As an active member of the State Emergency Communications Committee (SECC), Larry continues to strengthen emergency preparedness for broadcasters statewide. In this episode, Larry explains the value of these programs and why, even in semi-retirement, he remains passionate about working hard to support and mentor fellow broadcast engineers.
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    1 h y 25 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 779 - Next Generation Multichannel Audio with Larry Schindel

    TWiRT Ep. 779 - Next Generation Multichannel Audio with Larry Schindel
    Dec 19 2025
    Tune in to This Week in Radio Tech episode 779, “Next Generation Multichannel Audio with Larry Schindel.” Larry Schindel, Senior Product Manager for Linear Acoustic—part of Telos Alliance—brings decades of hands-on experience in multichannel television audio spanning live production, post, and transmission. In this episode, Larry clearly explains what Next Generation Audio (NGA) really means for broadcasters and content creators today. He breaks down the practical differences between traditional channel-based audio and modern object-based audio workflows. The conversation also dives into Serial ADM (S-ADM) and how it enables more flexible, immersive audio delivery. Larry wraps up with an entertaining and insightful story about “Take 5” that bridges audio engineering and the video production world.
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    1 h y 11 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 778 - Begin with the End in Mind - with Tony St. James

    TWiRT Ep. 778 - Begin with the End in Mind - with Tony St. James
    Dec 12 2025
    TWiRT 778 opens with a broadcaster whose reach spans far beyond the cotton fields and high plains of West Texas. Tony St. James, owner of KFLP AM-FM in Floydada, has built a multi-platform media operation that punches far above its market size. Alongside running his stations, Tony operates two prolific content networks: the West Texas Friday Night Scoreboard and the All Ag Network. His voice is also instantly recognizable to rural audiences nationwide through his frequent appearances on RFD-TV and SiriusXM’s Rural Radio channel. Tony joins Kirk Harnack to talk shop about the technical, workflow, and operational strategies that allow a small-market broadcaster to deliver big-market volume. From managing affiliate distribution, to producing consistent ag and sports content, to keeping costs and complexity under control, Tony shares the practical methods that let him serve multiple media platforms and dozens of stations every day. This episode is a masterclass in scalable, real-world radio operations from someone who lives it.
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    1 h y 15 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 777 - Monitoring & Control in Your Pocket with Matt Rigdon

    TWiRT Ep. 777 - Monitoring & Control in Your Pocket with Matt Rigdon
    Dec 5 2025
    AAT—American Amplifier Technologies—might not have been on your radar a few years ago, but they’re making some serious noise in the broadcast engineering world. With their TXN line of FM and Digital TV transmitters, plus their recent acquisitions of Shively, Kathrein, and SCALA, AAT is quickly becoming a true one-stop shop for RF and broadcast hardware. Today we’re joined by AAT’s Chief Technical Officer, Matt Rigdon. He’s here to show us emPower, a brand-new monitoring and control system that was designed from day one with broadcast engineers—and our mobile lifestyles—in mind. Under the hood it’s powered by SNMP, but what you see on your phone or tablet is a fast, modern, intuitive interface that actually helps you get stuff done. Matt gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how emPower was developed, what problems it solves, and why this kind of mobile-first thinking might just shape the next generation of broadcast infrastructure. Strap in—we’re going hands-on with some very cool tech.
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    1 h y 13 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 776 - Thankfulness with K-LOVE Engineers

    TWiRT Ep. 776 - Thankfulness with K-LOVE Engineers
    Nov 28 2025
    Episode 776 of This Week in Radio Tech brings a heartfelt and energetic conversation titled “Thankfulness with K-LOVE Engineers.” Joining Kirk are four outstanding engineers from K-LOVE and Air1—Chris Tarr, Jack Roland, Tommy Presite, and Bill Jackson—who share real experiences where gratitude has shaped their work and even their success. This episode blends lively banter with meaningful reflections on how being thankful affects everything from troubleshooting transmitters to strengthening family life. Together we explore how thankfulness transforms the one who practices it, even in the secular workplace where its power is often overlooked. It’s an uplifting and authentic discussion you won’t want to miss.
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    1 h y 15 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 775 - Innovation in FM Antennas with Keith Pelletier

    TWiRT Ep. 775 - Innovation in FM Antennas with Keith Pelletier
    Nov 21 2025
    In this episode, Kirk welcomes Keith Pelletier, President of Dielectric, to explore the newest advances in FM transmitting antenna design. Keith explains how Dielectric engineers are now combining custom bay spacing, including innovative mixes of full-wave and half-wave spacing within the same antenna aperture, to deliver precise coverage patterns with dramatically improved efficiency. These hybrid designs can achieve the same or better performance while using about one-third fewer parts, reducing weight, wind load, cost, and long-term maintenance challenges. We also dive into how modern modeling tools, materials, and manufacturing techniques are pushing FM antenna technology further than ever before. If you care about smarter RF design, better coverage, and future-ready FM infrastructure, you’ll want to watch this one. Join us for TWiRT 775 and see where Dielectric is taking FM antennas next!
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    1 h y 8 m
  • TWiRT Ep. 774 - Intelligent Site Monitoring with Adam Robinson

    TWiRT Ep. 774 - Intelligent Site Monitoring with Adam Robinson
    Nov 14 2025
    This week on This Week in Radio Tech, we’re joined by Adam Robinson, Director of Sales & Marketing at MaxxKonnect and Triple Helix Technologies. Transmitter sites have evolved far beyond just RF gear — they’re now fully IP-centric ecosystems where slow, hidden failures often do the most damage. Adam and Kirk discuss how smart monitoring, redundancy, and unified visibility are redefining how engineers manage their sites remotely. From HVAC degradation to IP jitter and network security, we explore why data over time is the key to preventing downtime. Tune in and learn how the next generation of site management — predictive, cloud-integrated, and AI-assisted — is already here!
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    1 h y 17 m
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