GFQ Network audio podcasts

The guys react to the news that AJ Styles will likely retire in 2026. They talk about what matches are left for him and why this weekend's match with John Cena could start a run of great matches to end his career. Andrew talks about the new rating system and why the numbers are lower after last week's low SmackDown viewership. Are they more accurate now, or more of a guess? Also, previews for Crown Jewel happening Saturday morning and Sunday's TNA Bound for Glory, and an early look at AEW Wrestle Dream. Plus, a breakdown of AEW Dynamite, Koda Ibushi’s injury, and Santo Escobar re-signs.

Scott Cason is a seasoned radio contract engineer and Director of Engineering for the Kentucky Broadcasters Association. Scott shares his insights as the ABIP (Alternative Broadcast Inspection Program) inspector for both Kentucky and Indiana, highlighting the most common violations and how stations can easily correct them. He also discusses his pivotal role in modernizing Kentucky’s newly approved EAS Plan, bringing the state’s emergency alert system up to current standards. Scott takes us behind the scenes of the University of Louisville Sports Radio Network, explaining the equipment and processes that make home and away broadcasts possible. Packed with practical advice, industry insights, and real-world examples, this episode is a must-watch for broadcast engineers and radio professionals. Tune in to learn from one of the field’s most knowledgeable - and friendly - engineers.

The guys react to the announcement of John Cena's last match in December at Saturday night's main event. They speculate on who his last opponent will be and if this will indeed be his last match, or if he will make surprise appearances down the road. Additionally, TNA and NXT are hosting a show called Showdown, which was originally titled Invasion but was changed this week. Andrew is unsure about all the moving parts involved in this show. They also break down this week's Dynamite and discuss the return of Andrade and the likelihood of a program with Kenny Omega; it seems to be coming soon. Plus, DC Comics and AEW partner up for a limited series that Rich is very excited about, your questions, and more!

We’re coming to you live from the Western Association of Broadcast Engineers Convention (WABE 2025) in Calgary, Alberta, Canada! This episode of This Week in Radio Tech takes you right to the heart of one of Canada’s premier broadcast engineering events. Kirk Harnack talks with a range of broadcast industry professionals — from seasoned engineers to manufacturer representatives and even a broadcast student — capturing the pulse of our ever-evolving industry. Featured guests include Jeff Welton of Nautel, Cameron Thompson with Alberta South, Michael Peterson from Stingray Digital, Randy Opperman of Rogers Communications, and Grant Bebrick of PTS. Join us for candid conversations, fresh perspectives, and valuable insights straight from the WABE show floor.

Artificial intelligence isn’t here to replace radio — but it is coming for the audience’s attention, and it’s doing so on radio’s most important turf: deep personal connection. Dan McQuillin, Managing Director at Broadcast Bionics, joins Kirk to explore how AI and large language models can augment radio production rather than compete with it. Dan shares the fascinating “DanGPT” experiment — an AI version of himself so convincing it won over his wife of 34 years — as proof that AI can be just as personal and engaging as traditional radio. Together, they discuss how radio’s greatest strengths — shared experience, belonging, and community — remain central, and how embracing AI as “Augmented Intelligence” can amplify those qualities. With a growth mindset, AI becomes more than a cost-cutting tool; it’s a creative partner that makes the once-impossible possible. As Dan puts it, we used to have more ideas than time — now, thanks to AI, ideas are the only limit.

This weekend, both AEW and WWE are hosting major events. WWE will be making its debut on ESPN with Wrestlepalooza, while AEW will be holding All Out in the afternoon on the same day. We break down both event cards and discuss whether AEW can impact the viewership of Wrestlepalooza, especially with their main event potentially going up against the first match of Wrestlepalooza, which features Brock Lesnar vs. John Cena. We also cover how to access the ESPN app to watch Wrestlepalooza and the extent of ESPN's involvement in future premium live events (PLEs). Additionally, we delve into Tony Khan's media call regarding the possibility of scheduling a major show to compete with WWE's Saudi Arabia WrestleMania. We touch on Will Ospreay's surgery and AJ Lee’s thoughts on the timing of her return.

The Midwest Regional Broadcasters Clinic is where broadcast engineers and technologists gather each year to learn, share, and connect. Hosted in Wisconsin, this premier event features deep-dive sessions on both cutting-edge and legacy technologies, a vibrant trade show floor, and plenty of opportunities to network with peers from across the Midwest and beyond. Jointly organized by the Wisconsin and Minnesota Broadcasters Associations along with SBE chapters from both states, it’s a true collaboration for the industry. This year, TWiRT is once again going live from the trade show floor—right in the middle of the action—bringing you the latest insights, innovations, and conversations from one of the broadcast community’s most valuable gatherings.

Andrew and Rich are back with another episode of the Mat Men podcast, talking all things professional wrestling. The biggest news story of the week is a pending announcement that the 2027 WrestleMania will likely take place in Saudi Arabia. The guys discuss what this means for business and who they will get as big stars that they haven't used before. Will fans also travel there and help increase tourism for the Saudi government? They also react to the comments from Mark Shapiro that Vince McMahon underpriced tickets to accommodate families instead of taking advantage of the market price. Also, a review of this week's AEW Dynamite as they finish up the residency in Philadelphia, including the heel turn of Daniel Garcia joining the Death Riders. Plus, WWE/AAA Worlds Collide preview and Rich’s manifestation of two new wrestlers. All this, your questions, and more!

On This Week in Radio Tech, we’re joined by veteran broadcast journalist Scott Fybush, publisher of NorthEast Radio Watch and Fybush.com, and the well-known Tower Site Calendar. Scott unpacks the FCC’s new deregulation initiative, popularly nicknamed “Delete, Delete, Delete”, which proposes removing a range of legacy rules. We also explore the sobering reality of declining radio station values, what’s driving the trend, and how it’s reshaping the broadcast landscape. On a lighter note, Scott shares details about a different kind of stage performance — a comedy act with his wife that will soon debut at Rochester’s Fringe Fest. It’s an episode that blends policy, economics, and a dash of humor — all through the eyes of one of radio’s most trusted observers.

Andrew and Rich are back after a hiatus with a brand new episode and new season of The Mat Men Podcast, getting caught up and talking about the latest in pro wrestling. The guys start out getting caught up on their personal lives and what's been happening while they took the summer off. Andrew talks about regaining his love of professional wrestling after stepping back for a while. The big story appears to be the return of AJ Lee to the WWE as early as this week’s Smackdown show, based on an angle with CM Punk and Becky Lynch on this week's Raw. They discuss what the working plan might be with possible involvement from Rhea Ripley, and how they might use her going forward. Also, John Cena's retirement tour is wrapping up at the end of the year, and what are some of the matches he can still have after one last Brock Lesnar match? Plus, WWE's partnership with ESPN for PLEs, AEW PPVs on HBO MAX, Street Fighter Movie, all your questions, and more!

We tend to live, work, and observe within the circles of friends and colleagues that we already know. The TWiRT podcast strives to introduce radio engineers and creators who bring new ideas, technologies, and techniques to our thinking. Juan Punyed and Caroline Delamarque are visiting and talking with Latin American broadcasters every day, and frequently visit radio stations with huge audiences in Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Santiago, Brasilia, Panama City, and Bogatá, among others. What are broadcasters doing technologically in these places? And how are engineers implementing and supporting these advances in broadcasting? Juan and Caroline give us a taste of what broadcasters are doing - and perhaps not doing - in Latin America.

Stereotypically speaking, broadcast engineers may not fit the “leadership” mold. Many of us are perfectly comfortable dealing with equipment, and not with leading other people. While some engineers are naturally also fine leaders, many who aspire to a leadership role may need a mentor, or an example, or perhaps a “baptism by fire”. Kevin Trueblood has leaned toward filling responsible positions throughout his career, and he brings his thoughts and advice on the topic in this episode Moreover, Kevin was just elected by his peers as President of the Society of Broadcast Engineers (SBE). We discuss some SBE plans as well, and get some great advice on backup (or primary) Internet service for critical infrastructure sites.

Brett Gibson explores the topic of vertical real estate and tower leasing on this episode of TWiRT. What are the structural concerns for adding antennas and feedlines to existing towers? How can a structural analysis set the course for seeking tower space clients? And what should renters be looking for in a tower situation, including the lease agreement? Plus, Brett shares insights on IP connectivity among studios and transmitter sites.

Explore the broad array of virtual processing platforms available for Radio broadcasters and hear the real-world experience of planning, installing and operating a cloud-based audio processing and distribution system from someone who’s already done it. Clay Walker is here to talk about what Audacy is doing now with cloud-based broadcast operations. Clay’s unique position at Audacy places him squarely between broadcast content and broadcast engineering and IT. He and Chris Tarr compare notes and progress regarding virtualized broadcast operations, when it makes sense to implement it, and whether to go with public cloud services, local data centers, or on-premises deployments.

TWiRT is live at the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) 2025 convention. This year TAB chose the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock, TX, for their convention location. What a huge turnout of radio and TV broadcast engineers! It’s a social event, learning event, BBQ eating event, and a time to meet with broadcast technology manufacturers. Join us as we talk with nine broadcast engineering and tech professionals who are attending, speaking, and displaying the latest tech at this year’s TAB Convention.

Dave Anderson, Chief Broadcast Engineer at WUSF, Tampa - brings us two tales of two fibers. One tale surrounds the fantastic utility, capability, and flexibility of using fiber to connect different radio studios to the central rack room. The other tale describes the dangers of having diverse IP connection services that all use the exact same cross-country or last-mile fiber bundle. Either way a fault in the fiber can take out multiple services that were thought to be “diverse”. Dave shares his recent experience and advice for using fiber’s clear advantages while avoiding service pitfalls.

Most of us radio people - whether engineers, owners, programmers, or sales reps - tend to work in the same market for quite a while. It’s rare that we get a chance to listen to many other stations in other markets to see what’s going on in programming, processing, transmission, and so forth. Nick Dee, however, is making a career of traveling thousands of miles every month and listening - really listening - to hundreds of radio stations on each trip. This exposure to many stations in many markets gives Nick a unique perspective on what’s right and what’s wrong with radio programming, audio, and transmission. With his engineering education he understands when something isn’t right, and even carries a spectrum analyzer to make quick analyses on stations that seem to be transmitting a little more than they should.

Chris Tarr is one of the busiest broadcast engineers you’ll ever meet. He loves radio engineering, and he’s highly motivated to work hard and keep learning more about his profession. Chris has assembled some recent experiences into some lessons for all of us on this episode. From guiding some new broadcasters into legal and effective operations to modifying an older FM transmitter for additional years of reliable service, Chris has a lot to share this week.

This Week in Radio Tech dives into how broadcasters can build rock-solid, multi-layered broadcast plants that keep them on the air and their audiences happy, even when equipment fails. Chuck Bullett, Director of Technology at Audacy San Francisco, shares his modular “backup B and C” philosophy—designing independent, mutually exclusive systems that can stand in when a mic arm snaps or a transmitter tower goes down. This episode discusses practical strategies like retaining reliable legacy gear as a parallel safety net while integrating new technology investments. Listeners walk away with a “what-if” mindset and concrete steps to harden their facilities against catastrophic, revenue-draining outages. Guest Chuck Bullett, CPBE - Director of Technology | Engineering at Audacy, San Francisco Host Kirk Harnack - Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, Akamai Broadcasting, & South Seas Broadcasting Follow TWiRT on X and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube. Sponsored by Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc.Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console.The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output.

As we celebrate the 4th of July - Independence Day - in the United States, we’re reminded of the relative freedoms we enjoy here in the realm of broadcasting. In our case we’re speaking of radio broadcasting. Dr. Andy Gladding teaches broadcasting at Hofstra University, plus he’s the Market DoE for the Salem radio stations in New York City. Additionally, Andy is the new owner of WKZE-FM in Saulsbury, Connecticut. His work (and working vacations) have taken Andy to several other countries where he gets to know and understand the radio broadcasting landscape. Who better to compare and contrast broadcasting rules and practices with those in the USA? Join us for a fascinating look at radio broadcasting in a few other countries as we celebrate Independence Day in the USA.