I really enjoy interviewing people. Maybe that's why I love running a radio station, it allows me to talk to interesting people. It inspires me to hear about the incredible and creative work that people are doing. Honestly, we have no excuses not to get up and make stuff happen.

Tonight I had the pleasure to interview KBLT founder and documentarian Sue Carpenter, and walk down memory lane talking about the legendary LA-based pirate radio station she started until the FCC came knocking and took all her equipment away (I know all too well about this from my days at San Francisco Liberation Radio).

I had to do my best not to shout out "ME TOO" with her stories about the challenges of starting and running a pirate radio station.
From Sue's Indiegogo campaign:

"After running a radio station out of her apartment, Sue Carpenter became a full-time journalist, working at the L.A. Times, Spectrum News and KPCC. People who appear in the film include Sue, Brandon Jay (Lutefisk), Jay Babcock (Arthur Magazine), artist Camille Rose Garcia, filmmaker Wing Ko, music industry vets Chris Carey and Miwa Okumura, KBLT engineer Chris Wagganer, writer Carolyn Kellogg and Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine.

Did Keith Morris (Circle Jerks) really bring his friends, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, to play at KBLT? Yes, that happened."

Sue's journey is well worth your time checking out. She wrote a book about it in 2004, and now she has a documentary she produced and is taking on the film fest rounds, including this Saturday night at the Roxie Theater, which is being co-presented by Radio Valencia

Tickets here:
https://sfdocfest2025.eventive.org/schedule/680bb8af6ef367664b267cfe

Give a a listen to this interview and tell me you aren't inspired to go start your own radio station as the fascists take over.

I'll see you at the show and then in the gulag.

Enjoy and please share.

jh

Hell's Kitchen Radio with John Hell
Mondays 8-10PM
Radio Valencia in SF
https://radiovalencia.fm

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Interview with Sue Carpenter of KBLT and "40 Watts from Nowhere"

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Interview with Sue Carpenter

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Evil Gypsy/Soloman's Theme: Sleep

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The Woodsman: Shannon and the Clams
Fascists Eat Donuts: Pop-O-Pies

Empty Chairs: A/Lpaca
SOL07: Wooden Shjips

La Trippance: Population II
Lucky: Alice Dynamite
Linda Blair '84: Redd Kross

I Hunt You Pray: LA Witch
Pray Till You Sweat: The Flesh Eaters