Radio Split Ranch: Richie Norris — From Schenectady to the Airwaves

Radio Split Ranch welcomes longtime Capital Region broadcaster Ed Kostek to recount his 40-plus year career, from DIY basement radio to major stations like WGY and WPTR. This episode traces how friendships, early FCC credentials, and on-the-job variety shaped a generation of local radio, and reflects on the changing face of the industry.

Veteran broadcaster Chris Brunner joins me to recount his career arc from college radio and FM album rock to the "Famous 1540" and then on to a long run in the Channel 13 newsroom.  Chris recalls memorable assignments — the 1980 Lake Placid Olympics, reporting from El Salvador, the switch to digital production, and his retirement hobby digitizing home movies and creating YouTube content — offering personal stories about the people and changes that shaped local broadcasting.

I got to sit with an old friend and colleague this month, and I wish we had reconnected sooner. With a long and varied career in broadcasting, from college and regional radio to decades in television news and media production, my guest witnessed the evolution of newsroom technology, the growth of WGNA-FM and WNYT-TV first hand. His transition to teaching, and the legacy he left mentoring students and building a production studio will echo for a long time. Get to know Paul Conti.

To start our 6th year of interviews with broadcasters who shaped the last 60 years of Capital Region radio and television, Tracy Villaume recounts her unexpected path from corporate communications into both mediums. She shares highlights from her years on WGY and The River, community work like The Children's Hospital Radiothon and Pay Less for the Dress, and the friendships that sustained her career. She also tells the harrowing story of a serious storm injury, the challenges of industry layoffs, and her next steps teaching and exploring new media opportunities as she begins the next chapter of her life.

This month Kelly Lynch shares the story of her Capital Region roots and multifaceted broadcasting career — from TV production and weekend anchoring to radio mornings — balancing family (with another veteran broadcaster), surviving layoffs, and returning to the business on her own terms. We also discuss her transition out of media, and how she unexpectedly discovered another rewarding career.

This month veteran sportscaster Rodger Wyland shares the story of his 40-year career at WNYT and his unexpected start in Altoona at age 15. From his start in Pennsylvania to his move to Albany, his work across TV, radio and print, and his memorable moments covering local teams, Saratoga, and Super Bowls, it's all here. The conversation also reflects on how local media has changed, Rodger’s play-by-play role at UAlbany, and his community involvement, offering a concise look at a lifetime in regional sports broadcasting.

Longtime Capital Region radio veteran Richie Norris is my guest this month. He talks about his Schenectady roots, early inspirations from WABC, and a career spanning stations like 3WD, WTRY, WGNA, and Magic 590. We cover on-air name changes, a massive jingle collection, the changing radio industry and Richie's move into internet radio. Get ready to smile!

Mike Augustyniak talks with me this month about his journey from growing up in Rotterdam to combining a passion for radio with a career in meteorology. Mike recalls early radio memories, pivotal storms that inspired him, internships at WGY and Channel 10, and his rise to work in a major market and for CBS. The episode highlights mentorships, the challenges of local forecasting, the changing media landscape, and personal reflections on career choices and staying true to one’s passions.

Longtime regional broadcaster Walt Adams is my guest this month. We talk about his 40-year radio career from an eight-year-old’s crystal set to major local stations and a beloved community morning show. Walt and I revisit his early days when we first met and the formats he's mastered from country to disco. Along the way we share memorable on-air moments, industry upheavals, charity work, and why local radio and mentorship still matter today. Enjoy!

Longtime broadcaster Lisa Walker traces her radio career from college station cassettes to work at major stations from coast-to-coast. Lisa shares stories about promotions, music directing, programming, bucket-list stations, and the tough realities of life on air. She also discusses her transition into a whole second career, the changing radio landscape, podcasting and retirement plans, with archival airchecks and reflections on how radio shaped lives in past decades.