Besides for tuning in as a listener, this is how it all started for me and #RadioFreeCurrent. Dave Campbell was the man, bringing great radio to my ears for years and he was looking out for me as I was getting started at The Current. I was struggling to get comfortable at the station, and he told me to come through and he’d let me work the phones, crack the mic and pick some songs. I was elated. I remember how serious and how playfully Dave took the gig. He was running around the studios, prepping some songs, making some plans, answering some emails. It felt hectic, joyous and adventurous. He was a mad scientist, and I was happy to ride shotgun. I was hooked.

Dave moved on from The Current pretty shortly after I started sitting in, and by February of 2016, David Safar was showing me the ropes to take over the show. 

In the past six years, I’ve dedicated myself to making Saturday nights magical on The Current. Themes, costumes, sound effects, special guests, bagpipe field recordings piped in from Mattocks Park. Whatever it takes. And for this entire journey, I’ve had the support of the amazing community of listeners from Radio Free Current. That family was around long before I started hosting, and it’s going to keep on rocking as the show develops and grows. Shout out to Rog in Grantsburg, Dave in Las Vegas, Nate in Whittier, Patti in Owatonna, Joe in Mound, Dan in Champlin, Ulrich in Sweden, Josh and Maya in Post Falls, Rachel in River Falls, Rachel in Dayton, Mandy in St. Paul, Brian in Brisbane, the Germann Clan in Blaine, Lisa and John from the Richfield Posse, Wyatt in Rochester, Justin in Lakeville and all the other wonderful people who request tunes and make Saturday magical.

Next Saturday I’ll be a listener, cheering on Radio Free Current, seeing where it goes next. 

But tonight friends, it’s a victory lap. Being the host of Radio Free Current has been one of the true highlights of my life, and tonight we are going out on a note so high Mariah Carey would need to warm up to hit it.

At the core of Radio Free Current, we celebrate everyone’s favorite music. We learn from each other, we connect to each other through music. So let’s not make it complicated. What’s your favorite music … today? Whatever song hits you, I’m gonna try and play it tonight. Nothing complicated, everything magical. Cheers.

Let’s do this! 

Make your request for this week’s Radio Free Current in the comments below.

You can also join me live on The Current’s Facebook page tonight at 6 Central to leave me a request, hit me up on Twitter at @twinkiejiggles (be sure to tag #RadioFreeCurrent) or you can email me at sean@thecurrent.org. During the program (7 to 11 p.m. Central), you can phone the studio line, 651-989-4893, to tell me your request, or use our request form.