Hey everyone, welcome back to Emergency Pledge Drive. I’m Tabitha Soren, and I gotta say, today’s episode is a tough one. We’re calling it “Keep the Signal Alive” because, well, that’s exactly what’s at stake for KPCR right now.Yeah, and before we get started its important to remind you, dear listener, to support KPCR by visiting donate.kpcr.org. Overall, honestly, I’m still kind of reeling. I mean, we talked last about how federal funding cuts were looming, but now it’s official—Congress just slashed $1.1 billion from public broadcasting. That’s not just a number, that’s, like, the entire safety net for stations like ours.Right, and it’s not just the big guys like KQED feeling the pain. I mean, KQED’s got an $8 million budget hole now, but they at least have some reserves. KPCR? We’re running on volunteers, shoestring budgets, and, honestly, a lot of hope. There’s no corporate safety net here. It’s just us—and, well, Daniel Roberts, who’s basically the glue holding this place together.Yeah, Daniel is, like, the definition of “above and beyond.” He’s here all day, fixing gear, training new folks, creating strategies, updating FCC logs—sometimes I think he’s actually living in the studio. And, you know, Tabitha, I remember you telling me about those old NPR pledge drives, how high-stakes they felt. But for a little LPFM like KPCR, it’s even more intense. We don’t have a big donor list or a fancy phone bank. It’s just us, the mics... Daniel... and whoever’s listening right now.Yeah, and I’ll never forget those NPR drives—people calling in, the energy, the sense that if we didn’t hit the goal, something real would be lost. But here, it’s even more fragile. If we don’t make it, there’s no backup. The lights go out, the signal dies, and that’s it. So, if you’re listening, you’re part of this. It’s not just our fight—it’s yours too.And, you know, losing CPB funding isn’t just about the money. It’s about losing access to things people don’t even realize—like emergency alerts, youth training programs, live local journalism, and all those community events we help organize. It’s the infrastructure that keeps us connected, especially when things go sideways.Exactly. And once a local broadcaster shuts down, it’s not like the spectrum just magically comes back to the community. Paula Kerger from PBS said it best—when a station goes dark, that space is almost never reclaimed by local voices. It’s gone. And that’s a loss you can’t really measure.Yeah, and I mean—just think back to the CZU Lightning Complex fires. When the smoke rolled in, the alerts were flying, and people in the hills were scrambling to figure out where to go—Pirate Cat Radio, KPCR 92.9FM in Los Gatos and KMRT 101.9FM in Santa Cruz—was one of the only places people could turn to for real-time, local updates.We were there for Los Gatos, San Jose, Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, Aptos—places that often get overlooked in national coverage. While big networks were slow to report and major stations were off the air, KPCR and KMRT stayed live.We had volunteers, some of them literally running on no sleep, coming into the studio to read evacuation orders as they came in. They announced shelter locations, road closures, wind shifts—anything we could get out fast to help people make decisions. And beyond the facts, they kept people calm. They were voices people knew, coming through the static with clarity and care.That’s not something you get from a streaming app or a national feed. That’s local, low-power, community radio doing exactly what it was built to do.And the only reason we were able to stay on the air that night—was because people had supported us the week before. And that’s still true now.So if you want that signal to be there the next time it matters, go to donate.kpcr.org and become a sustaining member.And it’s not just emergencies, right? It’s the high schoolers learning to DJ, the local bands getting their first airplay, the city council meetings that nobody else covers. It’s all the stuff that makes a place feel like home. If we lose that, we lose a piece of ourselves. I know that sounds dramatic, but I really believe it.No, I totally agree. And, like, as we talked about in our last episode, once these stations are gone, it’s not just the news that disappears—it’s the culture, the training, the sense of community. It’s the weird, wonderful chaos that makes local radio so irreplaceable.So, that brings us to what we can actually do about it. KPCR’s got the Signal Society, which is basically our lifeline right now. It’s a membership program—monthly donors who keep the lights on, the mics hot, and the music playing. And honestly, it’s the only reason we’re still here.Yeah, and the cool thing is, it’s not just about giving money and never hearing from us again. There are real perks—like, you get discounts at places like Amoeba Music, Streetlight Records, Chromatic Coffee, and even free tickets to shows at Felton Music Hall. I mean, I know someone who joined just for the Felton ticket giveaway, and now they’re a regular volunteer. They even started their own show! It’s wild how one little incentive can turn someone into a core part of the station.And the membership tiers are pretty accessible. Five bucks a month gets you in at the Reception level—keeps the signal strong, gets you a member card, sponsor discounts, and early access to giveaways. If you can do more, the Broadcast and Benefactor levels add things like merch, studio tours, guest DJ hours, and even your name on the website and on-air. It’s all designed to make you feel like you’re really part of the KPCR family.And honestly, the best part? It’s knowing you’re keeping something real alive.This isn’t charity. It’s preservation. You’re making sure there’s still a place on the dial for late-night weirdness, unexpected voices, local news you actually care about, and yeah—grandma calling in to freestyle on the air. That happened.You’re protecting the space where artists debut songs straight out of their garage, where teenagers learn to run a board, and where a town can hear its own heartbeat.If you believe that matters, head to donate.kpcr.org and become part of the Signal Society.Every bit helps. Every member keeps us stronger. Every dollar keeps the light in the studio on.So, that’s our pitch. We’re not gonna sugarcoat it—KPCR needs you. If you’ve ever tuned in and thought, “this is special,” now’s the time to step up. Join the Signal Society, keep the signal alive, and help us make sure community radio doesn’t fade away.Thanks for sticking with us, everyone. We’ll be back soon with more stories, more music, and hopefully, more support. Tabitha, always a pleasure to do this with you—even if the stakes are a little higher than we’d like.Same here, Maddie. And to everyone listening—thank you. Truly.This station runs on community. Not ads. Not algorithms. Not investors. Just people like you showing up, giving what they can, and keeping the mic hot.So if KPCR has ever made you laugh, made you think, introduced you to a band you’d never heard of, or reminded you you’re not alone—now’s the time to show up for us.Go to donate.kpcr.org, join the Signal Society, and be part of something that doesn’t exist anywhere else.Let’s keep KPCR weird. Keep it local. And most of all—keep it alive.Bye, Tabitha. And bye to everyone out there tuning in—wherever you are, however you’re listening.This station is more than a frequency—it’s a lifeline, a gathering place, a little bit of rebellion you can count on.So don’t let the silence win. Don’t let the signal die.Keep us on the air. Keep us in the fight. And keep showing up.We’re Pirate Cat Radio—and we’re not going anywhere, if you’ve got our back.See you next time.

Episodes

Keep the Signal Alive