KZSM — Oldies, banter, marriage and more
KZSM.org exists to serve San Marcos and the central Texas area, and our program hosts at KZSM. org reflect the diversity of the community we serve. Volunteers of all ages and backgrounds offer an eclectic mix of talk and music twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week.
Program hosts Sid and Ellen Braverman created “Sid’s Place” (Mondays 4-6) and “The Ellen B Show.” Listeners can hear the couple’s Brooklyn origins in their accents, but their interest in radio began in North Carolina, where Sid developed an oldies show for Gold Radio and Ellen hosted an interview show for Public Access television in Ashville.
After moving to San Marcos three years ago and learning about KZSM.org, they adapted their shows for our community radio format. Sid’s oldies include some 40s tunes, but mainly hits from the 50s, 60s, 70s, with some selections from the last decades of the twentieth century. “I’m sorta finished after the 2000s,” Sid admits.
Ellen’s interview show originated from their home, where, she reports, “people came, sat down at the table and started talking, and you couldn’t stop them from talking!” Discussions “covered all aspects of what we’re facing today,” and anyone she met might find themselves across the table.
When the pandemic made it difficult to meet potential guests, Ellen retired her interview show and now serves as co-host on Sid’s show. “All I have to do is comment--I have it easy.” “She adds a lot of nice color,” Sid explains. “We banter back and forth,” Ellen says, “we have a good time, and we’re hoping it lightens people up a little—it lightens us up.” After fifty-one years of marriage, banter comes easily.
By streaming “Sid’s Place” from home, the couple remain connected to the community while staying safe. “Community radio is important as a creative outlet,” Sid points out. “The station offers a lot of subjects and a lot of local talent to the listener, and I think that makes a difference. “It’s local,” Ellen adds, “and local ties people into the community.”
Is there music you love or a subject you love to talk about? There is plenty of room on our schedule for new programs to expand the range of our offerings. Contact KZSMSanMarcos@gmail.com to learn how you can develop your own broadcast, how you can volunteer your time, or how you can donate to support our 501(c)(3) non-profit.
