Independent Local Media IS THE GIFT OF THE SEASON – WRFI Winter Fund Drive – Giving Tuesday 12/2 through 12/8

By Zoe Van Nostrand | November 30, 2025

THANK YOU!!! WE RAISED $14,233+ FROM OUR COMMUNITY!

It's not just giving season, it's gratitude season. Kicking off our Winter Fund Drive on a very special Giving Tuesday, stay tuned 12/2-12/8 for daily specials and features (SCROLL DOWN) as our show hosts express their gratitude to YOU our listeners and our station supporters. PLUS we have lots of ways for your donation to WRFI to support your gifts to other loved ones for the holidays.

We're talking DAILY BASKET DRAWS for one lucky donor every day. Each basket chockfull of giftcards for local businesses, locally created merch, and WRFI swag.

Do you know someone passionate about independent media, community radio, or keeping music free and accessible? Donate to the WRFI Winter Drive in honor of that person, and we'll mail you a personal "Appreciation Certificate" recognizing your donation as a gift in their honor - just in time to put in a stocking, or include as a gift for one of the eight nights of Hannukah. Your support of WRFI gives back to our ENTIRE community. A donation of any amount keeps us on air, and ensures that we will continue to broadcast and celebrate on-air the full diversity of perspectives, voices, and creative practices that embody our region of the Finger Lakes.

DONATE TODAY
Explore our Donor Gifts this Winter Drive!

Over 50% of WRFI’s funding came from our listeners in 2024, and we steward the responsibility of being community-supported seriously. WRFI is a vital civic infrastructure for our region, reaching 300,000 households across three neighboring counties. We broadcast 7 days a week, intentionally creating an on-air space to share independent voices, alternative music and news, Public Service Announcements, and as a free network to amplify the resources and support services of non-profits and community organizations. 

Whether you started listening to WRFI for the unique and eclectic music options, or because of our deep commitment to independent news that values facts, integrity, and the lives of human beings, or because a local friend told you they were hosting their very own show on-air, we hope you've stuck with WRFI because we help you feel connected to your Finger Lakes community in a unique way. The gift of WRFI is that you never quite know what you'll hear when you tune in, but you know that our 70+ local hosts are curating every hour for their neighbors in our beloved community.

Thank you for supporting us this gratitude season, and for tuning in and sharing the airwaves with us all year long.

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12/2 - GIVING TUESDAY

  • 12-2pm SPECIAL 'Jumping in the Sugarbowl' kicks off the fund drive with a mixtape of favorite songs familiar to Sugarbowl regulars. Listeners who make a contribution of $90 or more during the broadcast will each receive a one-of-a-kind 90-minute cassette mixtape made specially for you by show host Keir; hosted by Keir & Special Guest Doctor B.
  • 2-4pm 'The Good, The Bad & Ugly' ; Morpheus & Special Guest Five
  • 4-5pm LIVE SPECIAL from Amie's Winehouse with Amber Martin, a local singer songwriter based in Upstate NY, will be joining me as a guest on Amie's Winehouse for a special winter drive happy hour. She will play some of her music for us and share her sip and song pairing as well. Bio: Amber Martin is a local singer and song writer whose music is vulnerable and honest. Known for her unique lyricism, haunting melodies and voice that cuts with both grit and tenderness. Hosted by DJ Amie & Special Guest Peter B.
  • 5-6pm a SPECIAL Matter Media first ever interview! Talking with and playing the physical collection of Mark Thornton, local bike mechanic and overall good guy; hosted by DJ Spicy Bones and Special Guest Amie
  • 6-7pm SPECIAL The Warm Up music from around the world - songs discovered on radio garden, each one from a different country...; hosted by Heather & Special Guest Amie
  • 7-9pm a SPECIAL Monsoon Radio featuring 'Raga Rock and Rockin' Ragas' celebrating the introduction of South Asian sounds into psychedelic rock music and the infusion of rock n' roll into South Asian popular music in the 1960s and 70s; hosted by Daniel Bass & Special Guest John
  • 9-11pm SPECIAL Digital Binary mixing LIVE and ON-AIR off DJ decks inside the WRFI studio; DJ Law & Special Guest DJ Plutonium

12/3 - WEDNESDAY

  • 12-2pm Alcance Latino; Carlos Gutierrez & Special Guest Ute Ritz-Deutch
  • 2-4pm The Big Scoob Show; Big Scoob & Special Guest Carlos Gutierrez
  • 4-5pm SPECIAL Youth Radio Project An All Hands On Deck episode  where all local participants in the Youth Radio Project share song picks, conversation, and encourage folks to support WRFI! with special guest Tim Turecek
  • 5-6pm SPECIAL 'Zone Beyond the Meadow'; You’ve visited the Mind Meadow, and you’ve peered beyond the Zone of Avoidance. What shadow lies in wait when you seek the Zone beyond the Meadow? hosted by Aaron & Clara
  • 6-7pm Mind Meadow; Clara & Special Guest Aaron
  • 7-9pm SPECIAL Catholic Block is taking a deep dive into the early years of Swans, one of the heaviest and most influential NYC bands of all time. We'll focus on their studio EPs and albums through Children of God, with a smattering of live cuts, outtakes, and rarities sprinkled in for good measure. Two hours of painful pleasure — fun!!; lowercase marc & Special Guest Daniel Bass
  • 9-11pm SPECIAL Vicious Pink Show 'WE ARE THE WEIRDOS, MISTER', playing iconic '90s movie soundtracks; DJ Gayle & Special Guest Kid Catharsis

12/4 - THURSDAY

  • 12-2pm SPECIAL The Scenic Route; Felix welcomes two masters of improvisation for a LIVE on-air performance: Sarah Hennies (percussion) and Keir Neuringer (saxophone). Sam "The Cool" Fishman co-hosts.
  • 2-3pm SPECIAL Instrument Spotlight featuring exclusively music by local musicians; Sam The Cool Fishman & Special Guest Somer
  • 3-4pm SPECIAL Attic Inhabitant is Murdering the Classics: unexpected versions of songs you already know; hosted by Ben & Special Guest Emily
  • 4-5pm Are You Out There?; Max & Special Guest Tim Turecek
  • 5-6pm SPECIAL 'Press Record & Play: The Wintry Mix, Seasonal songs in the Americana vein, with notes on making a holiday music mix; hosted by Dan Aloi & Special Guest Sasha E.
  • 6-7pm George's Sparkletone Hour; George & Special Guest Kevin Deery
  • 7-9pm SPECIAL Night Toast exclusively featuring songs from albums taht came out in the year 1978; Rich & Special Guest Kevin Deery
  • 9-11pm SPECIAL Call to the Universe, Celebrate and dive deep into cosmic jazz and electronic music exclusively from 2025 - featuring artists from Japan, Ethiopia, Norway, Finland, the UK, and across the USA.; NYDT & Special Guest Rob

12/5 - FRIDAY

12/6 - SATURDAY

  • 10-11am SPECIAL CREATIVES 'Remaining Native' A Conversation with Indigenous filmmaker Paige Bethmann; hosted by Zoë Van Nostrand
  • 11-1pm SPECIAL The Mustard Hour a Stevie Wonder special. Two hours, all things Stevie. His own work, as well as some songs he produced throughout the 70's and 80's. Sound bites, funny moments, interviews and stories mixed in; hosted by DJ Dijon & Special Guest Eric Clay
  • 1-3pm SPECIAL Bartlemania LIVE in the WRFI Studio, coming in from Binghamton Dr. B will play vintage rock tracks, while his sidekick NC brings along classic funk, fusion and jazz tracks from the seventies!; hosted by Dr. B & Special Guest Ray
  • 3-5pm SPECIAL Hovercraft LIVE with Elijah Jake performing guitar stylings; hosted by Rain & Special Guest DJ Dijon
  • 5-7pm SPECIAL Threading the Needle 'The GONG SHOW RETURNS'; hosted by Dom & Special Guest Angela of the Roundabout
  • 7-9pm The Strangest Feeling; DJ Dija & Special Guest Cristina
  • 9-11pm SPECIAL Bombast A Bombastic Boatload of Desert Island Discs; Kid Catharsis & Special Guest DJ Dija

 

12/7 - SUNDAY

  • 10am-12pm SPECIAL Made of Clay with Peaches Gillette and Eric Clay will host local playwright, former hospice worker and therapist Kira Lallas; hosted by Peaches Gillette & Eric Clay
  • 12-1pm Will Spring Astrology; Tim T. & Special Guest Josh H
  • 1-3pm SPECIAL The Joe Show All About The JOY; The theme of The Joe Show for this drive and for this holiday season is joy! But it’s real joy, real excitement about real life, not the manufactured joy some people can feel forced upon them at this time of year. Instead, here at the Joe Show we will try to connect with the real joy of life to help buoy and boost us through the rush, hustle and bustle of the modern holiday season, a true HAPPY HOLIDAYS! (Safe space alert: holiday music is off-limits!!); Joe Romano & Special Guest Peter B.
  • 3-5pm SPECIAL Burning Airlines Peter B and The Batgirl once again square off with a no holds barred dance battle--1983, Boys V Girls! Who will survive?; Peter B. & Special Guest Batgirl
  • 5-7pm The Secret Ingredient; Jordan & Special Guest DJ Spicy Bones
  • 7-9pm SPECIAL Take it Easy; The two hours will be a progressive soundscape of poems, prose, and music that embodies fluid themes of Black voices, resistance, and consciousness; hosted by Caylyn & Special Guest Nina
  • 9-11pm SPECIAL Lake Snake Radio featuring 'The Finest Vibes of 2025', will take a dive into the finest vibes of 2025 — ambient and experimental music from every continent on earth (except the cold one). Hear the year's best weirdness, and pledge your support to the station that makes it all happen; hosted by Rob & Special Guest DJ Plutonium

12/8 - MONDAY

  • 12-2pm SWAG GIVE-AWAY on The African Postman, During the fund drive, DJ Art-V will offer to one randomly selected donor during the show, a special African Postman Show Gift Bag containing a new copy of Youssou N'Dour & Super Etoile's epic performance introducing him to the world, during a concert in Athens Greece when selected to open Peter Gabriel's World Tour, released on CD by Real World (or flash drive), as well as the donor's choice of an African Postman Hat or Drawstring Bag and a couple of African Postman beverage koozies as well; DJ Art-V & Special Guest DJ Tally
  • 2-4pm The Big Scoob Show; Big Scoob & Special Guest DJ Art-V
  • 4-5pm SPECIAL daytime Vicious Pink Show 'The Flying V', The Flying V guitar in 80's and 90's hard rock and metal. Listeners who make a $120 one time pledge, or a $10 monthly donation receives a handmade flying V guitar holiday ornament!; Gayle & Special Guest Josh H.
  • 5-6pm SPECIAL Who's On/What's On, Five will be hosting a gratitude hour radio show celebrating thankfulness, gratitude, and giving (in the spirit of the drive). Listeners will be invited to text or call with something they are grateful for, and for each call/text, I will donate $1 to Loaves & Fishes of Tompkins County. During the show, I will read these texts aloud, share uplifting music, and reflect on gratitude in daily life; Five & Special Guest DJ Clara
  • 6-7pm SPECIAL 'The African Guitar Box', In 2012 Portland, Oregon-based Mississippi Records released The African Guitar Box, a 5 LP boxed set of classic African guitar music from 1951-1970. On December 8th from 6-7 PM join DJ Cheese Louise as we examine this collection of mostly solo performances on electric and acoustic guitar and vocals from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and many other countries. The work of ethnomusicologist John Storm Roberts and his Original Music label and the field recordings of Hugh Tracey will be discussed. Everything from Congolese rhumba influenced by Cuban dance orchestras to music from miner's camps in the Zambian Copperbelt will be played; hosted by Cheese Louise & Special Guest Clara
  • 7-9pm Humming Wires; John & Special Guest Felix T.
  • 9-11pm SPECIAL Take it Easy playing some old school, deep cuts R&B from the 70s, 80s, 90s hoping to progress through the decades from start to the end of the show; Caylyn & Special Guest Rocket Morton

Take a screenshot, print it out and hang on the fridge, keep the tab open, and check in every time you hear something special and unique on WRFI your Community Radio station.

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