Words & Music & Marcie
You heard Marcie Finkelstein on Tuesday mornings for years. She is now brightening your Saturdays with Words & Music with Marcie Finkelstein, 10am-noon. We caught up with her to discuss this new show.
1. A bit of history about you at WMNF. When did you start volunteering, and when did you first go on-air?
I started volunteering in 1982 with no thought about being on the radio. I was new to Tampa and looking for community, and the staff and volunteers I met quickly became close friends. Four years later, Janine Farver, then host of the Thursday Morning Show, invited me to select some music and join her in the studio and then suggested I apply for a new 5-7am slot. I don't know why she thought I'd enjoy hosting, but I'm forever grateful she did. I've changed days and hours several times since my initial stint on the Friday Early Riser show, but as long as I've got my WMNF family with me, I'm exactly where I want to be.
2. Your new program is a carryover of your popular Tuesday Morning Show, but designed to give you more time to stretch out. What differences do you see?
Essentially my show is what you heard on Tuesday mornings, but with a celebratory feel that we're kicking off our weekend together. I do have somewhat more freedom to explore whatever new music I think listeners would enjoy and to put together special programs to honor an artist or an issue. Also, at the start of the pandemic, I began interviewing artists each week about their new releases; this way, though they couldn't tour, they could connect with an audience. Often they surprise me by talking about deeply personal experiences and emotions, and it's probably easier to give them the attention they deserve when you aren't just waking up and having to get ready for work.
3. OK, we have to ask the magical question. You are undoubtedly one of the most popular programmers on WMNF. How do you explain your deep connection with the audience?
Well, that's awfully nice of you to say. Maybe it comes from having been a shy, introverted kid, but even after all these years, I'm delighted and grateful to belong to this open-hearted, generous community. For me, doing a show isn't broadcasting; I'm getting together with friends to share music and ideas. It feels like I know everyone, even if we haven’t met. And it's not a one-way relationship: It’s astonishing how often I’ll get a request for something I’m about to play, or that makes for a perfect segue or fits with another request. Mostly I want everyone who joins me on Saturday mornings to know that for those two hours each week that we’re together, I’m very glad they’re here.
4. Why is WMNF so important to you and to this community?
We often describe WMNF as giving voice to the voiceless, people whose stories or songs might otherwise go unheard. And those voices represent an impressive diversity of sounds and ideas. As listeners, we love some of it; others we tune out – but we support the totality of WMNF. In fact, we give to the station, not in spite of our differences, but because of them.
There's also that WMNF magic, the intimacy we feel over the airwaves. Especially since the pandemic, when we've been physically separated from people we love, being able to come together thanks to 88.5 has been enormously important.
5. Tell us something about Marcie that we wouldn't know from you as a WMNF DJ?
My "paying gig" has been as a USF professor. For many years, my show ended at 9:01am, and my first class started at 9:30. It was an abrupt transition for me, but I think those students got a break because I was in such a good mood from the show. Now I'm Professor Emerita, which means time to do whatever I want. Turns out what I want to do is work on Words & Music and look forward to Saturdays with my WMNF family!
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