Written by: Mikayla Coleman

I was first introduced to KWOU — Western’s student-run campus radio — when I was finishing my third year at Western. If one would have told me that I would have my own show this year, I would have called them crazy. As a chronically busy, neurodivergent student, I was unsure about adding yet another weekly commitment to my plate. However, after witnessing the joy and excitement of laughing along in the studio and watching my friends play their favorite tunes, I knew that participating in KWOU would be an important part of my life.  

Building a show is a fun and creative endeavor. My friends have built talk and music shows around specific ideas or journeys. My show is called “The Tuned Inn.” I hoped to create advertisements and logos in a sort of “Inn” style hostel theme, but quickly ran out of time. Despite that, the name still has enough personality to make it feel like my own. 

It is extremely cathartic to be able to create a collection of music each week to share with the world. I await each Monday when I will receive my new “Discover Weekly” playlist on Spotify. I use a combination of modern and older music, as well as different genres, to add variety and flow to my playlists each week. In making these choices, I am able to express myself in whatever time and place I may be. They act as a sort of time capsule — looking back at all of my playlists from the past years, I am able to tell what feelings were at the forefront of my mind when I created them. 

Having a show at KWOU has allowed me a unique way to connect with people in my life. Whether a friend lives in town, out of state or across the country, listeners are easily able to stream from anywhere.

I am in a bit of a unique situation — my dad and his father before him have primarily worked in radio for their whole lives, so this allows me to be able to connect with him weekly and continue a third generation of interest in radio. 

As graduation creeps closer, I am already mourning the end of my beloved radio show. I have never considered myself to be charismatic, charming or lively in the way that most traditional radio show hosts are, but, through trial and error, I have been able to figure out what works for me and have become comfortable and content with my hosting and curation skills. I will miss having a space for my favorite people to meet each week and exist in the most chill and welcoming environment. 

Contact the author at howleditor@wou.edu