Photos and video by Nate Ryan
Behind the Dial
A virtual day in the life of
The Current
Minnesota Public Radio headquarters, downtown Saint Paul, Minn.
The Morning Show
Steve Seel, Jill Riley and Jade are on the air every morning from 6 a.m. until 10 a.m. They arrive in the dark of night and help you start your day... even as they're starting their own.
Steve Seel and Jill Riley in the the Morning Show studio.
Jill grabs a bowl of cereal for breakfast.
Steve Seel runs the board
Random Vinyl
Every morning around 6:30 a.m. Jill grabs an album from her stack of records for the Random Vinyl pick of the day.
Jade, Steve Seel and Jill Riley
Jill Riley introduces music trivia host Sean McPherson
Sean McPherson hosts Music Trivia every Tuesday at 8:30 a.m.
Digital Music
Engaging social media, event updates and original editorial content set The Current's online activity apart from that of the station's peers.
Writers Jay Gabler and Andrea Swensson
Andrea Swensson
Managing Digital Producer, Brett Baldwin
Digital Producer Luke Taylor and Production Assistant Leah Garaas
Studio Sessions
Maud Moon Weyerhaeuser Studio is the source of a continually growing list of unique studio recordings.
Production Manager Derrick Stevens and Technical Director Michael DeMark
Studio control room patch bay
Michael DeMark mixing a live recording session on the NEVE 88R console
Music
New music is the lifeblood of The Current. Overflowing bins of new releases arrive in the mail every day.
Music Director David Safar checks the mail
Broadcast Studio
Studio 492 is the origin of the bulk of what you hear on the radio.
Mid-day host Barb Abney
Andrea Swensson
Toki Wright and Lizzo stop by for a break
Local Music
What's happening here, now? These staffers compile knowlege of the music scene each week.
Local show host David Campbell
Derrick Stevens cuts a promo spot.
Music Assistant Kelsey files CDs in the library.
Close-up of CDs in the music library. Music is digitized and re-filed in the library.
Host Mark Wheat previews songs for his on air shift
Mary Lucia
Mary Lucia's log sheet
News Cut writer Bob Collins joins Mary most weekdays at 4:20 p.m.
Music Meeting
The Programming team — David Safar, Program Director Jim McGuinn and Assistant Program Director Lindsay Kimball — meets weekly to discuss what new music to include in the library and how frequently to play it.
Music Director David Safar
Program Director Jim McGuinn
Bill DeVille previewing tracks for United States of Americana, his Sunday morning show.
DeVille's desk
International Control Center
Master Control Specialist Evan Clark monitors the levels of Local Current on HD Radio 89.3 channel 2
Thank You
The Current wouldn't be here without you. You are The Current. Thank you for helping make the best radio station in the world.