“It’s you, the turntables and vinyl.”

After 21 years in the radio industry, Jason Samuel, General Manager of 91.1 The Globe, a collegiate radio station out of Goshen, Ind., still shows passion for his work. He enjoys what he calls “DJ old school,” as well as covering live events, working with apps and streaming radio, and most of all, teaching radio to future generations.

Teaching Radio

A majority of the time, Samuel can be found working at Goshen College, a small liberal arts college located in Northern Indiana. Samuel spends half of his time teaching communications courses and other half acting as General Manager of the Goshen College radio station, 91.1 The Globe.

Samuel says the best part of his job is definitely working with students, both those who are experienced and those who have no clue where to start.

“I love to work with a student who has drive. They don’t need to be awesome yet, but should have a teachable spirit,” says Samuel.

Spinning Vinyl

While Samuel does enjoy teaching, he also says he really enjoys a weekly two-hour deejay slot. Once a week, Samuel drives to downtown Goshen, to The Globe’s satellite station, where he runs and operates a two-hour vinyl show.

Samuel says this is the most relaxing time of his week.

“That’s like radio DJ old school. It’s you, the turntables and the vinyl. You’ve got to work, you’ve got to concentrate and you’ve got to focus. It’s actually very relaxing for me, and it’s my space.”

Taking an Interest

Samuel first took an interest in radio at a very young age, when he took a field trip to a radio station in Philadelphia.

“I thought its as the most amazing thing ever, just totally fascinated me!” says Samuel.

From then on, radio was always in the back of Samuel’s mind.

“I was always outgoing and trying to work a room, and everyone said ‘you should be on radio.'”

Samuel went on to study radio communications in an undergraduate program with Goshen College, and earned a Master’s Degree from Indiana University-Purdue University, located in Indianapolis.

After 10 years of doing everything imaginable in the radio industry: programming, production, sales, live events and sports casting, Samuel decided to make the shift to teaching.

“I worked at radio stations in Gary, Indiana, as well as Elkhart and Syracuse. It was a great learning experience to be able to have the opportunity to do many different things,” says Samuel.

Now, Samuel says he still does it all, but this time he teaches it to students who hope to have a career in radio.