Medway Pride Radio

Start a radio station they said, it’ll be fun they said…. And it is, it’s hard work, but the most amazing fun.

Just before Christmas and lockdown, Hilary Cooke, CEO of Medway Gender Sexual Diversity Centre (MGSD), approached me about helping set up a radio station for the community. Having recently left another radio station, I had been asked by a few people about setting up a new one, but Hilary’s passion and commitment to the community, not just the LGBTQ+ community but across the board, is infectious. I thought about it over Christmas, and with one tweet saying we would open in time for LGBTQ+ History Month we were in business!

January was a flood of activity, and we made it, we opened on February 1. Medway is full of the most amazing talent, and we have been so very lucky in attracting DJs (both professional and some who never had done it before) from Medway and across the country.

When you tune in, you quickly discover we’re different, we don’t have a top of the hour news, instead we donate the time to charities and community organisations. In fact, for them it’s free to advertise. We want our listeners to know just what amazing things are being done by people all across Medway and Kent.

So, what do we broadcast? Music of many genres - pop, rock, dance, R&B, show tunes, jazz, classical and even prog rock. However, we don’t stop there; we have a breakfast show to get you to work; a drivetime show to get you home; a talking sports show with Kellie Maloney and sport scientist Joe Dunbar. Kellie also partners with her former Big Brother housemate Dee Kelly for their Loose Lips chat show. Sunday sees a comedy hour, a comedy panel show from the lovely people at Much Laughter, and a poetry show listeners can get involved in. Monday to Thursday at 6pm we have community news, there is even a chance for young DJs to get involved with Superstar DJ on a Saturday morning.

However, as packed as our shows are, we have found time to bring listeners the most amazing array of guests, including Judy Murray, celebrity stylist Rachel Gold, trans icon Christine Burns MBE, award-winning US LGBTQ+ journalist Mark Segal, actress Elizabeth Coffey Williams and author Ben Aaronavich. Musicwise we have had Lilly Winwood, Susan Werner, Chesney Hawkes and bands Deco, Autumn Fires, Slackkr and the Hot 8 Brass Band. Most amazingly this list just scratches the surface.

We’re without doubt the busiest radio station in Kent!

How do we do it all?

Tune in and find out! Or maybe even get involved by visiting: www.medwayprideradio.co.uk