Andrew Vogelpohl, WBGU-FM programming director, DJ and student, started his career at BGSU’s radio station after reading a Facebook post on his social media feed. His original goal wasn’t to become a full-time student, but classes opened doors for him he never expected.
“Is this for students only?” Vogelpohl asked via Facebook.
When the station responded that training was open to the community as well, he jumped right in. He attended his first DJ training in January 2017 and has been involved since. There are times the station has him running from as early as 8 a.m. or as late as 2 a.m. — or later.
“I actually have about five shows,” Vogelpohl said. “WBGU keeps me busy, and I like that.”
The thin, clean-shaven man laughed as he spoke. A couple of tattoos peeked out from beneath his button-down shirt. As a non-traditional student, some days he feels closer to being 40 years old than 30, he said.
“I feel like my life experience sometimes sets me apart from the other students,” he said. “It’s been awhile since I was that young, and I have lived a lot of life since then.”
He has enjoyed his time with the BGSU students he encounters. Penny Rae Hawkins, a junior journalism major and DJ at the station, is one of his favorites.
“It’s funny, sometimes we will be working together, and we will finish each other’s sentences. She has a good head on her shoulders and will go far,” Vogelpohl said.
Hawkins was in the same training class and said she really enjoys working with him as well.
“Working with Andrew at the station is a blast. He’s so passionate and dedicated. I can’t imagine WBGU-FM without him,” Hawkins said.
Following his training, Vogelpohl developed his first show, Tear Down the Walls. The Friday night show gives him a chance to break down barriers in music, he said.
“I play a little bit of everything — vinyl to CD, folk to punk, rock to R&B, what’s now called alt-country and, of course, local bands,” Vogelpohl said.
His Monday show, Home Grown, showcases Ohio and Michigan talent.
“Detroit is local music because Bob Seger and Mitch Ryder, way back in the ‘60s, used to play in small places here in the Toledo area,” Vogelpohl said.
Turntable Time, his Tuesday night show, is a time to showcase the special sound vinyl gives to music. The hour devoted to vinyl leads into the Tuesday night feature, Live and Loud. It’s an opportunity for local talent to get air time and some interview segments, so they can begin to build a following.
Vogelpohl enjoys working with the bands and hopes to see the show concept grow and eventually even host bigger-name talents.
He is also exploring photography and other topics while he studies at BGSU. He loves spending time in the darkroom developing 35 mm film — like vinyl, some say this is a lost art, he said.
His hard work at the station paid off for him in a way he never expected. BGSU offered him a scholarship and he moved from community DJ to student.
“I don’t know for sure what I want to do when I graduate. I would love to have the opportunity to watch this station grow. Life has already taken me on several twists and turns. We will have to see where the next one takes me,” Vogelpohl said.
