Rephonic
Artwork for On the Air
Ham Radio
Amateur Radio
ARRL
ARRL Field Day
Slow Scan Television
Emergency Management
Morse Code
ARES Taskbook
FT8
Parks On the Air
Incident Command System
Emergency Communications
10 Meters
W1AW
Automatic Packet Reporting System
Emergency Preparedness
Arrl Emergency Communication Courses
Go-To Station
Digital Modes
Vhf-Uhf Antennas

The On the Air podcast is a monthly companion to On the Air magazine, ARRL’s magazine for beginner-to-intermediate ham radio operators.

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes82Founded7 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToEducation

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Artwork for On the Air

Latest Episodes

Some of the products seen in QST Product Review, including transceivers, receivers, and amplifiers, are tested in the ARRL Lab to see how they stack up against the manufacturer’s claims. Those test results are included in the published review to help... more

ARRL Eastern Massachusetts Section Emergency Coordinator Rob Macedo, KD1CY, joins the podcast to talk about Atlantic hurricane season and ham radio’s role in it, as a follow-up to the July/August 2026 issue’s article “Ham Radio and the Hurricane Seas... more

YouTube

Evan McPartland, KC2NRB, visits the podcast to talk about how he got hooked on Parks on the Air operating. Familiarly known as POTA, this popular program involves setting up temporary stations in parks that have a specific alphanumeric POTA designato... more

YouTube

ARRL Technical Editor Conrad Trautmann, N2YCH, joins the podcast to talk about what digital modes are, why it’s worth it for hams of all classes to use them, and how to get started.

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Rob Macedo
Section Emergency Coordinator, Eastern Massachusetts ARRL; Director of Operations, VOIP Hurricane Net
ARRL; VOIP Hurricane Net
Episode: Hams and Hurricane Season
Evan McPartland
POTA hunter and activator discussed in the episode
Episode: A Passion for POTA
Conrad Trautmann
ARRL technical editor
ARRL
Episode: Introduction to Digital Modes
Brian D. Karcher
Author of the article Journey to a Hamfest, Kg5Gjt
On the Air Magazine/ARRL
Episode: Journey to a Hamfest
Karin Thompson
A ham with 35 years of experience, currently works for RT Systems specializing in amateur radio programming.
RT Systems
Episode: Programming Your Handheld
Jessica Crotty
CEO of C. Crane, known for designing and supporting quality radios and communication products
C. Crane
Episode: Preparedness Takes Practice
Josh Johnston
ARRL Director of Emergency Management
ARRL
Episode: All About the EOC
Violetta Latham
Young contester who has operated at major contest stations
Episode: Get Inspired for Contest Season
Colin Wheatley
Ham radio operator and contributor to On the Air Magazine
Episode: Getting in on the POTA Fun

Host

Becky Schoenfeld
Host of On the Air Podcast and editor of On the Air Magazine

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 125 ratings
  • EDC?

    You lost me in the first few minutes when you didn’t mention firearms. The concept of EDC originated in the firearm community.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    VVATC
    United Statesa year ago
  • The Host makes this hard to listen to…

    The content is okay and of course anyone who loves Ham Radio wants to listen. However the Uh Um Um and drawn out lengthy questions to make them seem more important makes this show overbearing. Hate to tell the truth but it needs a new host.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    Hammy 1.0
    United States2 years ago
  • companion - Yes!

    happy to have a companion to the publication

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    RadioWire
    United States3 years ago
  • Great Pod

    Please add Spotify to your RSS!!!

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    DBA08021802
    United States4 years ago
  • Excellent podcasts

    I completed technician license June 2020.

    Completed general license December 2020

    Completed extra license April 2021

    Glad that ARRL has so many learning tools.

    73

    KO4ESA

    WRJR757

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    triquetra 88
    United States5 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Some critiques mention pacing and episode length affecting flow.
Listeners appreciate the practical, beginner-friendly approach and community focus.
Many praise the mentorship angle and usefulness for new licensees.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#129
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#120
Canada/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#229
Australia/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#27
Belgium/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#101
Poland/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#108
Japan/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Hams and Hurricane Season
Q: What advice would you give to hams who want to get involved or trained for hurricane season?
Take Skywarn training (open to non-hams), participate in local training sessions, learn reporting criteria, monitor weather sources and social media, and network with local amateur groups to build skills and recruit new volunteers.
Hams and Hurricane Season
Q: What exactly is Atlantic Hurricane Season and how is it defined?
The season spans June 1 to November 30, with formal outlooks beginning mid-May, and the broader basin includes the Atlantic Ocean, Caribbean Sea, and Gulf of Mexico; activity is influenced by factors like El Niño.
A Passion for POTA
Q: Do you have any POTA goals of where, like a certain park you'd like to go to or a certain award you'd like to hit?
Yes, I aim to activate a park in every state and to work every national park as a long-term goal, using activations as a motivation to visit parks and combine hobbies with travel.
A Passion for POTA
Q: Can you talk a bit about what you were thinking as you answered that first POTA CQ?
I was surprised and excited, realizing how approachable POTA felt after being away from ham radio for years, and I dove in with curiosity, hoping to learn quickly from the contacts and from the community.
Get On the Ham Satellites!
Q: So you come from a ham family, right?
Yes, I do, and there are nine licensed family members at varying levels, which helped foster early involvement and collaboration.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
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Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About On the Air

What is On the Air about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The show targets beginner-to-intermediate ham radio operators with practical how-to content, industry insights, and real-world experiences from experienced operators and educators. Episodes typically explore entry paths into contesting, digital modes, event planning, and emergency communications, often featuring mentors, organizers, and product/education partners. A standout pattern is the emphasis on community, mentorship, and hands-on practice, with plenty of actionable tips for getting licensed, setting up gear, and participating in organized events. Notable is the clear focus on youth involvement and intergenerational learning, as well as leveraging ARRL resources and events to frame learning outcomes. Potential listeners can expect app... more

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Which podcasts are similar to On the Air?

These podcasts share a similar audience with On the Air:

1. Ham Radio Workbench Podcast
2. ARRL Audio News
3. The DX Mentor
4. QSO Today Podcast - Interviews with the leaders in amateur radio
5. Ham Radio 2.0

How many episodes of On the Air are there?

On the Air launched 7 years ago and published 82 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on On the Air?

Recent guests on On the Air include:

1. Rob Macedo
2. Evan McPartland
3. Conrad Trautmann
4. Brian D. Karcher
5. Karin Thompson
6. Jessica Crotty
7. Josh Johnston
8. Violetta Latham

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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