Rephonic
Artwork for On the Air
Ham Radio
Amateur Radio
ARRL
ARRL Field Day
Slow Scan Television
Emergency Management
Morse Code
ARES Taskbook
Incident Command System
Emergency Communications
10 Meters
W1AW
Automatic Packet Reporting System
Emergency Preparedness
FT8
Arrl Emergency Communication Courses
Go-To Station
Vhf-Uhf Antennas
Radio Equipment
America 250 Worked All States

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

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes78Founded6 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
How ToEducation

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for On the Air

Latest Episodes

ARRL Education Specialist Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, visits the podcast to discuss his May/June 2026 On the Air article “Equipment for Making Contacts Through an Amateur Radio Satellite” as well as the upcoming May 26 “On the Air Live” session he’ll be ho... more

YouTube

Brian D. Karcher, KG5GJT, joins the podcast in support of his March/April 2026 On the Air article, “Journey to a Hamfest.” If you haven’t been to a hamfest or ham radio convention yet, listen in to find out what to expect — from operating, to shoppin... more

YouTube

ARRL Education Specialist — and host of On the Air Live — Wayne Greene, KB4DSF, joins the podcast to explain the merits of the antenna presented in his March/April 2026 On the Air article “Building and Installing a 2-Meter Ground-Plane Antenna,” and ... more

YouTube

The On the Air podcast goes back to basics in the February 2026 episode, when QST Technical Editor Conrad Trautmann, N2YCH, joins the podcast to discuss what repeaters are, how they work, and what you need in order to access your local repeater.

YouTube

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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People also subscribe to these shows.

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Recent Guests

Brian D. Karcher
Author of the article Journey to a Hamfest, Kg5Gjt
On the Air Magazine/ARRL
Episode: Journey to a Hamfest
Bart Jahnke
ARRL Radio Sport and Regulatory Information Manager
ARRL
Episode: The America250 Worked All States Operating Event
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
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
Paul Bork
ARRL Contest Program Manager
ARRL
Episode: A VHF/UHF Antenna Menagerie
Sierra Harrop
ARRL Public Relations and Outreach Manager
ARRL
Episode: Have a Ham Radio Open House in April
Nathaniel Frissell
Associate Professor of Physics and Engineering at the University of Scranton
University of Scranton
Episode: Have a Ham Radio Open House in April

Host

Becky Schoenfeld
Host of On the Air podcast / Editor involvement with ARRL publications; long-running figure in amateur radio education and community engagement.

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.

A few critiques note pacing and format could be tightened for Spotify delivery.
Positive feedback for beginner-friendly guidance and community narratives.
Some listeners wish for slower pacing and deeper dives beyond magazine-style content.
Appreciation for guest diversity, including youth voices and ARRL leaders.
Listeners appreciate practical, mentor-focused content and real-world tips for contesting and gear usage.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#93
United States/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#84
Japan/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#187
Finland/Education/How To
Apple Podcasts
#207
Poland/Education/How To

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

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.
Journey to a Hamfest
Q: What are some differences between smaller Hamfests and big shows like Hamcation or Huntsville, in terms of vendors and social dynamics?
Smaller events tend to have fewer big manufacturers but offer closer access to local clubs, Elmer-type guidance, and a stronger sense of community among attendees, whereas larger shows feature more vendors and larger forums, with more opportunities to meet people from outside your region.
Journey to a Hamfest
Q: What advice would you have for a ham, especially a newer ham, who's never been to a Hamfest and is maybe looking to have that experience?
Get out there and attend a local hamfest if you can, plan a bit by focusing on two or three forums or areas you really want to explore, and go with the mindset that you'll meet people who can help you along the way even if you don't see everything.
Build a 2-Meter Ground Plane with OTA and OTA Live
Q: So how did you first get into contesting?
She describes the spark beginning in 2018 with Youth DX Adventure at PJ2Y/PJ2T, enjoying the fast-paced DX style and pileups, which motivated deeper involvement in contests.
Build a 2-Meter Ground Plane with OTA and OTA Live
Q: Cool. So I read that you got licensed initially when you were 13. Is that right? Or nine? Is it nine?
She confirms she earned her technician license at nine and advanced to extra by 13, highlighting an unusually rapid early start.

Audience Metrics

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

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
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?

This show targets beginner-to-intermediate amateur radio enthusiasts with a practical, hands-on focus. Episodes cover contesting, field operations, emergency communications, and gear programming, often featuring mentors and youth voices to illustrate learning-by-doing and community support. A standout aspect is the blend of technical how-to content with real-world stories from operators at major stations, youth contesters, and industry partners, plus sponsor mentions that anchor practical tips and gear guidance for listeners. The format appears accessible for new licensees while offering depth for experienced hams, making it a strong fit for listeners who want actionable, community-driven insights and steps to grow their skills.

Where can I find podcast stats for On the Air?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for On the Air. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to On the Air and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does On the Air get?

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What are the audience demographics for On the Air?

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How many subscribers and views does On the Air have?

To see how many followers or subscribers On the Air has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

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. Amateur Radio Newsline™

How many episodes of On the Air are there?

On the Air launched 6 years ago and published 78 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact On the Air?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for On the Air?

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What guests have appeared on On the Air?

Recent guests on On the Air include:

1. Brian D. Karcher
2. Bart Jahnke
3. Karin Thompson
4. Jessica Crotty
5. Violetta Latham
6. Colin Wheatley
7. Paul Bork
8. Sierra Harrop

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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