Episode 4: Erik Mathisen – The Founding of KZFR Artwork

Mic Check: An Oral History Of KZFR

To celebrate 35 years of independent community radio, Mic Check: An Oral History of KZFR takes listeners behind the scenes of KZFR 90.1 FM’s earliest days. Through candid interviews with the volunteer programmers who helped build the station, each episode shares the stories, challenges, and memorable moments from the first 10 years of KZFR’s history.

These conversations highlight the spirit of experimentation, dedication, and community that continues to shape KZFR today. You'll hear from newsmakers, talk show hosts, and music DJs who helped forge the path of this listener-supported, volunteer-powered station.

KZFR 90.1FM has been serving the Sacramento Valley, the foothills, and beyond since our first broadcast on July 6, 1990. As a non-profit community radio station, KZFR has always been a hub for free expression, cultural connection, and independent media.

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Mic Check: An Oral History Of KZFR

Episode 4: Erik Mathisen – The Founding of KZFR

July 23, 2025 • KZFR 90.1FM

In this special episode of Mic Check, we sit down with Erik Mathisen, the founder of KZFR 90.1 FM, to hear the story of how a dream became a station. Interviewed by Kevin Cook and Julian Mendoza, Erik shares his lifelong love of radio, the inspiration he drew from community stations like KPFA, and the grassroots effort that led to the creation of KZFR.

From filing for the construction permit to testing the transmitter and signing on the air for the very first time, Erik reflects on the challenges, the community support, and the magic of building something that still thrives more than 30 years later. His memories, insights, and hopes for the future reveal the heart of what makes KZFR truly community radio.

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