Ep. 350: Pride 365 Radio Turns One: Jerry Houston & Natalie Thompson on Queer Radio for Everyone
Pride 365 Radio launched on June 1, 2025, as a lasting legacy of WorldPride in Washington, DC. One year later, the independent LGBTQ+ station, part of the Capital Pride Alliance, is reaching listeners from Oklahoma and Kansas to Ukraine, Brazil and Argentina.
Zach sits down with on-air host Jerry Houston and special correspondent Natalie Thompson to talk about building a radio station for the community, by the community.
In this episode:
- Why Pride 365 Radio was created as a lasting legacy of WorldPride DC
- Reaching closeted and isolated LGBTQ+ listeners in small towns and countries where being gay is illegal
- Jerry’s nearly 30-year radio career, from country radio in Baltimore to Top 40 in DC, and helping launch iHeartRadio’s Pride Radio
- Natalie’s path from affordable housing and homeless services to roving Pride correspondent
- How the station balances hard LGBTQ+ news with staying uplifting
- Dance music’s roots in queer culture, and why Madonna’s new album has been the summer’s biggest hit
- Dream interview wish lists, including Madonna, Charli XCX, Troye Sivan, Sam Smith and Miley Cyrus
- An average listening time of 45 minutes per hour, something Jerry says he never saw in three decades of traditional radio
- What mainstream radio could learn from digital-first stations
- Year two plans: more interviews, podcasts, events, and partnerships like the National Trans Visibility March in Puerto Rico and the Wavies
- How independent queer artists can pitch their music
- A message for anyone listening from the closet
Listen to Pride 365 Radio:
- Website: pride365.org
- Instagram: @pride365radio
- Available on iHeartRadio, Apple Music, TuneIn, Live365, the Audacy app and Amazon Alexa (search “Pride 365”)
Have feedback or a guest suggestion? Email zach@everythingandanythingpodcast.com
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