KPSU staffer to show off Portland

KPSU Development Director Rachelle Schmid is in for a hectic time as spring term winds down. Not only is the Portland State student radio station in the middle of its annual pledge drive, but also Schmid is signed on as guest host of The Traveling Radio Show as it records around Portland next week.

The show—which Schmid describes as a quirkier, radio version of the PBS program Globe Trekkers—approached KPSU in January about the possibility of finding a student DJ or staffer who would be interested in filling the role of guest host.

Schmid, despite her busy schedule, lept at the chance to work on such a prominent program.

“It’s supposed to be humorous and casual,” she said. “[We’ll visit] the typical Portland things, like Zoobombers and Voodoo Doughnut, but at the same time we don’t want people giving us their usual spiel. It wouldn’t be the same feel or vibe.”

TTRS is the brainchild of Jeff Jacoby, a professor at San Francisco State University who has won an Emmy Award. The chance to work with such a prominent radio professional was too much for Schmid to pass up, and she said she was not surprised more of her KPSU colleagues applied. 

“I’m thrilled,” she said. “It’s such a huge opportunity, as well as it will just be fun surprising people. It’s like everything I love in one fun thing, and I get college credit for it.”

Schmid has been working with Jacoby to develop an itinerary for a full seven days of intensive recording around town, she said. They have been e-mailing back-and-forth, paring the list of potential spots down, however, it is unknown exactly which ones they will visit. Schmid is acting as the TTRS’s inside guide to Portland.

“He basically gave me a pretty good idea of the type of things he wants,” Schmid said. “It’s a road map of where we’ll be visiting each day.”

Schmid will also dispelled certain rumors about Stumptown.

“Somebody told him dumpster diving was popular here,” she said, laughing. “I’m kind of the local guide source.”

She won’t be alone when recording starts. KPSU staffers Jesse Nicola and Doug Freeman will also be on hand to record some segments and help out.

Even though the show is recording in May, the program won’t air until September. When it does, it will be featured on KBOO, NPR and KPSU, as well as on www.travelingradioshow.com.

Schmid said she is looking forward to the unique challenge of recording for a solid week, as well as putting the Rose City and Portland State on the map.

“It’s on a national scale. It’s a way to show off Portland,” she said, “and bring PSU up a notch.”