Well, the days seem to alternate between that crisp fall feeling and a whiplash back to summer. It has been disorienting as well as a sign of how busy and unprecedented the past month or two have been. I missed September’s newsletter because I did not appreciate how much would be on my plate, and I hope that you did not find yourself in that same position, but my guess is that you may also be in that boat!
Despite a solid response to the “3 Songs that Changed My Life” feature, I did not have any volunteers offering to share their own, so there will be no “3 Songs” feature this month – please reach out with the stories behind your “3 Songs” and I’ll include you in an upcoming newsletter.
This month, we’re putting the Volunteer Spotlight on Dave Stankowicz, long-time educator, even longer-time music lover, and DJ. Dave hosts Next to Silence, airing Mondays at 7:00 pm with repeats Tuesdays at noon and Fridays at 7:00 pm. If you haven’t given it a listen, it is truly delightful. Dave puts great care and attention into his mixes and it shows. Here’s Dave, explaining his process.
Volunteer Spotlight – Dave Stankowicz
What’s your role at Peaks Island Radio?
For the past three years, I’ve hosted Next to Silence, a themed music show broadcast on Mondays and Fridays at 7:00 PM, and Tuesdays at noon. Each show drifts between genres and atmospheres, exploring how sound can create space for reflection, imagination, and joy. Most episodes live on in the Peaks Island Radio archive, waiting for anyone who needs a little quiet company.
What goes into crafting and recording your show?
My gosh, it’s a wonderfully convoluted process—full of surprises, discoveries, and lucky accidents. Because every Next to Silence episode is theme-based, I keep a running list of possible ideas: artists, labels, genres, moods, or topics like dogs, darkness, rain, fire, or tributes to musicians who’ve recently passed away. These serve as scaffolding for my weekly explorations.
For example, the theme for the week of September 29th was Contemporary Composers from Iceland. I began by researching prominent figures, listening to their most acclaimed works, and curating songs that might resonate with my listeners. Once the playlist takes shape, I write a script and record 50 to 90 minutes of music in my study, weaving in short spoken reflections between segments.
Each show has a visual element, too. I choose one of my photographs to serve as its “album cover,” note the running times for each track, and upload the finished program to Mixcloud and the Peaks Island Radio archive. Finally, I share the broadcast on Nextdoor, Facebook, and by email with friends.
Over time, I’ve learned that I can’t keep the whole process in my head—I rely on checklists to stay organized. I’m usually collecting music for several future shows at once, finalizing the playlist for the upcoming week by Wednesday and recording it on Friday.
In a way, Next to Silence continues a lifelong habit. It’s the digital evolution of the mixtapes and CDs I once made for friends—personal soundtracks shared over airwaves instead of through the mail, filled with music that moves me and, I hope, brings a moment of quiet joy to others.
Why are you involved with Peaks Island Radio?
Music has been both a fascination and a soundtrack to my life since the late 1950s. At home, I grew up surrounded by show tunes and polkas, while the radio brought me doo-wop, folk, and early rock & roll. A hip ninth-grade art teacher turned me on to jazz and African music, opening a door that never closed.
Though I took organ and piano lessons as a kid, I never quite developed the skill to play the music I heard in my head. So I listened—constantly—especially to sounds that were new to me. I was lucky to come of age during the golden era of rock, and even luckier to serve in Ghana as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1970 to 1972, where I discovered the luminous rhythms of Ghanaian guitar-band highlife.
My love of sharing music led me to host Palm Wine Radio, an African music show on WMPG beginning in 2011. That experience deepened my appreciation for community radio as a space of connection, curiosity, and joy.
Peaks Island Radio offered me a way to continue that journey—to give back to my island community in a way that draws on my lifelong passions for music, storytelling, and discovery. Hosting Next to Silence lets me share what I love most: the thrill of finding a song that makes you stop, listen, and feel more alive.
This Month’s Features
Next to Silence – Dave Stankowicz Mon and Fri at 7:00 pm, Tues at noon
- October 6 Autumn (Jazz, Pop, Rock, Folk, Country)
- October 13 Native American Musicians (Native American Music)
- October 20 Felafest (African)
- October 27 Favorite Songs Sung by Women Part 2 (Jazz, Pop, Rock, Country, World)
Full archives available at peaksislandradio.com/nexttosilence/
Swingin’ the Blues and Music without Borders feature new episodes in October.
Swingin’ the Blues airs Tuesdays at 7:00 pm, Wednesdays at noon, and Saturdays at 7:00 pm
Music without Borders airs Sundays at 7:00 pm and Mondays at noon.
Peaks Island Radio Podcast – Sundays 8am and 8pm, or in your podcast app.
Chris interviews islanders and related guests about what they create, care about, and know. There’s always more to learn about our island neighbors and Chris helps share those stories. Episodes air Sundays at 8 am and 8 pm and can be found in your podcast app of choice (see the top menu bar for links to common podcast options).
This month, I’m reviving the interview shows both because they are the shows that I personally get the most comments on (compared to my own music shows) and because it’s something I care deeply about doing – encounters with neighbors, community conversations, and a place to see each other as people, which we need now perhaps more than ever.
The first new episode will be with Louise Bichan, who has come to Peaks several times as part of Ellen and Ed’s Tiny House Concert Series. Louise and several other local musicians you’ve seen and heard are performing at One Longfellow Square on Halloween night – a night of stories, Celtic music, and old traditions. If you want all the details, take a listen to our conversation, coming out on October 19th.
Do you have ideas for a music show, a talk show, or other programming?
Join our team! Email me at chris@peaksislandradio.com.
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