Blind Spot Radio 2004-2006

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Live Radio Experiments. Blind Spot was an experimental live radio program that aired on WLUW 88.7 FM Chicago between 2004 and 2006, broadcast on Sunday nights from 10–11 PM. Beginning in the spring of 2026, the episodes are being re-released as a podcast in batches of approximately 10 at a time. Founded by Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel, the show was conceived as an extended exploration of the possibilities of live radio – one with a collaborative approach at its core. Spanning two seasons and over ninety broadcasts, Blind Spot was made each week with a varying cast of frequent contributors, such as Jacob Christopher Hammes, Keri Butler, Richard Holland, Eric S. Humphrey, Jenny Walters, Peter Rosenbloom, Brian Taylor, and Sonia Yoon. Drawing inspiration from radio theater of the 1930s and 40s, while embracing aspects of sound collage, improvisation, and performance art, Blind Spot stood apart from the rest of Chicago radio in the mid-2000s.

Episodes

  1. Mar 21

    nautical night

    08/08/04 – Night dedicated to the sea. Field recordings, weathered songs, and distant whale calls drift and collide, forming a sonic choir of ocean life, with sounds real, recorded, fabricated and imaginary. Performed by Richard Holland, Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. Executive producers Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. Nautical Night  originally aired on August 8, 2004 live to air on WLUW 88.7 Chicago. Blind Spot (2004-2006): a weekly live experimental radio program exploring sound collage, performance, music, improvisation, and field recordings as a broadcast form.

    59 min

  2. Mar 21

    I've Never Been to Philadelphia; It'll Be Alright

    08/01/04 – Experimental narrative about meeting someone, not being able to sleep and disease. An experimental narrative about going to a wedding, not being able to sleep at night, meeting a girl, the healthcare system and the history of disease. Breathe in, breathe out. Breathe in, breathe out. A pale horse looking back at us, it is the strong contagion. Featuring the voice talents of Eric S. Humphrey, Peter Rosenbloom, Brian Taylor, and Jenny Walters. Engineered by Philip von zweck. Written, composed and produced by John Wanzel. Executive producers Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. I’ve never been to Philadelphia; it’ll be alright originally aired on August 1, 2004 live to air on WLUW 88.7 Chicago. Blind Spot (2004-2006): a weekly live experimental radio program exploring sound collage, performance, music, improvisation, and field recordings as a broadcast form.

    57 min

  3. Mar 21

    Sisyphus v. Prometheus

    07/25/04 – Two stories, no end. Two voices recount the stories of Sisyphus and Prometheus, again and again, circling the circular stories with shifts in emphasis, detail, and tone. In these first person accounts, Sisyphus delivers an impassioned account of his endless labor, pushing the boulder uphill, feeling the strain and repetition in his body, while Prometheus speaks with a measured detachment, almost bored by the familiarity of his perpetual punishment. Cello and tuba provide a slow, resonant accompaniment. Featuring the voices of Eric S. Humphrey and Thom Baily, improvised cello by Peter Rosenbloom and tuba by John Wanzel. Conceived and produced by Philip von Zweck. Executive producers Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. Sisyphus v Prometheus originally aired on July 25, 2004 live to air on WLUW 88.7 Chicago. Blind Spot (2004-2006): a weekly live experimental radio program exploring sound collage, performance, music, improvisation, and field recordings as a broadcast form.

    59 min

  4. Mar 21

    Hour of the Robots

    07/18/04 – Robot reality show. A game show set in a futuristic version of 1982, in which the contestants are robots and their very lives are on the line. A satire of reality television and neo-futurist comedy, the program imagines a world in which the robot population has grown so large that the only way to reduce their numbers is to make them fight for survival as public entertainment. Human listeners deciding who lives and who is decommissioned! Among the contestants: a Wild West cowboy who was once a missile defense robot; a meticulous automaton who dreams of long walks on the beach between filing and collating; Ulton—part comedian, part killer—and many more. Conceived and written by Thom Baily. Performed with improvisation by Peter Rosenbloom, Chris Hammes, Philip von Zweck, Joe Sterns, Thom Baily, and Eric Humphrey. Engineered by John Wanzel. Sound design and produced by Thom Baily. Executive produced by Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. Hour of the Robots originally aired on July 18, 2004 live to air on WLUW 88.7 Chicago. Blind Spot (2004-2006): a weekly live experimental radio program exploring sound collage, performance, music, improvisation, and field recordings as a broadcast form.

    59 min

  5. Mar 21

    the big time happy fun show

    07/11/04 – A radio variety show. From the mind of Dan Gleason, a variety show, featuring a cast of hundreds. Sort of. We do not have record of all of the people who work on this producitons. The program was mixed by Michael Wolf. Written and produced by Dan Gleason. Executive producers Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. The Big Time Happy Fun Show originally aired on July 11, 2004 live to air on WLUW 88.7 Chicago. Blind Spot (2004-2006): a weekly live experimental radio program exploring sound collage, performance, music, improvisation, and field recordings as a broadcast form.

    59 min

  6. Mar 21

    GODBLESSAMERICA

    07/04/04 – A holiday broadcast for July Fourth. Two average Americans talking politics on the fourth of July. Featuring the opinions of Justin Flemming and Eric S. Humphery. Mixed by John Wanzel and Philp von Zweck. Produced by Eric Humphrey, Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. Executive producers Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. GODBLESSAMERICA originally aired on July 4, 2004 live to air on WLUW 88.7 Chicago. Blind Spot (2004-2006): a weekly live experimental radio program exploring sound collage, performance, music, improvisation, and field recordings as a broadcast form.

    59 min

  7. Mar 21

    RADIO BINGO!

    06/13/04 – 5 games in an hour, prizes and all! In the weeks leading up to the broadcast, bingo cards were distributed throughout Chicago. During the broadcast we call live games over the air to the broadcast area. Waiting for callers to call into the station to say BINGO! and claim prizes. Featuring Jenny Walters, Eric S. Humphrey, Peter Rosenbloom, Brian Taylor, and Jesse Wyss. Engineered by John Wanzel. Produced by Philip von Zweck. Executive producers Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. Radio Bingo originally aired on June 13, 2004 live to air on WLUW 88.7 Chicago. Blind Spot (2004-2006): a weekly live experimental radio program exploring sound collage, performance, music, improvisation, and field recordings as a broadcast form.

    58 min

  8. Mar 21

    D_DAY60

    06/06/04 – Experimental Recreation of D-Day On the 60th anniversary of D-Day, Blind Spot presents a condensed reenactment of June 6, 1944. Within a dense fog, a mournful cello begins to play as gunfire erupts between two armies: one advancing in amphibious vehicles, the other entrenched along the continent. D_DAY60 is part personal story of family memory and World War II, part immersion in the theatrical moments of invasion: You move. You fire. He fires. You move. You fire. He fires. Then you both wait. You look down. Your hands are trembling. We both sing, trying to escape the sounds of war. The liberation of has Europe began. Featuring the voices of Brian Taylor and John Wanzel. Accompanied by Peter Rosenbloom on cello and Jacob Christopher Hammes on computer. Engineered by Philip von Zweck. Written and composed by John Wanzel. Executive producers Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel. D_DAY60 originally aired on June 6, 2004 live to air on WLUW 88.7 Chicago. Blind Spot (2004-2006): a weekly live experimental radio program exploring sound collage, performance, music, improvisation, and field recordings as a broadcast form.

    59 min
  • 8 Episodes

About

Live Radio Experiments. Blind Spot was an experimental live radio program that aired on WLUW 88.7 FM Chicago between 2004 and 2006, broadcast on Sunday nights from 10–11 PM. Beginning in the spring of 2026, the episodes are being re-released as a podcast in batches of approximately 10 at a time. Founded by Philip von Zweck and John Wanzel, the show was conceived as an extended exploration of the possibilities of live radio – one with a collaborative approach at its core. Spanning two seasons and over ninety broadcasts, Blind Spot was made each week with a varying cast of frequent contributors, such as Jacob Christopher Hammes, Keri Butler, Richard Holland, Eric S. Humphrey, Jenny Walters, Peter Rosenbloom, Brian Taylor, and Sonia Yoon. Drawing inspiration from radio theater of the 1930s and 40s, while embracing aspects of sound collage, improvisation, and performance art, Blind Spot stood apart from the rest of Chicago radio in the mid-2000s.

Information

  • Creator
    Blind Spot Archive
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    8
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Blind Spot. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. You are f
  • Show Website
    Blind Spot Radio 2004-2006