Off The Hook AMA

A panel from Off The Hook, the hacker radio show that has aired on WBAI-FM in New York since 1988, held an open question session at HOPE after one scheduled panelist became ill. The hosts explained that they rarely know the topics until they are on air. They prepare by sharing news articles and listener tips over an email list during the week, and they keep their discussions loose.

The conversation covered the show's history and the people behind it. Panelists recalled studio moves across Manhattan and Brooklyn, and the shift to remote broadcasting after the pandemic, which they built largely themselves. They described memorable guests, including a visit with a former hacker in Pennsylvania, and recalled a 2000 sit-in at the station. During that protest, hosts put a phone on the air while police ordered people to leave, and listeners rallied outside. They also mentioned an April Fools' hoax from 2009 and audio fiction they had produced.

The session closed on preservation. Episodes going back to 1988 are archived on the 2600 website, and the panel argued that recording and keeping community media is worth the effort. Audience members asked whether younger hackers engage with older history. The panel acknowledged that the culture has changed and that bridging generations takes ongoing work, and encouraged listeners to get involved with local radio.