Explore every episode of the podcast Signal Hill

Dear listener, it's really nice to meet you all, at last. I’ll call you if I need anything.

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My brain, I discovered, is like a mouth that demands something to chew. If I don't give it chewables, it starts eating itself.

Andrew Leland is the 2024-6 Koeppel Fellow in Journalism at Wesleyan University, and the author of The Country of the Blind: A Memoir at the End of Sight, a finalist for the 2024 Pulitzer Prize in Memoir. This story was written by Andrew, and edited by Omar Etman, Jackson Roach, and Liza Yeager. Production and sound design by Jackson Roach and Liza Yeager. Fabian Cereijido was the ghost of Jorge Luis Borges, and Katz Laszlo was the meditation guide. Additional editorial support from Lio Wong, Annie Rosenthal, and the Issue Two cohort.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Signal Hill, Issue Two comes out on November 3rd.

(Art by Aidan Koch)

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Signal Hill is a listener-powered publication, and we're running our first-ever membership drive right now. If you can, sign up to support us. 

We'll send you our special Inspirations Newsletter (with curated recommendations from our editors, contributors, and special guests). And, for a limited time, members at every tier will receive a one-of-a-kind, hand-crafted mystery shirt. 

When Issue Two comes out in the fall, you'll be able to say: "Hey! I helped make that happen!"

Thanks for listening.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

The first transatlantic radio signal ever received hit an antenna attached to a kite attached to a wire attached to a tower on top of Signal Hill, St. John’s, Newfoundland, Canada on December 12th, 1901. It said ‘s’ in Morse Code (‘dot dot dot’).

We’re named after all the places in the world called Signal Hill. There are eighteen that we know of.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Every spring since 2020, people from all over LA have come to a windy downtown park to make and fly kites at The Community & Unity People's Kite Festival. 

Jackson Roach is a freelance radio producer, and co-editor-in-chief of Signal Hill. They live in Chicago.

This story was reported, produced, and sound designed by Jackson. It was edited by Omar Etman, with help from Annie Rosenthal, Lio Wong, Liza Yeager, and the Issue One cohort.

Music in this story is from the Signal Hill music library, which (so far) includes original work by Clara E. Brill, J. Mamana, Ethan Philbrick and Jackson Roach.

Special thanks to Sue Bell Yank and Caroline Kanner at Clockshop, and to Stevie Choi.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Neena Pathak conquers her senses at hot yoga. Kind of. 

Neena Pathak is a writer and audio maker based in Los Angeles.

This story was written and produced by Neena, and edited by Lio Wong and Jackson Roach. Sound design and additional production by Jackson Roach. Additional editorial support from Omar Etman, Annie Rosenthal, Liza Yeager, and the Issue One cohort.

Alex Laughlin, Lasha Madan, Salimah Mohamed, Saidu Tejan-Thomas Jr., and Schuyler Swenson played the five yoga teachers. 

Yoga consultation by Utkarsh Sanjanwala. Sanskrit consult by Vijaya Chitre.

Music in this story is from the Signal Hill music library, which (so far) includes original work by Clara E. Brill, J. Mamana, Ethan Philbrick and Jackson Roach. “Desperado” is originally by The Eagles, but the cover version discussed in this story is by The Langley Schools Music Project.

Special thanks to Stella Tan, Joanna Leigh Simon, Jase Miles-Perez, Julia Furlan, Priya Mehendale, Nick Shapiro, and the Green Box artist residency.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Robin D. G. Kelley listens back to the oral histories that became his groundbreaking book Hammer and Hoe. Music in this piece is by Nathan Bowles.

Conor Gillies is the audio editor at Jacobin, where he makes shows such as Long Reads and People's History. 

This story was produced by Conor, and edited by Liza Yeager and Omar Etman. Additional editorial support from Jackson Roach, Annie Rosenthal, Lio Wong, and the Issue One cohort.

Music in this story is by Nathan Bowles, except for the song “Long-Haired Preachers” by Harry McClintock, courtesy of Smithsonian Folkways.

Special thanks to Jacobin Radio, where a longer series based on this story is forthcoming.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Hannah Sassoon went to southern France to work on a sheep farm. Then she learned about the military camp.

Hannah Sassoon is a writer living in New York.

Hannah reported and wrote this story. It was edited by Jackson Roach, Liza Yeager, and Annie Rosenthal, with help from Omar Etman and Lio Wong. Sound design and additional production by Jackson Roach. Additional editorial support from the Issue One cohort. 

Fact checking by Alan Dean.

Music in this story is from the Signal Hill music library, which (so far) includes original work by Clara E. Brill, J. Mamana, Ethan Philbrick and Jackson Roach.

Special thanks to Amelia Schonbek, Bernard Parsy, Ginette Parsy, Léa Parsy, Christiane Burguière, Michèle Vincent, Alex Marizon, and Léon Maillé.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

An amateur documentarian, a neighborhood historian, and the story no one tells about San Francisco’s Sunset District. 

Ian Lewis is a filmmaker and radio producer living in Marfa, Texas.

Ian wrote, directed, and produced this story, which also features the voices of Rob Weiner and Adrienne Humblet. It was edited by Jackson Roach and Lio Wong, with sound design and additional production by Jackson Roach. Additional editorial support from Annie Rosenthal, Liza Yeager, Omar Etman, and the Issue One cohort.

Music in this story is from the Signal Hill music library, which (so far) includes original work by Clara E. Brill, J. Mamana, Ethan Philbrick and Jackson Roach.

Special thanks to Graham Stevenson.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Annie’s mom, an esteemed entomologist, knows a lot about bugs. Her ten-year-old Japanese pen pal might know more. 

Annie Rosenthal is an editor at Signal Hill and the Virginia Spencer Davis fellow at High Country News. 

Annie reported and produced this story, with additional production from Liza Yeager and Jackson Roach, and sound design by Liza Yeager. It was edited by Liza Yeager and Jackson Roach, with help from Lio Wong, Omar Etman, and the Issue One cohort.

Fact checking by Alan Dean.

Music in this story is from Blue Dot Sessions, with additional music from the Signal Hill music library, which (so far) includes original work by Clara E. Brill, J. Mamana, Ethan Philbrick and Jackson Roach.

Special thanks to Carlos Morales, Marfa Public Radio, John Lill, Jo Nagai, Saeko Nagai, Hayato Nagai, Tomoki Nagai, Martha Weiss, Josh Rosenthal, Isabel Rosenthal, and Harrison Smith.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Over four sticky months, Cheryl Rivera went to protests, and meetings, and hung out with her friends. She brought a microphone with her. 

Cheryl Rivera is an editor at Lux Magazine and culture worker organizing in Brooklyn.

Cheryl reported and wrote this story. It was edited by Omar Etman, Liza Yeager and Jackson Roach. It was produced and sound designed by Jackson Roach, with help from Omar Etman. Additional editorial support from Annie Rosenthal, Lio Wong, and the Issue One cohort.

Music in this story is from the Signal Hill music library, which (so far) includes original work by Clara E. Brill, J. Mamana, Ethan Philbrick and Jackson Roach.

Special thanks to all of Cheryl’s comrades.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Zoe’s dad designed a bra that changed the world. Can it change her life?

Zoe Kurland is a writer and audio documentarian based in Marfa, Texas. This story was written and produced by Zoe, and edited by Liza Yeager and Jackson Roach. Sound design and additional production by Liza Yeager. Additional editorial support from Omar Etman, Annie Rosenthal, and the Issue Two cohort.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

We return to the goo goo ga ga psychobabble of our first selves.

Hannah Kingsley-Ma is a writer and audio producer living in Brooklyn.

This story was reported and written by Hannah. It was edited by Liza Yeager and Lio Wong, with help from Jackson Roach. It was produced and sound designed by Liza Yeager, with help from Jackson Roach. Additional editorial support from Annie Rosenthal, Omar Etman, and the Issue One Cohort.

Music in this story is from the Signal Hill music library, which (so far) includes original work by Clara E. Brill, J. Mamana, and Ethan Philbrick. Additional music in this story is from Blue Dot Sessions.

Special thanks to Hannah’s friends and family.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Signal Hill is supported by the sun, the air, food, water, and your tax-deductible donations.

We depend on listeners to make Signal Hill possible. Sign up for a monthly membership or make a donation of any amount to help us continue this project. 

A Very Special and Real Offer was written and directed by Ian Lewis. 

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Signal Hill is edited by Omar Etman, Jackson Roach, Annie Rosenthal, Lio Wong and Liza Yeager. Jackson and Liza are the editors in chief.

The stories in issue one were created by Conor Gillies, Hannah Kingsley-Ma, Ian Lewis, Neena Pathak, Cheryl Rivera, Jackson Roach, Annie Rosenthal, and Hannah Sassoon, with support from the editors, and also from their cohort of fellow contributors.

Fact checking on “Caterpillar Roadshow” and “A Porous Place” by Alan Dean.

As of Issue One, the Signal Hill music library has been stocked by Clara E. Brill, J. Mamana, Ethan Philbrick and Jackson Roach. The music in “Pie Down Here” was created by Nathan Bowles. Additional music in “Caterpillar Roadshow” and “On The Family Group Chat” is from Blue Dot Sessions.

The Issue One cover and story illustrations are by Molly Hastings.

Lindsey MacMillan is our web designer. Additional graphic design by Harrison Smith. Alex Hanesworth designed the Signal Hill Logo.

Ian Lewis wrote and produced our plea for financial support, and Lio Wong created the trailer.

The Signal Hill field recordings in our editors’ note were collected by Alec Lever, Austin Lever, Marykate Cardon, and Nicole Walen.

Signal Hill’s board of directors is Caroline Kanner, Emily Kennedy, and Alex Lewis.

Our administrative advisor is Eliza Dexter Cohen.

Special thanks to Suzanne Benz, Lisa Borst, Travis Bubenik, Elena Saavedra Buckley, Maya Goldberg-Safir, Brandi Howell, Matt Kielty, Alex Sujong Laughlin, Andrew Leland, Rachel Ossip, Amelia Schonbek, and Tamar Simon.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Signal Hill is a new audio magazine. The first issue comes out on February 17th. Find out more at signalhill.fm

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Jackie tries to see the most underappreciated trees in her neighborhood—before they’re all gone. This story was produced in partnership with High Country News. Read the companion print feature here.

Jaclyn Moyer lives in Corvallis, Oregon. She’s the author of On Gold Hill, which won the 2025 Oregon Book Award for Creative Nonfiction. Jackie reported and wrote this story, and it was edited by Annie Rosenthal, Liza Yeager, and Jackson Roach. It was produced and sound designed by Jackson Roach. Additional editorial support from Omar Etman, Lio Wong, and the Issue Two Cohort, as well as the editorial staff at High Country News.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

If at last you could change the world, what would make you too good to do so? Featuring an interview with Silvia Federici.

Rachel James is a poet, artist, and author of An Eros Encyclopedia (Wendy's Subway, 2022). She resides in New York City, Lenapehoking, where she teaches seminars on sound, poetry, and performance scores. Rachel wrote and produced this story, and it was edited by Liza Yeager and Jackson Roach. Sound design by Rachel James, with help from Jackson Roach. 

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

In the middle of Amelia’s family, there’s a silence. She wants to crack it open, so she starts learning to sing. 

Amelia Schonbek writes, edits, and builds community in New York. Amelia reported and produced this story, which features the voices of Andrew Schonbek, Laura Joviala, and Emilia Kallonen. It was edited by Liza Yeager and Annie Rosenthal. Sound design and additional production by Jackson Roach. 

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

How to make a life-changing decision when all you have is the sparse and noisy data of an uncertain world? First, try posting on Lex. 

Lio Wong is a writer and cognitive scientist who lives in San Francisco. This story was written by Lio, and edited by Jackson Roach, Omar Etman, and Liza Yeager. It was produced and sound designed by Lio Wong, Jackson Roach and Liza Yeager. Additional editorial support from Annie Rosenthal and the Issue Two cohort. 

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Omar’s grandfather ran the biggest cotton company in Egypt. It was a workman’s paradise, owned by the people of Egypt. At least, that’s the story his family has always told him. 

Omar Etman is a writer and editor from New York. Omar wrote and produced this story. It was edited by Annie Rosenthal and Lio Wong, with editorial support from Liza Yeager and Jackson Roach. Liza and Jackson mixed the story, too.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

First it was the Shakers. Then, other people started coming to the mountain. All in the hopes of starting their own little utopias. 

Mitra Kaboli is an audio documentarian, sound designer, and artist. This story was produced, reported and sound designed by Mitra. The editors were Jackson Roach, Liza Yeager and Jess Shane. Additional editorial support from the Signal Hill cohort. 

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Signal Hill is edited by Omar Etman, Jackson Roach, Annie Rosenthal, Lio Wong and Liza Yeager. Jackson and Liza are the editors in chief.

The stories in Issue Two were created by Omar Etman, Rachel James, Mitra Kaboli, Zoe Kurland, Andrew Leland, Jaclyn Moyer, Amelia Schonbek, and Lio Wong, with support from the editors, and also from their cohort of fellow contributors.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Where we're coming from and where we're going. 

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

A tour of Madrid, New Mexico, made by the kids who live there.

Produced in partnership with Transom Story Lab’s The Listeners project. 

This story was reported and recorded in July 2025 by the kids of radio camp at KMRD-LP FM 96.9: Charlie, Emily, Myrddin, Zander, Frances, Niko, Salome, Konrad, and Dean. It was produced by Annie Rosenthal and edited by Stella Linder Byrne and Ian Lewis. Additional production support from Jackson Roach.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

What that nerd Charles Darwin did for finches in the Galápagos, Boen is doing for “buddy” in Pittsburgh. 

Boen Wang is a writer, audio producer, and educator in Pittsburgh. 

This story was written and produced by Boen. It was edited by Omar Etman and Lio Wong, with help from Jackson Roach, Liza Yeager, and the entire Issue Three cohort.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

In 1970, Kenneth Koch published a groundbreaking book about writing poetry with kids. Half a century later, Jess Shane tracks down his students to ask what it meant for their lives.

Jess Shane is an audio producer and artist from Toronto. 

This piece was reported and produced by Jess. It was edited by Liza Yeager, Annie Rosenthal, and Jackson Roach. Jess did the mix and sound design, with help from Jackson Roach.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

On November 19th, 1969, two American astronauts landed on the moon. The next day, eighty American Indians landed on Alcatraz Island. 

Lou Cornum is a writer, editor, and professor living in New York City. They are an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation.

This piece was written and reported by Lou. It was produced and sound designed by Jackson Roach, with help from Lou, and edited by Jackson Roach and Annie Rosenthal.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

The lute is an instrument facing giant panda levels of endangerment. Ruby enters the lute-iverse to meet the people trying to save it.

Ruby Tandoh is a writer and lives in London. She’s the author of All Consuming.

Paul Smith is an audio producer and lives in London. 

This story was written and reported by Ruby and produced by Paul. Sound design and additional production by Jackson Roach. It was edited by Annie Rosenthal, Jackson Roach, and Liza Yeager.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

On the first day of this year, Sharon decided to clip a microphone to her shirt and record her life. Every waking minute of it.

Sharon Mashihi is an audio storyteller and sometimes a theater maker. She is the creator of the podcast Appearances.

This story was created by Sharon Mashihi. It was edited by Omar Etman, Liza Yeager, and Jackson Roach. Additional editorial support from Annie Rosenthal, Lio Wong, and the Issue Three cohort. 

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Everything was bright and the day felt ordained. The sky was right there. Every object was real, finally, and true. It was impossible to imagine a commodity.

Mitchell Morgan Johnson is a writer in Chicago.

This story was written by Mitchell and read by Matthew Schlerf. It was produced for sound by Liza Yeager. Special thanks to Leah Dawson. 

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Signal Hill's first-ever installment of Letters to the Editors. 

We want to hear from you! Tell us what you thought of the issue. Send a voice memo to editors@signalhill.fm.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!

Signal Hill, Issue Three comes out on July 7th. 

Cover art by Zak Ziebell.

Signal Hill is an independent, listener-funded, nonprofit publication. Help us continue making it by signing up to be a member—there are perks!