By day they’re instructors at Cobblestone Arts Educational Center in Farmington, teaching music and computer technology to individuals with disabilities. They work hard at their jobs and love their students.
But on Saturdays at 1 p.m. Victor graduates and local residents Jake Faunce and Nate Merrill step into the ring to spar with some of the sharpest minds in the country. That’s when their talk radio show — the Black Tower Show — goes live over the airwaves from Brockport.
Marked by an absence of pretense, saccharine, fluff or agenda, the show’s tone and interview style is casual but direct. And the guests are heavyweights — investigative reporters, journalists, economists, and politicians.
“What makes this show so good is that when they host politicians and other newsmakers, they ask some tough questions,” said Jason Steinwachs, who regularly tunes in from Lancaster, California. “A couple of weeks ago they had on Gary Johnson the Libertarian candidate for President and Jake was asking him some difficult policy stance questions about the Arizona immigration law. You don't normally see that on any level of media. What you normally see is two entrenched colleagues being nice to each other. Jake and Nate aren't that. They are on the outside looking in and that makes for a much better interview, especially with politicians. Both these guys know their stuff and I enjoy listening to them.”
Recently the tables were turned when Messenger Post interviewed the interviewers. Never at a loss for words, Faunce and Merrill were more than happy to answer a few questions about one of their favorite topics.
How did the Black Tower Show get started?
JF — I heard so many people on talk radio not going far enough. They weren't digging for the truth or (else they were) spinning it to a partisan agenda. We have known each other for a long time, and always talked politics with each other. So I asked Nate if he wanted to do a show where we went after some real issues, and he was all for it.
NM — (We) have always loved to question authority. We thought that if we started a radio show we could challenge our government and spur social change.
How would you describe the Black Tower Show?
JF — I would describe it as two guys advocating for the idealized America we grew up knowing. Whether if that was real or not, the spirit was there. That America did the right thing. We stood for the right things. There is so much apathy in the world today, and that's not the America I grew up in.
NM — The show exposes the rarely seen underbelly of our government apparatus.
By day they’re instructors at Cobblestone Arts Educational Center in Farmington, teaching music and computer technology to individuals with disabilities. They work hard at their jobs and love their students.
But on Saturdays at 1 p.m. Victor graduates and local residents Jake Faunce and Nate Merrill step into the ring to spar with some of the sharpest minds in the country. That’s when their talk radio show — the Black Tower Show — goes live over the airwaves from Brockport.
Marked by an absence of pretense, saccharine, fluff or agenda, the show’s tone and interview style is casual but direct. And the guests are heavyweights — investigative reporters, journalists, economists, and politicians.
“What makes this show so good is that when they host politicians and other newsmakers, they ask some tough questions,” said Jason Steinwachs, who regularly tunes in from Lancaster, California. “A couple of weeks ago they had on Gary Johnson the Libertarian candidate for President and Jake was asking him some difficult policy stance questions about the Arizona immigration law. You don't normally see that on any level of media. What you normally see is two entrenched colleagues being nice to each other. Jake and Nate aren't that. They are on the outside looking in and that makes for a much better interview, especially with politicians. Both these guys know their stuff and I enjoy listening to them.”
Recently the tables were turned when Messenger Post interviewed the interviewers. Never at a loss for words, Faunce and Merrill were more than happy to answer a few questions about one of their favorite topics.
How did the Black Tower Show get started?
JF — I heard so many people on talk radio not going far enough. They weren't digging for the truth or (else they were) spinning it to a partisan agenda. We have known each other for a long time, and always talked politics with each other. So I asked Nate if he wanted to do a show where we went after some real issues, and he was all for it.
NM — (We) have always loved to question authority. We thought that if we started a radio show we could challenge our government and spur social change.
How would you describe the Black Tower Show?
JF — I would describe it as two guys advocating for the idealized America we grew up knowing. Whether if that was real or not, the spirit was there. That America did the right thing. We stood for the right things. There is so much apathy in the world today, and that's not the America I grew up in.
NM — The show exposes the rarely seen underbelly of our government apparatus.
How do you choose your guests?
JF — We choose guests who are doing real work in a field that is crucial to issues that we are wrestling with politically, economically, or philosophically. What I mean by real work is — doing real investigative journalism, or a real sober look at our political landscape. No fluff that you see from talking heads in network or cable news.
NM — We find authors, journalists, and activists that are pursuing a cause — a cause based on real debate about issues of justice, global politics and moral philosophy. These people tend to have interesting stories.
Who have you already interviewed on the show?
JF — We've had on Ron Paul (Republican politician), John Perkins (economist, author), and Jason Leopold (American investigative reporter).
NM — Gary Johnson (Libertarian Presidential Candidate), Greg Palast (author of “Vultures' Picnic: In Pursuit of Petroleum Pigs, Power Pirates and High-Finance Carnivores”), and Michael Ruppert ( American author, former Los Angeles Police Department officer, and investigative journalist).
Who has been your best guest so far?
NM — We interviewed author John Perkins, a man who worked for the dark side as an economic hit man for the U.S government. He gave a candid interview and made me think twice about our government’s intentions in foreign affairs.
JF — He gave us a real insight into the psychology of someone at the top of a major corporation, and the callous decisions they make in those positions.
Who has been your most difficult?
NM — The toughest interview for me was congressman Walter Jones from North Carolina. These politicians are relentless salesmen.
JF — He was constantly selling himself and hard to get him off message and answer a few questions.
You make a good team — why?
NM — We joke that I am the glue. I am the best at keeping the pace of the show at a comfortable speed, similar to a pitcher in baseball. Jake is great at asking very poignant and thoughtful questions.
JF — Nate adds some humor, and has a great awareness of where to take the conversation. We both bring something different to the table.
How do you "get and stay informed" personally?
JF — I'm constantly reading — books, articles online or forums.
NM — Usually I'm online, reading through blogs, news articles and data bases. We have (also) received books from many successful authors and activists.
What's the most rewarding part of doing the show?
NM — I love researching for shows. It takes me into areas I normally wouldn’t go. I've explored various government cover-ups, (wrong-doings) and shenanigans. I enjoy exposing the truth.
JF — I learn something from every guest we have on — whether if it’s from doing research on them for the interview or from the interview itself.
What guests do you have lined up for the future?
JF — We have Chris Hedges lined up for July 14. He won a Pulitzer for his reporting on the Iraq war, and he's deeply involved in the Occupy movement. So that should be interesting.
NM — We are trying to get Noam Chomsky on the show. He would be great to talk to.
Where do you actually produce the show?
JF — From 1590 WASB in Brockport.
From where and when does The Black Tower Show air?
NM —We broadcast on Saturdays at 1 p.m. on 1310 WRSB. If you are on the west side of Rochester you can catch us at the same time on 1590 WASB.
