About this episode
Wayne Green , legendary publisher of 73 Magazine and pioneer of amateur radio culture, discusses the evolution of ham radio and its crucial role in emergency communications and technological innovation. Green, who founded his influential magazine after selling his Porsche to raise capital, explains how amateur radio serves as both hobby and vital public service during natural disasters and emergencies. The conversation covers technical aspects of radio operation, FCC regulations, and the international cooperation required to maintain orderly use of radio frequencies worldwide. Green discusses the educational value of amateur radio for young people entering technology careers and how ham operators have contributed to scientific discoveries and technological breakthroughs. The discussion explores the amateur radio community's role in developing technologies later adopted by commercial and military users, including satellite communications and digital networking protocols. Art Bell and Green examine how radio amateurs maintain global communications networks that operate independently of government and commercial infrastructure. Green's decades of experience in electronics publishing provide insight into how grassroots technical communities drive innovation and maintain essential skills that benefit society. This episode demonstrates how amateur radio culture embodies the spirit of technical experimentation and public service that characterizes the best aspects of American ingenuity.