We Occupied the Airwaves for our 10th Annual community radio marathon broadcasting extravaganza on Saturday 8th of March for International Women’s Day 2025! Massive thanks to everyone who joined us, contributed or supported us in some way. Thank you for making it such a brilliant day.
10 years!!!
We’re really proud of this milestone in Dreadnought’s story. What began with 6 hours and a sketch of a plan back in 2016, and this has evolved into something that has seen a diverse range of content, stories and voices on community radio over the past 10 years. So many extraordinary moments.
So what happened this year?
We broadcast from 8am until Midnight on Phonic FM 106.8 with a hybrid mix of live and newly made pre-recorded programmes, and some gems from previous years. Oh and there was a tea party to mark the occasion! From 2 to 5pm, we were in the Workshop space at Exeter Phoenix for lively conversation and so many women came to join us on the day. Excitingly we were also be joined by Molly Rooke of Darn Good Studio for a drop-in Mending Surgery.
This year saw some newly commissioned programmes that include Exeter’s one and only Independent Bookstore Bookbag, and recordings from their first publication: Fore Street Stories, with music inspired by literature. There was also a programme about Women and the Sea, exploring women who are sea swimmers, activists, artists and change makers in their East Devon Communities sharing their thoughts on living and being by the sea. Both programmes are brilliantly produced by Kerrie Seymour. A final new programme explores the origins of Dreadnought South West with our Co-Directors and is produced wonderfully by Paula Crutchlow.
These new programmes have been made thanks to funding from Exeter City Council, Heritage Fund, and Women and the Sea is funded by the Creative East Devon Fund through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and partnered with Sideshore, Exmouth. We have also received support from DCC locality budgets and a generous donation from the women of Exeter’s former W.E.P. Many thanks to all.
OTA 2025 Schedule – 5th March 2025
8 – 9am: Breakfast Show Hosted by Kerrie Seymour (live)
9 -10am: Josie Sutcliffe, Natalie McGrath, Kerrie Seymour with Chloe Whipple Do Your Dance Club (live)
10 – 11am: Women and the Sea from East Devon (pre-recorded programme Produced by Kerrie Seymour)
11 – Midday: Rebellious Sounds Hosted by Josie Sutcliffe (live)
Midday – 1pm: Celebration of 10 years of Occupying the Airwaves with Josie, Natalie, Kerrie – Hosted by Sharifa Milford Al Hashemy (live)
1 – 2pm: Pink Plates & Shipwrecks LGBTQ+ programme Hosted by Sharifa Hashem, with Natalie McGrath & Susie Williamson (live)
2 – 3pm: Bookbag Exeter’s Indie Bookstore (pre-recorded programme Produced by Kerrie Seymour)
3 – 4pm: Neomi Alam and Sandhya Dave ‘Go Back to Where You Came From’ (pre-recorded gem)
4 – 5pm: Women on Wheels Hosted by Kerrie Seymour (pre-recorded gem)
5 – 6pm: Poppy Newton Clare and Cathy Towers live in the studio
6 – 7pm: Dreadnought South West ‘Beginnings’ (pre-recorded programme Produced by Paula Crutchlow)
7 – 8pm: The Sea In Me Produced by Anne-Marie Culhane (pre-recorded gem)
8 – 10pm: Kerrie Seymour Live – Girls on Film
10 – Midnight: Helen Connole Classic Tunes (pre-recorded gem)