Radiolab On [The Divided Dial]: Fishing In The Night
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Jul 4, 2025 
Katie Thornton, a freelance journalist and creator of The Divided Dial, sheds light on the fascinating yet complex world of shortwave radio. She discusses its historical significance as a global communication tool and its transformation into a propaganda weapon. The conversation delves into the allure of late-night radio listening and the rise of amateur operators. Thornton also explores how shortwave became a platform for extremists and the parallels between its evolution and the internet's impact on politics today.
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David Gorin's Shortwave Discovery
- David Gorin has been listening to shortwave radio since the 1970s when his uncle gave him a radio.
- To him, shortwave opened up the world, allowing distant voices to reach his small box, creating a magical experience of global sound.
AM Radio's Nighttime Magic
- AM radio waves travel by ground wave and sky wave, with sky waves bouncing off the ionosphere at night to cover vast distances.
- This phenomenon led to 'fishing in the night,' a fad where listeners mapped distant stations heard after dark.
Shortwave's Surprising Range
- Amateur radio hams were pushed to shortwave bands thought worthless but discovered these waves travel extremely far especially at night.
- They demonstrated shortwave's power to reach worldwide, changing radio broadcasting possibilities.