Off The Beat

What We Are

Off the Beat: News and Views from Providence is an award-winning weekly, half-hour local news program on Brown Student Radio, broadcast at 88.1 FM WELH Providence and streaming at bsrlive.com.

The show focuses on metropolitan Providence, with particular emphasis on stories that slip under the radar of mainstream media, taking a unique and enlightening perspective to local news. Off the Beat addresses an array of topics, concerning everything from health care to hot dog vendors, anything of concern to community members. Every show begins with the News Roundup, a brief summary of the week’s news, and continues with several narrative pieces of between 2 and 5 minutes in length. The weekly segment Sounds of the City works as an audio exploration of Providence, challenging listeners to guess the location of our mic. The answer is revealed at the end of every show.

Who We Are

We are a team of Brown University students and community members looking to combine responsible reporting with high quality production. We aim to dissect complex issues and illuminate oversized personalities in the smallest state.

Executive Producer:
John McGarry

We value your feedback. Please contact offthebeat@bsrlive.com with questions or comments!

You Can Help!!

Visit bsrlive.com and find out how to support non-commercial radio in Providence.

Chris Gang explains what local organization Save the Bay is doing to combat a global issue; Masumi Hayashi-Smith profiles youngster politician David Segal, now a freshman representative in the House; John McGarry digs for the story behind urban agriculture in Providence; and Chris Duffy gives us an inside look at same-sex marriage in Rhode Island.

Charlie Hunter serves up the latest on Taqueria Pacifica, now parked for good at a revised AS220; Kate Jovin reports on the classical music program MusicWorks; Ike Sriskandarajah seeks out the Providence Freemasons as they try to revitalize a famously secret society; and Boaz Munro wraps up the week’s other headlines. Plus, what’s all that hammering and scraping? It’s this week’s Sounds of the City.  

Kiera Feldman explores the deaf community, Vaughn Edelson learns environmental science in a local elementary school, and John McGarry explains changes to RIte Care.

Masumi Hayashi-Smith asks what you think about Question 1, Boaz Munro visits WRNI, Shawn Wen explores the closure of Nathan Bishop Middle School, and Peter McElroy gives us the skinny on the grilled cheese man. Hosted by Will Bostwick.

On this week’s show, Chris Gang reports on the ongoing debate over a possible West Warwick casino; John McGarry talks to library patrons and city officials about the prospect of Providence Public Library Branch closures; and Shawn Wen answers the question: What is an architectural costume ball? Plus, Sounds of the City brings on the heat. Hosted by Peter McElroy.

Britt Harwood catches up with the pioneers of avante garde literature at Conjunctions, a literary festival; Elana Goldstein treats us to the sounds of the Jewish New Year; Allissa Wickham reports on CASA, a volunteer-based children’s advocacy organization; and Natalie Smolenski tours Providence’s haunted sites. To sew it all together, we give you a positively puzzling Sounds of the City. Host: Will Bostwick.

Masumi Hayashi-Smith observes RI first responders as they perform the largest disaster simulation in the Northeast; John McGarry reports on a lesser known ballot inititiative; Rebecca Jacobson explores sound as art at FirstWorks Providence, Pixilerations; and Charlie Hunter tells us about sacred heart singing. Hosted by Peter McElroy.

On this week’s episode, Anna Aufseeser explores a Viking encampment, Chris Gang ventures inside the Apex Building, Matt Sledge Cleans the Bay, and Shawn Wen goes in search of Hell’s Angels. Hosted by Will Bostwick.