We recently talked with psychologist Amelia Rachel Hokule’a Borofsky about Radio La Colifata, the world’s first and largest radio station broadcast from a psychiatric facility. She made several visits to El Borda National Psychiatric Hospital in Buenos Aires to see, and hear Radio La Colifata for herself.
It got us thinking about other unique places with radio broadcast frequencies. Here's our top five.
- Psychiatric Facility, Radio La Colifata
Broadcasting from the Cuckoo's Nest in Buenos Aires, los internos (patients) provide programming for a los externos (outsider) audience. Translated to "crazy lady," Radio La Colifata began twenty years ago, and similar stations have launched in what are often still called “insane asylums” across South America and Europe. - Antarctica, 'A' Net Station
This extremely cold and southern radio station's online stream allows intercontinental enjoyment of music from independent artists without all the seals and penguins. - Incarceration Station, KSLP 97.1 FM
This morale boosting, 100-watt radio station has been broadcasting from inside the Louisiana State Penitentiary since 1986. As the only FCC licensed station in the country to both be in a prison to have inmate disc jockeys, its approximately 6,000 listeners are mostly inmates and staff (and the occasional visitor). - Pirate Radio, Israel's Voice of Peace
For 20 years, the Voice of Peace ship broadcast from offshore Israel to promote peace throughout the Eastern Mediterranean. Though founder Abie Nathan intentionally sunk the ship when he felt the station's mission had been accomplished, it was revived in 2010 and now streams online 24/7. - Classic Country from West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind, WVSB 104.1 FM
Part of a vocational training program, this station is run by students in the Radio Broadcast Technology Class and is 100% country, all the time!
Listen to our Skype interview with Amelia Rachel Hokule’a Borofsky and read her Atlantic article about her travels to Radio La Colifata.
