Gianna Volpe Named New Morning Host Of 88.3 WPPB FM

On Saturday, Wally Smith, general manager of 88.3 WPPB-FM Peconic Public Broadcasting in Southampton, announced that Gianna Volpe will become the new morning voice of the station.

Ms. Volpe replaces Bonnie Grice, who announced on March 11 that she would leave the station by month’s end after having served as both producer and host of the “Media Mavens,” “Eclectic Café” and other shows at WPPB since the station’s inception in 2010, and for the decade prior at WLIU and WPBX.

Ms. Volpe comes to the position as a journalist who has written for a number of East End publications. She is also the host of “The Gianna Volpe Report,” heard every Thursday on WRIV 1390 AM in Riverhead.

When do you plan to start live on air at WPPB?

I’m bringing my vinyl collection over there as we speak. I will shadow Brian Cosgrove for a few days while I learn the boards and don’t know when I’ll go live, but it should be soon!

It seems like this came together quite quickly. Is that true?

I agree and it could not have happened at a more perfect time. I had just come to terms that I couldn’t do the Thursday spot this summer [at WRIV] when I got the call and everything just fell into place. I’ve already made my recommendation for who I think should continue Thursday mornings and will even be able to continue “The Gianna Volpe Report” at WRIV on a recorded basis.

I know your work as a print journalist. But until recently I didn’t know you had aspirations as an on-air personality. Where does that comes from?

It’s kind of a dream come true for me. My dad always said I should be a DJ! My first radio appearances were on my college town’s NPR station, KOPN. My roommate, Kyle Warren Cook, did a show called “Mystery Science Radio 3000” late on Saturday nights. I’d stop in after we closed down the “Blue Fugue” bar where I helped manage, tend bar, do security, direct the hookah operation and serve as hookah operations director.

But it wasn’t until after a near-death car accident nine Novembers ago that caused me to get trached and gave my voice this edge where suddenly people were stopping me in the street, on the phone and at the grocery store to tell me how I really needed to be on radio.

You really do have a husky radio voice. I never realized how you got it. Beyond spinning tunes, what kind of programming do you have in mind for WPPB?

I’m particularly excited about starting a few interview series and continuing the “Media Mavens,” which brings together local journalists from both forks. I’ve always wanted to get involved in that dialogue!

Would you say your background is primarily in print journalism or broadcast production?

I am passionate about local journalism and have written, photographed and produced video for most of the top-notch newspapers we’re fortunate to have on our East End. My bachelor’s degree is in photojournalism with a minor in creative writing from the University of Missouri, our country’s very first J-school.

But creative writing is definitely my first love. I wrote an original piece on Broadway’s “RENT” at 14 years old and passionately led the school poetry club, which I co-founded.

So how do you plan to celebrate this new job of yours?

I’m going to be guesting at [Mattituck’s] East On Main this Friday night, so I plan to use it to celebrate the beginning of an exciting era I can only hope will make Bonnie Grice proud. I can’t thank Dr. Wally Smith enough for the opportunity and those who spoke on my behalf—Ed German, Brian Cosgrove and Bridget LeRoy included—as I am unbelievably grateful for a chance to make excellent radio!