Todd Steed
Improvisations Host/Producer (Tuesday)A Knoxville native, Todd began working at WUOT in 2006 as jazz coordinator. Todd serves as program director and host of Studio 865/Flipside, Improvisations and Changing Course. He produces the popular music and travel podcast Improvisations to Go. Todd got his start in radio at WUTK, where he served as both news and music director while earning his undergraduate degree in journalism at UT. He later earned a master’s degree in education, also at UT.
Prior to working at WUOT, Todd worked overseas in China, Lithuania and Indonesia. Upon returning to the states, he served as study abroad coordinator at UT's Center for International Education.
Todd was inducted into the East Tennessee Writer's Hall of Fame in 2023. He was also recently honored with the UT School of Journalism and Media 2024 Alumni of the Year Award.
You can reach Todd via email.
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For much of his life, John D. Rockefeller Jr. was known primarily as the heir to one of America’s greatest fortunes. But as author Steve Kemp explains in his new book, An Exaltation of Parks: John D. Rockefeller Jr.’s Crusade to Save America’s Wonderlands, Rockefeller became something else: a determined champion of America’s national parks. His money helped preserve landscapes from Acadia to Grand Teton, Yellowstone, Yosemite — and, perhaps most significantly for this region, the Great Smoky Mountains.But Kemp’s story isn’t simply about a wealthy man writing checks. Rockefeller built alliances, assembled talented teams and worked behind the scenes to turn conservation ideas into reality. At times, that meant pushing against the interests — and even the wishes — of people in his own social circle. In this conversation with Todd Steed, Steve Kemp talks about how Rockefeller found his calling as a conservationist, the strategies that made him effective, and how a partnership between philanthropy, government and dedicated park advocates helped create some of the landscapes we now consider national treasures. -
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In the final episode of Studio 865, Todd chats with one of his musical heroes, Suzzy Roche. They chat about what's new, favorite songs, and what's next for the both of them. -
Knoxville had one of the first and freshest punk rock/new wave scenes in the country. Leading the charge was an amazing band that defied all labels and broke any rules in their musical way. This is the story of Balboa, a short lived but hugely influential band to those that witnessed them. Todd Steed interviews surviving members Doug Klein, Hector Qirko, Richard Battaglia and Steve Housewright.
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Todd's longtime band mates, Dave Nichols and Dug Meech join him to select their favorite songs from the recorded history of Smokin' Dave and the premo dopes. Hilarity and sonic exploration ensue. -
Dino (aka Milkman) Nassios and Todd Steed talk to Fred about his amazing career, from his years promoting and managing the Beach Boys to his recording studio and beyond. This is the full and unedited interview. -
The unedited interview with promoter, photographer and jazz lover Thrassos Irinis. This was part of the Improvisations to Go podcast. -
Margherita Fava discusses her newest release, Murrina, an expressive and impressive follow up to her debut, Tatatu. Her CD release party is this Sunday, Oct. 5th at Barley's at 8:00.
