Your answers to the outpouring of objections you are receiving after cancelling The Exchange, citing more NH reports and podcasts, are missing the point.

Let me make it clear. This hour each morning when anyone could call in and learn from each other is like the family’s one meal together. You think it’s expendable. I don’t. One-issue discussions in depth are rare and precious.

Cancelling it says “Please just leave a voicemail, text or message on the fridge.”

My unknown fellow listeners’ diverse perspectives and experience make us less polarized, more aware and supportive of each other. Listening live or replayed, I felt less alone, hearing this collaboration of my community’s real voices, in real time.

We’re better citizens; discussing gardening, toxins, compost, food pantries, farmers markets and protecting our pristine lands strengthens our environment and local food security.

We’ve earned first in the nation partly because The Exchange makes us a force of intelligent voting. Neither press conferences nor speeches illuminate as much as our listeners pressing a candidate. I understand ballot measures and hear candidate nuances as they answer -or fail to. I never want to go through an election season without The Exchange.

We’ve housing-only-for-the-wealthy, struggling landlords pitted against desperate renters, the burgeoning newly homeless families, hungry children, sentencing, DA and bail reforms, redistricting, saving our sweet main streets from Amazon… we need these hours back right now. Resume it with the Oct. 1 Friday-News-Roundup. NH reporters deserve a separate dedicated hour(s) elsewhere, in a one-click online and on-air spot.

NH, like the family with no dinner hour, fragments, losing track of each other’s lives. Things get dropped. This public radio signature show, consistent time, smart host, guest and listeners, was our best voice.

This is why, appalled, we are telling you: this was not yours to take away, it is ours. Please give it back.

With love for NHPR,

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