Jason A Myers

I love the diverse weather we get here in TN. Enjoy this picture of our first snow in TN this year. Also, I’ve embedded a video of Marvin and Laney enjoying last years snow.

I have been a sponsor of WPLN for roughly 4 years and possibly even longer. Recently I had learned that Dr. Goodwin, the host of “The Infinite Mind”, had accepted fees from the pharmaceutical industry while hosting the program. My brother was put on ADHD medications when he was a child, and while others in my family may feel differently, I felt that they were not the answer for him. The presence of my Step Father is what helped him turn the corner. After learning this I could not longer support NPR at the present moment.

When I contact WPLN I received a wonderful response from Rob Gordon at WPLN and I wanted to share his messages about this issue. While I still cancelled my membership, his handling of this issue will cause me to return to WPLN membership after I feel better about the Goodwin issue.

Enjoy this exchange.

PS. Mr. Gordon Thank you!

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Mr. Myers,

Thanks for writing and letting us know of your decision to cancel your WPLN Membership, which we will do so immediately.

As soon as NPR learned from the New York Times of the conflict of interest involving Dr. Fred Goodwin, the host of “The Infinite Mind” the program was dropped from distribution and removed from the Sirius satellite radio schedule. The producers of the program, Lichtenstein Creative Media, were not aware that Dr. Goodwin had accepted fees from the pharmaceutical industry while hosting the program. Dr. Goodwin was legally obligated to disclose these connections, and he did not. The producer had already ceased production of the program in October due to a lack of funding. The program is off the air in Nashville and everywhere else.

We are committed to earning back your trust and confidence. I believe this was an isolated case and I can assure you that everyone in public radio learned an important lesson from this episode.

Rob Gordon
Nashville Public Radio

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Mr. Gordon,

I really appreciate your response, and in fact I was aware of his departure from the airwaves shortly after I learned of his activities and prior to deciding to cancel my membership. I know that one day I will return as a member, but for now a large part of what I respected about public radio has been shattered. I liked the slightly liberal leaning but objective discussions that took place on NPR. They where the perfect counter balance to my guilty pleasure of listening to Michael Savage. Unfortunately, my brother was a victim of an over prescribing doctor who put him on drugs when he really needed a father figure. That makes this particular trespass all to familiar to my life.

Again I really appreciate you writing me back, and I know WPLN and NPR has many more wonderful people than this one individual.

Thanks,
Jason Myers

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We understand completely. I’m glad you let us know of your decision and highlighted the problem for us, which allowed us to have a healthy internal conversation about this. I appreciate what you had to say in both your messages.

I hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

Rob Gordon
Nashville Public Radio