Howard Margolin, a 1986 graduate of Stony Brook University, has hosted the radio show Destinies on WUSB 90.1/107.3 FM for 42 years, he said in an April 9 announcement. Margolin, who works as an optometrist, has been the sole host of the weekly program since 1990 and has not missed a show or aired a repeat episode in over three decades.
The long-running nature of Destinies highlights its significance to both listeners and contributors interested in science fiction. The show provides a consistent platform for discussions with writers, artists, editors, actors, producers and musicians within the genre.
Margolin first became interested in audio as a high school student when he helped run a pirate radio station from his friend’s bedroom. After joining Stony Brook University as an undergraduate biology major, he contributed to Destinies soon after its launch by students Gary Halada and Mike Botwin in April 1983. “I’d done a lot of acting in high school, but as a bio major, pre-med, I didn’t have time to get involved with the theater department,” Margolin said. “But Coulter’s invitation gave me a chance to do it when I could.” He learned audio editing techniques from fellow students using reel-to-reel tape before moving to digital production methods over time.
Despite leaving for optometry school after graduating from Stony Brook in 1986—and briefly stepping back—Margolin returned full-time to host Destinies again starting November 16, 1990. Since then he has produced every episode himself: “I’ve done every episode since that day,” Margolin said.
Destinies now features regular segments such as Audiobook Sampler and Soundtrack Spotlight along with contributions from poets like Christina M. Rau and others connected to the local science fiction community. Former contributor Phil Merkel began archiving episodes online after getting his start on Destinies.
As it approaches its forty-third anniversary this month, Margolin believes only one other similar program—Hour of the Wolf on New York’s WBAI-FM—has lasted longer worldwide: “Jim Freund is the only person in the world who has been doing this longer than me,” he said.
Reflecting on his unexpected longevity behind the microphone despite changes over four decades—including broadcasting some shows live from home—Margolin concluded: “I had no idea this was even possible… I never thought I would still be doing it this long but now I can’t imagine ever stopping.”
