David Freedman
David Freedman was born in New Orleans in 1943. He attended public school in New Orleans and Sunday School at Temple Sinai. After high school, David moved to California, where he did five years of graduate work in French literature at Stanford University and married his first wife. David co-founded KUSP, a community radio station in Santa Cruz, California, then worked for an early computer company, first in Los Angeles and then in New York. After his father died in 1980, David moved back to New Orleans to help his mother. He went back to school, earning a master's in French Literature from Louisiana State University. Since 1992, David has served as the general manager of WWOZ-FM, a non-commercial community radio station in New Orleans. He married Anne Graham Smith Freedman, associate director of Jewish Family Services. David served on the Board at Temple Sinai and led Torah at Gates of Prayer and Shir Chadash. He also created the Sabbath of the Soul Services for Temple Sinai.
David talks about his upbringing in New Orleans and his complicated relationship with Judaism. After high school, David moved to California, where he studied at Stanford University, practiced meditation, co-founded a community radio station, and worked for a computer company. He discusses reconnecting with Judaism and discovering a passion for text study later in life. David reflects on his spiritual journey and being Jewish in New Orleans. He is very serious about his Judaism and has put together his own Talmud. David studies with mystics and scholars. He talks about Hurricane Katrina and remembers evacuating New Orleans with his wife before the storm brought eleven feet of water into their home and ruined ten thousand dollars worth of books. David talks about the culture of New Orleans and tries to get in touch with the staff at WWOZ, the radio station where David worked. The story of WWOZ, his management model, and its importance to the community are also recounted. After Katrina, David was streaming New Orleans music from a New Jersey radio station until he could get back up with WWOZ. He remembers finding support and community with other radio stations and foundations. David discusses the devastation of New Orleans and moving back to the city. Finally, he highlights Hurricane Katrina's toll on the music industry and emphasizes his work to rebuild the city through his community radio station.
