Ask a Pro with Simon Rentner

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Join Broadcaster and Curator Simon Rentner for an informal conversation For 25 years, Simon Rentner worked as a podcaster, broadcaster, writer, video producer, influencer, and curator in New York City. He's the founder of Jetti Productions, a boutique podcast and media company/consulting firm that specializes in true crime, narrative, and music-related audio productions. His future career interests are in the emerging Web3 space. For eight years, he served as the host and senior producer for the award-winning syndicated radio show and podcast The Checkout. He was nominated by the Jazz Journalists Association for the Willis Conover/Marian McPartland Award for Career Excellence in Broadcasting. The Checkout, which was named the “best jazz podcast” by critics for five consecutive years in JazzTimes magazine, showcases artists “on the other side of jazz.” This interview-based magazine show celebrated artists deeply committed to traditions but not defined by them—the groundbreaking musicians that boldly pushed sounds to unforeseen places. Artists featured include Flying Lotus, Meshell Ndegeocello, Thundercat, FKJ, Hiatus Kiayote, Hermeto Pascoal, Henry Threadgill, Hugh Masekela, Herbie Hancock, Kamasi Washington and thousands of others. As the Senior Producer for WBGO/88.3 FM, He oversaw productions across the platform, including award-winning ventures Jazz United, hosted by Nate Chinen and Greg Bryant. He also produced and edited scores of the Peabody-nominated NPR Music show Jazz Night in America with Christian McBride. He's produced numerous audio features for PRI, WGBH, WNYC, The World, Studio 360, Jazz at Lincoln Center Radio (hosted by Ed Bradley and Wynton Marsalis), Toast of the Nation, Afropop Worldwide, Marketplace, Soundcheck, and many award-winning videos for NPR Music and WBGO. He has curated concerts and talk series around the world and New York City and consulted for programmers for major festivals worldwide, including Jazz Middelheim in Belgium, Winter JazzFest, and the North Sea Jazz Festival. He's also presented shows at the Beacon Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Town Hall, Merkin Concert Hall, Le Poisson Rouge, 151 Nublu, and Bryant Park.