Stranger Things Connects Lubbock Fans Through A Radio Surprise

We’ve waited a long time for this moment, and now that the final season is out in the wild, it’s finally safe to talk about one small but incredibly cool connection between Lubbock and the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.

This isn’t a spoiler—at least not in any meaningful way—but it is something we’ve been quietly sitting on for a while. In fact, we knew about it before the final season even premiered. Local comedian and friend of the show, JJ Howell, sent us a photo of some Stranger Things merchandise he spotted at South Plains Mall. At first glance, it just looked like fun retro-style merch. But then something jumped out that made us do a double take.

A Radio Station at the Center of the Story

If you’ve watched the final season, you know that a surprising amount of the action revolves around a radio station. Not only does it serve as a hangout, but it plays a meaningful role in how events unfold. In classic Stranger Things fashion, the radio becomes a lifeline—connecting people, sharing information, and yes, helping save the day.

There are also some genuinely charming moments involving one character’s on-air persona, complete with the radio nickname “Rockin’ Robin.” It’s one of those details that feels authentic, especially to anyone who grew up around radio or spent time in a station.

The fictional station is called WSQK – The Squawk, which, honestly, is a fantastic radio name. If I were programming it, I might’ve gone with something like, “The place to rock, WSQK, The Squawk.” Missed opportunity—but still solid.

The 94.5 Connection

Here’s where Lubbock comes in.

WSQK’s frequency? 94.5 FM.

That number probably doesn’t mean much to most viewers, but around here it means everything. After more than four and a half decades of saying “94 point 5 FMX,” listeners immediately started reaching out. Emails, messages, comments—you name it. People caught it instantly.

Is it a small detail? Absolutely.
Is it intentional? Who knows.
Is it cool anyway? You bet it is.

For those of us who grew up with radio as a centerpiece of daily life, seeing a story where kids’ lives revolve around a station feels personal. Radio was where music lived, where community happened, and where imagination ran wild. The fact that their station just happened to be 94.5 makes it feel like a little wink in our direction.

Sometimes it’s the tiniest connections that hit the hardest—and this one hit us right in the frequency.

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