<\/p>\n
Clive Pinder\u2019s \u201cCeaseFire\u201d radio show has ended at KVEC and the archive has been removed from the website.<\/p>\n
A San Luis Obispo County radio show host is departing the station he\u2019s broadcast from for three years after he says his critics waged a \u201ccoordinated campaign\u201d to remove him from air, including threatening to report him to the Federal Communications Commission.<\/p>\n
Clive Pinder has hosted the show \u201cCeaseFire\u201d on KVEC<\/a> since April 2023, according to a news release.<\/p>\n The goal of the show was originally to host two guests with opposite viewpoints to speak on a topic and debate their differences, Pinder told The Tribune on Wednesday.<\/p>\n But during the time the show was on air, the station was apparently targeted by a \u201csmall group of local activists\u201d who threatened to report the station to the FCC over Pinder\u2019s on-air statements, and put social media pressure on KVEC, he said.<\/p>\n Pinder declined to identify the group of people to The Tribune.<\/p>\n This is not the first time Pinder has seen attempts from critics to silence his voice.<\/p>\n He previously wrote a series of satirical columns for the Paso Robles Daily News about former Paso Robles city manager Ty Lewis\u2019 complaint against the city and Councilmember Chris Bausch and the ensuing drama \u2014 but the columns were abruptly removed by the news site with no public notice in January 2025.<\/p>\n At the time, Pinder told The Tribune that he was told the station was threatened with legal action by a lawyer representing CalCoastNews reporter Karen Velie, who was among those named by Lewis as leading an effort to remove him from his job.<\/p>\n The columns had also previously been criticized by others named by Lewis.<\/p>\n Pinder defended his columns at the time, saying he adhered to strict ethical standards. He has since started writing a column for The Tribune.<\/p>\n Now, following his departure from KVEC, Pinder will relaunch his own independent, nonprofit media venture \u201cIn Search of Sanity,\u201d founded with partner Mark Wilson.<\/p>\n Pinder characterized the move as \u201cthe best gift\u201d that could be given to his critics.<\/p>\n \u201cNo more FCC rulebook to wave at us, no more letters to the station manager,\u201d he said in the release. \u201cJust broader, more spontaneous, more honest conversations. And a much quieter inbox for everyone.<\/p>\n \u201cIf you build a show on honest conversation, a few people will turn up to be offended on everyone else\u2019s behalf. That\u2019s the gig. We made them famous in their own kitchens for three years. They should be sending us thank-you cards.\u201d<\/p>\n The relaunched \u201cIn Search of Sanity\u201d brand will be funded by money earned through a commercial coexistence agreement with C-SPAN, which Pinder was quietly working to execute after the network launched a show under the name \u201cCeaseFire\u201d in 2025, he said.<\/p>\n Through \u201cIn Search of Sanity,\u201d Pinder will host podcasts and written work on a Substack, and plans to offer support to other up-and-coming podcasters and media personalities in the area, he told The Tribune.<\/p>\n \u201cMedia can do more than generate clicks and amplify conflict,\u201d Pinder said in the release. \u201cIt can strengthen understanding, sharpen judgment and create space for people to engage with ideas in more constructive ways.\u201d<\/p>\n New podcast launches with Steve Hilton interview<\/p>\n The first \u201cIn Search of Sanity\u201d podcast episode \u2014 a conversation between Pinder, Republican gubernatorial candidate Steve Hilton and Tribune editor Joe Tarica \u2014 will be available on Friday.<\/p>\n In the release, Pinder thanked KVEC\u2019s station manager Kathy Signorelli for supporting \u201cCeaseFire.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cKathy stood behind the show through several attempts to get the show canceled!\u201d he wrote. \u201cThat kind of backing is rare in this industry and I won\u2019t forget it.\u201d<\/p>\n The Tribune made multiple attempts to contact Signorelli for more information about the circumstances of Pinder\u2019s departure but did not immediately receive a response.<\/p>\n As of Thursday, mention of the show and most of its archives appeared to have been removed from KVEC\u2019s website, save for the last episode on May 1.<\/a><\/p>\n The show\u2019s previous URL now provides only a large 404 error.<\/a><\/p>\n This story was originally published May 29, 2026 at 5:00 AM.<\/p>\n Related Stories from San Luis Obispo Tribune<\/p>\n![\"Clive](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/DSC_0073Cropped2.jpg\" "\\"DSC_0073Cropped2.jpg\\"")
Clive Pinder wrote satirical columns for the Paso Robles Daily News from October through December, 2024. His columns were pulled from the news site Jan. 14 following what he said was a \u201cthreat of litigation\u201d from Cal Coast News reporter Karen Velie. Courtesy of Clive Pinder Radio host pivots to podcasting<\/p>\n