World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

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WXPN's live performance and interview program featuring music and conversation from a variety of important musicians

NPR

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    • Sep 19, 2026 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 26m AVG DURATION
    • 871 EPISODES

    4.2 from 330 ratings Listeners of World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN that love the show mention: live performances, delicate, music podcast, npr, great music, songs, otherwise, interviews, full, show, favorite, awesome, thanks, like, love, world cafe.


    Ivy Insights

    The World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN podcast is an absolute gem for music lovers. Hosted by talented interviewers, the show offers listeners a unique view into the world of music and musicians. With each new episode, I find myself eagerly looking forward to discovering new artists that I can now follow and explore further. The hosts are exceptional interviewers, delving deep into the creative process of their guests and providing insightful conversations that give listeners a deeper understanding of the music.

    One of the best aspects of this podcast is the diversity of guests that are featured. From well-known musicians like Sting, John Mayer, and Steve Jones to up-and-coming artists like Waxahatchee, there is always something for everyone. The interviews are informative and introspective, offering a different perspective on these artists that you won't find elsewhere. Additionally, the live performances included in each episode are a real treat. They showcase the talent and artistry of the musicians in a unique way that adds another layer to the listening experience.

    However, one minor drawback of this podcast is the frequency with which one of the hosts identifies herself throughout each interview. While it's not a major issue, it can be slightly annoying and disrupts the flow of conversation at times. It would be better if she took a step back and allowed the focus to remain on the artist being interviewed.

    In conclusion, The World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN podcast is an awesome resource for any music lover. It provides a wealth of knowledge about various artists and genres while also offering unique live performances that showcase incredible talent. Despite a minor annoyance with host identification, this podcast remains highly recommended for its engaging interviews and diverse range of guests.



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    Latest episodes from World Cafe Words and Music from WXPN

    beabadoobee looks toward what connects us on 'Pylon'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2026 17:41


    The singer and songwriter joined forces with Chino Moreno, Turnstile's Brendan Yates and more on her grunge-leaning fourth studio album.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Before the Breakthough: Shakira

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2026 13:20


    For Hispanic Heritage Month, World Cafe is diving into the Colombian star's career before she made her U.S. crossover with 2001's Laundry Service.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Carly Rae Jepsen pulls out all the stops on 'Day and Night'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2026 34:37


    The Canadian pop star talks about her ambitious double album, becoming a parent and writing music for the Broadway adaptation of 10 Things I Hate About You.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Kelsey Lu faces a reckoning on 'So Help Me God'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2026 33:59


    The vocalist and cellist also performs a stunning set live from World Cafe's performance studio.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Culture Corner: Revisiting DJ Shadow's 'Endtroducing.....'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 16, 2026 18:31


    World Cafe correspondent John Morrison explains how the California producer's debut album shifted what music could sound like.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Interpol gets experimental on 'This Mirror Weighs a Ton'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 15, 2026 19:35


    Lead guitarist Daniel Kessler joins World Cafe to talk about the band's eighth studio album.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Old Crow Medicine Show reflect on 250 years of U.S. history

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 14, 2026 35:46


    Morgan Jahnig and Ketch Secor join us to talk about the band's latest album, Union Made.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Sylvan Esso are finding ways to laugh among the doom

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2026 23:19


    Lead singer Amelia Meath says the album reflects "a decision to continue living despite the fact that we continue being hurt."See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Bruce Hornsby on his latest album, 'Indigo Park'

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 10, 2026 24:42


    The record features collaborations with longtime friends like Bonnie Raitt and Bob Weir, as well as a new generation of artists like Ezra Koenig and Blake Mills.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Tune in to a mini-concert with Ryan Bingham

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2026 13:54


    The Oscar-winning musician and actor performs songs from his latest record, They Call Us The Lucky Ones.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    His family thought he was off to college. Dublin rapper KhakiKid had other plans.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 2, 2026 37:07


    The rising artist landed a viral hit in 2025 with "Date Night." He's following it up with a new EP, Girl Bites Dog.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Step into the world of 'Riverdance'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 31, 2026 11:01


    As part of our Sense of Place: Dublin series, World Cafe sat down with Riverdance's principal dancer.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    'Life will always flourish': How Madra Salach turned painful history into joy

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 28, 2026 39:38


    The Irish band performs a powerful set of music from their debut EP, It's a Hell of an Age.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Tune in to a mini-concert with Florence Road

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2026 16:19


    The Irish rock band performs music from their latest EP, Spring Forward.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    'It's the music of my soul': In 2001, Dolly Parton brought bluegrass to World Cafe

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2026 25:57


    Hear previously unreleased live performances from the country icon's bluegrass album, Little Sparrow.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Dublin band SPRINTS is finding success in a world that's on fire

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2026 51:11


    World Cafe kicks off its latest Sense of Place series with a live session recorded in Ireland.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    How letting go of control helped Weezer's 20th album shine

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 21, 2026 27:58


    Dubbed "the Gold Album," the rock band's latest record marks a new collaborative approach between the original members.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Brandon Flowers' songwriting has always had 'whispers' of country music

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 20, 2026 27:18


    The Killers' frontman joins World Cafe to talk about exploring a country western sound on his new solo album, THRASHER.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Irish band Cardinals blends fact and fiction on 'Masquerade'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 19, 2026 29:05


    Plus, Cardinals perform live for World Cafe.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Revisiting Aaliyah's 'One in a Million'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2026 13:15


    The late singer's second studio album forecast sonic trends that would define R&B and pop in subsequent decades.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Tune in to a mini-concert with Medium Build

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 13, 2026 15:20


    Nicholas Carpenter has spent the last decade crafting deeply personal songs that balance humor, vulnerability and heart.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    American Football never meant to pioneer 'midwest emo.' Their new LP is far from it.

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2026 38:09


    The band talks about pulling from a deeper emotional well on 'LP4,' plus American Football performs live.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Andrew Sa expands the cowboy myth on 'American Rough'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 11, 2026 37:26


    Chicago's “premier queer country crooner” on his debut album.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Acadiana Music Showcase: A.J. Haynes

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 10, 2026 11:38


    The lead vocalist of the Louisiana band Seratones joins us for the final installment of the Acadiana Music Showcase.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Arlo Parks leaves it all on the dance floor on 'Ambiguous Desire'

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2026 37:32


    The English musician's latest record was shaped by New York City's club and DJ culture.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Tune in to a mini-concert with Devon Gilfillian

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 6, 2026 19:20


    The Philadelphia native's latest album is a kaleidoscopic blend of rock, blues, soul, pop and country called Time Will Tell.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    How fatherhood rewired JJerome87's creative brain

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 4, 2026 21:33


    Joe Newman, the British frontman of the indie band alt-J, talks about making his debut solo album, The Canyon.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Josh Groban on his latest album, 'CINEMATIC'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 31, 2026 36:57


    Groban talks about making an album of some of his favorite movie songs.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    30 years of A Tribe Called Quest's 'Beats, Rhymes and Life'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 28, 2026 14:30


    In 1996, the hip-hop group moved into more serious territory on their fourth studio album.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    For Thundercat, distraction can be a powerful creative tool

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 27, 2026 31:47


    The Los Angeles musician, producer and bassist stops by World Cafe to talk about his fifth studio album, Distracted.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    'Song Exploder' host Hrishikesh Hirway on making his own music again

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2026 49:18


    On his popular podcast and Netflix series, Hirway dissects songs alongside some of music's biggest stars. His latest album, In the Last Hour Of Light, has been a labor of love.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Acadiana Music Showcase: Boma Bango

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 23, 2026 14:09


    This Lafayette, La., band fuse their Louisiana French roots with a Congolese rumba-inspired sound.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Enter Holly Humberstone's 'Cruel World'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 22, 2026 23:28


    The English pop singer stops by the World Cafe studio to talk about the making of her sophomore album.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Mon Rovîa traces his path from Liberia to the U.S. on 'Bloodline'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 17, 2026 36:50


    Growing up in Chattanooga, Tenn., Janjay Lowe tried to forget his early life in Liberia, but survivor's guilt caught up with him.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    How Jesse Welles' folk protests songs struck a chord with millions

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2026 43:06


    The Arkansas musician talks about his latest album, Masks Off.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Personal Records: Tatiana Maslany

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2026 36:00


    The Emmy Award-winning actor sits down with World Cafe's Raina Douris to share some of the songs that have defined her story so far.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Tune in to a mini-concert with Brigitte Calls Me Baby

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 9, 2026 15:57


    The Chicago indie rock band performs songs from its sophomore album, Irreversible.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Boy Golden on his latest album, 'Best of Our Possible Lives'

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 7, 2026 29:25


    The Canadian songwriter's new record was inspired by suffering and its ability to connect us.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    What was the soundtrack of the American Revolution?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 3, 2026 23:33


    World Cafe took a visit to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia to discover the conflict's musical history.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    Honoring Philly's rock history with The Hooters

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2026 20:55


    It's a historic weekend in Philadelphia. We're celebrating with some local veterans who've been playing together for 35 years. The Hooters at World Cafe Live:"All You Zombies""One Of Us""Time After Time""And We Danced"This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Miguel Perez. Our senior producer is Kimberly Junod and our engineer is Chris Williams. Our programming and booking coordinator is Chelsea Johnson and our line producer is Will Loftus.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    World Cafe: DJ Jazzy Jeff

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 30, 2026 29:04


    The DJ and producer recounts his early days in West Philadelphia and musical partnership with Will Smith.  See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

    No one rings in the new year quite like Philadelphia's Mummers

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2026 14:59


    Step inside a Philly clubhouse, where the Woodland String Band is preparing for the next Mummer's Day Parade.See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.NPR Privacy Policy

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