Podcasts about public radio

A warm and engaging conversation with Darrell Brogdon, just retired after 43 years as the program director for Kansas Public Radio. In addition to his PD duties, he also produced the iconic series "Retro Cocktail Hour" and "Right Between the Ears". He continues his role at RCH, and reflects on a lifetime of work in radio, and the many stories and relationships along the way. A truly enjoyable and fun conversation!

Right now, there are around 150 Vermonters behind bars in Tutwiler, Mississippi. Question-asker Devon Kurtz is wondering: Why does the state send these men to a private prison more than a thousand miles away — especially since there's a vacant prison in Windsor, Vermont? Click here for the web version of this episode, including photos and a full transcript. And read an in-depth dispatch from Liam's visit to Tutwiler here. RSVP to our upcoming event in Winooski!This episode was reported by Liam Elder-Connors. Editing and production from Sabine Poux, Burgess Brown, Alicia Freese and Josh Crane. Angela Evancie is our Executive Producer. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Zoe McDonald, Catherine Hurley and Tom Marsh.This episode was made possible with support from the Vermont Public Journalism Fund.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi onInstagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org  Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

As Esmir Bajraktarević represents Bosnia in the World Cup, his Wisconsin roots are shining. This is how the Appleton-native became "Milwaukee Messi."

Soccer is "the world's game," but there are reasons why it's been slow to pick up in the U.S., including in places like Milwaukee. Brillantes soccer on Milwaukee's south side works exclusively with girls, for little or no cost.

Milwaukee residents and officials want to see changes to wastewater management and flood response efforts before another historic storm hits.

We're firing up the Mountain Stage time machine once again to look back two decades to the year 2006. Host Kathy Mattea revisits sets from The Derek Trucks Band, Bettye LaVette, Soulive (featuring Reggie Watts), Grace Potter & the Nocturnals, and more, all recorded live on Mountain Stage. https://bit.ly/4xBxqcv

The commission that oversees the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District has authorized an audit of MMSD and Veolia, the company that manages the region's wastewater treatment plants.

Reporting from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel shows some Walgreens rental leases keep businesses from opening in those buildings, even if the property is vacant.

Join us for a special hour with American author and environmental activist Terry Tempest Williams as she invites us to consider the interconnectedness of the natural world, and discusses what we gain from recognizing and engaging with all that's around us — including a heightened appreciation of the good in our world. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Send us Fan MailHappy Pride Month! This is a very special episode recorded live at KALW,  a Bay Area public radio station where Erin is a freelance audio journalist. Jeff Hiller was in San Francisco for an event to promote his memoir Actress of a Certain Age: My Twenty-Year Trail to Overnight Success, and he joins Erin in front of a live audience to dish some behind the scenes stories on his epic Emmy win for Somebody Somewhere, why NPR's Terry Gross punked the cover photo of his book, what happened when he came out to his parents, why improv is revolutionary, and so...much...more!Buy Actress of a Certain Age here!Follow actor Jeff Hiller on IGListen to our past interviews with Jeff HERE and HERE. Support the showThanks for listening and for your support! We couldn't have won Best of the Bay Best Podcast in 2022 , 2023 , and 2024 without you!--Fight fascism. Shop small. Use cash. Fuck ice.--Support Bitch Talk here!Subscribe to our channel on YouTube for behind the scenes footage!Rate and review us wherever you listen to podcasts!Visit our website! www.bitchtalkpodcast.comFollow us on Instagram, Threads, and SubstackListen every Monday at 7 am on BFF.FM

June is Pride Month, but in an era of the "manosphere," defunding of queer affinity spaces, and anti-LGBTQ+ legislation – it can be a tough time for LGBTQ+ youth. This week they took the stage to share their stories of resilience, pride and joy.

Data centers are under construction in a number of Wisconsin communities. Others are being considered, including in Rock County. Citizens in the region are concerned and are pushing back for protections before projects move forward.

This episode was recorded on March 22nd, 2026 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. The lineup includes Patrick Watson, John Gorka, Anna Tivel, Shelby Means, and Liza Lo. https://bit.ly/4vsZEnH

Sheboygan Falls resident Elvira Benitez-Suarez was released from ICE detention last week. While immigration courts have ruled that the mother of four is free to pursue a green card, the federal government has twice detained her.

This year, a former Navy pilot in Milwaukee has turned his grandmother's recipe for amaretto into a finalist for a Good Food Award.

A survey of low-cost childcare provider Head Start shows that families are keeping their children home as ICE enforcement ramps up. Kids who come to childcare are acting out and showing signs of stress.

A pair of tour guides from Greece tell us how the island of Crete offers a natural experience unlike any other. Then travel writer Mark Adams describes his 3,000-mile voyage along the coasts of Alaska to follow what the Harriman Expedition saw in 1899. And a Dutch biologist explains how urban evolution is happening faster than we used to think all over the world. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

El Salvador and its President Nayib Bukele have become key players in President Trump's mass deportation plans.

UW-Milwaukee pauses plan to merge student centers until 2027. What does this mean for DEI and student support at UWM?

Last week's shooting in San Diego at an Islamic center is being investigated as a hate crime. Meanwhile, in Milwaukee, local leaders gathered and spoke out.

This episode was recorded on April 19th, 2026 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. The lineup includes Duane Betts & Palmetto Motel, John Pizzarelli, Peter Case, Mollie O'Brien & Rich Moore, Jedd Hughes. https://bit.ly/4wLZPMh

Milwaukee Public Schools leaders voted this week on a 2026 budget that includes cutting assistant principal positions and adding teachers.

Sarah Levin, executive director of JIMENA, is a guest lecturer Wednesday, May 27 at the Jewish Museum of Milwaukee.

New York Times reporter John Branch tells us how one family in southern Utah keeps a cowboy tradition alive at rodeos across the West. Then an award-winning travel journalist recommends itineraries for scenic road trips and sites to explore across California. And an environmental history scholar pays tribute to the American bald eagle, whose recovery from the brink of extinction is an environmental success story that can inspire everyone. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Milwaukee's annual Heal the Hood Block Party & Resource Fair returns May 30. Organizers behind this year's event are stressing the importance of groups collaborating to best serve the community.

Coming up with ways to make our homes more resilient in the face of severe storms can be daunting. We meet a Wauwatosa resident determined to protect his home.

There's a saying that twins are “in the water” in the town of Sheldon. Our journey to get to the bottom of this curious bit of local lore takes us from a dairy farm in Franklin County to a university in Amsterdam and back.Thanks to the amateur investigators who aided us along the way, and to Ellen Stanley, our winning question-asker. She's wondering:“I live next to a community — Sheldon, Vermont — that has so many twins. Are twins really 'in the water'? What might cause this over generations?” Click here for the web version of this episode, including photos and a full transcript. As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi onInstagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org  Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

The exhibit looks at modern Jewish identity in the diaspora. WUWM's speaks with the artist, Jac Lahav.

Almost six years after the 2020 presidential election, which Joe Biden won, the Trump administration is still litigating the votes. That fight has now come to the swing state of Wisconsin. So why is the FBI investigating local election officials, and what could this mean for voters?

Calls for an audit of the region's wastewater treatment operations continue to grow. Two whistleblowers came forward this spring, alleging wrongdoing by Veolia. That's the company that runs the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District's two facilities. Now, Milwaukee County Supervisors are calling for action.

The term “Black-on-Black crime” has existed for decades, perpetuating the idea that Black people are the biggest threats to each other. A listener wanted our Beats Me series to tackle the topic.

Spirit Switchboard Episode #160 May 15th, 2026 Summoning the Mothers: Magic, Memory & Sacred Lineage Guest: Perdita Finn Perdita Finn joins Spirit Switchboard to discuss her latest book, Mothers of Magic: Summoning the Wisdom of Our Ancestors. Together, we'll explore ancestral connection, the sacred feminine, earth-based wisdom, and the quiet magic that lives in memory, lineage, and everyday life. Join us for a powerful conversation about remembering the wisdom that mothers us, guides us, and calls us home. Guest Bio: Perdita Finn is an author, spiritual teacher, and co-founder, with her husband Clark Strand, of The Way of the Rose, a non-denominational international fellowship rooted in the Divine Feminine and earth-based wisdom. She is the author of Take Back the Magic: Conversations with the Unseen World and Mothers of Magic: Summoning the Wisdom of Our Ancestors. Her work explores ancestral healing, collaboration with the dead, sacred feminine wisdom, and the unseen support available to us through lineage, spirit, and the living world. Guest Links: Website: http://www.takebackthemagic.com Substack: https://substack.com/@perditafinn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/perdita.finn Host Links: https://linktr.ee/kerrilynn.shellhorn Message from Kerrilynn: I want to hear from you! I want to hear about your ghost stories, paranormal adventures and occurrences. I would also love your show suggestions to cover in the future. Email me at kerrilynn.shellhorn@gmail.com. If you enjoy the content on the channel please live, subscribe and share. My deepest gratitude to you all! A formal disclaimer: The opinions and information presented or expressed by guests on Spirit Switchboard are not necessarily those of the Host or the United Public Radio Network/UFO Paranormal Radio Network and its producers. As always Spirit Switchboard strives to hold space for open, respectful dialogue with show guests and listeners. United Public Radio & UFO Paranormal Radio www.uprntalkradio.com

The Stritch Family Literacy reading program closed along with Cardinal Stritch University in 2023. Now it has reopened at UW-Milwaukee.

An Athenian theater director discusses drama's role as a building block of civil society since ancient times, and recommends some Greek destinations that are especially fascinating for the theatrically inclined. Then a pair of tour guides offer their picks for lesser-known Greek islands that promise a break from the bustle and expense of tourist centers such as Mykonos and Santorini. And an outdoor enthusiast lets us in on the wisdom of finding a good home base to unlace your boots on a multi-day European hiking trip. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Warmer spring weather is prompting ticks to show up earlier than in previous years. Here's how to stay safe as you head outside this tick season.

Some people don't give up easily, including Village of Shorewood resident Paul Florsheim. He thinks everyone has the right to enjoy Wisconsin's Lake Michigan shoreline. Here's where his case stands.

A 14-year employee at the Jones Island wastewater treatment facility shared concerns about the treatment of equipment and people there. It's the second whistleblower to speak out publicly about Veolia, the company that manages Milwaukee-area wastewater treatment.

A Milwaukee-based non-profit is hosting a health and wellness festival on May 23 to celebrate Black women and support Black-owned businesses.

Over the past few months, animal activists have repeatedly broken into a Wisconsin dog breeding farm and testing facility. The story has gone viral for not just the video footage from the break-ins, but also because of conversations about animal testing in the state.

Two weeks ago, destructive winds tore through the Milwaukee area — taking down trees, including mature ones. Arborists aren't just cleaning up, they're working to make our tree canopy more resilient.

On our Mother's Day edition, we hear what it was like to relocate a Midwestern family to the Croatian village their great-grandparents came from. An American who married a Frenchman tells us what it’s like raising a child in Paris. We go on a sentimental family trip to San Francisco, and hear how mamma is center stage in Sicily. Plus Rick pays tribute to his late mother, who influenced him to become a traveler. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Inside a cavernous redemption warehouse in the Upper Valley, customers come to exchange bottles and cans for coins — and to see bottle-sorter Teera “Sweet T” Paye. We visited thanks to a question from Kevin Donohue of Thetford. He asked,“Who redeems bottles and cans in Vermont? Why are there so few places to do so?”Click here for photos and a full episode transcript. And here to sign up for the BLS newsletter!This episode was reported by Burgess Brown. Editing and additional production from Sabine Poux and Josh Crane. Our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Catherine Hurley and Marcie Gallagher.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi onInstagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org  Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

The founder of a food-tour company tells us in delicious detail about some of his favorite eats to enjoy on the streets of Rome. Then a British tour guide shares how to take in London's historic core as well as its changing landscape on a visit to the boroughs of The City and Westminster. And a tour guide from Lisbon illuminates the contrasts between Portugal's bustling cities and the more traditional way of life that persists in the countryside. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

This episode was recorded on March 8th, 2026 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. The lineup includes Cyril Neville, Deke Dickerson & Los Straitjackets, Sons of Town Hall, Amanda Pascali. https://bit.ly/3OyzFLX

One of Rick's longtime cohorts shares her road-tested advice on what you need — and don't need — to put in your suitcase for a successful overseas trip. Then a brother-and-sister pair of Swedish tour guides share their picks for places to explore beyond Stockholm, from easy day trips to coastal wilderness adventures. Plus, listeners chat with Rick about what made their recent travels feel special. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

People love to highlight Vermont “firsts” — like, how we're the first state to ban billboards and to approve civil unions. Or how we're first in the nation in maple syrup production and number of craft breweries per capita. Gary Gulka, of Cabot, wants to know: Where is Vermont ranked dead last?As we waded through a sea of last-place statistics, one stood out to us more than any other. Satisfy your cravings (hint hint) and tune in to learn more.Thanks to Gary for the great question. Click here for photos and a full episode transcript.This episode was reported by Sabine Poux. Editing and production from the rest of the BLS team: That's Burgess Brown and Josh Crane. Our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Kari Anderson, Bobby Lussier, Mikaela Lefrak, Jon Ehrens, Zoe McDonald, Phil Edfors, Shawn Harrington, Barbara Baraw, Hank Lambert, Michael Moser and everyone on Reddit who responded to our callout for fast food stories.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Sign up for the BLS newsletter Say hi onInstagram and Reddit @bravestatevt Drop us an email: hello@bravelittlestate.org  Make a gift to support people-powered journalism Tell your friends about the show! Brave Little State is a production of Vermont Public and a proud member of the NPR Network.

This episode was recorded on March 1st, 2026 at the Templeton-Blackburn Alumni Memorial Auditorium in Athens, Ohio. The lineup includes The Steel Wheels, Sam Weber, Peter Holsapple, Lily Talmers, Rylee Bapst Band. https://bit.ly/4dXq37H

We hear why the city of Potsdam — home to elegant Prussian palaces and parklands, all in quick reach of central Berlin — is worth a day's visit. Then we get a sense of what life was really like for the emperors of ancient Rome, with the help of classicist Mary Beard. And we travel back to 1978 with Rick and his longtime buddy Gene Openshaw as they retrace their post-college adventures along the infamous "Hippie Trail" from Istanbul to Afghanistan to India, all the way to Kathmandu. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

For more than 25 years, comedian Dave Chappelle has called the small village of Yellow Springs, Ohio, home. Amna Nawaz traveled there to meet with Chappelle and understand why he's invested millions of dollars into this community, and why he believes the local public media station is crucial to the town's future. It's part of our arts and culture series, CANVAS. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

A tour guide from Orvieto explains why his Umbrian hill-town home is well worth a stop on your Italy itinerary. Then a rail enthusiast looks at train travel in Europe and beyond and considers how — and why — the US set off upon a different track. And a British journalist takes us along as she rides the rails on a lively journey across India. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.