Podcasts about public radio

A historian helps us re-envision Europe's eastern half, from the Baltics to the Balkans, with a lively account of how most of the region's countries have modernized since the Cold War, and of the challenges they face today. And an American-born artist and creative-writing teacher shares her joy of being "Welsh by choice," telling us of Welsh words that describe feelings we don't easily express in English. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Nowadays, scrappy pirate broadcasters rule over shortwave radio. On this week's On the Media, an unlikely group of finance bros have plans to take over the frequencies for their own gain.  In recent years, creative, often music-focused pirate broadcasting has been thriving on shortwave radio. But these surreptitious broadcasters are up against a surprising enemy: Not the FCC, but a deep-pocketed group of finance bros that is trying to wrestle the airwaves away from the public, and use them for a money-making scheme completely antithetical to broadcasting. This week we share an episode of The Divided Dial, which first aired last year. Reporter Katie Thornton asks: What do we lose when we give up our public airwaves?  On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today (https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm). Follow our show on Instagram, Bluesky, TikTok and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Vermont is home to tons of peculiar road names. Every year, you nominate your favorites — and we crisscross the state looking for answers. Dive right into our exploration of Green Dolphin Drive in South Burlington. Wade into the origin story of Butternut Gutter in Arlington. And crack open our investigation of Old Shincracker Lane in Baltimore (and, yes, that's Baltimore, Vermont). If you're craving even more weird road name stories, explore all eight previous installments in this annual road names series. You can also submit your favorite road name for consideration in the future!Also – get a wicked cool limited-edition BLS Road Names tote bag by supporting our work for $10/month. Click here to get started.This episode was reported by Burgess Brown, Sarah Bokelberg and Josh Crane. It was produced and edited by Sabine Poux. Angela Evancie is Brave Little State's Executive Producer. Our theme music is by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Mikaela Lefrak, Karen Jamiel, Maddison Potter, Al Farrington, Missy Marcell, Rick Hecht, Amanda Gustin, Steve Picazio, Gail Weisse, Sandy Rich, Carla Westine, Andy Kolovos, Theo Avent, Ellen Clattenburg, Josh Morse, Marla Krueger, Dale Bergdahl and Katie Dixon.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Say hi on Instagram 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. 

A writing duo shares the sights that have a place in our music history, from museums and festivals to lesser-known locales to make the heart sing. And opera expert and self-described "pleasure activist" Fred Plotkin shows us how to open our senses and plug into the excitement at some of his favorite opera venues in Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Pulitzer Prize winner Beverly Gage explains how a road trip to the places where history happened can renew your faith in American progress, without ignoring an honest assessment of the nation's past. And the good folks from Atlas Obscura share some of their favorite quirky and unique American roadside attractions. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Today, instead of chasing down leads and crisscrossing the state to satisfy your curiosity about one Vermont story or another, we're going to indulge your curiosity about the show itself. A few months ago, the BLS team welcomed friends and fans to Northern Stage in White River Junction for an event we called “Behind the Mic with Brave Little State.”  We lifted the hood on how we make the show, dissected all-time favorite episodes and answered questions from the audience. We even revealed a mortifying “blooper” (eek!).We had a great time, so we decided to share a (lightly condensed and edited) recording from the event with all of you!To mark a decade of BLS, we're releasing a limited edition tote bag! It features original art with some of our favorite Vermont road names from episodes past. To get one, support our work for $10/month. Click here to get started.Sign up for our (free) newsletter to get updates about future events.This episode was edited and produced by the BLS team: Burgess Brown, Sabine Poux and Josh Crane. Our intern is Sarah Bokelberg and our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Theme music by Ty Gibbons.Special thanks to Amy Zielinski, Jason Smoller, Joshua Davis, Milena Zuccotti, Rachel Thomeer and everyone who joined us for a special evening at Northern Stage.As always, our journalism is better when you're a part of it: Ask a question about Vermont Say hi on Instagram 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. 

Last year, much of Milwaukee was under water. And while people waited for the local and federal government to spring into action, a group of men took to the streets, helping where they could. They reflect on last year's flooding and how their work has continued.

Mayor Shell Carlson is rounding out her 8 year term with her eyes now set on growing her political career into the MN House. Tomorrow is the big day for primary elections and she wants your votes!

Race nights at Fix It Forward Speedway just got more exciting. Bryce Haugeberg knocked out his first win with his eye now ultimately on being a part of the Nascar circuit. Check out our chat!

With a high school theatre background, and about to be a communications major we recently chatted with your new Miss Red River Valley Fair, Clara Kranz. 

The Red River Valley Renaissance Faire is back and so are the Blue Lotus Dancers! We chatted with the ladies about why they think this time period is so fun and interesting to so many and how their show compliments it.

Hear from two Roman tour guides about what to expect on a first-time trip to Italy, and how to make it the adventure of a lifetime. Then get a taste of life in France's rural southwest as author David McAninch explains how spending the better part of a year in Gascony taught his American family to slow down and savor their time together. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Do people have the right to walk Wisconsin's Lake Michigan shoreline? That question is at the heart of a current court case. Meanwhile, there's a path along the much-coveted Geneva Lake shoreline that's been accessible to the public for decades.

There are a lot of different airlines that fly in and out of Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport every day. But only one of them has a billion-dollar contract with ICE. What to know about Air Wisconsin.

Homer Blow, a longtime radio personality in Milwaukee, was recently honored by the Common Council for his decades-long career and service to the community.

More than 5,000 athletes are descending on Milwaukee for the 2026 USA Triathlon. They'll be jumping into Lake Michigan for the swimming portion of the race.

Fred Oakman of the bands One If By Land, Signal Home, The Twirpentines and Fred Oakman and the Flood joins the show this week to talk all of his musical projects, Fred's musical history, the local music scene in Northwest Pennsylvania, playing with Hot Water Music in November and more FRED OAKMAN www.fredoakman.com www.oneifbylandmusic.com www.instagram.com/fredoakman www.instagram.com/oneifbylandpa PCH Instagram - www.instagram.com/powerchordhour Facebook - www.facebook.com/powerchordhour Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UC6jTfzjB3-mzmWM-51c8Lgg powerchordhour@gmail.com Donate to help show costs - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/pchanthony https://cash.app/$anthmerch Check out the Power Chord Hour radio show every Friday night at 8 pm est/Tuesday at Midnight est on 107.9 WRFA in Jamestown, NY. Stream the station online at wrfalp.com/streaming/ or listen on the WRFA app/Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

Eaux Claires, the music festival, returned to Wisconsin after an eight-year hiatus. Organizers, including Bon Iver frontman Justin Vernon, pulled together national artists, some with deep ties to the Chippewa Valley.

Almost one year after the devastating August 2025 floods, the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District outlines what it's doing to prevent flooding when future storms hit.

A Belfast-based tour guide points out the places where native son Van Morrison found inspiration for his music and poetry. Then a Romani author tells us about the variety of communities within her culture, both on the continent and in the US. And an adventure traveler shares some of his favorite scenic hikes in Europe. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Bethel, Vermont is home to a rare geological treasure: a brilliant granite that's often described as the whitest in the world. The stone has been quarried there for generations and sent as far as Paris and Abu Dhabi. Two local residents want to know: Why is this stone found in Bethel, of all places? And is it found anywhere else?Thanks to Bennett Law and Owen Daniel-McCarter for the great questions. Click here for photos and a full episode transcript.For more on granite in Vermont, here are some suggested resources: Vermont Stones/Italian Bones (2016) by Bill Johansen, published by the Bethel Historical Society A three-part series about the Woodbury Granite Company by Paul Wood in The Chronicle of the Early American Industries Association, 2021 “How has the geology of Vermont affected its character?” (Brave Little State, 2017) “Meet Giuliano Cecchinelli, Barre's last Italian stone carver” (Vermont Public, 2023) 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 intern is Sarah Bokelberg. Our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Gail Wiese, Timothy Rath, Laurie Grigg and Denise Guilmette.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. 

There's a city office in Madison responsible for investigating and monitoring the local police department. It's looking into the July police shooting of Corey Ruiz.

Candidates discussed Gov. Evers' failed tax relief deal, data centers, policing, school vouchers and more.

A severe tornado ripped through the Fox Cities region of Wisconsin on Monday. Outagamie County Executive Tom Nelson details the destruction.

Chris Ballew is BACK for his fifth Power Chord Hour appearance to talk about his 11th solo album Newborn Human, the making of the Presidents 1996 sophomore album II, if it's harder to open or close and album and lots more CHRIS BALLEW https://chrisballew.org https://chrisballew.bandcamp.com https://www.instagram.com/chrisballew https://www.instagram.com/pusaband PCH Instagram - www.instagram.com/powerchordhour Facebook - www.facebook.com/powerchordhour Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UC6jTfzjB3-mzmWM-51c8Lgg powerchordhour@gmail.com Donate to help show costs - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/pchanthony https://cash.app/$anthmerch Check out the Power Chord Hour radio show every Friday night at 8 pm est/Tuesday at Midnight est on 107.9 WRFA in Jamestown, NY. Stream the station online at wrfalp.com/streaming/ or listen on the WRFA app/Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

Limits are the key to stimulating creativity, innovation, and collaboration. In a world that gives us seemingly infinite choices and prizes freedom above all else, we have an unprecedented number of options regarding what to do, who to be, and how to spend our time. All that choice is wonderful, but it is also overwhelming. The irony is that total freedom can be paralyzing, and unlimited resources don't necessarily lead to the biggest breakthroughs. In fact, overvaluing complete freedom can be disastrous for everything from starting a company to harnessing creativity to finding personal satisfaction. In his new book, Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better, David Epstein argues that all of us — individuals, businesses, institutions, even societies — can benefit from narrowing our options. Epstein dives into the science and practice of constraints, exploring exactly when and how guardrails can be beneficial, whether we're working with limited resources or using self-imposed boundaries to tap unexpected wells of focus and innovation. Inside the Box reveals how boundaries create breakthroughs, and how setting the right constraints can help you become the most creative, productive, and satisfied version of yourself. David Epstein is the author of the number one New York Times bestseller Range and the New York Times bestseller The Sports Gene. He has master's degrees in environmental science and journalism and has worked as a senior writer for Sports Illustrated and as an investigative reporter for ProPublica. Katy Sewall is the host and creator of The Bittersweet Life podcast. She's a writer, podcast consultant, and a Public Radio professional frequently heard on 94.9 KUOW. She's also the former Program Director at Town Hall. Buy the Book Inside the Box: How Constraints Make Us Better Elliott Bay Book Company

Hear why one writer chooses to invest the time in crossing America by train instead of hopping a quick flight. Then discover what taking high-definition photos of Earth from space revealed to a veteran astronaut. And get inspired to view the Renaissance treasures of Florence. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Canadian wildfire smoke led to days of terrible air quality in Milwaukee in July. A local man created an app that helps folks understand wildfire smoke where they live.

But despite its high ranking, downward trends in some categories could see Wisconsin lose its place in the top ten.

As of July 22, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 105 cases cyclosporiasis, a gastrointestinal illness caused by a microscopic parasite called cyclospora.

Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe explains how the partisan primary works, how to vote absentee, voter ID requirements and election security.

The lagoon near the city's lakefront is looking a bit desolate, and its water is unhealthy. But Milwaukee County Parks intends to change that, and wants to know what the public would like to see.

As the air quality improves in Milwaukee, wildfires continue spreading across Canada. Milwaukee County's chief health policy advisor shares how to stay healthy during air quality warnings.

"Abolish ICE." "Defund the police." These words and slogans carry a lot of weight. But what do they mean to organizers in Milwaukee who fight for systemic change?

"Abolish ICE." "Defund the police." These words and slogans carry a lot of weight. But what do they mean to organizers in Milwaukee who fight for systemic change?

Garrett Klahn of Texas is the Reason joins us this episode to talk 30 years of Do You Know Who You Are?, the TX30 reissues that Revelation Records are releasing this year, how the band reunited, plans for the rest of 2026 and much more GARRET KLAHN www.texasisthereason.com www.instagram.com/texasisthereasonofficial www.instagram.com/staplesinger PCH Instagram - www.instagram.com/powerchordhour Facebook - www.facebook.com/powerchordhour Youtube - www.youtube.com/channel/UC6jTfzjB3-mzmWM-51c8Lgg powerchordhour@gmail.com Donate to help show costs - https://www.paypal.com/paypalme/pchanthony https://cash.app/$anthmerch Check out the Power Chord Hour radio show every Friday night at 8 pm est/Tuesday at Midnight est on 107.9 WRFA in Jamestown, NY. Stream the station online at wrfalp.com/streaming/ or listen on the WRFA app/Apple CarPlay/Android Auto

The Wisconsin Policy Forum just released a report about the aftermath of the August 2025 floods in the Milwaukee area.

Lincoln Avenue School students are still recovering from hearing their school was destroyed by fire. Now, students will be at Pulaski High School in fall 2026.

A master stonemason considers the great sites of Europe and shares what these enduring structures can teach us about permanence, craft, and human ambition. Then an Italian tour guide sheds light on the Dolomites, the spectacular setting where Italian, German, and Ladin traditions meet. Plus, an aficionado of American road trips tells us about efforts to revitalize historic Route 66 as a national heritage trail. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Our guest on This Week in Radio Tech episode 809 is Tim Berry, Chief Engineer at WUOT-FM, the public radio station at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. WUOT combines NPR news with classical and jazz music, much of it still played live from CDs and occasionally from the station’s enormous collection of LPs. Tim gives us a tour of the control room, performance area, technical center, and an extraordinary music library that also includes thousands of historic 78 RPM records. We’ll see one of Tennessee’s earliest Audio over IP installations, built around Axia Livewire technology and operating for about 15 years. Tim also maintains more than 20 analog and digital amateur radio repeater sites throughout East Tennessee. Join us for a fascinating look at preserving broadcasting’s rich history while planning the technical upgrades that will carry WUOT into the future. Show Notes:Pioneers & Engineers - The WUOT Story Guest:Tim Berry, CBRE, CBT - Chief Engineer at WUOT-FM & WUTK-FM "UT's College of Rock!" Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube.TWiRT is brought to you by:Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.Angry Audio and the new USB Phone Gizmo - Put VoIP callers on-the-air The new MaxxKonnect RMT416 Multi Tuner - 4 to 16 AM/FM/WB/HD web-connected tuners in 1 RU Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube

Our guest on This Week in Radio Tech episode 809 is Tim Berry, Chief Engineer at WUOT-FM, the public radio station at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. WUOT combines NPR news with classical and jazz music, much of it still played live from CDs and occasionally from the station's enormous collection of LPs. Tim gives us a tour of the control room, performance area, technical center, and an extraordinary music library that also includes thousands of historic 78 RPM records. We'll see one of Tennessee's earliest Audio over IP installations, built around Axia Livewire technology and operating for about 15 years. Tim also maintains more than 20 analog and digital amateur radio repeater sites throughout East Tennessee. Join us for a fascinating look at preserving broadcasting's rich history while planning the technical upgrades that will carry WUOT into the future.

Welcome back to the Manor!  In preparation for next year's 50th anniversary of Star Wars episode six (A New Hope), we're going to have some fun with various drafts and formats from that galaxy far far away.  This first one is the Public Radio adaptation, in which James read the script and Jody listened to the series.  They had to expand it so it would work for 13 episodes.  What did they add?  Listen in and discover our favorite bits! Next week's episode is Robert Johnson part 2. Get in touch with us at Podbean: https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-4pksr-a17e1a Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/twinterrorsmacabremanormeadmetalmayhe/ Or on twitter: @Terrors_Manor On Instagram: @macabremanormeadmetalmayhem You can also find our podcast on iTunes, Spotify, Amazon, and I Heart Radio; pretty much wherever fine (and our) podcasts are aired.

Last year, a listener question inspired us to spend 12 whole hours at a park-and-ride lot in Richmond. This year, we posted up at another Vermont mainstay – a popular ice cream shop near the beaches of Lake Champlain, in Colchester. The Village Scoop is the kind of place where, if you stay put long enough, you can watch a whole Vermont summer unfold in one day. So, we arrived hours before the shop opened and stayed long after the last customer was served.During our marathon day there,  we got a real taste of Vermont summer at its peak, in all its sweltering, melting glory.Click here for the web version of this episode, including photos and a full transcript.This episode was reported and produced by Josh Crane, Sabine Poux and Burgess Brown. Our intern is Sarah Bokelberg. Our Executive Producer is Angela Evancie. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; Other music by Blue Dot Sessions.Special thanks to Catherine Hurley, Scott Waterman, Chelsea Blais, Hannah Smiley, Emma Foss and Meg Hershman.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 week marks the one year since Congress rolled back funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The move left radio stations across the country scrambling to find funding to help cover their communities like KAXE in Grand Rapids.But thanks to a $4.2 million grant from the Bush Foundation, the northern Minnesota news station is now planning to expand news coverage, help create an ambassador program, and strengthen partnerships with regional newsrooms. Sarah Bignall, CEO and general manager of KAXE, joined Minnesota Now host Nina Moini to talk about the donation and the news station.

Celebrate Bastille Day with French guides. They'll explain the impressionist techniques perfected in the early 20th century, provide insider advice for designing the perfect Parisian itinerary, and help tackle the immense collection at the Louvre. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

A chef and cookbook author takes a look at idioms that are shared across diverse languages. Then the head of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Museum updates us on what's happening this summer at Cleveland's top attraction. And the late historian David McCullough reflects on the Wright brothers and how their dream changed the world. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Hear about making family memories in western Canada along the historic Rocky Mountaineer train line. Explore the Gulf Islands in the Salish Sea. Learn more about confronting culture clashes in overseas travels. And discover the best local crafts in each of the 50 states. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

You might have heard that the U.S. turns 250 this year. It's a big, corporate to-do — the phrase “America 250” is plastered all over baseball hats and bags of potato chips. But what do Americans really make of this anniversary? The historian Jill Lepore and audiomaker Sophie Crane wanted to find out. They sent reporters all across the country, from California to Louisiana to Vermont, to listen to what people had to say about it.This piece is part of a project called The Listeners, an experiment in hyperlocal documentary storytelling from the Transom Story Lab. You can find the Transom post here and the New Yorker Radio Hour presentation here.Reporting by Eve Abrams in Louisiana, Scott Carrier and Jenny Ament in Utah, Erica Heilman in Vermont, Yohance Lacour in Illinois and David Weinberg in California. It was produced by Sophie Crane. Mix and sound design by Josh Crane with music from Matthias Bossi and Jon Evans of Stellwagen Symphonette. Special thanks to Jay Allison, Jen Jerrett and David Krasnow.The Brave Little State team is Josh Crane, Sabine Poux and Burgess Brown. Our intern is Sarah Bokelberg. Our executive producer is Angela Evancie. Theme music by Ty Gibbons; other music by Blue Dot Sessions.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.

Hear how the US Civil Rights Trail, with 100 stops across 14 states, was organized to help all Americans get an up-close look at the movement to dismantle Jim Crow laws across the South. And listen in as ecologist Chris Morgan describes changes he's observed on Norway's Svalbard archipelago — halfway between the mainland and the North Pole — which indicate how our warming climate is a threat to life in the Arctic. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.

Three American-born tour guides who have settled in Europe tell us what it's like to make a new home in a foreign country. Then, a lifelong resident of Italy's Veneto region helps us explore the Venice Lagoon as an ever-changing ecosystem shaped by climate change, local history, and the distinct cultures of its islands. For more information on Travel with Rick Steves - including episode descriptions, program archives and related details - visit www.ricksteves.com.