Podcasts about public radio

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.

This episode was recorded on May 17th, 2026 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. The lineup includes Paul Thorn, Ray Benson, Sunny Sweeney, Andy Friedman. https://bit.ly/4afWiMG⁠

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.

A coalition of Jewish organizations organized a bus trip to Clay County Jail in Indiana, where Milwaukee area Muslim leader Salah Sarsour was being held after he was detained by immigration enforcement.

Milwaukee is home to one of the nation's oldest and largest Juneteenth celebrations. WUWM's Jimmy Gutierrez shares an audio postcard from last year's celebration.

Something unique is in store for folks planning to take in Milwaukee's Juneteenth parade Friday. They'll experience a 30-foot-long “living river.” It's the creation of Milwaukee Water Commons and lots of volunteers.

Milwaukee has the largest Black-white achievement gap in the country. A listener asked: is there a political will to fix it?

This episode was recorded on April 3rd, 2026 at the Culture Center Theater in Charleston, WV. The lineup includes Chris Smither, Joan Shelley, Yarn, Calvin Arsenia, Hudost. ⁠https://bit.ly/4vsZEnH

American Science & Surplus is a beloved Milwaukee store that nearly closed last year. Now under employee ownership, the store's new owner shares how they're operating the business during economic hardships.

As Milwaukee approaches its 55th annual Juneteenth Day celebration this Friday, Margaret Henningsen, one of the local event's founders, reflects on helping bring the event to the city.

Every year, the Milwaukee Public Museum teams up with a park or natural area to take a 24-hour survey of plants and animals found there. This year, scientists converged at Wehr Nature Center in Franklin.

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.

Today on Bit Public Radio, Host Luke Bovard explores the strange and unpredictable world of misconception. Correspondent Angelina Washington reports from Troy, New York, where a Flag Day celebration honoring Uncle Sam escalates into civic confusion, alphabet panic, and unexpected papal involvement. Next, Mandy Keyes investigates food misconceptions at a farmer's market in Pashook, Iowa, where a simple question about tomatoes leads to nightshade conspiracies, unusual educational materials, and some deeply confusing ideas about reproduction. Finally, in her first-ever field report, Gail "Shut Up Gail" Shephard accidentally investigates immaculate conception instead of misconception, uncovering mysterious pregnancies, impossible football outcomes, secret societies, and gardening techniques that defy explanation. Misunderstandings were made. Conclusions were reached. Facts became optional. Apologies Residents of Troy, New York, Uncle Sam,   Karate schools, karate students, karate parents, people named Xavier, Xander, and Yolanda, Zachary; Sesame Street, literacy advocates, the Vatican, Pope Leo, RC Cola, Fanta, farmer's markets, tomato growers, eggplant farmers, nightshade researchers, conspiracy theorists, sex education teachers, bananas, tomatoes, condom manufacturers, PBS cooking programs, Las Vegas sportsbooks, giant communities, golden geese, secret student societies, ACE Award nominees, workplace birthday cards. Also... SHUT UP GAIL! Credits Director and Creator: Billy Merritt Producer, Editor & Graphics: Hill Kane Featuring: Billy Merritt - Himself  Luke Bovard - Himself  Angela Washko  - Angelina Washington Amanda Keyes - Lisa Steckman Gail Shephard - Hill Kane Amber Bellsdale, Brent Kohler, Don Slovin, Jim Tripp and Katya Vasilaky - various and sundry characters and oddball sound effects. Music: BPR Theme Song: Lyrics Hill Kane, musical composition created on SUNO AI Hosting: Libsyn "The BIT" and "The BIT Improv Comedy Network" are trademarks owned by Billy Merritt. © 2024–2026 Billy Merritt. All rights reserved. Inquiries: TheBitComedyNetwork@gmail.com Website: BITComedyNetwork.com  Production + Graphics: Hill Kane, Raising Kane Media + Marketing

A crowd gathered at the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District headquarters for a meeting about what company should run MMSD's two wastewater treatment facilities in 2028.

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!

June 13 is going to be a great day for monarch butterflies and other creatures who hang out in Milwaukee's Lakeshore State Park. Volunteers will be planting 2,000 native plants to boost their habitats.

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."

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

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.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.