BS: For US National Public Radio listeners

Subject: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 01:07 PM

Last night at a Library Friends meeting a couple of us found ourselves talking to a recent retiree about the pleasures of listening to Public Radio during our work day. She is now in a position where she can telecommute and wasn't familiar with public radio. I gave her the information to look up her local station (she was visiting from Houston) and it occurred to me that I wanted start an NPR thread here at Mudcat. Quite often I reference or link to NPR radio programs in my posts here. I started a thread ages ago about reading newspapers and its second version is running now. Here's my companion public radio thread.

This morning I heard one of those stories that needed mention, and will start this out. It was a sad one, Scott Simon discussing the loss of Lou Stamberg, the husband of NPR news legend Susan Stamberg. I've posted the link. The page in my link will allow you to listen to the story.

Like the newspaper thread, this thread is established as a place to call attention to good and useful stories that we as listeners hear on NPR and PRI and those other sources that feed into our local NPR stations. Comments and discussion of stories are welcome, however, it's not intended as a place to argue the merits of left or right radio or to slam either.

Ever wonder what the person behind the voice looks like? I found an alphabetical list recently (I went looking up someone because in September they reassigned a number of program hosts and reporters and I wanted to know where the old ones went to and who their replacements were.) Visit here to get a look and a short bio of many of them.

If you live in an area that isn't served by NPR then you can listen online. My station is KERA-FM in the Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton market, and is at http://www.kera.org/radio/. Other stations can be located by visiting http://www.npr.org/stations/ and entering your zip code.

I should note that though I'm running this as a "BS" thread, I get a great deal of musical information through NPR. I've discovered performers from around the world I wouldn't have encountered any other way and immediately ordered a CD to make sure I don't lose track. (I heard a jazz singer on A Prairie Home Companion last week, Inga Swearingen, who knocked my socks off and I'll get her CD or add it to a wish list). So this isn't just news-oriented, its anything that NPR carries. We also have some very good local programming at KERA in Dallas, and I may link to those from time to time, though their podcasts don't stay active for very long, just a few weeks. (I still miss Glenn Mitchell, our amazing talk show host and music collector who died suddenly in November two years ago--age 55--just gone. Those of you who are lucky enough to have heard Glenn for years like I did probably remember the swift onset of tears at the horrible news that he was gone.)

When commenting, make "blue clickies" to the programs if you can, or post the URL and someone will come along and make the link. There's a world of great stuff on the radio.

Stilly River Sage

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: artbrooks
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 02:09 PM

A good thread to start, SRS. I subscribe to both of our local stations and to two internet stations (Folk Alley and WFUV ). The former is 24-hour folk music. The latter is of note, besides for its programming, for the fact that they archive for several weeks, so you can go back and pick up programs you missed.

Another good source for stations is PublicRadioFan.com...they have links to public radio stations outside the US, and the page includes an upcoming program schedule for each - which isn't always accurate, however.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 02:36 PM

Excellent thread, SRS! Will add to it, as I often do make note of stuff I've heard on there.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 02:42 PM

My biggest challenge is remember which program I heard a story on. Parking links to them here might help with that. In addition to All Things Considered and Morning Edition all week long there is On the Media, This American Life, and in the evenings, things like News and Notes, which are useful for any number of reasons.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 04:37 PM

AND, the ones on PRI, Public Radio International!

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: EBarnacle
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 05:05 PM

One of my general activities is that, whenever I travel, I make a list of NPR stations near my route. So far, I have taken it to Maine, Florida, Chicago, upstate New York and Toronto [using CBC after leaving the States].

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: robomatic
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:12 PM

NPR and PRI are great national resources. I was spellbound by the article on today's Saturday broadcast of G H Hardy and Ramanujan.

I regard Scott Simon and Terry Gross in particular as national living treasures.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:20 PM

Heard a GREAT part of a repeat PHC of Ian Frazier reading from his book, "Great Plains." You can hear it on this page. It is THE best description of the Great Plains I have ever heard and went right to my heart.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: John Hardly
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 07:36 PM

I've enjoyed NPR and PRI for a number of years. The staions in my area -- WVPE and WGCS -- are still the greatest voices folk music has in the area.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Rapparee
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 08:51 PM

I can get KISU, KUER, and the NPR station out of BYU-I in Rexburg. I am rich.

We -- that is, the Library -- have made arrangements to run our own weekly hour-long radio show on KISU. It would touch on many things, including (true) local political dialogue; I'm thinking of calling it "Conversations." Anyone have another idea? "All Things Considered" has been taken and the staff doesn't like my original idea of calling it "Whatever."

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: heric
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 09:41 PM

Pocatello Potluck.

(But I like Whatever much more.)

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 10:29 PM

There have been a couple of programs about perfect pitch lately. I listened to one this evening, on The Infinite Mind. This one was okay, but the one I really enjoyed was a few weeks back with Robert Krulwich explaining. It's Radio Lab, produced by WNYC and while poking around at their site I found several great folk programs as well (including Oscar Brand's program). So much of this stuff is available on demand--such riches! Anyway, from season 2, program 202, was "Musical Language." link.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Janie
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 10:41 PM

The Story with Dick Gordon is always worth a listen. Topics are wide ranging and tend to focus on "ordinary people" rather famous experts. Take a look through the archive to get a sense of the broad range of topics and people. They are also interested in your story.

It is produced here in Chapel Hill at WUNC, is relatively new, but is nationally syndicated. Because it is pretty new, I don't know how widely distributed it is with respect to other NPR stations.

Janie

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Oct 07 - 11:53 PM

Rapaire, how about:

Between the Pages (as in the PBS kid's show in a library "Between the Lions.")

Dialogue

Politically Speaking (but that's not the only focus, is it, and I'll bet that one's been used)

Talk about town (an oldie but goodie?)

Biblio Scoop!**bg**

Ah, well, it's fun to see what comes up.

I like Whatever, too.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: open mike
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 12:20 AM

There are a lot of shows i look forward to on NPR. My local station is
www.KCHO.org and my friend Lorraine has hosted the Good OLd Fashioned Folk Music show on their for 25-30 years. (on Sundays from 2-4 pacific time) She has inspired me to become a radio show host, too. She is my mentor and my role model! Often our Folk Music Society will staff the phones en mass during pledge drives..which i believe is going on this week....support your local station! IF you cannot send money, give energy, help answer pledge phones or donate something as a premium to give to those who do pledge.
Musicians can donate a c.d. or concert tickets, or go to the station and sing a song for the pledge drive.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Rowan
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 01:21 AM

G'day SRS,
When in Columbia SC for six months I found NPR (and its TV sibling from SCETV) a saviour for my sanity. I've no idea the name of the station I tuned to but I was fascinated by the programming. 16 years later I can only remember "Shamrock and Thistle" (?) and those two mechanics from the Midwest; I never quite caught PHC, although back in Oz Garrison Keilor was required listening for anyone who wished to be regarded as civilised.

The Oz equivalent to NPR, should you ever be interested, is ABC Radio National

All power to your elbow.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Donuel
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 09:27 AM

If you like NPR you will love RadioLab.org. NPR is broadcasting thier shows and can be found on the web.... they are excellent entertaining and educational for all ages 9 to 90.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 01:16 PM

Thistle and Shamrock is still on the air and you can listen to it stream over the Internet. Here's a link to the program page.

There are so many good programs. My few listed earlier neglected one that sometimes really grabs me, To the Best of Our Knowledge. I don't always love it, it depends on the subject, because they do one topic each program. It can really give some good in-depth information.

My favorites for pure entertainment are Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me (as close as we'll ever come to "My Word,") and Car Talk. On the Media is fascinating.

I'm beginning to warm to Fair Game, though the woman who hosts it is a bit ditsy. I guess I like more substantial radio personalities. For years on All Things Considered my triumvirate of favorite reporters was Nina Tottenberg, Cokie Roberts, and Linda Wertheimer. They're still there, though Wertheimer's beat has changed and she hosted for a while.

Years ago I used to hear a lot more folk music on the public radio stations in various places. NPR crashed and burned about 25 years ago with a fiscal scandal that made a lot of those programs go away. My favorite radio drama was one called The Mind's Eye. No one does radio drama any more. Does Dick Estelle still read books on Radio Reader? Different markets have different programs. With the Internet, you can poke around and find your favorites again.

SRS

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: EBarnacle
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 05:18 PM

A lot of the shows you cannot get locally from your NPR station are still available on line or from some of the other providers, such as Maine Public Radio.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Rowan
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 06:57 PM

Thanks SRS,
Shamrock and Thistle" vs "Thistle and Shamrock"?
There used to be a folk pub in Sydney with the official name of "Rose, Shamrock & Thistle" that was universally known as "The three weeds."

The community radio aspect of NPR is performed in Oz by lots of small stations, mostly in the big cities ( I used to supervise high school students putting out two half hour shows on 3CR in Melbourne) but the "national" part in Oz is truly National. The ABC here has a series of networks and Radio National's network broadcasts its programs so that they appear (except for WA, 2-3 hours further west) at the same time slot everywhere. And they do broadcast radio drama, short stories etc. In fact I think they do program swaps with parts of the NPR network.

And "My Word", "My Music", "Just a Minute", "The Goon Show", "I'm sorry, I'll say that Again" and "The Mark Steele Lecures" are all currently on at 5.30am but I suspect copyright things prevent them (and many music programs like "Music Deli" and "Live on stage") being podcast.

Cheers, Rowan

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: van lingle
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 12:01 PM

The funniest show on the airwaves,IMO, is Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me the weekly news quiz show which can be listened to online at www.npr.org/programs/waitwait if you don't get it locally.

I also like From the Top (www.fromthetop.org) which showcases young classical musicians (mostly teens and pre-teens) with some incredible playing and charming amateur theatrics.

kat, I couldn't get a RA prompt for that "Great Plains" reading at the PHC archives but you can find another Frazier piece there that got a lot of play at NPR called "Lamentations of the Father" at
www.prariehome.org/programs/19980124

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 01:03 PM

Often NPR affiliates have excellent local programming as well as the NPR features.

An embarrassment of riches here in Seattle. The main NPR affiliate nearby is KUOW, based in the University District. They run a lot of the NPR features (Morning Edition; All Things Considered; Car Talk; Wait, Wait; Don't Tell Me; and one of my favorites, Says Who?), but they also run a lot of local features. Once a month, an hour-long interview/discussion each with the Mayor and the King County Executive, often with city and county council persons and other local politicians, especially when there are pending issues such as doing something about Seattle's abysmal rapid transit system (or lack thereof); then a weekly discussion with a newspaper columnist in Victoria, B. C.. Most of the interview programs run for a full hour (less the usual station IDs and occasional promos for up-coming programs, of course), and include visiting or local musicians with a performance coming up. KUOW's programming is almost all talk and discussion, but it does include things like Prairie Home Companion and American Routes. The Swing Years and Beyond, locally produced, is popular music of the 1920s through the 1950s, and it plays Saturdays from 7:00 p.m. to midnight.

It isn't just a parochial little station off in the far corner of the radio dial, it's the second most listened to radio station in the Seattle-Tacoma market and the most listened to news radio station in the state.

KPLU in Tacoma (30 miles south of Seattle), based at Pacific Lutheran University, has most of the same NPR programs, but almost all of their local music programming is jazz.

KBCS, at Bellevue Community College across Lake Washington from Seattle, plays quite a bit of folk music, such as Lunch with Folks from noon to 3:00 p.m. weekdays, and a whole variety of folk and traditional music on weekends.

I listen mostly to KUOW, but I switch around a fair amount, depending on who's playing what when.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: GUEST,Neli D
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 02:59 PM

"This American Life" hosted by Ira Glass

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Don Firth
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 03:17 PM

Yes, This American Life, on KUOW, right after Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me, followed by Travel with Rick Steves (a locally produced program that's gone national), then Prairie Home Companion, all on Saturday.

Don Firth

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: PoppaGator
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 05:45 PM

I don't find it necessary to do research prior to a road trip in order to find NPR stations. They are almost always found at the extreme left-hand end of the FM dial; I just hit my car radio's "Scan" button, and usually find more than one NPR alternative somewhere below 92.0 or so.

The New York City area is a very notable exception; the main NPR outlet (WNYC? Something like that, I don't remember) is up in the middle of the FM spectrum. There are several excellent non-commercial stations down at the bottom of the dial, but no NPR.

I first found some of my favorite NPR programs while out on the road, since our local affiliate has not always carried every network offering. For example, Fresh Air was not heard on WWNO in New Orleans until just this year; until recently, I was only able to hear it on the road or over the internet (and of course, I first learned of its existence by listening on the road.)

Warning ~ thread drift:

My very favorite non-commerical radio station, WWOZ in New Orleans, is not an NPR afiliate and does not broadcast any news or talk, just music, and very excellent music at that. ("More platter, less chatter.") It's about time I posted one of my periodic reminders that some of you will really enjoy listening in, at www.wwoz.org.

Subject: RE: BS: For US National Public Radio listeners
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 07:21 PM

I forgot about some of those programs. I liked American Routes, but they don't play that one here now. I'll go looking for it later. And they used to play Waddya Know (or some such spelling) for years, but finally got rid of it two years ago. I have mixed feelings about that one, but mostly good.

I need to do more streaming, I can see. We have a pledge drive going now, so I'll be visiting WAMU to get the entire Diane Rehm program this week, since they cut so much for the drive.

SRS