Best WNYC Podcasts (2024)

1
Brian Lehrer Weekend: Elie Mystal; Leaf-Peeping; 100 Years of the Jewish Vote 1:19:09

2h ago1:19:09

1:19:09

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. The Latest on Mayor Adams's Indictment (First) | Fall Foliage 101 (Starts at 28:1 0) | 100 Years of 100 Things: The Jewish Vote (Starts at 42:45) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can do that here.By WNYC

1
A Reporter’s View From Beirut, and a New Film Plumbs the Depths of Netanyahu’s Corruption 50:14

11h ago50:14

50:14

Israel has launched a ground invasion into Lebanon. On this week’s On the Media, hear from a reporter in Beirut on the state of the press as the country braces for more violence. Plus, the state of book censorship in America. [01:00] Host Brooke Gladstone speaks with Nada Homsi, correspondent at The National’s Beirut bureau, on what the press looks…

1
'Patrice' Follows a Disabled Couple Fighting for Nuptial Rights 23:15

16h ago23:15

23:15

Beloved New Jersey crossing guard Patrice Jetter is thrilled when she falls in love with Gary. The couple can't wait to marry. The problem? They both have disabilities, and if they decide to marry, their government benefits will be cut. A new documentary, "Patrice: The Movie" follows the couple's attempts to fight back against these rules. Director…

1
Knowing Their Children Are Losing Their Sight, Two Parents Show Them the World 22:15

16h ago22:15

22:15

A new documentary follows a couple who learn that three of their four children have retinitis pigmentosa, an incurable condition which means they will soon lose all of their eyesight. The couple decides to pull their kids from school and journey around the world, showing them all the things that soon they will no longer be able to see. Subjects and…

1
Knocking on Doors Ahead of Election Day 14:47

16h ago14:47

14:47

As Election Day approaches, Blair Horner, Executive director of New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) explains why knocking on doors is an effective way to get out the vote as listeners call in with their experiences canvassing for their preferred candidate.By WNYC

1
Trump and the DOJ 40:00

16h ago40:00

40:00

Former President Trump has threatened to retaliate against political opponents if he wins in November. Emily Bazelon, staff writer for The New York Times Magazine, co-host of Slate's "Political Gabfest" podcast, Truman Capote fellow for creative writing and law at Yale Law School and author of Charged: The New Movement to Transform American Prosecu…

1
Brooklyn DA on Fewer Shootings, More Exonerations 28:01

16h ago28:01

28:01

Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn DA, talks about his office's work on overturning convictions, since they have just recommended the exoneration of the 40th person since the unit's work began, public safety in the borough as the number of shootings has gone down and more.By WNYC

1
Sarah Smarsh on Class and Politics 26:26

16h ago26:26

26:26

Sarah Smarsh, journalist and author of Bone of the Bone: Essays on America by a Daughter of the Working Class (Scribner, 2024), talks about her new book and the way rural, red-state and working-class America is portrayed in life and politics.By WNYC

1
Sons of Town Hall Perform Live (Get Lit) 18:24

17h ago18:24

18:24

We air highlights of the performance half of our September Get Lit with All Of It book club event with author Erik Larson. Songwriter and author David Berkeley and songwriter and producer Ben Parker make up the band Sons of Town Hall. The 19th-century inspired duo perform timeless folk music under the aliases George Ulysses Brown and Josiah Chester…

1
Get Lit Returns! With Erik Larson 33:19

17h ago33:19

33:19

Get Lit is back! We kick off our fall season with best-selling author and historian Erik Larson. He joined us for a live, in-person event to discuss his latest history of the Civil War, The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War.By WNYC

1
Terrestrials: Stumpisode 32:37

19h ago32:37

32:37

As dead as they seem, tree stumps are hubs of life and relationships. Co-host Lulu Miller is back with another season of her hit spinoff show Terrestrials, and to celebrate, we’re sharing the first episode with you. From stumps to snags, dead wood provides habitat for rodents, falcons, insects, and even humans. Stumps hold together the forest floor…

1
Terrestrials' New Season & Album (Get Little) 19:46

1d ago19:46

19:46

Radiolab for Kids Presents: Terrestrials returns for a new season about tree stumps, squirrels, and more! Plus... an album! Producer Ana González and producer & "Song Bud" Alan Goffinski join us for a special listening party and talk about the new season, plus take calls from curious young listeners.…

1
Tasty Treats for Afternoon Snacking (Food for Thought) 26:30

1d ago26:30

26:30

For this week's installment of Food for Thought Thursdays, hear flavor tips and recipes from a new cookbook from Sarah Kieffer, 100 Afternoon Sweets: with Snacking Cakes, Brownies, Blondies and More.By WNYC

1
A Memoir of Providing Abortions Before, During, and After Roe (Get Political) 22:57

1d ago22:57

22:57

Before Roe v. Wade, Dr. Curtis Boyd decided to dedicate his career to providing safe, but illegal, abortions in Texas and New Mexico. It was at one of those clinics that he met his wife, Glenna Halverson-Boyd, who became a counselor to women seeking an abortion. The couple write about their decades of providing abortion care and advocacy in their n…

1
Questlove Takes Kids' Calls! (Get Little) 31:24

1d ago31:24

31:24

Our book club for kids, Get Little, returns with award-winning multihyphenate filmmaker and musician Questlove! His new picture book, The Idea in You, celebrates creativity in young minds. Questlove joins us to talk about the book and take calls from kids.By WNYC

1
Integrating Immigrants into the Workforce 31:37

1d ago31:37

31:37

A recent study from the Department of Labor found that "among college-educated immigrants, 44 percent of refugees and asylees experience education-occupation mismatch or are unemployed." Kit Taintor, Senior Director of US Policy and Programs at World Education Services (WES) and John Hunt, Assistant Dean for Pre-College Academic Programs at LaGuard…

1
How to Help After Helene 11:38

1d ago11:38

11:38

Allie Volpe, senior reporter at Vox offers some guidance for helping people dealing with the destruction caused by Hurricane Helene.By WNYC

1
Why Young Men Are “Falling Behind” 25:20

1d ago25:20

25:20

Recent data shows that more women ages 25 to 34 have entered the U.S. workforce in recent years than ever, but the share of young men in the labor market hasn’t grown in a decade. Rachel Wolfe, economics reporter for The Wall Street Journal explains the findings and why young adult men are feeling more aimless and isolated than before.…

1
Dockworkers Strike and Ports All But Shut Down 40:04

1d ago40:04

40:04

Peter S. Goodman, reporter who covers the global economy for The New York Times and author of How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain (Mariner Books, 2024) explains why the longshoremen are striking, and how a prolonged work stoppage at the ports could affect the supply chain and the broader economy.…

1
Geordie Greep (of black midi) Shocks and Delights, In-Studio 44:28

2d ago44:28

44:28

Geordie Greep was the lead singer and guitarist for the celebrated British rock band black midi. With that band on indefinite hiatus, Greep is now focused on his own songs, which range freely across the musical landscape, encompassing jazz-rock and blues, but also country and Brazilian music. Hold on tight, for there are "stop-starts, blasts and ba…

1
605. What Do People Do All Day? 1:00:48

2d ago1:00:48

1:00:48

Sixty percent of the jobs that Americans do today didn’t exist in 1940. What happens as our labor becomes more technical and less physical? And what kinds of jobs will exist in the future? SOURCES: David Autor, professor of economics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Paula Barmaimon, manager of coverage and audience analytics at The New…

1
"It Happened Here 2024" A new radio play starring Edie Falco and John Turturro 1:09:43

3d ago1:09:43

1:09:43

And exclusive sneak peek of a brand new radio play starring Edie Falco, John Turturro and Tony Shalhoub. Inspired by Sinclair Lewis’ dystopian novel, It Can’t Happen Here, Richard Dresser’s novel, and now 6-part radio play called It Happened Here 2024, offers a glimpse of what could happen after the 2024 election if fascism creeps into the USA. The…

51
Remembering Gavin Creel 14:05

3d ago14:05

14:05

To acknowledge the death of beloved Broadway actor Gavin Creel, we revisit his conversation with Alison about his one-man show "WALK ON THROUGH: Confessions of a Museum Novice," which uses music to document his journey to appreciate the art at the Metropolitan Museum.By WNYC

51
A History of Music in Greenwich Village 33:53

3d ago33:53

33:53

Despite being a relatively small neighborhood, Greenwich Village has had an outsized impact on music history. A new book chronicles the rise and fall of the music scene in Greenwich Village. We speak with author David Browne about his book,Talkin' Greenwich Village: The Heady Rise and Slow Fall of America's Bohemian Music Capital. He joins us for t…

51
Why the U.S. Has An Electoral College 22:17

3d ago22:17

22:17

A new Independent Lens documentary explains the Electoral College's complexities while following four presidential electors representing different parties in Colorado during the intense 2020 election. The film is called "One Person, One Vote?" Director Maximina Juson and former Colorado State Senator Polly Baca, who participated in the film, join u…

51
Mindfulness Amid the Insanity of Election Season 28:43

3d ago28:43

28:43

With the traditional 'October surprise' possibly looming behind every political headline and just a month to go until voting comes to a close, Dan Harris, host of the podcast 10% Happier, shares what he's learned about mindfulness to help us cope with election anxiety.By WNYC

1
100 Years of 100 Things: The Jewish Vote 36:13

3d ago36:13

36:13

As our centennial series continues, Kenneth Wald, professor of political science at the University of Florida and the author of several books, including the forthcoming The Ghosts on the Wall: A Grandson's Memoir of the Holocaust (Amsterdam Publishers, November 9, 2024), talks about the past 100 years of history the Jewish vote in the United States…

1
VP Debate Recap 42:37

3d ago42:37

42:37

Meredith Lee Hill, food and agriculture policy reporter for Politico, offers analysis of the vice presidential debate between Tim Walz and JD Vance.By WNYC

1
Reporters Ask the Mayor: Indictment Woes 30:22

3d ago30:22

30:22

Every week, Mayor Adams holds one off-topic press conference in which reporters are free to ask questions on any subject. Elizabeth Kim, Gothamist and WNYC reporter, recaps this week's news conference—the first since the mayor's indictment—with clips and analysis.By WNYC

51
Saoirse Ronan Plays a Young Woman Grappling With Addiction in 'The Outrun' 26:34

4d ago26:34

26:34

In the new film "The Outrun," Saoirse Ronan stars as Rona, a young woman struggling with alcoholism. In an attempt to get sober, she returns to her home on the remote Orkney Islands off the coast of Scotland. The film, based on the memoir by Amy Liptrot, is in theaters Friday. Star Saoirse Ronan joins us to discuss.…

51
Lutalo Performs Live 24:55

4d ago24:55

24:55

Upon its release, singer-songwriter Lutalo referred to The Academy as their “first chapter” – a time capsule of the lessons they’ve learned in the last 20-something years. Lutalo joins us for a live performance ahead of their show at Brooklyn Steel tonight at 7pm.By WNYC

51
Politics in the Manosphere 25:52

4d ago25:52

25:52

Recent polls show young men leaning towards voting for Trump/Vance this November. In an apparent effort to boost their chances, the former president and his veep nominee have been booking appearances within the "manosphere," a term used to refer to a loose collection of websites, podcasts, and influencers associated with men's issues and, often, mi…

51
Why More Latino Voters Are Leaning Right (Get Po-Lit-ical) 24:52

4d ago24:52

24:52

Over the years, former President Trump has continued to increase his popularity among Latino voters, despite often inflammatory rhetoric about South America and undocumented immigrants. A new book explores why so many more Latino voters have been drawn to far-right movements. Author and journalist Paola Ramos joins us to discuss her new book, Defec…

1
Fall Foliage 101 14:40

4d ago14:40

14:40

Marielle Anzelone, urban botanist and ecologist and the founder of NYC Wildflower Week, explains the science behind leaves changing colors in autumn as listeners share their favorite "leaf-peeping" spots.By WNYC

1
The Future of Public Health if Trump Wins in November 42:47

4d ago42:47

42:47

Rachael Bedard, MD, geriatrician, palliative care doctor and a writer, talks about how a Trump win - and the likelihood for a plum position in the administration for RFK, Jr. - would harm public health.By WNYC

1
The Business of Peace-Building 27:40

4d ago27:40

27:40

John Marks, social entrepreneur, founder of Search for Common Ground and Common Ground Productions, founder and managing director of Confluence International, visiting scholar at Leiden University and the author of From Vision to Action: Remaking the World Through Social Entrepreneurship (Columbia University Press, 2024), talks about his work in co…

1
So You Want to Know About Heat Pumps 19:20

4d ago19:20

19:20

Christopher Flavelle, reporter covering climate adaptation for the New York Times, tells us about making the switch to a climate-friendly heat pump in his own home and helps listeners understand the benefits—and upfront costs. → A Heat Pump Can Cut Your Emissions. But Read This Before You Switch.By WNYC

1
My Secret Life as a Hoarder 50:56

4d ago50:56

50:56

Elizabeth* has a secret life as a hoarder. None of her colleagues or family members know that her apartment is filled to the brim with garbage bags, discarded hobbies and beautiful writing paper. Instead, she hosts an anonymous podcast detailing her struggles and efforts to declutter. In this episode, she talks to Anna about her complicated relatio…

1
A Baking Cookbook Draws Inspiration From Bodegas 27:14

5d ago27:14

27:14

James Beard-nominated chef Paola Velez pays homage to her beloved corner store in her new cookbook, Bodega Bakes: Recipes for Sweets and Treats Inspired by My Corner Store. She joins us to discuss, and take calls from listeners. Velez will be speaking tonight at Rizzoli Books and tomorrow at The Lit. Bar.…

1
An Up-Close Look at Teens and Their Phones in 'Social Studies' Documentary (Mental Health Mondays) 27:19

5d ago27:19

27:19

Many parents worry about their kid's cellphone usage, but few have a clear view of what they're actually doing on their phones every day. A new documentary explores how phones impact the daily lives of teens in one Los Angeles high school over the course of a year. Director Lauren Greenfield joins us to discuss"Social Studies," a new FX series that…

1
A History of Free Black Brooklyn 22:39

5d ago22:39

22:39

As viewers of the HBO series "The Gilded Age" will know, there's a long important history of Free Black communities in Brooklyn. Author Prithi Kanakamedala, professor of History at Bronx Community College of the City University of New York, discusses her new book, Brooklynites: The Remarkable Story of the Free Black Communities that Shaped a Boroug…

1
Gentrification and the American Dream in 'Good Bones' at The Public 23:49

5d ago23:49

23:49

The latest production from Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright James Ijames ("Fat Ham") stars Susan Kelechi Watson in the role of Aisha, who decides to move to the struggling neighborhood she grew up in with her husband, and they renovate their new house. What unfolds is a story of gentrification, class divides, and an intense debate with her young c…

1
100 Years of 100 Things: Jimmy Carter 37:14

5d ago37:14

37:14

Jonathan Alter, MSNBC analyst, author of the Substack newsletter Old Goats, and author of several books, including His Very Best: Jimmy Carter, a Life (Simon & Schuster, 2020) and the forthcoming American Reckoning: Inside Trump's Trial--and My Own (BenBella Books, 2024) reflects on former President Jimmy Carter's life as he is about to turn 100 ye…

1
Swing State Check-In: Michigan 45:35

5d ago45:35

45:35

Zoe Clark, political director at Michigan Public and co-host of the podcast It's Just Politics, talks about the issues that voters in Michigan care about, and what the polls show about the chances that Trump and Harris have of winning the state.By WNYC

1
The Latest on Mayor Adams's Indictment 27:44

5d ago27:44

27:44

Elie Mystal, justice correspondent and columnist for The Nation magazine and host of the new podcast, “Contempt of Court with Elie Mystal,” and author of Allow Me to Retort: A Black Guy's Guide to the Constitution (New Press, 2022) offers legal and political analysis of Mayor Adams's indictment and related troubles.…

1
Lollise Creates Danceable Afrofuturist Pop, In-Studio 42:14

5d ago42:14

42:14

Lollise is a musician, fashion designer, and visual artist from Botwana in southern Africa, now based here in New York. After many years of recording and touring with Underground System and the FELA! band, Lollise steps forward with her own bold Afro-futurist pop, rich with layers of kinetic, danceable percussion and gentle waves of ambient noise. …

1
Preserving Jewish Food And Pushing It Forward, With Joan Nathan And Jeremy Salamon 41:31

5d ago41:31

41:31

Ahead of the Jewish High Holidays, we’re talking with two cookbook authors about how Jewish food around the world has evolved, and where it’s going next. For decades, Jewish home cooks have turned to Joan Nathan for a taste of the familiar, and for a window into what Jews in other parts of the world eat. Dan talks with Joan about why her first cook…

1
EXTRA: Roland Fryer Refuses to Lie to Black America (Update) 1:00:29

5d ago1:00:29

1:00:29

His research on police brutality and school incentives won him acclaim, but also enemies. He was suspended for two years by Harvard, during which time he took a hard look at corporate diversity programs. As a follow-up to our recent series on the Rooney Rule, we revisit our 2022 conversation with the controversial economist. SOURCE: Roland Fryer, p…

1
Brian Lehrer Weekend: Eric Adams Indictment; Crime and Punishment; Sleep 1:43:14

7d ago1:43:14

1:43:14

Three of our favorite segments from the week, in case you missed them. Unpacking the indictment of Mayor Eric Adams (First) | The last hundred years of crime and punishment in America (Starts at 45:45) | The science on a good night's sleep and our internal clocks (Starts at 1:24:40) If you don't subscribe to the Brian Lehrer Show on iTunes, you can…

1
Election Lies Are Fueling Voter Suppression. Plus, Newsrooms Brace for Election Night 50:13

7d ago50:13

50:13

In Georgia, a controversial new rule to hand-count ballots is being challenged in court. On this week’s On the Media, how the big lie of 2020 is shaping elections in 2024. Plus, how newsrooms are preparing for a whirlwind of disinformation on election night — and beyond. [01:00] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Sam Gringlas, politics reporter at WA…

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