Part comedy, part masochism: This stand-up show includes a public roast of each comic by Sean Saldana

Every Sunday in Austin, there's a comedy show called Banana Phone. Comedians do one minute of stand up material, then the crowd heckles and roasts them until they run out of insults.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 8:36pm on February 16, 2026☆⚑

With virtual characters in real life, 'An Ark' experiments with mixed-reality performance by Jennifer Vanasco

A new play, "An Ark", is one of the first to be created and produced for mixed reality. It recently opened in New York, but does the play herald the future of theater?

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:48pm on February 14, 2026☆⚑

Our panel heads to Milan and Arden Cho hunts demons by NPR

This week, KPop Demon Hunters' Arden Cho joins us to talk about Rumi, the World Series of Poker, and how NOT to behave when you're about to propose. Plus, the Tom Papa, Paula Poundstone, and…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:00am on February 14, 2026☆⚑

Fela Kuti and the music of political resistance by NPR

Considered the father of Afrobeat, Nigerian musician Fela Kuti used his music in the 1970s to combat colonial values and brutal dictatorship. Former Radiolab host Jad Abumrad tells his story…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:45pm on February 12, 2026☆⚑

HTDE: Forks and Ice Masters by NPR

This week: Mike and Ian talk with an Olympic Ice Master, help a listener who keeps meeting people with their same name, and get to the bottom of a mysterious survey glitch. You can email you…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 3:00am on February 11, 2026☆⚑

The model railroad world feels a pinch from global trade uncertainty by Jeff Lunden

Model railroaders convene each year to celebrate their hobby. But this year they're wondering about the impact of tariffs on the foreign companies that make a lot of the products they collec…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 10:24am on February 8, 2026☆⚑

Librarian Mychal Threets talks rebooting Reading Rainbow and our panel eats goo by NPR

This week, we're joined by Mychal Threets, the world's most popular librarian, who talks about Library Joy and rebooting Reading Rainbow. Plus, panelists Tom Bodett, Josh Gondelman, and Tig …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:00am on February 7, 2026☆⚑

Following independent journalists fighting for free press in Russia by NPR

Julia Loktev's acclaimed documentary, 'My Undesirable Friends,' follows young Russian journalists in the months before and after Putin's invasion of Ukraine " and the impossible choices they…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:42pm on February 5, 2026☆⚑

The auteur of 'Strange Loop' tackles an opera like no other by Jeff Lunden

The Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winner is trying something new " instead of a musical for Broadway, he's written an opera, now playing in Philadelphia.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 9:01pm on February 4, 2026☆⚑

HTDE: Torches and Ski Jumps by NPR

Mike and Ian are back, just in time for the opening ceremony at the Winter Olympic Games in Milan/Cortina. Olympians and Starfleet Captains share how to carry the torch, fly through the air,…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 3:00am on February 4, 2026☆⚑

Trump says he's closing the Kennedy Center for renovations. We have questions by Anastasia Tsioulcas

After President Trump announced plans for a "Complete Rebuilding" of the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., what exactly did he mean, and what does it mean for the arts?

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 3:24am on February 3, 2026☆⚑

Ethan Hawke by NPR

"Every now and then you bump up against a part that presses you to the wall of your ability," Hawke says of playing lyricist Lorenz Hart in 'Blue Moon.' He's nominated for an Oscar for his p…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:41pm on February 2, 2026☆⚑

At a clown school near Paris, failure is the lesson by Rebecca Rosman

For decades, students at the Ecole Philippe Gaulier have been paying to bomb onstage. The goal isn't laughs " it's learning how to take the humiliation and keep going.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 8:42am on February 1, 2026☆⚑

"Wicked" director Jon M. Chu talks Elphaba-branded Swiffers and we preview "Melania" by NPR

"Wicked" director Jon M. Chu talks Elphaba-branded Swiffers and panelists Negin Farsad, Peter Grosz, and Annie Rauwerda preview "Melania: A Documentary"Learn more about sponsor message choic…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:05am on January 31, 2026☆⚑

Best Of: Novelists Liz Moore & Julian Barnes by NPR

Liz Moore's bestselling book, 'Long Bright River,' was set in a troubled Philadelphia neighborhood where she'd worked on a photo essay. "My own family has a long history of addiction. I was …

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 12:10am on January 31, 2026☆⚑

Guillermo Del Toro would 'rather die' than use generative AI by NPR

When Oscar-winning filmmaker Guillermo del Toro was a kid growing up in Guadalajara, Mexico, he would draw monsters all day. His deeply Catholic grandmother even had him exorcised because of…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:58pm on January 30, 2026☆⚑

More staff shakeups at the Kennedy Center by Anastasia Tsioulcas

The departures include Kevin Couch, who was announced as the Kennedy Center's senior vice president of artistic planning less than two weeks ago.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 7:42pm on January 29, 2026☆⚑

WWDTM: Kevin O'Leary by NPR

This week, special guest Kevin O'Leary joins panelists Adam Burke, Shantira Jackson, and Mo RoccaLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:00am on January 24, 2026☆⚑

Best Of: Writers Rachel Eliza Griffiths & Quiara Alegría Hudes by NPR

When writer Rachel Eliza Griffiths married Salman Rushdie in 2021, she expected her wedding  day to be joyful. But the joy was invaded by tragedy, when she got the news her best friend ha…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 12:10am on January 24, 2026☆⚑

A Mel Brooks Appreciation! by NPR

He's the subject of a new two-part HBO documentary by Judd Apatow and Michael Bonfiglio called 'Mel Brooks: The 99 Year Old Man!' It looks at his origins in Brooklyn, his service in WWII,…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 12:15pm on January 23, 2026☆⚑

Writer Quiara Alegría Hudes On 'White Hot' Rage by NPR

The Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright has written a debut novel that asks a provocative question: What if a woman claimed the right to a spiritual quest like men have done for centuries in l…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:05pm on January 22, 2026☆⚑

Here's who's canceled their Kennedy Center performances since Trump took over by Ivy Buck

The Martha Graham Dance Company is just the latest to say they will no longer perform at the Kennedy Center since Trump took over last year.

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:36pm on January 20, 2026☆⚑

WWDTM: Kali Reis by NPR

This week, special guest Kali Reis joins panelists Rachel Coster, Hari Kondabolu, and Luke BurbankLearn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 4:00am on January 17, 2026☆⚑

Best Of: Jodie Foster / Tessa Thompson by NPR

Jodie Foster has been acting since she was 3. At 12 she was nominated for an Oscar for her role in Scorsese's 'Taxi Driver.' This year marks the 50th anniversary of that film. Foster spoke w…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 12:05am on January 17, 2026☆⚑

Remembering Grateful Dead Founding Member Bob Weir by NPR

We remember Bob Weir, founding member of the Grateful Dead, who died last week at 78. The guitarist spoke with Fresh Air Executive Producer Sam Briger in 2016 about working on a ranch, learn…

SOURCE: National Public Radio at 1:40pm on January 16, 2026☆⚑