Call me old-fashioned, but I love listening to the radio… and I don’t just mean music. I love radio shows, the kind that make you laugh, cry, and think. If you’ve never listened to anything other than Dr. Laura and Howard Stern, then you may not know what I mean, and you’re really missing out! Here’s my list of 7 great radio shows… you must listen to them!
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This American Life
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Listen at thisamericanlife.org
This is my absolute favorite radio show, telling three stories each week on the same theme, hosted by Ira Glass. It will make you laugh, make you cry, and most of all, make you think. The best part? The stories are all extraordinary because they’re true, told by regular Americans. I love it! I’ll load a few podcasts on my iPod when I’m out for a walk or I’m working out… my all-time favorite is episode # 175, “Babysitting.” Download the podcast or listen online, especially to the last segment. Riveting!
Here and Now
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Listen at hereandnow.org
This show airs daily, covering just about any topic that’s in the media, with an upbeat, unbiased approach. It’s hosted by Robin young. The segments are typically brief, covering about six per episode, but they cover angles that most other news shows don’t, which I appreciate.
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Talk of the Nation Science Friday
Listen at sciencefriday.com
If you’re at all interested in science news and reviews, then this is the show for you! It airs each Friday and is hosted by Ira Flatow, my favorite science and technology nerd. He always has the most interesting guests and covers the coolest, or nerdiest, science stuff.
Timewarp
Listen at 89xradio.com
This is a radio show out of Detroit, and it airs each Sunday morning. It plays music, MY music, the best music ever — 1980’s alternative and new wave music. The DJ, Cristina, plays everything from Morrisey and the Smiths and Depeche Mode to more obscure but still wonderful Chapterhouse and Ride.
Car Talk
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Listen at cartalk.com
This call-in show, hosted by two brothers, is so popular, they even appeared in the Disney • Pixar movie “Cars.” As the name implies, they take phone calls from people who have issues with their cars. What the name doesn’t tell you is the best part — they’re hilarious! And they’re usually right.
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Fresh Air
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Listen at npr.org
Host Terry Gross has interviewed everyone, from KISS star Gene Simmons to Bob Hope. She asks the questions I would ask, and never loses her cool… well, she RARELY loses her cool… Gene Simmons really gave her a run for her money…
The Story
Listen at thestory.org
This is an hour-long show that tells one story each episode. Each story is unique, told by a person or a small group of people, and the topics are so varied: a veteran tells of his experiences coming home, a family tells the story of the foreclosure and loss of their home, an older couple tells the story of the husband’s battle with Alzheimer’s. What I love about this show is how gritty and real it is…
Give each of these shows a listen, and you’ll be hooked! Which is fine, really… soon you’ll be slapping bumper stickers on your car, telling the world you love Car Talk and This American Life… just like me! Or maybe you already have a favorite radio show? If so, tell me about it! I’d love to listen!
