Whether you’re up for a grand audio adventure or just looking for some soothing background tunes, WNYC has you covered this holiday season.
We’ve collected an eclectic and joyful selection of some of the best public radio has to offer to help you settle in, sit back and enjoy a lazy afternoon at home (or that long drive out to grandma’s house in Massapequa). Happy holidays from your friends at WNYC!
Saturday, December 21
4 a.m. and 7 p.m. - The Paul Winter Consort's Winter Solstice Celebration
In 1980, Paul Winter's saxophone first echoed through New York's Cathedral of St. John the Divine to mark the Winter Solstice. This year the Winter Solstice is at 4:21 a.m. Eastern Time, so instead of a new concert Paul combed through the archives and selected his favorite moments from forty years of Winter Solstice celebrations. Hosted by WNYC’s John Schaefer.
11 a.m. - The New Yorker Radio Hour
Senior Producer Adam Howard talks with the actor Willem Dafoe about his long career, including his newest film, Nosferatu (which releases on December 25). Then Howard interviews his father, Rev. M. William Howard, about his experience delivering Christmas services in 1979 to American embassy hostages in Iran. He and his fellow clergymen risked capture themselves and were the first Americans to see the hostages alive.
8 p.m. - A New Standards Holiday With Special Guests
Paul Cavalconte welcomes studio guests for a holiday show of songs and stories. Hilary Gardner and The Lonesome Pines, The Christian Sands Quartet, Melissa Errico with Billy Stritch, and rising star Stella Cole perform American Songbook standards with sugar and spice!
Sunday December 22
7 a.m. - The Splendid Table
This week the team at The Splendid Table are talking about how the world celebrates the holidays with Lisa Kyong Gross, author of The League of Kitchens Cookbook: Brilliant Tips, Secret Methods & Favorite Family Recipes from Around the World. Then we turn to Helen Rosner, staff writer at The New Yorker, about her holiday gift guide for people who love to eat
3 p.m. - The New Yorker Radio Hour
Senior Producer Adam Howard talks with the actor Willem Dafoe about his long career, including his newest film, Nosferatu (which releases on December 25). Then Howard interviews his father, Rev. M. William Howard, about his experience delivering Christmas services in 1979 to American embassy hostages in Iran. He and his fellow clergymen risked capture themselves and were the first Americans to see the hostages alive.
7 p.m. - Throughline: When Christmas Went Viral
Christmas wasn't always a national shopping spree — or even a day off work. But in 19th-century London, it went viral. When Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, the book's tale of miserly Scrooge and the ghosts that transformed him transformed the holiday too, especially in the United States.
9 p.m. - The Big Tiny Desk Concert Holiday Special
Celebrate the season with holiday performances from The Tiny Desk Concert series including Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, Steve Martin, Hanson, The Polyphonic Spree and more. Hosted by NPR Music’s Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson.
10 p.m. - Selected Shorts: Holidays with Mom
Two stories about being home for the holidays and how you can count on your Mom to be there for you—and possibly to complicate things. First, a tale of a disastrous—and hilarious—childhood cooking project. And for part two, the story of a young man who invites his girlfriend to his mother’s annual Hanukkah party.
Monday December 23
2 p.m. - Fresh Air: Christmas Music and Conversation
On the next Fresh Air, some great Christmas music to start your holiday week. Jon Batiste will be at the piano to play, sing and talk about some of his favorite Christmas songs. And we’ll listen back to Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson playing recordings from the Christmas playlist he made for Fresh Air.
Tuesday December 24
2 p.m. - Fresh Air: David Byrne
David Byrne of the band Talking Heads shares his holiday playlist with Terry Gross.
8 p.m. - Selected Shorts: Holiday Hitches
We love the holidays, but sometimes things don’t go as planned. This seasonal special offers three tales about uncommon roads travelled by the celebrants. Writers mesh tradition, humor and family dynamics for the perfect seasonal package.
9 p.m. - Embodied: Is Food The Key To Cultural Belonging?
As a mixed-race adult, Anita Rao has been reckoning with what it means to stay connected to cultural identity. And this holiday season, she’s prioritizing one thing in particular: food.
Wednesday December 25
10 a.m. - A Jazz Piano Christmas
The Kennedy Center and NPR present A Jazz Piano Christmas, the annual sell-out event featuring jazz-infused renditions of the season’s most-loved music. This year, we spotlight remarkable pianist, vocalist, and actress Melvis Santa—whose eclectic Afro-Cuban style has made her one of the most electrifying artists on the scene—in addition to internationally acclaimed Cuban composer and jazz pianist Alfredo Rodriguez. Hosted by Felix Contreras.
11 a.m. - Tinsel Tales: Christmas Stories Told Through Song
NPR revisits interviews with musicians about their Christmas albums. Some, like Katie Melua and Sting, celebrate tradition and winter mystery in their Christmas songs. Others, like Kenny Rogers and Amy Grant, find spirituality and stability in holiday music. Jon Batiste and Anthony Hamilton bring new energy to old favorites on their Christmas albums. Hosted by Lynn Neary.
12 p.m. - Festivo AltLatino with Cantigas
NPR Music's Alt.Latino presents a special holiday concert featuring the 20 piece choral ensemble Choral Cantigas. Hear a traditional Peruvian Christmas carol, folk music from Brazil, Spain and Mexico, plus Parrandas from Venezuela and Puerto Rico. The many rich styles of Latino choral music will unite listeners through the joyful and trans-formative power of music. Hosted by Felix Contreras.
1 p.m. - Hanukkah Lights 2024
This NPR favorite returns with some of our favorite stories from the archives. We’ll hear “Gifts of the Last Night” by Rebecca Goldstein, “Hanukkah Gelt, Hanukkah Money” by Sholem Aleichem, “Gifts of the Jewish Magi” by Allegra Goodman, How to Spell the Name of God” by Ellen Orleans and “Geek Week by Rebecca O’Connell.
8 p.m. - Yiddish Radio Project Holiday Special, Hour One
In 1985, musician and social historian Henry Sapoznik quite literally tripped over a pile of old records in a New York City storage room. They were transcriptions of old Yiddish radio programs, broadcast in the 1930s and 1940s by small New York radio stations serving Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Sapoznik was transfixed by what he heard on these discs, and he spent the next 17 years searching for other recordings. Hour one of a two-part series.
10 p.m. - Q
Brenda Lee is the voice of the iconic song “Rockin Around the Christmas Tree.” Last year the song turned 65 and to celebrate, Brenda joined Tom Power to talk about recording all that time ago, and to look back on her career.
Thursday December 26
8 p.m. - Yiddish Radio Project Holiday Special, Hour Two
In 1985, musician and social historian Henry Sapoznik quite literally tripped over a pile of old records in a New York City storage room. They were transcriptions of old Yiddish radio programs, broadcast in the 1930s and 1940s by small New York radio stations serving Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Sapoznik was transfixed by what he heard on these discs, and he spent the next 17 years searching for other recordings. Hour two of a two-part series.
Friday December 27
8 p.m. - Best of the Soundcheck Podcast 2024
The team behind the Soundcheck podcast series offers their favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year: including Mexico City-based cellist, producer, and singer Mabe Fratti; Brazilian pianist and composer Amaro Freitas; and the soulful mambo of Cuba big band Orquesta Akokán. Plus, Norwegian punk cabaret sextet Kaizers Orchestra, Georgia singer and musician Lizz Wright, and Brooklyn-based Zelenaya with their Eastern European folk songs set to heavy metal.
Saturday December 28
6 p.m. - BBC Correspondents Look Ahead to 2025
Some of the BBC’s finest correspondents look ahead to the coming year and predict what 2025 might have in store.
7 p.m. - Hanukkah Lights 2024
This NPR favorite returns with some of our favorite stories from the archives. We’ll hear “Gifts of the Last Night” by Rebecca Goldstein, “Hanukkah Gelt, Hanukkah Money” by Sholem Aleichem, “Gifts of the Jewish Magi” by Allegra Goodman, How to Spell the Name of God” by Ellen Orleans and “Geek Week by Rebecca O’Connell.
8 p.m. - New Standards Holiday Show
The Third annual New Standards Holiday Show welcomes Stella Cole, Hillary Gardner, Melissa Errico with Billy Stritch, and The Christian Sands Quartet to our studios for songs and holiday cheer. With host Paul Cavalconte.
Sunday December 29
8 p.m. - 2024 Remembered from The Current
Join APM’s The Current in honoring the life, music and legacy of artists we lost this year. This two-hour musical tribute is a celebration of all sounds - from indie to influential - and the perfect way for music lovers to unite in paying homage to artists who have shaped music history.
Tuesday December 31
8 p.m. - Best of the Soundcheck Podcast 2024
The team behind the Soundcheck podcast series offers their favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year: including Mexico City-based cellist, producer, and singer Mabe Fratti; Brazilian pianist and composer Amaro Freitas; and the soulful mambo of Cuba big band Orquesta Akokán. Plus, Norwegian punk cabaret sextet Kaizers Orchestra, Georgia singer and musician Lizz Wright, and Brooklyn-based Zelenaya with their Eastern European folk songs set to heavy metal.
9 p.m. - 12:05 a.m. - New Standards Live New Year’s Eve Special
Wednesday January 1, 2025
10 a.m. - BBC Correspondents Look Ahead to 2025
Some of the BBC’s finest correspondents look ahead to the coming year and predict what 2025 might have in store.
11 a.m. - Yiddish Radio Project Holiday Special, Hour One
In 1985, musician and social historian Henry Sapoznik quite literally tripped over a pile of old records in a New York City storage room. They were transcriptions of old Yiddish radio programs, broadcast in the 1930s and 1940s by small New York radio stations serving Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Sapoznik was transfixed by what he heard on these discs, and he spent the next 17 years searching for other recordings. Hour one of a two-part series.
12 p.m. - Yiddish Radio Project Holiday Special, Hour One
In 1985, musician and social historian Henry Sapoznik quite literally tripped over a pile of old records in a New York City storage room. They were transcriptions of old Yiddish radio programs, broadcast in the 1930s and 1940s by small New York radio stations serving Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe. Sapoznik was transfixed by what he heard on these discs, and he spent the next 17 years searching for other recordings. Hour one of a two-part series.
1 p.m. - Best of the Soundcheck Podcast 2024
The team behind the Soundcheck podcast series offers their favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year: including Mexico City-based cellist, producer, and singer Mabe Fratti; Brazilian pianist and composer Amaro Freitas; and the soulful mambo of Cuba big band Orquesta Akokán. Plus, Norwegian punk cabaret sextet Kaizers Orchestra, Georgia singer and musician Lizz Wright, and Brooklyn-based Zelenaya with their Eastern European folk songs set to heavy metal.