WNYC Holiday Specials 2023

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Get in the spirit and celebrate the season with special holiday programming all month long on WNYC.

Tune in to 93.9 FM, AM820, or livestream us anytime.

Hanukkah Lights 2023
Saturday, Dec. 9 at 3:00 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

This NPR favorite returns with the best of the best Hanukkah Lights stories plus a special musical performance by The LeeVees. Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.

A Paul Winter Solstice 2023, hosted by John Schaefer
Thursday, Dec. 21 at 10 p.m.
WNYC-FM

Celebrate the return of the sun with an encore performance recorded in New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine. Musicians include Noel Paul Stookey, also known as Paul from the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary. The Paul Winter Consort Winter Solstice Celebration (its official full title) also features old friends like gospel singer Theresa Thomason and the Forces of Nature dance and drumming troupe from Harlem.

New Standards Christmas Eve-eve with Paul Cavalconte
Saturday, Dec. 23 at 8 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

'Twas The Night Before The Night Before Christmas, and New Standards is your evening holiday soundtrack. Join us for some holiday classics and excerpts from our Greene Space holiday show with Veronica Swift and Benny Benack III. Plus studio performances by Laufey, Samara Joy, and quartet Kings Return. Saturday, Dec. 23, 8-11 p.m.

Ford's Theatre Presents: A Christmas Carol
Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24 at 9 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

WAMU public radio and Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. present a new radio play adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," featuring acclaimed Washington actor Craig Wallace as Ebenezer Scrooge and public radio broadcaster Murray Horwitz as the narrator. This adaptation of the popular holiday tradition captures the magic of Dickens' Yuletide classic. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption.

Selected Shorts: Holiday Hurdles with David Sedaris
Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24 at 10 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

Based in New York City, Selected Shorts takes great stories by well-known and emerging writers and brings them to life by terrific actors of stage and screen. On this special holiday episode, hosted by David Sedaris, we’ll hear "Powder," by Tobias Wolff, performed by Isaiah Sheffer; "Gifts of the Jewish Magi," by Allegra Goodman, performed by Michael Cerveris and Dana Ivey; and "Christmas in New York," by Jeanette Winterson, performed by Richard Masur.

A Christmas Carol from WAMU and Ford’s Theatre
Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25 at 10 a.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

WAMU public radio and Ford's Theatre in Washington, D.C. present a new radio play adaptation of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," featuring acclaimed Washington actor Craig Wallace as Ebenezer Scrooge and public radio broadcaster Murray Horwitz as the narrator. This adaptation of the popular holiday tradition captures the magic of Dickens' Yuletide classic. Join the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future as they lead Ebenezer Scrooge on a journey of transformation and redemption.

A Swinging Holiday Jazz Party with Wynton Marsalis
Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25 at 11 a.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

Produced by our colleagues at WQXR, musician Wynton Marsalis hosts an hour of holiday jazz favorites by Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Cécile McLorin Salvant, Gregory Porter, René Marie and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra.


Jazz Night in America Holiday 2023, hosted by Christian McBride
Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25 at 12 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

On this special episode, pianist Christian Sands shares music and memories from his new holiday record Christmas Stories. Plus, we’ll hear tales of his childhood in snowy New England, the ultimate Christmas party music, and a Jazz Night exclusive track. From WBGO and NPR.

Selected Shorts: Unwrapping the Holidays
Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25 at 1 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

From Symphony Space in New York City, host Meg Wolitzer presents three unexpected stories that let us see the holidays’ associations—family, friends, food, gifts, and goodwill—in different ways. Selections from Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Sherrie Flick, and John Cheever will be read by Jayne Atkinson, James Naughton, Adina Verson and Teagle F. Bougere.

Marketplace's Get Your Money Life in Order
Wednesday, Dec. 27 at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

From Marketplace, host Reema Khrais helps listeners get their financial life together in time for the new year. She unpacks some practical tips, shares a personal money story that is sure to captivate, and interviews a financial therapist to get some useful tips for understanding our relationships with money. This is an hour that will make you laugh, gasp and think about money in a whole new way.

Best of the Soundcheck Podcast 2023
Friday, Dec. 29 at 3 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

The team behind the Soundcheck podcast series offers their favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year: including Mercury Prize-winning London Afrobeat-jazz-hip hop quintet Ezra Collective; drummer Allison Miller’s chamber jazz ensemble; and rising Irish punk band Sprints. Plus, music by Indigenous two-spirit song carrier and activist Jeremy Dutcher; Mexican singer Magos Herrera with members of Brooklyn’s own The Knights; and the duo Grandbrothers, who turn our piano into an electronic music machine.

A New Standards New Year’s Eve LIVE with Paul Cavalconte
New Year’s Eve, Sunday, Dec. 31 at 8 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

Join New Standards host Paul Cavalconte for a musical champagne toast! Featuring American Songbook Classics, Dance Band Standards, the best of '23's new releases and in-studio live performances, all for a festive backdrop to your ball drop! '23 will Skidoo in style, and we'll ring in '24! Requests and shout outs to your party are welcome. Arrive early, stay late! 8 p.m. to just past midnight on WNYC.

BBC Correspondents’ Look Ahead 2024
New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 1 at 10 a.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

2024 will see nearly half of the world’s population going to the polls. Elections will be held in the USA, UK, South Africa, India, Russia, Pakistan, Mexico and Venezuela. How will the results of some of those elections shift the geopolitical tectonic plates? And will the economic picture improve? Big questions, but luckily we have some of the BBC’s best minds on hand to provide plenty of answers.

On the Media’s 2023 Year in Review
New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 1 at 11 a.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

And just like that, 2023 is coming to a close. On this episode of On the Media, a look back at one of the deadliest years for journalists in recent memory, in large part due to the Israel-Hamas war. Plus, how Twitter became X; what reporters uncovered about our courts this year; and the challenges that await media outlets in the upcoming election in 2024. Tune in to hear about the fights, fictions, and things we’re still figuring out.

Best of the Soundcheck Podcast 2023
New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 1 at 12  p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

The team behind the Soundcheck podcast series offers their favorite live performances from the WNYC studios this year: including Mercury Prize-winning London Afrobeat-jazz-hip hop quintet Ezra Collective; drummer Allison Miller’s chamber jazz ensemble; and rising Irish punk band Sprints. Plus, music by Indigenous two-spirit song carrier and activist Jeremy Dutcher; Mexican singer Magos Herrera with members of Brooklyn’s own The Knights; and the duo Grandbrothers, who turn our piano into an electronic music machine.

Call to Mind: Substance Use and New Paths to Recovery
New Year’s Day, Monday, Jan. 1 at 1 p.m.
WNYC AM/FM + NJPR

Addiction is at an all-time high in the United States and the results are deadly. Join Call to Mind for a special exploring substance use disorders in the US. We’ll hear firsthand from individuals who have recovered from substance use disorders, clinicians leading research and transforming the treatment field, and experts as they work to decriminalize substance use disorders.