World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
WXPN's live performance and interview program featuring music and conversation from a variety of important musicians
Willow Avalon on her latest album, 'Pink Pocket Pistol'
Willow Avalon is making room for a kind of country song where women can sing about more than just broken hearts. On her new album, she draws on the traditions of her rural Georgia upbringing.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Orville Peck on his latest album, 'Mule'
Orville Peck is famous for wearing a mask, but his new album, Mule, is a deeply personal, vulnerable, chronological account of the year he got sober.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Low Cut Connie on his latest album, 'Livin in the USA'
Low Cut Connie has always been about letting loose. But on Livin in the USA, frontman Adam Weiner wrestles with a country filled with fear and division.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Tune in to a mini-concert with Stephen Wilson Jr.
The Indiana singer-songwriter is nominated for four Country Music Association awards at next month’s ceremony, including male vocalist and new artist of the year.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Like a pink-haired gladiator, Adéla enters the pop arena hellbent on victory
From ballet school to Dream Academy, the Slovakian singer and dancer has been training her whole life for pop stardom.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Revisiting Funkadelic's 'Maggot Brain'
World Cafe correspondent John Morrison talks about the way Jimi Hendrix influenced the band’s playing, and digs into some of the very specific, emotional direction George Clinton gave in the studio during the recording.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Metric on their latest album, 'Romanticize The Dive"
The Canadian band talks about how their latest record looks back on the "indie sleaze" era, plus they play a stripped down set of songs.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Personal Records: Jen Agg
The restaurateur and star of the new Food Network show Restaurant Impossible: Last Call shares the songs that shaped her.Â
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
How a Midwestern landfill inspired Fruit Bats' latest album
Eric D. Johnson, who performs as Fruit Bats, talks about making The Landfill.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
How being 'fake brave' helped The Army, The Navy find real confidence
The bond between Maia Ciambriello and Sasha Goldberg, who perform together as The Army, The Navy, is at the heart of their debut album, Fake Brave Life.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Before the Breakthrough: Selena
For Hispanic Heritage Month, World Cafe is diving into the late Tejano performer's ascent to stardom.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
For Alabama Shakes, making music together again was like 'riding a bike'
The trio returns with their first studio album in 11 years.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
How Brian Jackson reimagined some of his legendary work with Gil Scott-Heron
Jackson and Scott-Heron created some of most memorable protest music of the early '70s, through the duo’s combination of jazz, soul, funk and spoken word poetry. Fifty years later, Jackson’s new album, Now More Than Ever, revisits some of their most iconic songs.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
The Womack Sisters leaned on each other to keep their musical ambitions alive
BG, Zeimani and Kucha Womack are music royalty — nieces to Bobby Womack and the granddaughters of Sam Cooke. Their debut album comes after a series of tragic setbacks.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
John R. Miller takes to the road on 'The Great Unknowing'
Miller's new album is a sort of travelogue inspired by his years as a traveling musician, but it’s also an exploration of quieter moments.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Before the Breakthrough: Los Lobos
For Hispanic Heritage Month, World Cafe is diving into the East Los Angeles band's career and music before "La Bamba" changed everything.Â
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
'You gotta make it wiggly': How The Wiggles set the standard for kid's entertainment
Plus, the Australian children's music group perform a cover of Olivia Dean's megahit, "Man I Need."
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
For Michaela Anne, the 'humdrum is holy'
The singer-songwriter found her way out of a two-year songwriting drought after finding inspiration in the "absolute magic" of everyday life.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Tune in to a mini-concert with Friko
The Chicago band performs music from their sophomore album, Something Worth Waiting For.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Swamp Dogg contemplates the afterlife
The 84-year-old musician and producer has built a cult following for his weird, satirical, hilarious musical personality.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Before the Breakthrough: Daddy Yankee
The Puerto Rican star's 2004 single, "Gasolina," helped launch reggaeton into the stratosphere.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Bedouine builds a home for herself on 'Neon Summer Skin'
After a trip to her childhood home in Saudi Arabia, the Syrian American musician was left contemplating what it means to "be home."
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Tune in to a mini-concert with Brother Wallace
The Georgia singer performs songs from his debut album, Electric Love.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
beabadoobee looks toward what connects us on 'Pylon'
The singer and songwriter joined forces with Chino Moreno, Turnstile's Brendan Yates and more on her grunge-leaning fourth studio album.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Before the Breakthrough: Shakira
For Hispanic Heritage Month, World Cafe is diving into the Colombian star's career before she made her U.S. crossover with 2001's Laundry Service.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Carly Rae Jepsen pulls out all the stops on 'Day and Night'
The Canadian pop star talks about her ambitious double album, becoming a parent and writing music for the Broadway adaptation of 10 Things I Hate About You.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Kelsey Lu faces a reckoning on 'So Help Me God'
The vocalist and cellist also performs a stunning set live from World Cafe's performance studio.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Culture Corner: Revisiting DJ Shadow's 'Endtroducing.....'
World Cafe correspondent John Morrison explains how the California producer's debut album shifted what music could sound like.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Interpol gets experimental on 'This Mirror Weighs a Ton'
Lead guitarist Daniel Kessler joins World Cafe to talk about the band's eighth studio album.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Old Crow Medicine Show reflect on 250 years of U.S. history
Morgan Jahnig and Ketch Secor join us to talk about the band's latest album, Union Made.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Sylvan Esso are finding ways to laugh among the doom
Lead singer Amelia Meath says the album reflects "a decision to continue living despite the fact that we continue being hurt."
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Bruce Hornsby on his latest album, 'Indigo Park'
The record features collaborations with longtime friends like Bonnie Raitt and Bob Weir, as well as a new generation of artists like Ezra Koenig and Blake Mills.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Tune in to a mini-concert with Ryan Bingham
The Oscar-winning musician and actor performs songs from his latest record, They Call Us The Lucky Ones.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
His family thought he was off to college. Dublin rapper KhakiKid had other plans.
The rising artist landed a viral hit in 2025 with "Date Night." He's following it up with a new EP, Girl Bites Dog.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Step into the world of 'Riverdance'
As part of our Sense of Place: Dublin series, World Cafe sat down with Riverdance's principal dancer.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
'Life will always flourish': How Madra Salach turned painful history into joy
The Irish band performs a powerful set of music from their debut EP, It's a Hell of an Age.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Tune in to a mini-concert with Florence Road
The Irish rock band performs music from their latest EP, Spring Forward.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
'It’s the music of my soul': In 2001, Dolly Parton brought bluegrass to World Cafe
Hear previously unreleased live performances from the country icon's bluegrass album, Little Sparrow.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
Dublin band SPRINTS is finding success in a world that's on fire
World Cafe kicks off its latest Sense of Place series with a live session recorded in Ireland.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy
How letting go of control helped Weezer's 20th album shine
Dubbed "the Gold Album," the rock band's latest record marks a new collaborative approach between the original members.
See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for sponsorship and to manage your podcast sponsorship preferences.
NPR Privacy Policy