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Ryan Benk
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Ryan Benk

Ryan Benk

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Saturday

Culture

Meet the people working on the holidays so you don't have to

The holidays aren't a holiday for everyone. We check in with people — from zookeepers to police officers — to hear what it's like to work on days when others are celebrating at home with loved ones.

Meet the people working on the holidays so you don't have to

Listen · 3:57
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Sunday

Health Care

Amazon is getting into health care. Will it actually make care more accessible?

Amazon is now offering discounted subscriptions to primary care. Ayesha Rascoe talks to healthcare writer Bruce Japsen about what ventures like these signal for patients.

Amazon is getting into health care. Will it actually make care more accessible?

Listen · 5:26
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Saturday

'It's freedom': Cher on singing, her mother and her first holiday album, 'Christmas'

Cher's once again trying something new: a Christmas album. An Le/Warner Records hide caption

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An Le/Warner Records

Music Interviews

'It's freedom': Cher on singing, her mother and her first holiday album, 'Christmas'

A first in a career spanning six decades: Cher has a Christmas album. She talked with NPR about her mother, her experience working with Stevie Wonder, and the time she hopped a freight train at age 9.

'It's freedom': Cher on singing, her mother and her first holiday album, 'Christmas'

Listen · 11:41
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Saturday

Health

A new drug is worsening the opioid crisis in Philadelphia

The Kensington neighborhood in Philadelphia has been dealing with an opioid crisis for years. A drug known as "tranq" is further complicating an already fraught situation.

A new drug is worsening the opioid crisis in Philadelphia

Listen · 10:44
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Saturday

Author Interviews

Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key on their new book about the history of sketch comedy

NPR's Scott Simon asks Keegan-Michael and Elle Key about their new book, "The History of Sketch Comedy."

Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key on their new book about the history of sketch comedy

Listen · 10:04
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Sunday

Author Interviews

Rachel Harrison on her new horror novel 'Black Sheep'

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Rachel Harrison about her new horror novel, "Black Sheep," which asks what must be sacrificed in order to go home again.

Rachel Harrison on her new horror novel 'Black Sheep'

Listen · 7:23
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Sunday

Music

The Library of Congress' latest addition is a guide to African American banjo music

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks with researcher Joe Johnson and musician Jake Blount about the new Library of Congress guide to African American banjo music resources in its collection.

The Library of Congress' latest addition is a guide to African American banjo music

Listen · 10:19
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Sunday

Music

How the brain processes music, with a little help from Pink Floyd

Scientists at University of California Berkeley have recreated a Pink Floyd song using previously recorded brain waves. In the process, they've learned a lot about how the brain processes music.

How the brain processes music, with a little help from Pink Floyd

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Sunday

Saturday

Music

Black Opry founder Holly G. is fighting for Black country music to be recognized

NPR's Scott Simon talks to Black Opry founder Holly G. about Jason Aldean's latest single and the fight to recognize Black contributions to country music.

Black Opry founder Holly G. is fighting for Black country music to be recognized

Listen · 6:11
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Music

Nicolle Horbath sings about the pandemic with a bossa nova twist

NPR Tiny Desk Contest entrant Nicolle Horbath composed songs about the pandemic but gave them a bossa nova twist.

Nicolle Horbath sings about the pandemic with a bossa nova twist

Listen · 16:36
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Sunday

Music

Bettye LaVette's new album is brimming with soulful confidence

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to soul singer Bettye LaVette about her new album, "LaVette!" and her years of performing on the club circuit.

Bettye LaVette's new album is brimming with soulful confidence

Listen · 9:38
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Movies

'Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares' profiles Freddy Krueger actor

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe speaks to actor Robert Englund about his new documentary, "In Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares:The Robert Englund Story" in which he explains why he doesn't fear being a genre icon.

'Hollywood Dreams and Nightmares' profiles Freddy Krueger actor

Listen · 8:05
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Sunday

Author Interviews

'Killing It' onstage turns literal for these comics in Mike Bockoven's new novel

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to author Mike Bockoven about his new book Killing It, a darkly funny story about four standup comedians who face literal death in a comedy club.

'Killing It' onstage turns literal for these comics in Mike Bockoven's new novel

Listen · 8:04
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Sunday

National

1,500 service members will be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border this week

NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Alex Aviña, of Arizona State University, about the history of US troops along the border with Mexico. 1,500 service members will be deployed this week.

1,500 service members will be deployed to the U.S.-Mexico border this week

Listen · 6:06
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Sunday

Books

Stephen Buoro on his comic novel 'The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa'

A Nigerian teen obsessed with the West comes of age in a dangerous country. NPR's Camila Domonoske talks with Stephen Buoro about his comic novel, "The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa."

Stephen Buoro on his comic novel 'The Five Sorrowful Mysteries of Andy Africa'

Listen · 7:50
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Sunday

Culture

Streaming changed the Hollywood landscape. Now its writers are voting to go on strike

As members of the Writers Guild of America wrap up voting on whether to authorize a strike, NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks to two writers about the changing content landscape in Hollywood.

Streaming changed the Hollywood landscape. Now its writers are voting to go on strike

Listen · 6:11
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Sunday

Books

Rachel Eve Moulton on her horror novel 'The Insatiable Volt Sisters'

A Victorian mansion on a Lake Erie island and half-sisters with a terrifying legacy: NPR's Ayesha Rascoe talks with Rachel Eve Moulton about her new horror novel, "The Insatiable Volt Sisters."

Rachel Eve Moulton on her horror novel 'The Insatiable Volt Sisters'

Listen · 8:03
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Thursday

Some parents vaccinated against COVID are hesitant to get their children vaccinated

A 13-year-old receives his first Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination. The FDA may soon authorize the vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11. Shafkat Anowar/AP hide caption

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Shafkat Anowar/AP

Health

Some parents vaccinated against COVID are hesitant to get their children vaccinated

A new study shows that two-thirds of parents aren't ready to get their younger kids vaccinated when they're eligible. Like parents did with older kids, many say they're taking a wait-and-see approach.

Some parents vaccinated against COVID are hesitant to get their children vaccinated

Listen · 5:21
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Thursday

Monday

Pride Month

Stonewall Survives The Pandemic And Celebrates Another Pride Month

Fifty-two years ago, police raided the Stonewall Inn in New York which catered to LGBTQ customers. COVID-19 almost closed the bar, but during Pride Month, people have been celebrating there.

Stonewall Survives The Pandemic And Celebrates Another Pride Month

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Sunday

Skepticism Of Science In A Pandemic Isn't New. It Helped Fuel The AIDS Crisis

Dr. Lawrence Mass, who wrote the first article about AIDS in a U.S. publication, points to South Africa when reflecting on the legacy of AIDS denialism. The legacy, he says, is "the death — the preventable unnecessary deaths — of more of 330,000 people" there. Elias Williams for NPR hide caption

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Elias Williams for NPR

Health

Skepticism Of Science In A Pandemic Isn't New. It Helped Fuel The AIDS Crisis

It's been 40 years since the first U.S. AIDS cases were were reported, and some who experienced the early years of the crisis say the effects of denialism then have carried into the COVID-19 pandemic.

Friday

'It's A Sin' Brings A Lost Generation Of Gay Men To Life

Olly Alexander as Ritchie Tozer in It's a Sin. Ben Blackall/HBO hide caption

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Ben Blackall/HBO

Television

'It's A Sin' Brings A Lost Generation Of Gay Men To Life

A new British TV drama looks at the lives of gay men in London at the very start of the AIDS crisis — back when no one wanted to stop the party, and no one thought the virus could touch them.

'It's A Sin' Brings A Lost Generation Of Gay Men To Life

Listen · 7:05
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Tuesday

Trove Of Antique Portraits, Including 1 Of Susan B. Anthony, Found In Attic

David Whitcomb stands surrounded by turn-of-the-century photographs and frames in Geneva, N.Y. David Whitcomb hide caption

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David Whitcomb

National

Trove Of Antique Portraits, Including 1 Of Susan B. Anthony, Found In Attic

The new owner of a building in Geneva, N.Y., found a walled-off room — sealed by drywall and lost to time. There he discovered century-old photographs and equipment — and a mystery.

Trove Of Antique Portraits, Including 1 Of Susan B. Anthony, Found In Attic

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