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World Cafe Words and Music Podcast WXPN's live performance and interview program featuring music and conversation from a variety of important musicians
World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

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World Cafe Words and Music Podcast

From NPR

WXPN's live performance and interview program featuring music and conversation from a variety of important musicians

Most Recent Episodes

Arlo Parks find her strength in softness on her sophomore record

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Alexandra Waespi/Courtesy of the artist

Arlo Parks find her strength in softness on her sophomore record

Mercury Prize-winner Arlo Parks chats about her new album, My Soft Machine, plus catch live performances.

Arlo Parks on World Cafe

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Why Dr. Dog's Scott McMicken called on a band of strangers for his solo record

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Wyndham Garnett/Courtesy of the artist

Why Dr. Dog's Scott McMicken called on a band of strangers for his solo record

The musician talks about making Shabang with the help of his group, THE EVER-EXPANDING.

Scott McMicken on World Cafe

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The key to writing a boygenius song? Tell the truth.

boygenius Matt Grub/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Matt Grub/Courtesy of the artist

The key to writing a boygenius song? Tell the truth.

Julien Baker, Phoebe Bridgers and Lucy Dacus chat about group therapy, Rainer Maria Rilke and the making of their debut album as boygenius.

boygenius on World Cafe

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For Lizzy McAlpine, songwriting is all about trusting your instincts

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Caity Krone/Courtesy of the artist

For Lizzy McAlpine, songwriting is all about trusting your instincts

The Philadelphia native chats about the story behind her breakout record, five seconds flat.

Lizzy McAlpine on World Cafe

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Set sail for Caroline Polachek's island

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Aidan Zamiri/Courtesy of the artist

Set sail for Caroline Polachek's island

The pop star talks about the myriad sonic and visual influences behind her new record, Desire, I Want To Turn Into You.

Caroline Polachek on World Cafe

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How Irish folk music inspired Trapper Schoepp's 'Siren Songs'

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Joseph Cash/Courtesy of the artist

How Irish folk music inspired Trapper Schoepp's 'Siren Songs'

The Wisconsin singer-songwriter talks about the influences behind his latest record.

Trapper Schoepp on World Cafe

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'Fuse' reignites Everything But The Girl after a decadeslong hiatus

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Edward Bishop/Courtesy of the artist

'Fuse' reignites Everything But The Girl after a decadeslong hiatus

What started as a casual experiment evolved into the U.K. duo's first studio album in 24 years.

Everything But The Girl on World Cafe

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The Culture Corner: How Massive Attack shook up pop culture in 1998

British group Massive Attack performs to a crowd of approximately 10,000 at Queens Square on Aug. 25, 2003, in Bristol, United Kingdom. The gig was their first live performance in five years. Carl de Souza/Getty Images hide caption

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Carl de Souza/Getty Images

The Culture Corner: How Massive Attack shook up pop culture in 1998

Examining the cultural impact of Massive Attack's biggest record, "Mezzanine."

The Culture Corner on World Cafe

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SYML walks the line between grief and love on 'The Day My Father Died'

SYML Sarah Cass/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

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Sarah Cass/Courtesy of the artist

SYML walks the line between grief and love on 'The Day My Father Died'

The Seattle musician performs songs from his latest album, which features Lucius, Guy Garvey of Elbow, and Sara Watkins of Nickel Creek.

SYML on World Cafe

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How writing songs for 'Multitudes' carried Feist through some big life changes

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Sara Melvin & Colby Richardson/Courtesy of the artist

How writing songs for 'Multitudes' carried Feist through some big life changes

The musician's first full-length album since 2017 was influenced by the birth of her daughter and the death of her father.

Feist on World Cafe

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