World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
World Cafe is a live performance and interview program produced by WXPN, featuring music and conversation with a wide range of important musicians. Each episode includes intimate performances and in-depth interviews, offering listeners a unique behind-the-scenes look at the artists' creative processes. The podcast covers various genres and highlights both emerging and established talent.
Episodes
What was the soundtrack of the American Revolution?
World Cafe took a visit to the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia to discover the conflict's musical history.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
Honoring Philly's rock history with The Hooters
It's a historic weekend in Philadelphia. We're celebrating with some local veterans who've been playing together for 35 years. The Hooters at World Cafe Live:"All You Zombies""One Of Us""Time After Time""And We Danced"This episode of World Cafe was produced and edited by Miguel Perez. Our senior producer is Kimberly Junod and our engineer is Chris Williams. Our programming and booking coordinator
World Cafe: DJ Jazzy Jeff
The DJ and producer recounts his early days in West Philadelphia and musical partnership with Will Smith. 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
No one rings in the new year quite like Philadelphia's Mummers
Step inside a Philly clubhouse, where the Woodland String Band is preparing for the next Mummer's Day Parade.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 Philly's DIY music scene, the spirit is 'do it together'
World Cafe hears from members of the city's ever-changing DIY music scene, both past and present.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
Todd Rundgren remembers his formative years in Philly
The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame honoree looks back at his childhood influences and early musical projects that preceded his 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
Master bassist Stanley Clarke's 'quest in life' is simple: Sound great
World Cafe sits down with a Grammy Award-winning jazz master as part of its Sense of Place: Philadelphia series.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
Record producer Will Yip says Philly is the 'center of indie rock music'
World Cafe steps inside the Grammy Award-winning producer and engineer's new studio in South Philly as part of its latest Sense of Place series.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
There's no part of the music industry Dyana Williams hasn't touched
The radio DJ, journalist and activist shares tales from her storied career for the first installment of our series, Sense of Place: Philadelphia.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
Acadiana Music Showcase: Dwight James & the Royals
The Lafayette, La., band channels the spirit of classic soul, blues and R&B with a sound that is as timeless as it is fresh.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
Hiss Golden Messenger doesn't want to throw in the towel
Frontman MC Taylor talks about infusing the band's latest album, I'm People, with a sense of hope.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: Michael Imperioli
The Emmy Award-winning actor sits down with World Cafe's Raina Douris to share some of the songs that have defined his story so far.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
On his latest album, Rostam asks what it means to be American
The musician, producer and Vampire Weekend cofounder shares musical insights from American Stories.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 Sotomayor
The Mexico City duo performs songs from their latest album, WABI SABI.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 Courtney Barnett's meeting with a mantis led to 'Creature of Habit'
The Australian musician's search for meaning amid a sea of change in Southern California set the backdrop for her new 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
Say She She on their latest album, 'Cut & Rewind'
Piya Malik, Nya Brown and Sabrina Cunningham join us to talk about their third 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
Why did José González use generative AI on his latest album?
The Swedish songwriter and humanist says Against the Dying of the Light is "an urgent call to preserve the light of humanity."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
Jazz guitar legend Bill Frisell looks back on his 40-year career
Bill Frisell performs a song made famous by Barbra Streisand, live for World Cafe.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
Joshua Ray Walker on his latest album, 'Ain’t Dead Yet'
Following a cancer diagnosis, the Dallas country musician confronts mortality on his latest record.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
Jack Antonoff on Bleachers' new album, 'everyone for ten minutes'
The Bleachers frontman and record producer talks about making everyone for ten minutes.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 The Belair Lip Bombs
The Australian indie rock band performs songs from their latest album, Again.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
In 1971, Aretha Franklin captured the energy of the counterculture movement
World Cafe correspondent John Morrison reflects on the legacy of Aretha Live at Fillmore West.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
Genesis Owusu on his latest album, 'Redstar Wu & the Worldwide Scourge'
The Australian musician's third studio album reflects on the social and political turbulence of modern times.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
Acadiana Music Showcase: Corey Ledet
The Grammy Award-nominated zydeco musician performs songs from his latest album, Live in Alaska.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 Julianna Riolino
The Ontario musician performs songs from her sophomore album, Echo in the Dust.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
Sally Baby's Silver Dollars pours their heart into every performance
The New Orleans band performs songs from their new self-titled debut EP.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
MUNA makes 'all-consuming limerence' sound so good on new album
The Los Angeles trio joins World Cafe to talk about their fourth studio album, Dancing on the Wall.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
Amy Grant returns with 'The Me That Remains'
The Christian pop mainstay's latest record is her first in 13 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
Samm Henshaw on his latest album, 'It Could Be Worse'
The English musician joins World Cafe to talk about his second 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
Kacey Musgraves is having the time of her life in the 'Middle of Nowhere'
Following a trip back to her Texas hometown, Musgraves imbued her new album with a traditional country sound, plus features from Willie Nelson, Miranda Lambert and more.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 Pigeons Playing Ping Pong
Since their formation almost two decades ago, this Baltimore group has become one of the premier attractions in the jam band world.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
Beverly and Elizabeth Glenn-Copeland are facing mortality with unadulterated joy
Glenn-Copeland and his wife worked together on Laughter in Summer, a record that contends with the electronic music pioneer's recent diagnosis with a major cognitive disorder.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
Acadiana Music Showcase: Grand Nathaniel
Grand Nathaniel, a fixture in the Lafayette, La., scene for over 30 years, performs songs from his latest album, Lonely Wanderer.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
Squeeze closes the loop on songs they first started writing as teens
The English rock band's latest album, Trixies, consists of material Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook wrote when they were 19 and 16 years old.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
Jessie Ware dances toward something deeper on 'Superbloom'
On her sixth studio album, the English singer crafts a place where pleasure, joy and real connection commingle.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 Rage Against the Machine's 'Evil Empire' unified the masses
World Cafe correspondent John Morrison says the rock band's second studio album was "one of the most inspired, quintessential mainstream rock records of the '90s."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
Billy Idol has lived to tell his tale
The rock icon is the subject of a documentary called Billy Idol Should Be Dead. He's also among 2026's Rock & Roll Hall of Fame nominees.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
Mariachi music and punk rock have more in common than you might think
Matt Caughthran, lead singer of The Bronx, talks about the punk band's foray into mariachi music.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 MT Jones
The musician from Liverpool, England, performs songs from his debut album, Joy.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: Tim Heidecker
The comedian and musician joins World Cafe to share the songs that have shaped his 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
30 years in, hip-hop duo Atmosphere still has a lot to say
The Minneapolis duo, Ant and Slug, join us to talk about their latest studio album, Jestures.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
Watch: On his debut solo LP, Flea fulfills a lifelong promise
Long before he became bassist for the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Flea was enamored with jazz music. On Honora, he puts that love to practice.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
