WPR

The Road To Higher Ground with Jonathan Øverby

Dr. Jonathan Øverby uses the power of music as a “pathway to increasing our understanding of diverse groups worldwide.” Shaped and inspired by his many years of independent travel, research, and engagement with music makers around the globe, Jonathan invites you to tune in and experience an evening of culturally — inclusive celebration of genres — near and far, ancient and modern, familiar and unique.

Schedule

WPR Music, Saturdays, 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Hosted by

Dr. Jonathan Øverby

Playlist Archives

Search here for past playlists, available for you to view Sundays after 12:00 PM. You can also listen to the Saturday broadcast online for two weeks after the original broadcast date on Mondays.

View Playlists

Latest Episodes

#1647 17 January 2026
When life feels heavy, world music has a way of lifting what words can’t. It carries joy, resilience, and spirit—rhythms that steady the heart, melodies that open the mind, and […]
January 17, 2026
#1648 24 January 2026
This week on The Road to Higher Ground, we follow the sound across borders and generations—songs of courage, resilience, and shared humanity. Music that lifts the spirit… and brings us back […]
January 17, 2026
#1646 10 January 2026
Beneath every rhythm lies a mystery… beneath every melody, a story untold calling for deeper understanding of hidden meanings, ancient roots, and spiritual echoes within the world’s music…discover the unseen […]
January 10, 2026
#1645 3 January 2026
“The sky above us is vast— / yet beneath it, / the world comes together / through music. / On The Road to Higher Ground, / hear the pulse of cultures, / […]
January 3, 2026
#1640 29 November 2025
“Across lands and seas… from village drums to cathedral choirs… from the bend of a blue note to the whisper of a bamboo flute… music reminds us that we belong […]
November 29, 2025