Beginning Saturday, Oct. 4, listeners will hear new schedules on Wisconsin Public Radio’s news and music networks. On WPR News stations, listeners will hear two new shows during the week and five new shows on the weekend, including the new “Wisconsin Weekend” with local hosts Rob Ferrett and Kate Archer Kent, along with two more hours of national news from NPR. On WPR Music stations, listeners will enjoy two additional hours of classical music each weekend.
“We’re excited to share this new lineup with listeners,” WPR Chief Content Officer Noah Ovshinsky said. “On WPR News stations, we’re adding to an already compelling mix with new conversations about everything from life in Wisconsin to national news, pop culture, history, food and more. If you’re curious about new ideas, perspectives and voices – WPR is here for you seven days a week, whether you listen on your phone, laptop or radio.”
Changes on WPR News
| New Schedule | Day | Time | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend Edition (3rd Hour) | Sat. | 9 a.m. | Wait, Wait … Don’t tell me! |
| Wait, Wait … Don’t tell me! | Sat. | 10 a.m. | Code Switch |
| The Sam Sanders Show | Sat. | 11 a.m. | BETA |
| The Splendid Table | Sat. | 1 p.m. | Zorba Paster On Your Health |
| Wisconsin Weekend | Sat. | 3 p.m. | To the Best of Our Knowledge |
| Weekend Edition (3rd Hour) | Sun. | 9 a.m. | To the Best of Our Knowledge |
| Wisconsin Weekend | Sun. | 10 a.m. | BETA |
| Throughline | Sun. | 5 p.m. | University of the Air |
| Planet Money/How I Built This | Sun. | 6 p.m. | Zorba Paster On Your Health |
| Freakonomics Radio | Wed. | 10 p.m. | To the Best of Our Knowledge |
| Embodied | Thu. | 10 p.m. | To the Best of Our Knowledge |
On Saturday mornings, WPR News listeners can sleep in and still stay informed thanks to an extra hour of NPR’s “Weekend Edition Saturday,” which will now be heard from 7 to 10 a.m. The topical quiz show “Wait, Wait … Don’t Tell Me!,” which will move from 9 to 10 a.m. and replace “Code Switch/Life Kit,” will keep you laughing while it tests your knowledge of current events.
If you keep a list of books to read and movies to see, the always dynamic Sam Sanders returns to WPR with more engaging interviews from the world of pop culture and entertainment. “The Sam Sanders Show” replaces “BETA” at 11 a.m. Francis Lam brings award-winning conversations about cooking – with tips and recipes for you – back to WPR on “The Splendid Table,” which replaces “Zorba Paster On Your Health,” at 1 p.m.
At 3 p.m. WPR’s new “Wisconsin Weekend” is your chance to catch up with some of the most engaging people and stories we’ve shared on “Wisconsin Today” during the week. Whether you’re winding down from a day of chores and errands or transitioning to a night out, hosts Kate Archer Kent and Rob Ferrett will fill your heart and mind with stories about life, community and culture in the state we all call home.
The schedule changes on WPR News stations continue on Sunday mornings with an extra hour of NPR’s “Weekend Edition Sunday,” at 9 a.m., followed by a repeat of “Wisconsin Weekend” at 10. The programs replace “To the Best of Our Knowledge” and “BETA” in those timeslots.
At WPR, we believe that there’s always more to the story and context matters. On Sunday afternoons at 5, NPR’s “Throughline” explores today’s headlines through a time machine – going back through history to answer the question “How did we get here?” The show, which replaces “University of the Air,” connects our past, present and possible futures to give you a refreshing perspective on current events.
WPR News changes on the weekend wrap up with the “Planet Money/How I Built This” hour, which replaces a repeat of “Zorba Paster On Your Health” at 6 p.m. The two shows combine to demystify the economy with entertaining explanations and fascinating interviews with small business owners, CEOs, and more.
During the week, late-night WPR News listeners will hear two new shows starting Oct. 8. On Wednesday nights at 10, “Freakonomics Radio” shares the surprising way economics influences our everyday lives. Then, on Thursday nights at 10, “Embodied” explores our brains, our bodies and the occasional taboo topic. Both shows replace repeats of “To the Best of Our Knowledge.”
Changes on WPR Music
| New Schedule | Day | Time | Replaces |
|---|---|---|---|
| WPR Classical Music | Sat. | 4 p.m. | BETA |
| From the Top | Sun. | 4 p.m. | To the Best of Our Knowledge |
Over on WPR Music stations, listeners will hear two more hours of classical music each weekend starting Oct. 4. On Saturday afternoons, WPR’s expert hosts will bring you an additional hour of beautiful music, replacing “BETA,” from 4 to 5. On Sunday afternoons, tune in to hear some of America’s most talented young classical performers recorded live in concert on “From the Top,” which will replace “To the Best of Our Knowledge,” from 4 to 5.
These schedule changes were prompted by the end of four WPR programs announced in June: “To the Best of Our Knowledge,” “BETA,” “Zorba Paster On Your Health” and “University of the Air.” See the schedule of their final broadcast episodes here.
“We’re incredibly proud of these shows and everyone who worked on them,” Ovshinsky said. “Like the new shows we’ve announced today, they are part of WPR’s unparalleled commitment to free and independent news, information and entertainment for all. If you share our belief that Wisconsin is better because of public media, we hope you’ll tune in, tell a friend and make a gift to support our service to all Wisconsinites.”
We are excited about the new schedule and hope that you will tune in and let us know what you think. Please listen and share your thoughts with us by emailing listener@wpr.org or by calling Audience Services at 1-800-747-7444.
