World Cafe
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worldcafe.bsky.social
World Cafe
@worldcafe.bsky.social
Bringing music discovery to nearly a million listeners on NPR stations nationwide, World Cafe is hosted by Raina Douris with contributing host Stephen Kallao and produced by WXPN in Philadelphia.
We asked a long time friend of the Cafe, Josh Ritter, to look back through his catalogue for the latest episode of Backtracking. Josh joins the Cafe's @kallao.bsky.social studio to share some stories and songs.
www.npr.org/2026/01/09/n...
The song Josh Ritter was nervous to share and more stories from his catalog : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
The singer-songwriter joins World Cafe for a new installment of Backtracking, where musicians revisit songs from their back catalog that have shaped their careers.
www.npr.org
January 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Reposted by World Cafe
Tomorrow is the day. Trupa Trupa will appear on @worldcafe.bsky.social, America’s most popular public radio music show. Thank you @rahrahraina.bsky.social for having us 🖤
January 7, 2026 at 8:09 PM
If you are not familiar with them, meet Couch. The band join the Cafe's @kallao.bsky.social for an interview and a special outtasite in studio session. www.youtube.com/watch?v=6R7-...
Couch on World Cafe | Studio Session & Interview
YouTube video by World Cafe
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January 7, 2026 at 10:37 PM
The new music floodgates have opened and we're excited to share this new song from Iron & Wine, "In Your Ocean."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y5G...
Iron & Wine - In Your Ocean (Official Music Video)
YouTube video by IronandWine
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January 7, 2026 at 6:13 PM
Last September, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory performed at WXPN's XPoNential Music Festival. Listen to highlights from the show for a special mini-concert. www.npr.org/2026/01/06/n...
Tune in to a Sharon Van Etten mini-concert : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
Listen to Sharon Van Etten and the Attachment Theory perform at the 2025 XPoNential Music Festival.
www.npr.org
January 7, 2026 at 6:11 PM
It's 50 years to this day that Peter Frampton released the now classic double live album, Frampton Comes Alive. Here's our interview with Peter from 2016, playing acoustic versions of songs from the live lp, and talking about the success of the album. www.npr.org/sections/wor...
Peter Frampton On World Cafe
Hear the English rocker unplug and perform songs from his new album, Acoustic Classics.
www.npr.org
January 6, 2026 at 9:13 PM
Cafe host @rahrahraina.bsky.social chats with KIRBY about her recent album, Miss Black America and delivers some powerful in-studio performances from the lp.

www.npr.org/2026/01/05/n...
KIRBY’s Mississippi roots echo through 'Miss Black America' : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
Kirby Lauryen Dockery has written for stars like Rihanna and Beyoncé, but her latest album centers her own creative legacy.
www.npr.org
January 6, 2026 at 1:34 AM
Reposted by World Cafe
I mean, there could not have been a more perfect ending to your wonderful year of programming than Matt Farley’s live performance of "People Like Raina Douris Because She's Great!" Thanks for bringing us so much great music in 2025, @rahrahraina.bsky.social, and best wishes for the year ahead!
January 1, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Cafe host @rahrahraina.bsky.social talks with Chino Moreno, the frontman for the Deftones about their new Grammy nominated rock album, private music, and other highlights of the band's 30+ year career.

www.npr.org/2026/01/02/n...
Deftones bet against Y2K nostalgia. The move paid off on 'private music' : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
Frontman Chino Moreno says the alternative rock band has defied expectations at every turn. Their Grammy-nominated 10th studio album is no different.
www.npr.org
January 4, 2026 at 11:08 PM
We've done several hundred interviews and sessions this year and one of our favorites was with legend Ringo Starr. Ring in the new year with a listen to Ringo's interview with Cafe host @rahrahraina.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4v_...
Ringo Starr on World Cafe
YouTube video by World Cafe
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December 31, 2025 at 8:12 PM
It might almost be 2026, however we started January 2025 off with one of our favorite interviews of the year, with the legend Herb Albert. The Cafe's @kallao.bsky.social talked w/ Herb about his 50th album and his days at A&M Records, which he co-founded. www.npr.org/2025/01/03/1...
50 albums in, Herb Alpert rarely looks at the past : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
The trumpeter, record producer and visual artist tells stories from his time at A&R Records, working with the Carpenters and his latest album, 50.
www.npr.org
December 30, 2025 at 6:55 PM
Some of our favorite sessions and interviews from the past year included our conversation with Hannah Cohen and the Cafe's @kallao.bsky.social. Hannah's album Earthstar Mountain is one of the best albums of the year. www.npr.org/2025/05/27/1...
How Hannah Cohen found a muse in the Catskill Mountains : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
The singer-songwriter talks about her latest record, Earthstar Mountain.
www.npr.org
December 30, 2025 at 12:49 PM
Looking back on some of our favorite interviews and sessions from the year, here's Perfume Genius, who chatted w/ Cafe host @rahrahraina.bsky.social about his latest album, Glory, and performed an exclusive set of songs.

www.npr.org/sections/wor...
Why is Perfume Genius obsessed with demented things?
Mike Hadreas, of Perfume Genius, talks about his latest album, Glory, and he performs in an exclusive set for World Cafe.
www.npr.org
December 29, 2025 at 10:53 PM
Happy holidays from Old Crow Medicine Show. Ketch Secor and Cory Younts talk about why they wanted to make their first Christmas album 25 years, reinterpreting some classics and writing new, original songs.
www.npr.org/2025/12/25/n...
Happy holidays from Old Crow Medicine Show : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
The Americana band join us to talk about their first-ever holiday album, OCMS Xmas.
www.npr.org
December 27, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Happy holidays from all of us! For the first of a couple special holidays shows, we're happy to have Jake Shimabukuro join the Cafe's @kallao.bsky.social to talk about Jake's new holiday album.

www.npr.org/2025/12/24/n...
Jake Shimabukuro rings in the holidays with 'Tis The Season' : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
The Hawaiian ukulele marvel is joined by Yo-Yo Ma and Michael McDonald on his new holiday album, Tis The Season.
www.npr.org
December 24, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Our long time friend Kathleen Edwards released an excellent new album this year, Billionaire. Raina @rahrahraina.bsky.social talks w/ Kathleen about the making of the new lp, co-produced with Jason Isbell along with live performances from the WXPN music fest in the Fall

www.npr.org/2025/12/22/n...
Kathleen Edwards on her latest album, 'Billionaire' : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
The Canadian singer-songwriter talks about working with Jason Isbell, plus Edwards performs songs from Billionaire live.
www.npr.org
December 23, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Was great catching up with St. Etienne on the Cafe. Kallao @kallao.bsky.social chatted with Sarah Cracknell, Pete Wiggs and Bob Stanley from the group about their new (and final) album together.

www.npr.org/2025/12/18/n...
Saint Etienne go out with a big party on 'International' : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
The English pop band says their latest album will be their last.
www.npr.org
December 19, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Cafe host @rahrahraina.bsky.social chats with journalist, DJ, producer and podcaster John Morrison about the lasting impact and influence of the classic album Mothership Connection by Parliament. xpn.org/celebrating-...
Celebrating 50 years of Parliament's 'Mothership Connection' - WXPN | Vinyl At Heart
The American funk band, led by George Clinton, made more than just music — they had a revolutionary vision including stage performance, art and more.
xpn.org
December 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Madison Cunningham joined Cafe host Raina @rahrahraina.bsky.social to perform in front of a small audience and talk about her new album, Ace.
www.npr.org/sections/wor...
How Madison Cunningham went from heartbreak to writer's block to 'Ace'
On her latest album, the California singer-songwriter creates delicate but powerful songs about falling in and out of love.
www.npr.org
December 16, 2025 at 7:40 PM
With a new 30 song epic in tow, Jeff Tweedy, along with his two sons and close family friends and musicians Sima Cunningham, Macie Stewart and Liam Kazar, visited the Cafe studios to perform some of those new tunes and talk with the Cafe's Kallao @kallao.bsky.social
www.npr.org/2025/12/12/n...
How Jeff Tweedy's sons gave 'Twilight Override' an extra layer of trust : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
The making of Tweedy's massive triple album was a family affair, with his sons providing percussion, vocals and synthesizer work to the record.
www.npr.org
December 12, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Here's some musical moments we loved this year. www.npr.org/sections/wor...
13 musical moments World Cafe loved in 2025
To close out the year, World Cafe shares some of their personal favorite music-related moments.
www.npr.org
December 10, 2025 at 2:51 AM
SInger-songwriter S.G. Goodman visits the Cafe and talks with Kallao @kallao.bsky.social about her new album. Planting By The SIgns.

www.npr.org/2025/12/09/n...
How living 'by the signs' led S.G. Goodman to her latest album : World Cafe Words and Music Podcast
The Kentucky-born musician's latest album, Planting by the Signs, ruminates on the Appalachian traditions she grew up with.
www.npr.org
December 10, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Reposted by World Cafe
Robert Plant is on @npr.org's @worldcafe.bsky.social to talk with host @rahrahraina.bsky.social about his new band, Saving Grace, and their new album, 'Saving Grace.' He and the band perform three songs from the album live. You can hear it at www.nonesuch.com/journal/list...
December 5, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reposted by World Cafe
@robertplant.com is on @npr.org's @worldcafe.bsky.social to talk with host @rahrahraina.bsky.social about his new band, Saving Grace, and their new album, 'Saving Grace.' He and the band perform three songs from the album live. You can hear it at www.nonesuch.com/journal/list...
December 5, 2025 at 9:27 PM