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A Way with Words is an upbeat and lively show about language examined through culture, history, and family. Language debates, variations, and evolution, as well as new words, old sayings, slang, family expressions, word histories, etymology, linguistics, regional dialects, word games, grammar, books, literature, writing, and more.

A Way with Words

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A one-hour edition of the popular afternoon radio newsmagazine delivering breaking news mixed with compelling analysis, insightful commentaries, interviews and special features, and transforming the way listeners understand current events and view the world.
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Weekend All Things Considered

A one-hour edition of the popular afternoon radio newsmagazine delivering breaking news mixed with compelling analysis, insightful commentaries, interviews and special features, and transforming the way listeners understand current events and view the world.

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Arts & Entertainment

Cormac McCarthy headshot
NPR
Books

Cormac McCarthy, American novelist of the stark and dark, dies at 89

Cormac McCarthy, one of the great novelists of American literature, died Tuesday of natural causes at his home in Santa Fe, N.M.

2 years ago

File photo: Tucker Carlson, host of ''Tucker Carlson Tonight,'' poses for photos in a Fox News Channel studio on March 2, 2017, in New York
Media
National
Politics

Fox News sends Tucker Carlson cease-and-desist letter over Twitter series, reports say

After his April firing, Carlson kicked off a “Tucker on Twitter” series. Two episodes have aired so far.

2 years ago

File photo: Actor Treat Williams attends the world premiere of ''Second Act'' in New York on Dec. 12, 2018. Williams, whose nearly 50-year career included starring roles in the TV series ''Everwood'' and the movie “Hair,” died Monday, June 12, 2023, after a motorcycle crash in Vermont, state police said. He was 71.
NPR
Movies
National
Performing Arts

Actor Treat Williams, star of ‘Hair’ and ‘Everwood’, is killed in a motorcycle crash

Williams made his movie debut in 1975 in the movie “Deadly Hero” and went on to appear in more than 120 TV and film roles and also performed on Broadway.

2 years ago

“''Mother''
History
Philadelphia
Visual Arts

The motherlode: Whistler’s iconic portrait is back in Philly after 142 years

The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s exhibition of the iconic portrait of American motherhood explains how it has European roots.

2 years ago

Listen 1:22
The book store manager in the play speaks with the author, Murasaki Shikibu.
Books
Performing Arts
Philadelphia

This Philly play about a struggling bookstore is helping real bookstores

The play about a 1,000-year-old novelist visiting a struggling bookstore was going to be staged in a bookstore. But the store closed.

2 years ago

Listen 1:51
Sofia Deleon poses with a bottle of her new Guatemalan rum.
Business
Food & Drink
Philadelphia
Billy Penn

El Merkury chef Sofia Deleon is reclaiming a family legacy through rum

Tenango rum will bring a taste of Guatemala to Philadelphia.

2 years ago

Cherry Street Pier NoKidsInPrison
Criminal Justice
Incarceration
Philadelphia
Visual Arts

Cherry Street Pier invites visitors to step inside the youth criminal justice system

The #NoKidsInPrison exhibition advocates for alternatives to youth incarceration through virtual reality and immersive environments.

2 years ago

Listen 1:31
People walk on a street during a street festival.
Things To Do
Community Events
Food & Drink
Music
Performing Arts
Visual Arts

Odunde, Havertown Irish Festival, Shania Twain, Queerapalooza in this week’s ‘Things To Do’

June 8-11: Odunde in Pa., Shania Twain in N.J., and Morris Day and The Time in Del. are among the weekend’s highlights.

2 years ago

Listen 5:28
Chad and Hanna Williams at Friday Saturday Sunday, winner of the 2023 James Beard Award for the nation's best restaurant
Food & Drink
Philadelphia
Billy Penn

Philly’s on top of the food world right now with huge James Beard Award wins

Been to Friday Saturday Sunday? It’s been deemed the nation’s best. And Fork’s Ellen Yin finally got her due.

2 years ago

Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer Astrud Gilberto, UK, 19th June 1965
NPR
International
Music

Astrud Gilberto, ‘The Girl from Ipanema’ singer, dies at 83

One of the shining voices of bossa nova, the Brazilian artist made both herself and the song world famous with her beguiling rendition, kicking off an illustrious career.

2 years ago

Ed Sheeran at Lincoln Financial Field
Food & Drink
Philadelphia
Billy Penn

Ed Sheeran basically won Philadelphia, breaking the Linc’s attendance record and choosing Philips for cheesesteaks

The pop star was “the first celebrity of his magnitude” to visit the West Passyunk steak shop.

2 years ago

John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy with their saxophones.
NPR
Music

John Coltrane and Eric Dolphy’s fearless experiment sets a new album ablaze

The stunning new archival release, Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy, which be will released by Impulse on July 14.

2 years ago

Chuck Todd
NPR
Politics
TV

Chuck Todd, host and moderator of NBC’s ‘Meet the Press’, will step down

NBC's chief White House correspondent, Kristen Welker, will become the show's new host.

2 years ago

Oyster House Shuckfest is a summer tradition. (Courtesy Oyster House)
Food & Drink
Philadelphia

Calling all oyster fans: Shuckfest is back, and it’s bigger than ever

This year, the popular local seafood festival takes place on the Philly waterfront.

2 years ago

A map shows the history of the internet.
Philadelphia
Technology
Visual Arts
Billy Penn

‘What happens if the machines take over?’ Philly’s Liberty Museum is going all in on A.I. art

“Data Nation” takes you into a multidisciplinary meditation on “digital citizenship.”

2 years ago

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