In a survey this spring, you said the news is important, that you wanted more arts and culture programming and that occasionally, it's nice to take a break from the constant stream of current events.
We heard you.
Interlochen Public Radio is announcing changes to its programming schedule, effective June 30, 2025, meant to bring new voices, great music and more of Michigan to our air.
These changes will happen only on our news services: WICA 91.5 FM in Traverse City; WLMN 89.7 FM in Manistee and Ludington; and WHBP 90.1 FM in Harbor Springs and Petoskey.
None of these changes will affect what you hear on Classical IPR.
New voices: Native America Calling, a live national call-in show, will air at 1 p.m. each weekday. IPR will be the only station in Michigan airing this program. Today, Explained joins our lineup weeknights at 6 p.m., doing a deep dive into the story of the day, from Vox. And This Old House Radio Hour brings the knowledge of a public television institution to public radio, primed as good listening for your weekend projects.
Great music: World Cafe will be heard weeknights from 8 to 10 p.m., and catch Mountain Stage on Sunday evenings. These shows will offer an evening respite from the busy churn of the news day. On the weekend evenings, you’ll also hear Tiny Desk Concerts, NPR’s popular web feature that just became its own radio show earlier this year. And Local Spins, a showcase of Michigan-made music, will continue airing at 7 p.m. Saturdays, where it’s been since February.
More Michigan: Hear Stateside from Michigan Public with an additional airing weekdays at 7 p.m., enabling us to bring you the Friday episode! (The Monday-through-Thursday 3 p.m. airing will remain, too.)
Find the National Writers Series at two prominent spots in our weekly lineup. And tune in for a more localized Morning Edition than ever before, weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m.
There’s lots more. Read on for details!
Why are we making these changes?
Midway through 2024, we decided to reassess the programs we air, and we began a process focused entirely on audience experience. It's worth noting that this discussion began before federal funding to public broadcasting was imperiled, and while we'll save some money with this new lineup, our decisions were based on listener service.
In May, we asked your opinion on our programming and received more than 300 responses. Your feedback rescued a few things we were thinking about cutting, and reinforced a lot of our thinking, and what studies have shown us.
People care deeply about the news and want their public radio service to keep them informed, especially in a time of rapid change and major local and world events. They want to trust the journalism they hear. And they especially want connection to their local communities.
But we also know that people feel news fatigue. They want to be informed, but the constant barrage of headlines can get exhausting. They want news, but they also want uplift. That’s what we heard from you, and it’s what we know more broadly through surveys – including one that specifically asked public media audiences about their unmet needs.
We also know through our surveys of listeners, and plenty of conversations, that you are eager for more arts and culture programming and news coverage on IPR.
We hope that, starting June 30, these new programs help address that and provide you with a listening experience that is informative, inspiring and uplifting.
New to IPR, starting June 30
We’re pleased to add a bunch of programs not heard before on our air. Here’s more about them, often in their own words, with links to their websites:
Local Spins | Longtime Grand Rapids music journalist John Sinkevics publishes the Local Spins website and its spinoff podcast and radio show, which IPR picked up earlier this year. It’s an hourlong review of Michigan music and musicians, featuring performances and interviews. We’ve been airing this show Saturdays at 7 p.m., since February, but it’s new enough that we thought we’d mention it!
World Cafe | The two-hour daily program features a mix of artist interviews with in-studio performances by both established and emerging artists. The music selection encompasses singer-songwriters, classic rock, indie rock, Americana, alt-country, blues, world music, R&B and soul. It is the nation’s most listened-to public radio music program. Weeknights, 8-10 p.m.
Mountain Stage | Since 1983, Mountain Stage has been the home of live music on public radio. Produced by West Virginia Public Broadcasting and distributed by NPR Music, each two-hour episode of “Mountain Stage” is recorded in front of a live audience. The show features seasoned legends and emerging stars in genres ranging from folk, blues, and country; to indie rock, synth pop, world music, alternative, and beyond. Sundays at 7 p.m.
Tiny Desk Concerts | NPR’s popular web feature became a full radio show in April. We’re thrilled to add it to our lineup, and to increase music programming in our weekend evenings. Hear music and conversation with emerging and established artists, Saturdays at 6 p.m.
Global Village | With a fresh, inventive mix of global sounds and styles and a welcoming presentation, this award-winning show speaks to the joys of musical discovery and smart entertainment with diverse and engaging world music that appeals to a broad audience. Sundays at 9 p.m.
Native America Calling | This live call-in program links public radio stations, the Internet and listeners together in a thought-provoking national conversation about issues specific to Native communities. Native America Calling is heard on nearly 90 public, community and tribal radio stations in the United States and in Canada. IPR becomes the first Michigan station to air the show. Weekdays at 1 p.m.
Today, Explained | This 30-minute program is Vox’s daily news explainer show. Every weekday, hosts Noel King and Sean Rameswaram take on one essential news story that defines our moment. Through on the ground reporting, discussions with journalists, academics, policymakers, and more, the Today, Explained team helps us understand every story and why it matters. Hear it weeknights at 6 p.m., ahead of Marketplace, which remains at 6:30.
The New Yorker Radio Hour | David Remnick, the editor of The New Yorker, is joined by the magazine’s award-winning writers in a weekly hour of radio that will both delight and inform. The New Yorker Radio Hour features a mix of profiles, storytelling, and insightful conversations about the issues that matter ― plus an occasional blast of comic genius from the magazine’s legendary Shouts and Murmurs page. Sunday at 2 p.m.
This Old House Radio Hour | Hosted by This Old House editor Jenn Largesse and featuring all your favorite TOH experts, each episode blends practical advice with rich storytelling. Whether you’re tackling a DIY project, renovating a historic home, or simply fascinated by the way we shape—and are shaped by—the spaces we live in, this show has something for you. Expect expert guidance from a roster of top builders, designers, and craftspeople who answer your home improvement questions—covering everything from plumbing to flooring, framing to finishing. Saturday at 1 p.m.
Same show, new time
Some of your old favorites will now air at different times. A few key points:
- Living on Earth, now 2 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Saturday.
- The early morning airing of On the Media each Sunday moves to 6 a.m.
- TED Radio Hour, now 7 a.m. Saturday.
- Left, Right and Center moves from Friday nights to Sunday mornings at 11 a.m., a time we hope will bring more ears to this important week-in-politics recap from across the political spectrum.
- The National Writers Series, produced right here in northern Michigan, will now be heard at 2 p.m. Wednesday and 1 p.m. Sunday. We’re particularly excited about the Sunday airing, between the very popular A Way with Words and the new-to-us New Yorker Radio Hour – a nice block of Sunday afternoon dedicated to words, writing and big ideas.
What’s going away?
To make room for new shows, some things will be leaving our air, including Here & Now, Inside Europe, LiveWire, Midnight Special, PRX Remix Select, Selected Shorts, Sound Opinions, The Middle with Jeremy Hobson and To the Best of Our Knowledge.
We should note — To the Best of Our Knowledge, produced by Wisconsin Public Radio, announced it will end all production later this year, after 35 years.
We are grateful to the makers of all these shows for the hard work and great programming they’ve provided and for the work they continue to do.
What’s not changing?
Many programs are staying put, right where you’ve always heard them. Morning Edition, All Things Considered, 1A, Fresh Air, This American Life, Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!, and Science Friday are staples of our lineup and not going anywhere. There are others, too.
We’re also maintaining our commitment to local news. These changes do not reduce the time we have to share local stories with you. If anything, that will increase, through a more locally focused presentation of Morning Edition.
Thank you for listening and supporting IPR!
As always, your feedback is welcome. Email us at ipr@interlochen.org.