As much as I like music and often berate the radio for its evil ways, I really do listen to the radio a lot. I had not fully realised this until a few days ago when I caught myself disappointed I missed a particular programme. Depending on my daily mood, I can listen to any number of musical genres but often (especially so at work) if I am not playing CD's from my collection I listen to classical music. But aside from that there are a certain number of specific shows I enjoy throughout the week. Here they are, in chronological order by air time.


BBC NEWS My preferred source of world news is the BBC. Combined with NPR's Morning Edition (see below), the BBC World Report is my one-stop-shop for the majority of my news. Although it is difficult for me to catch the local radio syndication of BBC News because of the times it airs, I do at least fall asleep listening to the night broadcast.

When: Daily at 0000 and 0500
Where: WMFE 90.7 FM
Online: http://news.bbc.co.uk/
Listen: Worldwide Schedule
Stream: Yes


MORNING EDITION I could really care less about the majority of the morning shows on local radio. And then of course the fact that it is indeed morning and I am functioning in only the most basic form. Thus my preferred drive to work aural entertainment comes in the form of National Public Radio's news programme, Morning Edition. Even if I listen to a local station for a while, I generally end up back here.

When: Weekdays from 0600 to 0900
Where: WMFE 90.7 FM
Online: http://www.npr.org/programs/morning/
Listen: Nationwide Schedule
Stream: Yes


THE PHILIPS PHILE Jim, Moira, Jack, Oddo and the Intern host a lively call-in talk show with discussion topics ranging from politics to entertainment and including everything in between. Simultaneously clever, hilarious, intelligent and serious, The Philips Phile has been a show I have enjoyed for more than ten years.

When: Weekdays from 1500 to 1900
Where: WTKS 104.1 FM, XM Radio Channel 152
Online: http://philips.wtks.com
Listen: XM Nationwide Schedule
Stream: Yes


ALL THINGS CONSIDERED An interview and news show, All Things Considered is like Morning Edition in many ways but gets into more detail about the discussed subject matter. While some topics are of little of no interest to me, the quality of the story is often compelling enough to prevent me from switching stations (unless I am switching between this and The Philips Phile).

When: Weekdays from 1600 to 1800
Where: WMFE 90.7 FM
Online: http://www.npr.org/programs/atc/
Listen: Nationwide Schedule
Stream: Yes


ECHOES I like ambient music a lot. Whether am sitting at home working on the computer or driving around town for the sake of driving, I often enjoy the accompaniment of Echoes. Hosted by John Diliberto whose voice is worth a tune-in alone, Echoes features ambient jazz, acoustic, electronic, space music and more from artists spanning every ethnicity, culture, background and generation.

When: Friday to Sunday from 2000 to 0000
Where: WMFE 90.7 FM
Online: http://www.echoes.org/
Listen: Nationwide Schedule
Stream: Yes