Weekend Edition Sunday features interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians. The program has covered news events from Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison to the capture of Saddam Hussein.
Weekend Edition Sunday debuted on January 18, 1987, with host Susan Stamberg. Two years later, Liane Hansen took over the host chair, a position she held for 22 years. In that time, Hansen interviewed movers and shakers in politics, science, business and the arts. Her reporting travels took her from the slums of Cairo to the iron mines of Michigan's Upper Peninsula; from the oyster beds on the bayou in Houma, La., to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park; and from the kitchens of Colonial Williamsburg, Va., to the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated.
In January 2012, Rachel Martin began hosting the program. Previously she served as NPR National Security Correspondent and was part of the team that launched NPR's experimental morning news show, The Bryant Park Project. She has also been the NPR religion correspondent and foreign correspondent based in Berlin.
Every week listeners tune in to hear a unique blend of news, features and the regularly scheduled puzzle segment with Puzzlemaster Will Shortz, the crossword puzzle editor of The New York Times.
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For 100 years, Hollywood has relied on Central Casting. It's the real company behind movie extras—and where stars like Gary Cooper, Hattie McDaniel, and Brad Pitt got their start.
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Snow isn't always white; algae can make it look green, red, or orange, and scientists are trying to understand how and why these colorful patches appear.
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NPR's Daniel Estrin speaks with the stalwart independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch, who wrote and directed "Father Mother Sister Brother."
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Love is in the air, and in the pages! NPR's Books We Love suggests "Heartbreak Hotel," "First Time Caller," "Time Loops and Meet Cutes," "Heart The Lover," "Can't Get Enough," and "Courtroom Drama."
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As a new year begins, a hike up Africa's highest peak is a reminder that slowing down is sometimes the key to success.
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Faith leaders Ginger Gaines-Cirelli, Nihal Khan, and Ari Saks tell us how they've been guiding their congregations this year and what their hopes are for 2026.
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From tough-on-crime politics to uneasy ties with Washington, Latin America's year-end story is one of a decisive rightward turn, insecurity at home and a more complicated relationship with the US.
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We look at a study on how death metal singers produce their otherworldly vocals, and therapeutic applications that researchers are investigating.
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From the advent of AI actress Tilly Norwood to major music labels making deals with AI companies, 2025 has been a watershed year for AI and culture.
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One legacy of the former Soviet Union is the New Year's feast. Ukrainians are reclaiming Christmas and old recipes.