Best Helicon Podcasts (2026)

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Midday's Annual Holiday Concert: Helicon & Friends, Live in Studio A 37:46

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8d ago37:46

37:46

Helicon & Friends join Midday in Studio A for a preview of their live Winter Solstice Concerts Saturday at Goucher College's Kraushaar Auditorium.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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In 'The Trouble of Color,' author Martha S. Jones examines how racial lines bisect Black family histories. 48:30

23m ago48:30

48:30

Prize-winning historian Martha S. Jones's The Trouble of Color explores the way racial classifications in America have impacted Black families and identity.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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In 'Eve,' author Cat Bohannon unpacks 200 million years of human female evolution 48:30

1h ago48:30

48:30

Bohannon's best-selling 2023 book, now out in paperback, delves into ancient mysteries about the evolution of the female body and its impact on the human species.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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A cast of characters, old and new, in novelist Amor Towles' 'Table for Two' 24:29

1h ago24:29

24:29

(This episode of Midday originally aired on April 23, 2025.) Best-selling writer, Amor Towles, is the author of three novels, including A Gentleman in Moscow, which was adapted for a television series on Paramount+ starring Ewan McGregor. Towles joins Midday to discuss the writing of his latest work, a brilliant compilation of six short stories set…

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Ruth Franklin's biography of Anne Frank is novel insight into the young memoirist 24:01

1h ago24:01

24:01

(This interview was originally broadcast on April 23, 2025)Journalist and author Ruth Franklin joins Midday. Her biography of the writer Shirley Jackson won the National Book Critics Circle Award nine years ago.Franklin's latest book, The Many Lives of Anne Frank, is another biography. She writes about Frank, the young Jewish girl whose diary, publ…

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Ann Patchett gives a peek into her writing process in annotated version of 'Bel Canto' 48:30

2d ago48:30

48:30

(This conversation was originally broadcast on November 25, 2024) Best-selling author Ann Patchett joins Midday to talk about her most recent book, an annotated edition of her 2001 popular novel, Bel Canto. In the latest version, Patchett walks us through what she wrote, page by page, and comments on what she thinks could be improved. She shares in…

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'Dream Count' weaves stories of disparate women connected by love, desire and the winding pursuit of fulfillment 48:30

3d ago48:30

48:30

(This episode originally aired on Midday on May 12, 2025.) Internationally-acclaimed writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie joins Midday to discuss her latest novel. Dream Count is her first work of fiction since Americanah, which won the National Book Critics Circle Award 12 years ago.Adichie's latest novel is a rumination on friendship and feminism, and…

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In memoriam: Tom Hall's salute to the folks who passed in 2025 8:03

11d ago8:03

8:03

Midday host Tom Hall remembers some of his remarkable Baltimore friends and fellow travelers who departed this Earth in 2025.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Rousuck's Review: 'Deceived' at Everyman: A new take on a classic 9:46

7d ago9:46

9:46

Midday theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck reviews "Deceived," Everyman Theatre's production of a 2024 adaptation of the classic play, "Gas Light."By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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City Council President Zeke Cohen on a stalled housing bill; plus, improving school transportation 28:27

7d ago28:27

28:27

Tom's guest today is the president of the Baltimore City Council, Zeke Cohen.He’s been a strong advocate for a package of zoning bills that originally enjoyed wide support from the council, but now it appears that some members are having second thoughts. Tom and the council president discuss what kind of input from the community council members hav…

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An Ohio megachurch sought to fight racism. A Baltimore political scientist followed their journey. 48:30

8d ago48:30

48:30

What happens when a predominately-white evangelical megachurch in the Midwest creates a program to address racial inequity? Dr. Hahrie Han followed the journey of Crossroads Church in Ohio, where Pastor Chuck Mingo said he felt called by God to combat racial injustice, within the church and their wider Cincinnati community.Han's book, released in S…

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Baltimore Club Music changed dance music forever. A new book charts the genre's emergence. 7:56

10d ago7:56

7:56

If you walked into a Baltimore night club in the 1980s or 1990s, you were likely to hear something like I Got The Rhythm by Sounds of Silence.Baltimore Club Music featured fast-paced, repetitive beats, low-fidelity vocals, a dizzying array of samples and raunchy humor. The influential genre of electronic dance music blossomed in places like Odell’s…

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In 'Willie Nelson: All the Albums,' author Geoffrey Himes shares the stories behind a trove of music 16:02

14d ago16:02

16:02

Midday on Music continues as Tom is joined in the studio by Geoffrey Himes. Himes is an award-winning author, music journalist and podcaster who wrote about music in the Washington Post for 23 years. He has also written for Rolling Stone, the New York Times, Downbeat, Jazz Times, and many other publications. His books include In Law Country: How Em…

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'Shared Wisdom': A top AI expert considers how the potent tech can help us heal our polarized world 48:30

10d ago48:30

48:30

In an era of acute political and social polarization, it's tempting to think of people in America and around the world as sequestered in insular camps, talking over each other and rarely achieving a meeting of the minds that can lead to cooperation and progress.But separating and isolating ourselves from each other attenuates or destroys any chance…

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Sportswriter Jane Leavy's 'Make Me Commissioner' serves up a delightful critique of baseball 37:25

13d ago37:25

37:25

Jane Leavy's latest book is a fact-rich pitch for new rules in baseball to bring more fairness — and fun — back to "America's pastime."

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Rousuck's Review: 'Santa Claus Is Comin'' to Baltimore Center Stage 11:05

14d ago11:05

11:05

Midday theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck spotlights 'Santa Claus is Comin': A Motown Christmas Revue' at Baltimore Center Stage through January 4.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Police Commissioner Richard Worley on rise in porch piracy, hiring new Baltimore cops 48:43

14d ago48:43

48:43

Baltimore City Police Commissioner Richard Worley was named the city's top cop in 2023, after many years working in the department.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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'Tell Me Everything' author Elizabeth Strout finds the quiet meaning in 'unrecorded' lives 48:30

15d ago48:30

48:30

Pulitzer prize-winning novelist Elizabeth Strout's latest book engages characters both familiar and new, as the author explores human relationships and the value of unnoticed, 'unrecorded' lives.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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In 'Injustice,' authors Leonnig and Davis document Trump's political take-down of the US Justice Dept 48:37

16d ago48:37

48:37

Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalists Aaron Davis and Carol Leonnig discuss their probe into Trump's decade-long efforts to subvert the DOJ, and the nation's rule of law.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Maryland Hunger Solutions using activism and education to combat statewide poverty, food insecurity 10:24

17d ago10:24

10:24

MD Hunger Solution director LaMonika Jones discusses efforts to reduce the disturbingly high rates of poverty and food insecurity in Maryland, one of the nation's wealthiest states.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Student Support Network at 10: Alleviating poverty, hunger in Baltimore County's classrooms 16:50

17d ago16:50

16:50

Student Support Network founder Laurie Mitchell-Taylor describes how the 10-year-old non-profit assists needy Baltimore County students with donated food, clothing, school supplies and other support through programs in 21 schools.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Healthwatch: CDC advisors vote to shift decades-old guidance on hepatitis B vaccines 21:29

17d ago21:29

21:29

Dr. Leana Wen is former health commissioner for Baltimore City, and is now a regular columnist on health news at the Washington Post.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Rousuck's Review: Happenstance's 'Juxtapose' at Theatre Project 9:18

24d ago9:18

9:18

Midday theatre critic J. Wynn Rousuck joins Tom for another of her weekly reviews of the Baltimore regional stage, and today she tells us about Juxtapose | A Theatrical Shadow Box, the latest offering from the creative ensemble known as Happenstance Theatre, on stage at Baltimore's Theatre Project December 4 – 21.In Juxtapose, the lives of a group …

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Midday at the Movies: Sizing up Hollywood's holiday-season flicks 39:40

24d ago39:40

39:40

It's Midday at the Movies, our monthly look at films and filmmaking. Joining Tom in Studio A is our favorite movie maven, Jed Dietz, the founder and former director of the Maryland Film Festival. He and Tom take a look at the current crop of Hollywood releases and consider some of our favorite Christmas-season movies, from It's a Wonderful Life to …

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Midday with the Mayor: An ambitious 10-year plan for Baltimore, Bates renews tensions and more. 25:41

26d ago25:41

25:41

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott joins Midday to discuss his 10-year plan for the city's coffers and renewed tensions with State's Attorney Ivan Bates over anti-violence initiatives.Yesterday, Scott released a 10-years Financial Plan for the city that aims to improve delivery of city services, invest in infrastructure, and make its tax rate more compe…

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There's still millions in COVID-era ARPA funds available for Baltimore. 2026 is the final year they can be spent. 19:33

21d ago19:33

19:33

Funds from the American Rescue Plan Act were intended to keep the economy afloat during the COVID-19 lockdown.Baltimore received 631 million dollars, which could be spent on paying essential workers, disaster relief, infrastructure or in response to other negative consequences of the pandemic.83 percent of those funds have been spent as of November…

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After a decade as host, Tom Hall is stepping down from 'Midday' and transitioning to new role at WYPR 3:28

21d ago3:28

3:28

Big changes are coming to Midday.After hosting the program for the past 10 years, Tom decided it is time to step down from the host chair and transition into a new role here at WYPR.Here is his on-air statement from today's episode:I want to let you know about some changes here at Midday that will take place in the next couple of months. It has bee…

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Baltimore's new health commissioner on a new chapter for city's opioid response 34:55

22d ago34:55

34:55

Dr. Michelle Taylor is from Memphis, Tennessee, where she previously ran the region's public health department.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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In latest drama, State's Attorney Bates cuts ties with Mayor's anti-violence initiative 13:53

22d ago13:53

13:53

Ivan Bates has long been a critic of MONSE, the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Safety and Engagement.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Longtime CEO John Racanelli steps down from National Aquarium, will focus on dolphin sanctuary project 21:50

23d ago21:50

21:50

The National Aquarium is approaching a half century on Baltimore's Inner Harbor. Retiring CEO John Racanelli joins us to discuss what comes next.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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MOHS Director Simmons: Responding to the city's surging population of homeless 26:56

23d ago26:56

26:56

Ernestina Simmons, Director of the Mayor's Office of Homeless Services, joins us to discuss her agency's efforts to provide shelter and resources for the growing numbers of unhoused in Baltimore.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Kim Wehle: Trump's assault on the rule of law and the US Constitution 38:17

29d ago38:17

38:17

At President Donald Trump’s insistence, the legal apparatus of the US government has been employed to aggressively pursue his political enemies. James Comey, Letitia James, and John Bolton have been indicted. A judge threw out the charges against the former FBI director and the New York Attorney General, but their legal entanglements with the presi…

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Pathfinders for Autism's 25-year mission to support families, raise public awareness about ASD 11:50

29d ago11:50

11:50

For twenty-five years, an organization started by a former star player for the Baltimore Orioles has been helping individuals with autism and their families.BJ Surhoff played for the Os from 1996–2000 and again from 2003–2005. In 2000, with his wife, Polly, he founded Pathfinders for Autism.Public perceptions of those with autism, also known as aut…

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Midday's 2025 Pre-Thanksgiving Special: 'Whatcha Got Cookin'?' 47:22

1M ago47:22

47:22

John Shields and Damian Mosely, two of Baltimore's most successful chefs, join Tom in Studio A to share favorite Thanksgiving recipes and answer listener questions about fixing the big holiday meal.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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COP30 Climate Summit ends with no new commitment, little progress and increasing urgency 22:35

1M ago22:35

22:35

We begin today with another Midday on the Environment. The United Nations international climate conference known as COP30 was held earlier this month (Nov. 10-21). Politicians, diplomats, business leaders and climate activists from more than 190 countries met in Belem, Brazil, at the gateway to the Amazon rain forest, and at the end of another year…

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In 'A Guardian and a Thief,' author Majumdar illuminates the moral crises posed by climate change 25:57

1M ago25:57

25:57

Tom's next guest is the best-selling Indian-American novelist, Megha Majumdar.Born in Kolkata, India, she moved to the U.S. for her education. She studied at Harvard, and received a graduate degree from Johns Hopkins University. Her first novel, A Burning, was published in 2020. It was nominated for the National Book Award, and several other presti…

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'Family Dynamics' author Thomas Swisher offers a timely guide to navigating big holiday gatherings 38:13

1M ago38:13

38:13

Today on Midday, helping families get along at big holiday gatherings like Thanksgiving and throughout the year. Tom's guest is Dr. Thomas Swisher. He’s an emeritus professor at Stevenson University, a counselor, an attorney, and a mediator who has written a book that explores the ways families operate, and offers tips on coping with conflicts.It’s…

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As winter weather and extreme cold arrive in Baltimore, are you prepared? 10:27

1M ago10:27

10:27

A man between the ages of 30 and 40 was found dead in Frederick County last week, according to news site Maryland Matters . He apparently died of weather-related causes, which marks the first reported cold-related death of the season.Last year, 75 people died because of the cold. According to state data, that is the most in five years.How can you p…

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Rousuck's Review: 'The Trip to Bountiful' at Arena Players 9:00

1M ago9:00

9:00

It's time for another of Midday theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck's weekly reviews of the Baltimore regional stage. Earlier this week, she joined Tom in the studio to spotlight the new production of Horton Foote's The Trip to Bountiful, now on stage at Baltimore's Arena Players.The play tells the story of Carrie Watts, an elderly woman living alone in…

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Sports Wrap: Why on earth did the Orioles trade Rodriguez for Ward? 21:20

1M ago21:20

21:20

Midday guest host and WYPR news director Matt Bush turns now turn to the world of Orioles baseball and a head-spinning player trade that occurred earlier this week.Grayson Rodriguez, long considered the team's top pitching prospect, was traded away to the Los Angeles Angels, in return for Angels' outfielder Taylor Ward.The reaction from fans pinged…

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WYPR reporter Scout Maucione on new insights from investigation into Key bridge collapse 18:21

1M ago18:21

18:21

Earlier this week, investigators with the National Transportation Safety Board released a report with new details into the collapse of The Francis Scott Key Bridge in the early morning hours of March 26th, 2024.The tragedy claimed the lives of 6 construction workers who were fixing potholes on the bridge at the time.The NTSB report takes us deep in…

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Bob Embry, who had a hand in Baltimore's defining developments, steps back from leading Abell Foundation 48:48

1M ago48:48

48:48

Some of the most important examples of our city’s urban renewal were guided by Bob Embry’s imagination and skill. The Inner Harbor, the Maryland Science Center, the National Aquarium, the subway system and the “dollar house” program that helped revitalize some of Baltimore’s most troubled neighborhoods, all bear the Embry stamp.In 1987, he became t…

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Zeke Cohen on smoke shop legislation, city's homeless services and more from inside City Hall 27:09

1M ago27:09

27:09

City Council President Zeke Cohen joins Midday to talk about the latest news from inside City Hall.We ask him about new legislative efforts to curb the proliferation of smoke and vape shops in Baltimore City. Plus, an effort to study stubbornly high rates of chronic absenteeism among students.By WYPR 88.1 Baltimore

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Improving Baltimore's response to behavioral health emergencies 21:40

1M ago21:40

21:40

Two leading advocates for behavioral health crisis response discuss efforts to improve Baltimore's civilian-led services for people experiencing mental health emergencies.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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In her final year, City Schools CEO Sonja Santelises reflects on moving Baltimore students in the right direction 48:42

1M ago48:42

48:42

Baltimore City Public Schools is seeking a new CEO to succeed Sonja Santelises when her tenure ends after the 2025-2026 school year.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Latest UMBC polling shows firm job approval for Moore, and a gloomy outlook on economy and country's future 21:54

1M ago21:54

21:54

The University of Maryland, Baltimore County's Institute of Politics released a new poll earlier this month measuring, among other things, the approval rating of Gov. Wes Moore and President Donald Trump. Marylanders were also asked about their perceptions of the Democratic and Republicans parties, and their perception of artificial intelligence.Dr…

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Sen. Bill Ferguson on whether he has the votes to block redistricting in Maryland 16:59

1M ago16:59

16:59

Sen. Bill Ferguson, the President of the Maryland Senate, has been under pressure from Gov. Wes Moore and prominent Democrats around the country to get on board with efforts to counter redistricting efforts by Republican legislators in Texas, North Carolina, Missouri and other states that favor Republican candidates for the House.Ferguson opposes r…

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The future of fine arts education in Baltimore City Public Schools 9:48

1M ago9:48

9:48

Arts Every Day director Julia DiBussolo and City Schools' Diya Hafiz-Slayton discuss ongoing efforts to strengthen fine arts curricula in Baltimore City's public schools.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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Rousuck's Review: 'The Phantom' begins another tour at Hippodrome 10:44

1M ago10:44

10:44

Midday theater critic J. Wynn Rousuck reviews the new North American touring production of 'The Phantom of the Opera,' Broadway's longest-running musical, at Baltimore's Hippodrome Theatre.By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore

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In 'Make Me Commissioner,' sportswriter Jane Leavy delivers a delightful critique of baseball 37:45

2M ago37:45

37:45

Sportswriter Jane Leavy's new book is a fact-filled fastball pitch for new rules in baseball to bring more fairness — and fun — back to 'America's pastime.'By WYPR 88.1 FM Baltimore