Best Weekend Edition Saturday Podcasts (2025)

1
How this long-lost Chinese typewriter from the 1940s changed modern computing 5:17

Play Pause

2h ago5:17

5:17

The concepts in the MingKwai typewriter underlie how Chinese, Japanese and Korean are typed today. The typewriter, patented in 1946, was found last year in an upstate New York basement.By Emily Feng

1
Calvin Duncan discusses his memoir 'The Jailhouse Lawyer' 7:54

2h ago7:54

7:54

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with "The Jailhouse Lawyer" authors Calvin Duncan and Sophie Cull. It's a memoir about Duncan's life as a wrongly incarcerated inmate and his efforts to exonerate himself.By Scott Simon

1
From caterpillar to butterfly, 'Papilio' grows up in a new picture book 9:44

2h ago9:44

9:44

Papilio is a picture book told in three parts about three stages of a butterfly's life (there are really four stages but egg time is pretty boring). It's also written and illustrated by three friends.By Samantha Balaban

1
Part 2 - A Case For The Old Time Prayer Meeting - Hebrews 11:6 30:00

3h ago30:00

30:00

Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.By Clark Covington

1
Floods sweep central Texas, killing at least 24 people 3:38

5h ago3:38

3:38

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with meteorologist Sarah Spivey from KSAT News in San Antonio about the deadly floods in Texas.By Scott Simon

1
At least 24 dead in Texas floods, rescue efforts still underway 3:45

3h ago3:45

3:45

At least 24 people are dead after flash flooding on the Guadalupe River in Texas. Rescue efforts are underway to find 20 people who are still missing.By Scott Simon

1
Court holds Florida Attorney General in contempt over illegal immigration law 3:48

3h ago3:48

3:48

Florida's attorney general has gone to the U.S. Supreme Court asking permission to enforce the state's new law against illegal immigration. A judge has found him in contempt and some have been arrested under the law even as it's blocked in court.By Regan McCarthy

1
Boosted by victory over tax bill, Trump looks to tackle tariffs and trade deals 4:24

5h ago4:24

4:24

President Trump had a major legislative victory this week as his party once again rallied around his agenda. Looming next week is another major priority of his: new tariffs and trade deals.By Danielle Kurtzleben

1
Zelenskyy asks Trump for air defense munitions amid escalating Russian airstrikes 4:08

5h ago4:08

4:08

Ukraine is facing a summer of escalating Russian airstrikes on its cities. The Ukrainian President has called on the U.S. to provide more air defense systems.By Joanna Kakissis

1
Three high school friends share their experiences serving in the military together 3:42

5h ago3:42

3:42

As part of our StoryCorps' Military Voices Initiative, we hear from three childhood friends from the small town of Webster, Florida, who all joined the military after graduating from high school.By Scott Simon

1
Composer Ellie Wilson's new music is inspired by ecological data on moth movements 3:43

3h ago3:43

3:43

The movement of moths inspires a new music project by composer Ellie Wilson. She used data shared by ecologists to create a piece where the insects take center stage.By Scott Simon

1
Saturday Sports: Wimbledon week 1, U.S. vs Mexico at Gold Cup, Joey Chestnut returns 4:37

5h ago4:37

4:37

NPR's Scott Simon and ESPN's Michele Steele talk about the first week of Wimbledon, soccer's Gold Cup final between the U.S. and Mexico, and Joey Chestnut's return to the hot-dog-eating big stage.By Scott Simon

1
The U.S. dollar has its worst start to the year since 1973 3:50

5h ago3:50

3:50

The U.S. dollar's long dominance as the world's currency is fraying as global investors warm to a "sell America" trading strategy.By Scott Simon

1
Politics chat: Tax bill passes, 90-day tariff deadline looms 4:29

6h ago4:29

4:29

We look at the impact of the Republican tax and spending bill, passed just in time for Fourth of July, and we discuss President Trump's looming trade deal deadline.By Scott Simon

1
Part 1 - A Case For The Old Time Prayer Meeting - Hebrews 11:6 30:00

21h ago30:00

30:00

Hebrews 11:6 KJV But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.By Clark Covington

1
Aid sites in Gaza 'the antithesis of humanitarianism' says Israeli researcher 54:03

1d ago54:03

54:03

PLUS: People looking for that perfect match are leaning on AI to pick and win over a partner; a new dystopian film about a mixed Black-Indigenous family fighting to protect their land in a post-apocalyptic Canada; high-hopes for a new dictionary of Canadian English; and, TV show Small Achievable Goals gives voice to menopausal women.…

1
Likely Stories - The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson 3:30

2d ago3:30

3:30

The summer you turn 12 is the most magical and glorious of them all. Times stretches out before you, freedom is riding your bike all over the neighborhood, and every day is wonderful, especially if you spend it with your eccentric uncle going to all the best haunted spots in town.Welcome to Likely Stories, I’m Diane Kemper.…

1
Are seed oils good or bad for health? Here's what we know 4:33

6d ago4:33

4:33

Health secretary RFK Jr. has said seed oils, like canola, soybean and sunflower oil are 'poisoning Americans.' But many researchers say the evidence doesn't back up the claims.By Maria Godoy

1
People gather to pay respects to slain Minnesota lawmaker Melissa Hortman 3:51

7d ago3:51

3:51

In a Minneapolis basilica, lawmakers from both parties will attend the funeral for slain state Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark.By Scott Simon

1
Saturday Sports: Wimbledon favorites, NBA champions 5:09

7d ago5:09

5:09

NPR's Scott Simon and sportswriter Howard Bryant preview the upcoming Wimbledon tennis championship and look at the recent spike in Achilles tendon injuries in the NBA.By Scott Simon

1
Fears of regional war in the Middle East persist even after the Israel-Iran ceasefire 5:44

8d ago5:44

5:44

NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Michael Wahid Hanna of the International Crisis Group about the ceasefire between Israel and Iran and other diplomatic efforts to stabilize the wider region.By Scott Simon

1
How the Trump administration stands to benefit from SCOTUS decisions 5:15

7d ago5:15

5:15

The Supreme Court wound up the term on Friday, handing several wins to the Trump administration. Amy Howe of the SCOTUS blog speaks to NPR's Scott Simon about the implications of their decisions.By Scott Simon

1
Willi Carlisle discusses his new album 'Winged Victory' 8:55

7d ago8:55

8:55

On "Winged Victory", songwriter Willi Carlisle weaves between the absurd and the sentimental. NPR's Scott Simon speaks with Carlisle about the 11 tracks of originals and covers.By Scott Simon

1
Meg Medina's new young adult novel finds hope in the afterlife 7:08

7d ago7:08

7:08

In Meg Medina's new novel, a young girl becomes a sea ghost and must learn to find meaning in the afterlife. She talks to NPR's Scott Simon about "Graciela in the Abyss."By Scott Simon

1
Part 2 - Prayer Helps 30:00

7d ago30:00

30:00

Download the PDF here- https://www.ccel.org/ccel/f/finney/revivals/cache/revivals.pdfBy Clark Covington

1
Recapping a blockbuster day of SCOTUS opinions, many of which hand Trump a victory 4:12

7d ago4:12

4:12

The Supreme Court has limited the ability of the lower courts to curtail the power of the president. We look at the court's end-of-term blockbuster decisions, as well as their implications.By Nina Totenberg

1
Netanyahu slams Israeli media report that IDF soldiers were ordered to shoot at aid sites 4:07

8d ago4:07

4:07

Israeli media reports that Israeli soldiers were ordered to shoot at Palestinian civilians trying to get aid in Gaza. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slammed the report, calling it "blood libel."By Hadeel Al-Shalchi