Special Program

In their books, Steven D. Levitt and Stephen J. Dubner use the tools of economics to explore real-world behavior. As boring as that may sound, what they really do is tell stories — about cheating schoolteachers, self-dealing real-estate agents, and crack-selling mama's boys. Those Freakonomics stories — and plenty of new ones — are now coming to the radio, with Dubner as host.

Garrison Keillor hosts a three hour broadcast from Hawaii, with our actors - Sue Scott, Tim Russell, Fred Newman - and Erica Rhodes; Rich Dworsky and the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band; Heather Masse, plus special guest performers, including slack key guitar and ukulele master, Led Kaapana. The broadcast will include - Guy Noir, Lives of the Cowboys and The News from Lake Wobegon.  Information is available at http://prairiehome.publicradio.org/

"A Season's Griot" is public radio's only nationally syndicated Kwanzaa program. Hosted for the last 18 years by acclaimed storyteller Madafo Lloyd Wilson, this annual one-hour special captures the tales and traditions of African-American and African peoples.  This year's program will explore the concept of peace through storytelling, music and voices from the streets. Familiar and favorite elements of Griot will be in place with plenty of music, and the program will again feature Beverly Fields Burnette, current President of the N.C.

A Carolina Christmas from Biltmore Estate, with Kathy Mattea is a festive celebration of holiday music -- from one of the most magnificent acoustic venues in the country! A Carolina Christmas features soloists and large ensembles performing a rich variety of songs, including sacred music of the season, African-American spirituals, Celtic jigs and folk favorites.

Everyone knows Julia Child loved to cook, but not everyone knows she loved to read. Long ago she started work on a series of specials that are only just now being completed and aired -- stories about food and a little cooking, but mostly about people. "A Christmas Carol is a lovely story to read over the holidays," she says, "because it has a happy ending." Actor Peter Donat brings the story to life -- with sounds and music that stimulate the theatre of the mind.

This program features moving selections of choral classics celebrating Christmas. The Dale Warland Singers provided magical performances to listeners across the country for over 30 years and were acclaimed as America's premier choir. Their signature holiday concert—beloved by public radio listeners nationwide—was the annual Echoes of Christmas program. Drawing upon the archive of their live performances, Dale Warland and host Brian Newhouse create a very special Christmas musical treat.

A Chanticleer Christmas is American Public Media's one-hour celebration of the season as told through the glorious voices of Chanticleer, the 12-voice San Francisco-based men's choir. The program spans the globe and the centuries — from England in the 1300s to new arrangements of classic and contemporary carols.  Information is available at http://americanpublicmedia.publicradio.org/programs/chanticleer_xmas/