UPR Holiday Programming Schedule 2017-18

Happy Holidays from all of us at Utah Public Radio!

Below you will find the complete holiday schedule for the 2017-18 season. Tune in often because we have a lot of holiday content for you to enjoy.

Support for UPR's holiday programming comes from Intermountain Clinics:

THANKSGIVING

GIVING THANKS: A CELEBRATION OF FALL, FOOD AND GRATITUDE

Thanksgiving Day 9:00 a.m. AND 7:00 p.m.

With music and stories for Thanksgiving, it's Giving Thanks, hosted by John Birge. No clichés about pilgrims and pumpkin pies. Instead, it's a contemporary celebration of the spirit of Gratitude. This year's special guests include world-famous chef Jacques Pepin, and his 13-year-old granddaughter, Shorey, with whom he co-authored his most recent book, "A Grandfather's Lessons"; and Francis Lam, new host of The Splendid Table, with his recent, James Beard Award-winning Thanksgiving essay about immigrants. "Giving Thanks" is new for 2017, but continues a beloved tradition: a spellbinding story from actor Charles Laughton, giving thanks for art that connects us all to the creative spirit.

SPLENDID TABLE’S TURKEY CONFIDENTIAL

Thanksgiving Day 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Turkey Confidential is a live, two-hour, call-in program. Thanksgiving is full of high expectations, a huge menu and a house full of guests – which can make for a stressful day or two in the kitchen. That's why holiday hosts, kitchen helpers and dinner guests alike tune into The Splendid Table's "Turkey Confidential" on the biggest cooking day of the year.

This year offers double the fun, with co-hosts Lynne Rossetto Kasper and Francis Lam. They'll tag-team listener calls, and talk about their favorite Thanksgiving dishes and memories with guests Lidia Bastianich, Marcus Samuelsson, and Amy Sedaris.

EVERY GOOD THING

Thanksgiving Day 8:00 p.m.

On this day of grace and thanks, who and what will you include in your gratitude? Join Valerie Kahler and Steve Seel as they give thanks for one of life's most meaningful gifts: music.

Enjoy a range of performances, from Jay Ungar's "Thanksgiving Waltz" and Aaron Copland's "Simple Gifts," to Beethoven's Symphony No. 6 (Movement I) and Dvorak's Legend. No. 5. It's an hour of inspiring stories and music for Thanksgiving.

THANKSGIVING WITH CANTUS

Thanksgiving Day 9:00 p.m.

Join Alison Young and premier men's vocal ensemble Cantus for a conversation about Thanksgiving music and food, and sitting down with those we love and to celebrate the blessings in our lives. You’ll enjoy a variety of performances by Cantus, including "We Gather Together," "The 23rd Psalm," "Brothers, Sing On!" and "Wanting Memories."

STUDIO 360: CAN LAUGHTER MAKE US HEALTHIER?

Friday November 24 9:00 a.m.

Is the old cliché true — is laughter the best medicine? Studio 360’s Kurt Andersen and Mary Harris, host of the podcast Only Human, go to a laughter yoga class to find out. Also, we hear from a neuroscientist who studies laughter and moonlights as a standup comedian. Comic Chris Gethard explains why he resisted getting help for his depression out of fear of losing his humorous edge—and how getting treatment transformed his career. And we find out when medical humor is – and is not – just what the doctor ordered.

THE SCIENCE OF GRATITUDE

Friday November 24 7:00 p.m.

What are you grateful for? It’s a more important question than you might think. The Science of Gratitude focuses on the latest information regarding the power (or lack of it) of being thankful. We hear research, expert opinion, and individual stories to illustrate how gratitude often has a large impact on overall happiness. The program covers gratitude in the workplace, in relationships, in health, in child-rearing, etc. It is hosted by Academy Award winning actress, Susan Sarandon.

CHRISTMAS / WINTER SEASON

A CHORAL CHRISTMAS WITH STILE ANTICO

Wednesday November 29 9:00 p.m.

Celebrate Christmas with the sound of soaring voices. Stile Antico, the award winning choir from London, pays a visit to St. Paul’s church on Harvard Square for a concert of radiant sacred music for the Christmas season by the most acclaimed composers of the renaissance. Hear the group’s luminous blend of voices sing the intricately woven music of Thomas Tallis and William Byrd. Hosted by Cathy Fuller of WGBH.

ADVENT VOICES

Thursday November 30 9:00 p.m.

Host Lynne Warfel presents an hour of gorgeous, contemplative music related to the Advent season, the Christmas story, and its symbolism. Selections include "I Wonder As I Wander," "Gabriel’s Message," "Twas in the Moon of Wintertime," and "Still, Still, Still."

CHRISTMAS WITH THE MOREHOUSE & SPELMAN GLEE CLUBS

Monday December 4 9:00 p.m.

One of the great holiday traditions in America, the choirs of Morehouse and Spelman Colleges -- two of the most prestigious historically black institutions in the nation -- get together to present a spine-tingling concert program. This encore presentation features the best works of the last several years. It's a joyous celebration of the schools' tradition of singing excellence, with their trademark mixture of spirituals and carols. Korva Coleman hosts.

CAROLS AND CHEER

Tuesday December 5 9:00 p.m.

Host Scott Blankenship joins forces with Matthew Culloton, artistic director of The Singers, to review their favorite carols this holiday season. From holiday classics to contemporary hits, audiences will love singing along as the two share their top picks for the Christmas season, performed by today's leading artists and ensembles.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE MORMON TABERNACLE CHOIR

Wednesday December 6 9:00 p.m.

The world-renowned Mormon Tabernacle Choir continues its tradition of great artistry this holiday season, with touching arrangements of familiar carols, and lesser-known melodies that are fast becoming the new classics. Julie Amacher hosts this annual favorite.

JOY TO THE WORLD - A HOLIDAY IN PINK

Thursday December 7 9:00 p.m.

The internationally acclaimed “little orchestra" Pink Martini bedecks the airwaves with festive holiday songs from across the globe. From timeless classics to rarely heard gems, hear a multi-denominational, multi-cultural jubilee, overflowing with enough holiday spirit to warm your entire family. Hosted by All Things Considered’s Ari Shapiro.

A CHRISTMAS CELTIC SOJOURN 2017

Friday December 8 9:00 p.m.

Brian O'Donovan's "A Celtic Sojourn" has thrilled radio audiences for almost thirty years. For the last fourteen, the Christmas-themed live version of the show has drawn on Celtic, Pagan, and Christian traditions to celebrate the music of this season. For the past few years, one of the shows at the beautiful Cutler Majestic Theatre in downtown Boston has been broadcast nationally. This year will see a new edition featuring highlights from the 2016 program. Music director Seamus Egan returns with his legendary group Solas and the virtuosity of Winifred Horan on fiddle, Johnny Connolly from Connemara in Galway on accordion, and Eamon McElholm from Co. Tyrone on guitar. The show also features harpist/singer Maeve Gilchrist from Edinburgh in Scotland and virtuosic cellist Natalie Haas. And in an exciting exploration of the deep kinship among Irish, Scottish, and Acadian music, we welcome the truly extraordinary Vishten featuring twin sisters Emmanuelle and Pastelle LeBlanc from Prince Edward Island and Magdalen Islander Pascal Miousse. Singer Eilis Kennedy from Dingle in County Kerry also brought some of her favorite songs as well as Christmas chestnuts.

SELECTED SHORTS HOLIDAY GIFT SET: NOT HOW I IMAGINED IT

Sunday December 10 1:00 p.m.

Guest host Robert Sean Leonard presents four holiday tales. Christmas is a time of joy, but also of reckoning and reflection. Two pieces on this holiday program poke a little fun at our very high expectations. And two are tinged with melancholy. The department store Barney’s, on Madison Avenue in New York City, is famous for its witty, extravagant window displays, created by Simon Doonan. One year, the theme was famous people and trends. And luckily for us, it included the late David Rakoff in the role of Sigmund Freud. His hilarious account, “Christmas Freud,” is read by Jon Glaser. Our next work is “Violets,” by the Irish writer Edna O’Brien. O’Brien understands desire, and it’s almost palpable in this story of a middle-aged woman waiting for a new lover. The reader is Fionnula Flanagan. In William Maxwell’s “Homecoming,” a young man returns to his home town—but something is missing. “Homecoming” is read by Keir Dullea. And humorist Calvin Trillin gets the last word on this program: Let’s face it, despite all the comfort and joy, good will towards men, and merry merriness, sometimes Christmas is just an obstacle course. Too many relatives, too many presents, too little time. Trillin feels your pain, and tells us why he wants to spend “Christmas in Qatar.”

CHRISTMAS WITH THE AMERICAN FESTIVAL CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA*

Monday December 11 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

(also Thursday December 21 9:00 to 11:00 p.m.)

(and Christmas Day 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

Dr. Craig Jessop, former Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and current Dean of the USU Caine College of the Arts, leads the American Festival Chorus and Orchestra in stirring performances of holiday classics. The concert features special guest artists Gentri, along with the Westminster Bell Choir and much more.

*This special holiday program is made possible in part by Import Auto in Logan.

HOLLYWOOD HOLIDAY

Monday December 11 9:00 p.m.

Host Lynne Warfel presents an hour-long musical retrospective of some of Hollywood's most cherished Christmas-themed movies.

AN AFRO BLUE CHRISTMAS

Tuesday December 12 9:00 p.m.

Join us for a very special holiday concert with Howard University's premiere vocal ensemble Afro Blue and special guest pianist Cyrus Chestnut. Hear the a-cappela group perform a variety of holiday songs including African-American spirituals, jazz and pop tunes, and classical repertoire. The joyous celebration includes one of a kind arrangements on traditional holiday songs plus new compositions…music perfect for the holidays and the spirit of Christmas. Hosted by Michele Norris.

ACCESS UTAH HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2017

Thursday December 14 9:00 a.m. AND 7:00 p.m.

The Lightwood Duo (guitarist Mike Christiansen & clarinetist Eric Nelson) will join us for great music for the holidays.

WELCOME CHRISTMAS!

Thursday December 14 9:00 p.m.

New for 2017, "Welcome Christmas!" is a perennial Christmas favorite from VocalEssence, one of the world's premier choral ensembles. Join host John Birge for an hour of traditional carols and new discoveries, including the world premiere of two carols from the annual Christmas Carol Contest.

PAUL WINTER'S 36TH ANNUAL WINTER SOLSTICE CELEBRATION

Friday December 15 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Celebrate the Return of the Sun - and the Warming of the heart with Paul Winter’s Annual Winter Solstice Celebration. On the darkest night of the year, we head back to New York’s Cathedral of St. John the Divine to hear The Paul Winter Consort and the glorious Cathedral Pipe Organ. The performance brings traditional holiday favorites and new sounds from around the world with special guests Fabiana Cozza, Gary Booker, Theresa Thomason, Paul McCandless, Eugene Freisen, the percussion troupe Forces of Nature.

FESTIVO ALT.LATINO

Saturday December 16 7:00 p.m.

NPR Music’s Alt.Latino presents a 2015 encore featuring songwriter/performer Gaby Moreno and her band performing tracks from her popular holiday album Posada - recorded live at the KUT studios in Austin, Texas. She was joined by special guests Gina Chavez and Chicano Zen bandleader and record producer Michael Ramos.

SELECTED SHORTS HOLIDAY GIFT SET: CURIOUSER AND CURIOUSER: A CELEBRATION OF ALICE IN WONDERLAND

Sunday December 17 1:00 p.m.

Guest host Cynthia Nixon introduces readings from Alice in Wonderland. This beloved children’s classic celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2015. While the book has enchanted children for generations, it is also a light-hearted satire—cloaked in nonsense—of social conventions, governments, and pretensions of all kinds. This program features some favorite chapters. In “The Pool of Tears,” read by Ari Graynor, Alice grows from small to larger to small again in her attempt to gain entrance to a charming garden. The results are almost disastrous. After surviving a croquet match played with flamingos and hedgehogs, Alice, accompanied by a Gryphon, goes to meet the lugubrious Mock Turtle, who entertains her with stories of his childhood under the sea, demonstrates the Lobster Quadrille, and sings “Soup of the Evening, Beautiful Soup.” Who better to make sense of Carroll’s nonsense than “Sesame Street” alum Sonia Manzano? Finally, Alice meets a real vanity case: Humpty Dumpty. The famously ovoid Humpty wants to be sure everyone knows how important—and well dressed—he is. He’s played with relish by Dan Stevens.

ST. OLAF CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL

Sunday December 18 10:00 p.m. to midnight

This service in song and word has become one of the nation's most cherished holiday celebrations. The festival includes hymns, carols, choral works, as well as orchestral selections celebrating the Nativity and featuring more than 500 student musicians in five choirs, and the St. Olaf Orchestra. Host Alison Young shares the sights and sounds of this choral favorite.

TINSEL TALES: NPR CHRISTMAS FAVORITES

Monday December 18 9:00 a.m.

This program features stories from the NPR archives that touch on the meaning of Christmas. David Sedaris, Bailey White, John Henry Faulk -- these and other NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary. Featured Stories:

Dad 'n' Sam (Jay Allison)
Homeless Christmas (Lee Stringer)
Christmas Morning, 1949 (Sylvia Seymour/Paul Auster)
Low-Glamour Christmas Party (Bailey White)
Doing it in the Closet (John McIlwraith)
Christopher (Jay O'Callahan)
Ode to Christmas (Chuck Kramer)
Santaland Diaries (David Sedaris)
Modern Day Joseph and Mary (Scott Simon)
John Henry Faulk's Christmas Story (John Henry Faulk)

CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES

Episodes 1&2 - Monday December 18 7:00 p.m.

Episodes 3&4 - Tuesday December 19 7:00 p.m.

Episodes 5&6 - Wednesday December 20 7:00 p.m.

Episodes 7&8 - Thursday December 21 7:00 p.m.

(also the full series will run in its entirety on Christmas Day 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.)

A snowy December evening in the Rockies. A car stuck off the side of the road. A sleigh flashing past chased by something terrible and bleak. These are the curious events that lead to an astounding discovery—the true and complete story of the man the world has come to know as Santa Claus. “The Christmas Chronicles” is a radio drama (8 half-hour episodes) about Klaus, the carpenter; Anna, the racer; a greathearted reindeer, Dasher; and the malevolent Rolf Eckhof. The series originated in accounts of the astonishing life and activities of Santa, recalled and told by the author, Tim Slover, to his children over the years. It all started with a strictly scientific answer to a child’s classic question: “How does Santa deliver all those toys all over the world in just one night?” That’s the query that unlocked the grand adventure to keep the magic in and the cynicism of the world at bay. Slover is the author of “Joyful Noise” and “Hancock County.” He teaches dramatic literature and script analysis at the University of Utah and directs the playwriting and London study abroad programs for the university’s Department of Theatre.

TINSEL TALES 2: MORE NPR CHRISTMAS FAVORITES

Tuesday December 19 9:00 a.m.

NPR fills millions of homes each holiday with humor, warmth, and a host of festive voices. Continuing with the tradition of the first Tinsel Tales program, this is another collection of the best and most requested holiday stories. Joy, hope, and childhood memories overflow as NPR voices, past and present, tell stories of the season. Hosted by Lynn Neary. Featured Stories:

Santa Claus, Private Eye (Duck's Breath Mystery Theatre of San Francisco)
Pass The Fois Gras: Christmas Menu Hard To Digest (Firoozeh Dumas)
A 'Silent Night' That Brought Healing (Steve Banko)
The Christmas Club (Bill Harley)
All I Wanted For Christmas (NPR staffers)
Christmas Gift Records (The Ban-Smo Label)
The Night Before Christmas, Latin Style (Read by NPR's Claudio Sanchez)
The Designated Celebrator (Melinda Shoaf)
Christmas Truce (Historian Douglas Brinkley)
Wolf Christmas (Daniel Pinkwater)

WINTERSONGS 2017

Tuesday December 19 7:00 p.m.

(also Christmas Day 1:00 p.m.)

An annual Cache Valley tradition. The combined forces of the USU Music Department, under the direction of USU Director of Choral Activities, Dr. Cory Evans, perform music for the season in acoustically-rich St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in Hyde Park. Hosted by UPR’s Tom Williams and Dr. Cory Evans.

TINSEL TALES 3: EVEN MORE NPR CHRISTMAS FAVORITES

Wednesday December 20 9:00 a.m.

In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, hear the third collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places. Audie Cornish, Ken Harbaugh, Nina Totenberg and other voices from NPR's past and present tell stories of the season. Some tales are funny; some are touching; some are insightful or irreverent or nostalgic or surprising. You might recognize them from our broadcast archives — or you might fall in love with them for the first time. Hosted by Lynn Neary. Featured Stories:

December's Soundtrack (Amy Dickinson)
Christmas With UPS (Loree Gold)
Merry Stressmas: It's That Time Of The Year (Kevin Kling)
Appreciating The Ugliness Of The Christmas Tree (Ken Harbaugh)
Stealing Hemlock (Bailey White)
Christmas Lights Tour (Bill Harley)
Christmas With The Totenbergs (Nina Totenberg)
The Gift Of The Magi (O. Henry, read by NPR's Audie Cornish)
Christmas For Cows (Baxter Black)
Christmas Pudding (Marialisa Calta)
Caroling In The Cold (Julie Zickefoose)
Christmas Magic (Joseph C. Phillips)
Grinch's True End (John Moe)

A CHANTICLEER CHRISTMAS

Wednesday December 20 9:00 p.m.

This unique program of holiday music is presented live in concert by Chanticleer. Hear why this superb 12-man ensemble is known as "an orchestra of voices," as they perform holiday classics and new favorites, with choral commentary by host Brian Newhouse.

TINSEL TALES 4: SO MUCH MORE NPR CHRISTMAS FAVORITES

Thursday December 21 9:00 a.m.

In keeping with a well-loved NPR holiday tradition, hear the fourth collection of extraordinary Christmas stories that will transport you to unexpected places. NPR's past and present tell stories of the season in this hour-long special. Some tales are funny; some are touching; some are insightful or irreverent or nostalgic or surprising. You might recognize them from our broadcast archives — or you might fall in love with them for the first time. Hosted by Lynn Neary.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE AMERICAN FESTIVAL CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA*

Thursday December 21 9:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m.

(also Christmas Day 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.)

*This special holiday program is made possible in part by Import Auto in Logan.

MARKETPLACE TECH'S THE HOLIDAYS OF THE FUTURE

Friday December 22 10:00 a.m.

(also Saturday December 23 3:00 p.m.)

Marketplace Tech host Molly Wood explores the future of holiday purchases and celebrations. How will the holiday experience change in the next decade? How will we buy things? What machines and bots will join us around the dinner table? What companies will be household names? How will people with less money be utilizing technology? It's an entertaining examination of current tech trends and predictions on tech's lasting effects on our most special occasions.

A UPR CHRISTMAS 2017

Friday December 22 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

UPR staff members present an eclectic mix of holiday music and memories.

MARKETPLACE TECH'S THE HOLIDAYS OF THE FUTURE

Saturday December 23 3:00 p.m.

THE CHRISTMAS REVELS: IN CELEBRATION OF THE WINTER SOLSTICE 2017

Saturday December 23 8:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

“The Christmas Revels: In Celebration of the Winter Solstice 2017” is an all-new, two-hour compilation of musical excerpts, plus a few short poetry and prose readings, selected from the live Christmas/Winter Solstice Revels stage productions that took place in December, 2016, in nine cities across the United States.

A FESTIVAL OF NINE LESSONS AND CAROLS

Sunday December 24 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

Host Michael Barone presents this live service of spoken-word and music (choral and organ) broadcast from the chapel of King's College in Cambridge, England. The 30-voice King's College Choir performs the legendary Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols service of Biblical readings and music.

SELECTED SHORTS HOLIDAY GIFT SET: UNTRUE LOVE

Sunday December 24 1:00 p.m.

Guest host Michael Cerveris presents two stories about untrue love, derived from the vintage reprint series, New York Review of Books Classics. First, a devoted wife worships her sailor husband in Daphne du Maurier's "La Sainte-Vierge." English writer du Maurier is famous for classic thrillers like Rebecca, Jamaica Inn, The Birds, and Don't Look Now, but this story is a subtle tale of love and marriage in a small fishing village. The story is read by Kathryn Erbe, who starred on “Law & Order: Criminal Intent.” Our second story is a science fiction classic by prolific author Robert Sheckley, who wrote hundreds of short stories and contributed scripts to films and television. In his "Pilgrimage to Earth," a futuristic traveller from a distant planet comes to Earth to find its only remaining commodity: love. The reader is Paul Giamatti, currently starring in the television series “Billions.”

JONATHAN WINTERS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Sunday December 24 5:00 p.m.

(also Christmas Day 9:00 a.m.)

An updated version of a public radio tradition hosted by NPR's Susan Stamberg. Master comedian Jonathan Winters presents a distinctive reading of Dickens' holiday classic, with a special performing edition prepared by Dickens for his own presentations. Also featuring Mimi Kennedy.

JAZZ TIME WITH STEVE WILLIAMS - CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

Christmas Eve 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Jazz Time with Steve Williams features live performances, interviews, commentary, history, a local jazz calendar of events, and of course music – curated by legendary radio host Steve Williams. From ragtime to bop, from Havana to Paris to Salt Lake City, from Billie Holiday to Joe Lovano, Steve is your guide through the many varieties of jazz music – past and present. Steve Williams has a lifelong love of jazz. His father was a horn player in New York, performing with American jazz legends Charlie Parker, Gene Krupa and Joe Venuti, among others. Williams is a champion of the jazz scene in Utah and a legend in his own right – having interviewed the likes of Sonny Rollins, Herbie Hancock, and Lionel Hampton, and emceeing jazz festivals around the United States.

HANDEL'S MESSIAH FROM UPR

Sunday December 24 10:00 p.m. to Christmas Day 1:00 a.m.

An annual UPR tradition: On Christmas Eve we present a wonderful performance of Handel’s great oratorio led by Trevor Pinnock with The English Concert and Choir and soloists Arleen Auger, Anne Sofie von Otter, Michael Chance, Howard Crook and John Tomlinson. This special program features insightful and poignant commentary from Craig Jessop, former Music Director of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir and current Dean of the USU Caine College of the Arts. Hosted by UPR’s Tom Williams.

A UPR CHRISTMAS 2017

Friday December 22 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

UPR staff members present an eclectic mix of holiday music and memories.

JONATHAN WINTERS' A CHRISTMAS CAROL

Christmas Day 9:00 a.m.

WINTERSONGS 2017

Christmas Day 1:00 p.m.

CHRISTMAS WITH THE AMERICAN FESTIVAL CHORUS AND ORCHESTRA*

Christmas Day 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.

*This special holiday program is made possible in part by Import Auto in Logan.

CHRISTMAS CHRONICLES

Christmas Day 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

JAZZ PIANO CHRISTMAS

Christmas Day 10:00 p.m.

Join the Kennedy Center and NPR Music for a special Mardi Gras themed holiday concert. Hosted by Felix Contreras.

ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL: TRUST, INDIVIDUALISM AND THE AMERICAN IDENTITY

Tuesday December 26 9:00 a.m.

Trust in civic, religious, and academic institutions is at an all-time low in America. But this phenomenon did not, as some Americans might believe, begin on November 7, 2016. It has been on the decline for decades, and while it has been falling, individualism and tribalism have been on the rise. And these tribes — tied to each other with ever fewer common threads — are moving farther and farther apart in almost every measurable way, from geography to politics to economic and educational achievement. Where do we go from here? Can any of this trust be restored, and what does this all mean for our communities and our democracy? Hosted by William Bishop.

INNOVATION HUB: BUYING THE HOLIDAYS

Tuesday December 26 7:00 p.m.

As 2017 comes to a close, we're taking a closer look at some of the hallmarks of our holidays. And since home is where the heart is, we visit Levittown, NY, the birthplace of the suburbs, where homeownership was made possible for (at least) some Americans. Then, you'll probably eat a Hershey's Kiss this Christmas. So how did one man bring chocolate to the U.S.? Plus, our main streets have been slowly losing their retail stores for decades. We find out why and what's replacing them.

ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL: BLACK IN AMERICA SINCE MLK

Wednesday December 27 9:00 a.m.

How far have we come toward racial equality since the civil rights era? What does it mean to be black today? How can we have had a black president while events like Ferguson continue to occur? Henry Louis Gates Jr. and Walter Isaacson explore the tremendous gains and persistent challenges of these years, from key events and turning points to the struggles and victories of daily life, ideas that are not often said out loud, and questions that many are afraid to ask.

LIVING ON EARTH: THE EARTH IS OUR HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS AND ALWAYS 2017

Wednesday December 27 10:00 a.m. AND 7:00 p.m.

Living on Earth celebrates the holiday season with music and stories. "The Earth Is Our Home For the Holidays and Always" features songs and stories from three performers about living on Earth, sharing the planet and universal themes of the season. Three performers join host Steve Curwood for conversation and a performance. The roster includes storyteller Jay O'Callahan, singer Denny Breau, and green hip-hop artist Tem Blessed. They sing, rap, and talk the need for love, good food, kindness toward all creatures and the value of imagination.

ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL: WHEN COLORBLINDNESS RENDERS ME INVISIBLE TO YOU

Thursday December 28 9:00 a.m.

If you're white and middle class, you were probably raised thinking that discussing race was impolite. Color blindness was seen as a virtue — and it's a persistent one. A 2014 poll revealed that almost three-quarters of millennials believe we should not see the color of someone's skin. But in truth, color blindness is an insidious form of racial oppression. Two philanthropists discuss how this prevailing attitude of color blindness has affected social policy in this country, the philanthropic sector, and their own lives. The Aspen Institute's Michele Norris, former Gates Foundation CEO Jeff Raikes, who now leads the Raikes Foundation, and Ford Foundation President Darren Walker share examples of how they're doing to try to shift this prevailing attitude by turning directly toward race and equity.

TICK, TOCK, CIRCADIAN CLOCK - A BRAINS ON! SPECIAL

Thursday December 28 7:00 p.m.

Brains On!, the public radio science show for kids and curious adults, explores the fascinating science behind circadian rhythms. Host Molly Blooms delves into how humans have a ticking clock inside them, looks at what happens to hibernating animals and explores how all life is affected by light and dark.

ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL: THE SECOND BIG MOUNTAIN: THE NEXT BIG CHALLENGE IN YOUR LIFE

Friday December 29 10:00 a.m.

In life, we all have annunciation moments — moments that prefigure everything that will come next. While they can happen at any time, they usually involve experiences of childlike wonder, said David Brooks, the New York Times columnist and NPR commentator. "We all have moments of wonder and things we're kind of interested in, but the second phase of life is the initiation," Brooks said in his lecture titled "The Second Mountain: The Next Big Challenge in Your Life."

ASPEN IDEAS FESTIVAL: POPULAR CULTURE, CIVIL LIBERTIES, AND AMERICA

Saturday December 30 3:00 p.m.

Norman Lear is the prolific television writer and producer of stories about diverse American life—among them "All in the Family," "Sanford and Son," "The Jeffersons," "Good Times," and "Maude"—as well as a lifelong political and social activist. Khizr Khan is a Pakistani American lawyer, speaker at the 2016 Democratic Convention, and parent of U.S. Army Captain Humayun Khan, who was killed in 2004 during the Iraq War. Born 28 years and 7,000 miles apart in Connecticut and Pakistan, today they are united as American citizens, friends, and agents of change. Aspen Institute President Walter Isaacson joins them to discuss pressing questions of our time. What does it mean to be an American? How do our politics reflect and impact us? What role does news and entertainment media play in telling our stories? And can our collective culture change?

CHANUKAH / HANUKKAH

CANDLES BURNING BRIGHTLY

Wednesday December 13 9:00 p.m.

Mindy Ratner hosts a new edition of this holiday favorite, in celebration of Chanukah, the Jewish Festival of Lights. "Candles Burning Brightly" explores Chanukah foods and traditional activities - and plenty of music.

HANUKKAH LIGHTS 2017

Friday December 15 10:00 a.m. AND Saturday December 16 3:00 p.m.

A perennial NPR favorite with all new Hanukkah stories. Hosted by Susan Stamberg and Murray Horwitz.

CHANUKAH IN STORY AND SONG

Monday December 18 9:00 p.m.

Narrated by the late Leonard Nimoy and sung by the acclaimed vocal sextet The Western Wind Vocal Ensemble, "Chanukah in Story and Song" is a unique holiday program created especially for public radio listeners. This delightfully engaging program presents 25 eclectic selections, from the Ladino songs of the Spanish Jews and Yiddish melodies of Eastern Europe to modern Israeli tunes and the ensemble's original version of "I Have a Little Dreydle." The ensemble performs a cappella as well as with instrumental accompaniment. The narration, written by Rabbi Gerald Skolnik, sheds new light on the holiday's customs and rituals.

KWANZAA

A SEASON’S GRIOT 2017

Saturday December 31 7:00 p.m.

A Season's Griot is public radio's only nationally syndicated Kwanzaa program. Hosted for 22 years by acclaimed storyteller Madafo Lloyd Wilson, this annual special captures the tales and traditions of African American and African peoples.

NEW YEAR’S

TOAST OF THE NATION 2017/2018

Sunday December 31, 2017 10:00 p.m. to Monday January 1, 2017 4:00 a.m.

An NPR tradition every New Year's Eve since the 1970s, Toast of the Nation presents festive jazz you can party to, all night long. Spirited, improvised, and swinging, each segment stops in a special venue, throughout the country.

JAZZ TIME WITH STEVE WILLIAMS - NEW YEAR’S SPECIAL

Sunday December 31 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

NEW YEAR’S DAY FROM VIENNA 2018

New Year’s Day 10:00 p.m. to midnight

The Vienna Philharmonic presents its ever popular annual New Year's Day concert from the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna. You'll hear your favorite waltzes, polkas and more -- a festive way to start off the New Year.