Loved this, speaking as someone who did not grow up listening to much public radio, but who now works for an NPR affiliate station. There is definitely insider knowledge and lingo that regular NPR listeners all have and which I have slowly had to learn. I actually work more with our music station than our NPR news station, so I am still a little out of touch. I do feel silly when someone assumes I know something about NPR programming, hosts, or general history that I don't. I actually probably heard more conservative talk radio growing up, which I am not particularly nostalgic about, lol. I mostly just remember there was a lot of yelling!
I got into the radio game more for a love of music than of public radio. However, having worked in a lot of commercial radio, I am a much bigger fan of the public media model, as unstable as it may be sometimes. The de-regulation of the radio industry has yielded such depressing results.
100% to de-regulation ruining so much. And also, oh my God, I can imagine that moving to an NPR station, there are a LOT of expectations from life-long listeners lol.
I grew up in rural MN in a very conservative area but with white liberal parents who had white liberal friends, and we 100% listened to NPR on every car ride! One of my "claims to fame" as a child was that we have a photo of Garrison holding me as a baby, because one of my dad's friends happened to be good friends with him. This entire post was like reading about a piece of my childhood that I had almost forgotten. Now I'm off to make my kids listen to "All Things Considered."
Love this so much! And yes, go force All Things Considered on your children STAT. These are the core memories we need to be developing! And I love picturing your long rural Minnesota NPR rides too (my in-laws live in Southern Minnesota now but with Iron Range-ish roots and my people are from East River South Dakota so I know the contours of those looooong, in-need-of-a-soundtrack roads too).
Southwest MN is where I was born and raised, then off to a Lutheran liberal arts college (obviously, right? LOL) before vacationing in rural, southwest Colorado and never leaving (never thought I'd be saying that). We also have a lot of opportunities to listen to NPR on long drives to sporting events and stores here. I can't believe I've been missing out on doing that for the 19 years I've lived here, but I will rectify it immediately.
My first ex and I used to listen to NPR on long road trips. I so enjoyed and appreciated it. My parents never listened to talk radio, so it was a new experience for me.
I have been thinking about who I’m going to give my preorder copy of your book (since I have an advance reader copy), and had thought maybe the superintendent of my kids’ school district - I will have to see though because I also don’t want to waste it lol - the district is primarily white higher income. In the whole district, there are maybe 2 Black teachers. I was just asked to serve on a parent interview committee for a principal search for the high school!! I hope I’m able to have some influence, and I hope there are candidates other than white males that make it to the interview process…
It's never too late to become the NPR listening grown up lol. And oh my goodness, it would be an honor to have your superintendent read my book. Thank you for being so thoughtful in your sharing and agitating, Kristin!
I grew up on the Canadian side of the border and listened to both NPR and CBC, with a good smattering of Motown and late night experimental college radio (that kid with a flashlight reading books under the covers past midnight is me). It’s been interesting to think about how media doesn’t give me the unfiltered version of culture even when it’s broadcasting versus podcast culture. BTW Car Talk taught me how to identify bad pistons in a used car! And living in California taught me just how white I didn’t know I was (Malcolm Gladwell reportedly experienced a similar racialized “awakening” when he moved to Toronto).
Grew up in Colorado in the late 60s but yup. NPR, the Unitarian church, the causes. Defines who I am today. Imagine my excitement when the late Neal Conan moved to the same small town, down the street from me, here in Hawaiʻi. Canʻt wait to read your book.
We were definitely an NPR in the car listening household. My dad worshipped Garrison Keillor, and we all depended on the news at the top of every hour. In my brain there is an inevitable association with Quaker Meeting and Stainglass Bluegrass, which happened to play on Sunday mornings at the same time we drove to the Meetinghouse every weekend.
My children aren't forced to listen to NPR because when my marriage fell apart I made the decision to move back to town where I wouldn't necessarily have a car commute anymore. And even when we were in the car, our poverty provided us with a crap car with a crap stereo, so I just mostly turned it off. I sometimes feel badly about this, but I don't miss spending so much time in the car, so here we are.
Nothing to feel bad about there except that car companies should make affordable cars with durable, long-lasting good stereos! And I love the sense memory of "this is the sound I associate with going to this specific weekly place."
I was sort of entertained when "American Roots Music" became a whole thing. I was like, Oh, you mean bluegrass, like my daddy used to listen to every Sunday? Is that cool now? And it *was*.
Ain't that the truth? I was kind of okay when the 70s came back into style, but THE 80s??? Nobody needed those fashions the first time around. But then, I'm still mostly listening to music from the 20th century, so who am I to say anything.
Loved this, speaking as someone who did not grow up listening to much public radio, but who now works for an NPR affiliate station. There is definitely insider knowledge and lingo that regular NPR listeners all have and which I have slowly had to learn. I actually work more with our music station than our NPR news station, so I am still a little out of touch. I do feel silly when someone assumes I know something about NPR programming, hosts, or general history that I don't. I actually probably heard more conservative talk radio growing up, which I am not particularly nostalgic about, lol. I mostly just remember there was a lot of yelling!
I got into the radio game more for a love of music than of public radio. However, having worked in a lot of commercial radio, I am a much bigger fan of the public media model, as unstable as it may be sometimes. The de-regulation of the radio industry has yielded such depressing results.
100% to de-regulation ruining so much. And also, oh my God, I can imagine that moving to an NPR station, there are a LOT of expectations from life-long listeners lol.
I grew up in rural MN in a very conservative area but with white liberal parents who had white liberal friends, and we 100% listened to NPR on every car ride! One of my "claims to fame" as a child was that we have a photo of Garrison holding me as a baby, because one of my dad's friends happened to be good friends with him. This entire post was like reading about a piece of my childhood that I had almost forgotten. Now I'm off to make my kids listen to "All Things Considered."
Love this so much! And yes, go force All Things Considered on your children STAT. These are the core memories we need to be developing! And I love picturing your long rural Minnesota NPR rides too (my in-laws live in Southern Minnesota now but with Iron Range-ish roots and my people are from East River South Dakota so I know the contours of those looooong, in-need-of-a-soundtrack roads too).
Southwest MN is where I was born and raised, then off to a Lutheran liberal arts college (obviously, right? LOL) before vacationing in rural, southwest Colorado and never leaving (never thought I'd be saying that). We also have a lot of opportunities to listen to NPR on long drives to sporting events and stores here. I can't believe I've been missing out on doing that for the 19 years I've lived here, but I will rectify it immediately.
Hahaha to the college choice: I mean, was there ever any other option?
Lovely read, thank you. Yes, we're always transmitting!
Just heard that your book is in the post and on it's way to me :)
Oh wow! It might get to you in the UK before it gets to folks here!
Strange! I'm looking forwrad to it though so happy that it's on the way.
My first ex and I used to listen to NPR on long road trips. I so enjoyed and appreciated it. My parents never listened to talk radio, so it was a new experience for me.
I have been thinking about who I’m going to give my preorder copy of your book (since I have an advance reader copy), and had thought maybe the superintendent of my kids’ school district - I will have to see though because I also don’t want to waste it lol - the district is primarily white higher income. In the whole district, there are maybe 2 Black teachers. I was just asked to serve on a parent interview committee for a principal search for the high school!! I hope I’m able to have some influence, and I hope there are candidates other than white males that make it to the interview process…
It's never too late to become the NPR listening grown up lol. And oh my goodness, it would be an honor to have your superintendent read my book. Thank you for being so thoughtful in your sharing and agitating, Kristin!
I grew up on the Canadian side of the border and listened to both NPR and CBC, with a good smattering of Motown and late night experimental college radio (that kid with a flashlight reading books under the covers past midnight is me). It’s been interesting to think about how media doesn’t give me the unfiltered version of culture even when it’s broadcasting versus podcast culture. BTW Car Talk taught me how to identify bad pistons in a used car! And living in California taught me just how white I didn’t know I was (Malcolm Gladwell reportedly experienced a similar racialized “awakening” when he moved to Toronto).
Oooh yes to late night experimental college radio!
If the upcoming book has these kind of ruminations, count me in! I also love your children’s taste in Eurovision- ahem, I mean, music.
🎵 Hey baby, when you talk to meeee… 🎵
My kids haven't even seen the movie yet!!!
Pea Green Boat!!!
If you know, you know!
Grew up in Colorado in the late 60s but yup. NPR, the Unitarian church, the causes. Defines who I am today. Imagine my excitement when the late Neal Conan moved to the same small town, down the street from me, here in Hawaiʻi. Canʻt wait to read your book.
Oh wow! Now THAT'S a celebrity neighbor!
We were definitely an NPR in the car listening household. My dad worshipped Garrison Keillor, and we all depended on the news at the top of every hour. In my brain there is an inevitable association with Quaker Meeting and Stainglass Bluegrass, which happened to play on Sunday mornings at the same time we drove to the Meetinghouse every weekend.
My children aren't forced to listen to NPR because when my marriage fell apart I made the decision to move back to town where I wouldn't necessarily have a car commute anymore. And even when we were in the car, our poverty provided us with a crap car with a crap stereo, so I just mostly turned it off. I sometimes feel badly about this, but I don't miss spending so much time in the car, so here we are.
Nothing to feel bad about there except that car companies should make affordable cars with durable, long-lasting good stereos! And I love the sense memory of "this is the sound I associate with going to this specific weekly place."
I was sort of entertained when "American Roots Music" became a whole thing. I was like, Oh, you mean bluegrass, like my daddy used to listen to every Sunday? Is that cool now? And it *was*.
You live long enough and everything will be rebranded and sold as a lifestyle
Ain't that the truth? I was kind of okay when the 70s came back into style, but THE 80s??? Nobody needed those fashions the first time around. But then, I'm still mostly listening to music from the 20th century, so who am I to say anything.