The Public Radio Hour

This weekly mix of special programs and homemade radio features seeks the untold story and digs down deep into idea that matter. And better yet, it's produced in part by our volunteer WLRH Community Newsroom, and you can be part of the show. Stay tuned for your chance to speak your mind into the Public Microphone! Contact us through the WLRH Community Newsroom web form, and through the WLRH Facebook page.

Latest Episodes

Public Radio Hour "Artemis w. Dr. Dale Thomas, Chad Emerson, FYSA" (10-14-21)

On this episode of The Public Radio Hour ... we've got our minds on the moon as we talk with retired NASA program manager and UAH eminent scholar Dr. Dale Thomas. Downtown Huntsville Inc CEO Chad Emerson updates us on downtown Huntsville activities, including Artemis on the Square on November 6th. And producer Katy Ganaway delivers another exploration of Huntsville's comedy scene in the latest edition of Funny You Should Ask where we'll meet Elliott White.
Public Radio Hour 'Neil Lamb, Kimberly Wilson, Chamber Music' 9/9/21

On this episode of The Public Radio Hour, we'll introduce you to local comedian and co-founder of Shenanigans Comedy Theatre Kimberly Wilson in the latest edition of Funny You Should Ask. Kevin Lay and Erin Huelskamp-Bohnwill preview a unique chamber music concert this Sunday at 3pm at Asbury Church titled ˜Palestrina to Poulenc'. And Dr. Neil Lamb, vice president of Educational Outreach at the Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology delivers words of wisdom and hope about COVID's Delta variant.
Public Radio Hour 'Amphitheatre, Young Writer, Epic Comedy (7-29-21)

In this episode of The Public Radio Hour, we get the latest on Huntsville's $40-million, 8000 seat amphitheatre,which is finally under construction. We'll also catch up on the latest episode of Funny You Should Ask and meet local comedian and co-creatorof Epic Comedy Hour Scott Eason. And we'll shine the light on winners from this year's Huntsville Literary AssociationYoung Writers contest with an award-winning entry from Madeline Rathz.
Public Radio Hour 'Hard Part, Young Writers, HCMG Restarts' (6/10/21)

On this episode of the Public Radio Hour, our award-winning interview series, The Hard Part, talks with David Person of the Rosa Parks Day Committee of Huntsville/Madison about their request that the Department of Justice take a closer look at Huntsville Police Department operations. We'll also visit with Robin Pesca and David Brown of the Huntsville Chamber Music Guild. And the WLRH Sundial Writers Corner celebrates three winners of the Huntsville Literary Association's Young Writers Contest. Zayna Killedar, Jon Macri and Bryan McNeal read their prize winning poems.Find the full interview with David Person here.Find other interviews in our series The Hard Part.
Public Radio Hour 'Belly Laughs, Opera Fun, Memorable Teachers' 6-3-21

On this episode of The Public Radio Hour, we'll laugh along with the latest episode of Katy Ganaway's Funny You Should Ask series as we meet Huntsville comedian Ty Funny. We'll also talk with Ars Nova's Arianna Maloney and Twickenham Fest's Susanna Phillips and make a stop in the Sundial Writers Corner for a story of a memorable teacher from Sarah Belanger.
Public Radio Hour "Vaccines, Spaceline, Kling, Choral Champs" 4-29-21

On this episode of the Public Radio Hour, producer Dorrie Nutt pays a visit to the 2021 All-State Choral Festivalin Huntsville. We'll also talk with Pat Ammons from the US Space and Rocket Center, and Dr. Neil Lamb with the Hudson Alpha Institute for Biotechnology answers the latest COVID vaccine questions. In the second half of our show, our coverage of social justice discussions in Huntsville continues with a new installment to our interview series, The Hard Part. Producer Katy Ganaway talks with Councilman Bill Kling about his plans to respond to a public report from the Huntsville Police Citizens Advisory Council on aggressive defensive tactics used by local law enforcement during social justice protests in downtown Huntsville, Alabama on June 1 and June 3, 2020.(a special episode of the Public Radio Hour discussing responses to the HPCAC report is in production. Find the full HPCAC report here).
Public Radio Hour "Rayna Cahill, War and Treaty, JM Ferdinand" 4/22/21

In this episode of The Public Radio Hour, we hear a new episode of Funny You Should Ask (from The Arts Underground) featuring Huntsville comedian Rayna Cahill. We'll also get a preview of Panoply weekend with a conversation from The War and Treaty. And Dr. Jason Max Ferdinand launched a new choral group recently at the Live from London Festival. We'll hear about The Jason Max Ferdinand Singers.
Public Radio Hour "Mountain Lakes, Local Lineup, AI, the Didge" 3-11-21

On this episode of the Public Radio Hour, we'll hear how businesses and local makers are finding success thanks to north Alabama's amazing trails and lakes. Then, we'll dive deeper and explore how Alabama's workforce is changing and evolving with the rise of automation and artificial intelligence. We'll also continue our local music stage check-ins at Mars Music Hall and we hear about the Local Lineup public concert series. And after all that wandering, we'll end up in The Invisible City drifitng on the ancient sounds of the didgeridoo.Our guests areTami Reist, president and CEO of theAlabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association President and CEO Tami Reist;Assistant Director of the Von Braun CenterMike Vojticek; Alabama Commission on Higher Education Director of Instruction and Special Projects Dr. Robin McGill; musician Bradley Edwards; and WLRH producers Katy Ganaway and Brad Posey.INFO LINKS FOR THE 4/1/21 EPISODEAlabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association ... website < northalabama.org >Mars Music Hall Local Lineup Series ... Third Rock Stage ... AL.COM article on Third Rock StageAlabama Commission on Higher Education - automation and AI infoDidgeridoo music from ... Yothu Yindi ... David Hudson ... program page / playlists from The Invisible City
Public Radio Hour "Singing River Trail, Princess Theatre, FOR" 3-11-21

On this episode of The Public Radio Hour, we'll connect communities across north Alabama, from Bridgeport to Sheffield, with a massive greenway called Singing River Trail. The Arts Underground is spotlighting Huntsville's comedy scene with a series called Funny You Should Ask ¦ we'll relive Brandon Ijames *Eyems* first time on stage. And while our amazing performing arts scene faces continued COVID struggles, people are making it work, and that includes The Princess Theatre in downtown Decatur. And we'll also hear about the new Friends of Rescue Thriftique on Winchester Rd. Thanks for listening.click here for more info on Singing River Trailclick here for more info on Funny You Should Ask on Arts Undergroundclick here for more info on The Princess Theatreclick here for more info on Friends of Rescue and their new Thriftique
Public Radio Hour "Ghost Stories & Aeolians Evade a Bus Fire" 10-29-20

On this spoOo0oOoky edition of The Public Radio Hour, Sundial Writers Corner contributor Sara McDaris regales us with a traditional Scottish tale of how a weeping widow found her lost love... Buckle up, because Theatre Huntsville will scare the pants off of you when you hear about the revenge of Aunt Jenny... and they will oblige us with a fable from local legend, master of storytelling and Jeffrey the ghost's best ghoul-friend, Kathryn Tucker Windham, The Phantom Steamboat of the Tombigbee... We also hear from Oakwood University Aeolians conductors and producers of a new self titled CD, Jason Max Ferdinand and Steven Murphy. They join Morning Blend host Dorrie Nutt to talk about narrowly avoiding an untimely death, as well as their new music- so good, it'll lift your spirits.Theatre Huntsville YouTube series:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmqX_bCNFP3BG4gdQe9o1__t21mDUKeVDT.H.'s Aunt Jenny:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-GLs6dUD8w&ab_channel=TheatreHuntsvilleSupport WLRH during our Fall Fund Drive- Thank You Gifts page:https://aptv.org/support/wlrh-premiums/