Special Programs
Fri., Dec. 12, 2025 ~ 8:00pm-10:00pm
Tonic: 2025 Holiday Spectacular
It’s time for this year’s holiday spectacular on Tonic: The Funky Groove Show, where host Michael B offers a funky selection of songs of the season, like something by Angelo Outlaw, Jimmy McGriff, Parlor Greens, Haunted House Party, and more. It’s a yuletide blend you’ll wanna hear!
Sun., Dec. 14, 2025 ~ 12:00pm-1:00pm
Sunday Radio Matinee - New! Hanukkah Lights 2025
Hosted by Murray Horwitz, this NPR favorite returns with some memorable stories from the archives, plus a special tribute to the late Susan Stamberg.
We’ll hear “A Gift of Light" by Dvora Zipkin, “Hanukkah Gelt, Hanukkah Money” by Sholem Aleichem, “Gifts of the Jewish Magi” by Allegra Goodman, How to Spell the Name of God” by Ellen Orleans and “Geek Week by Rebecca O’Connell.
Fri., Dec. 19, 2025 ~ 8:00pm-10:00pm
Tonic: The Funky Groove Show's 2024 Holiday Edition
Host Michael B brings a funky blend of holiday tunes, including a feature on the seasonal music of Vince Guaraldi; songs about sleighs, sleds, and skis; plus holiday classics from yesteryear.
Sat./Sun, Dec. 20-21, 2025 ~ 1:00pm-5:00pm
2025 Weekend Bluezzzzard Holla-Days Blast!
Join KGOU’s ‘Hardluck’ Jim for a wintery mix of blues and blues-infused favorites for the season.
Sun., Dec. 21, 2025 ~ 12:00pm-1:00pm
Sunday Radio Matinee - Selected Shorts: What You Wish For
Host Meg Wolitzer presents three Christmas stories in different moods—satirical, fantastical, and nostalgic:
- “A Visit from Saint Nicholas (In the Ernest Hemingway Manner),” by James Thurber, performed by James Naughton
- “O’Brien’s First Christmas,” by Jeanette Winterson, performed by Jayne Atkinson
- “One Christmas,” by Truman Capote, performed by John Shea
Wed., Dec. 24, 2025 ~ 6:00pm-7:00pm
New! The ‘All Songs Considered’ Holiday Extravaganza
Hosts Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson set off on another adventure in their annual attempt to throw a holiday party for the ages. This year, we’ve got a very tolerable mix of songs for the season and, as always, some very special guests.
Wed., Dec. 24, 2025 ~ 7:00pm-8:00pm
(Encore) Joy To The World – A Holiday in Pink
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 Ari Shapiro.
Wed., Dec. 24, 2025 ~ 8:00pm-9:00pm
Vince Guaraldi’s Christmas Gift to Jazz with Jana Lee Ross
WFMT Jazz Network host Jana Lee Ross presents a special filled with warm-hearted sounds to bring together everyone in the family. Vince Guaraldi‘s music to A Charlie Brown Christmas ushers in the sound of the holidays for jazz fans as well as Charlie Brown fans. Songs like “Linus and Lucy,” “Skating” and “Christmas Time Is Here” have become holiday classics and have inspired many a jazz player. Jana Lee Ross will explore interpretations of Vince Guaraldi’s tunes by Cyrus Chestnut, Dianne Reeves, David Benoit and others. And of course we’ll hear from Vince Guaraldi himself.
Fri., Dec. 26, 2025 ~ 8:00pm-10:00pm
Tonic: The Funky Groove Show's 2023 Holiday Edition
Michael B serves as the Ghost of Christmas Past, with groovy tunes about Christmas villains, funky selections from the Nutcracker Suite, and more yuletide favorites!
Sat., Dec. 27, 2025 ~ 1:00pm-5:00pm
Jazz In June 2025 Festival Highlights
As 2025 comes to a close, we invite you to re-live some of the year’s best musical moments from the annual Jazz In June festival. Featured artists include: Chanda Graham, Champian Fulton, Nicole Zuraitis, Youngjoo Song, Nikki Glaspie, and more.
Sun., Dec. 28, 2025 ~ 12:00pm-1:00pm
Sunday Radio Matinee – Cineplexity: Smart Conversations About Movies, a roundup of the year’s best film conversations from ATC and NPR’s Culture Desk
NPR film lovers take movies seriously, exploring themes like how to get time travel right in movies, what draws so many men to Nora Ephron films and why we all seem to love movies about the movies. In this one hour special, NPR host Scott Detrow shares the best movie conversations the team at All Things Considered and NPR’s Culture Desk had over the past year.
Sun., Dec. 28, 2025 ~ 1:00pm-5:00pm
Summer Breeze 2025 Revisited
As 2025 comes to a close, we invite you to re-live some of the year’s best musical moments from the annual Summer Breeze Concert Series. Featured artists include: Mike Hosty, Jahruba, Kierston White, Kendrik McKinney, and more.
Wed., Dec. 31, 2025 ~ 7:00pm-8:00pm
NPR’s Beyond the Headlines
In this special NPR Correspondents open their notebooks and share ways they find stories and bring them to the audience. Topics include riding a migrant train across Mexico in the dead of night, how to get Elon Musk’s attention and what it was like to cover the Sean Combs trial.
Wed., Dec. 31, 2025 ~ 8:00pm-9:00pm
BBC Correspondents' Look Ahead to 2026
Join BBC correspondents and editors from across the globe as they peer into their crystal balls to predict what 2026 might hold.
Wed., Dec. 31, 2025 ~ 9:00pm-1:00am
New! Toast of the Nation
An NPR tradition every New Year's Eve since the 1970s, Toast of the Nation is the perfect audio complement for the occasion. It's festive jazz you can party to, all night long!
Fri., Jan. 2, 2026 ~ 8:00pm-10:00pm
Tonic: The Funky Groove Show's 2025 Review, Part 1
Ring in the New Year as host Michael B takes a look back at the year that was 2025, with two hours of songs from last year.
Sun., Jan. 4, 2025 ~ 12:00pm-1:00pm
Sunday Radio Matinee - Best of How Curious 2025
How Curious host Rachel Hopkin takes us on a tour of personal and listener favorites from 2025 in this special curated collection of stories.
Fri., Jan. 9, 2026 ~ 8:00pm-10:00pm
Tonic: The Funky Groove Show's 2025 Review, Part 2
Join host Michael B for the second of two weeks of episodes focused entirely on the best of funky music released in 2025!