KALW Public Media Now Airing “Song Exploder Remix” Weekly Radio Broadcast
The new program is based on Hrishikesh Hirway’s highly acclaimed “Song Exploder” podcast
KALW Public Media headquartered in San Francisco is now airing a new weekly radio program Song Exploder Remix, based on Hrishikesh Hirway’s highly acclaimed Song Exploder podcast.
On Song Exploder, musicians take apart their songs piece by piece to tell the stories of how they were made. The Song Exploder Remix radio broadcast on KALW is presented by the station’s music editorial director, Tshego Letsoalo. Each episode stitches together different episodes from the Song Exploder podcast around a common theme.
The premier of Song Exploder Remix on KALW focused on artists from the Bay Area, the home of KALW’s core audience. The broadcast featured Green Day deconstructing the iconic song “Basket Case,” Merril Garbus of Tune-Yards breaking down “Water Fountain,” and Thao Nguyen of Thao & the Get Down Stay Down walking through the deeply personal 2016 hit “Astonished Man.” A recent episode focused around Earth Week featured Seal on his iconic single “Kiss from a Rose,” as well as tracks from My Morning Jacket and Panda Bear.
“I’ve been obsessed with Song Exploder from the first episode! I love the way Hrishikesh gets artists to dive into their songs and how the show creates a deeper appreciation for songwriting and music composition through storytelling,” said KALW’s Tshego Letsoalo. “I’m so excited for Song Exploder to air on the radio for more people to discover.”
“KALW is honored to be the first station in the country to bring Song Exploder to our on-air and live stream listeners,” said David Boyer, KALW’s Director of Audio Programming. “For our dual format station, the new Song Exploder Remix with Tshego Letsoalo is the perfect blend of narrative and song, with a local Bay Area twist.”
Hrishikesh Hirway’s Song Exploder podcast is part of PRX’s Radiotopia podcast network. It won Best Music Podcast at the iHeartPodcast Awards this year, for the second time. Praised as “probably the best use of the podcast format ever” by Vulture, the podcast continues to release episodes every other Wednesday free on-demand.
About Radiotopia from PRX
Created in 2014, Radiotopia from PRX is the first network of its kind. As a network of independent podcasts, Radiotopia empowers audio creators with the artistic freedom to thrive on their own terms and to bring audiences inspired, high-quality, and well-crafted soundscapes. Programming from across Radiotopia has received recognition from the Peabody Awards, the duPont-Columbia Awards, the Tribeca Festival, the National Magazine Awards, and the Pulitzer Prizes.
Immerse yourself in stories and conversations of all kinds — intellectual and emotional, real and imagined, entertaining and thought-provoking. Be part of a community that values bold authenticity and boundless creativity. Discover award-winning audio with vision at Radiotopia.fm.
About KALW
KALW 91.7 FM is a pioneering educational and community broadcast service licensed to the San Francisco Unified School District. On-air since September 1st, 1941, it is the first FM station west of the Mississippi. KALW continues its educational mission with the Audio Academy, a nine-month, tuition-free journalism training program, as well as its summer high school podcast institute for teens, and its Uncuffed radio training program inside California prisons.
KALW has a track record of programming innovation. It was the first station in the Bay Area to air Fresh Air, This American Life, Snap Judgment, The Daily — and now Song Exploder. KALW has long been a home for music discovery in the Bay Area with its long-running programs such as Tangents, Africa Mix, and Folk Music and Beyond. The station recently added eight new DJs and more than 10 hours of music programming with an emphasis on local talent and reaching a more diverse audience.
