Steve Nelson

The king of Hollywood voice-overs, Don LaFontaine, died this week. In an interview from 2001, LaFontaine reveals some of his trade secrets. Produced by Steve Nelson and Kerrie Hillman.

You've probably never heard the tiny Hawaiian guitar like this before. Herb Ohta and Lyle Ritz talk about working together on their album, Ukulele Jazz: Live at McCabe's. Produced by Steve Nelson.

You've probably never heard the tiny Hawaiian guitar like this before. Herb Ohta and Lyle Ritz talk about working together on their album, A Night of Ukelele Jazz: Live at McCabe's. Produced by Steve Nelson.

Writing love letters takes courage, but it's a little gutsier to write and perform songs about the object of your affection. Steve Nelson and Jocelyn Gonzales have their own personal takes on rock and roll's long love affair with that one special girl.

Pick a card, any card… What you might not know is that all cards are not created equal. Steve Nelson reports the design of playing cards has undergone a good number of changes since their invention over seven centuries ago.

Athletes threw javelins at the ancient Olympic Games. But in recent years throwers have become so proficient that the javelin was redesigned to keep it from hitting runners at the other end of the stadium. From running shoes to swimsuits to discuses, the design of equipment is constantly challenging sports ...

Ryan Adams played in Chicago last December, and the Sun-Times' music critic, Jim DeRogatis, panned him. Adams left a heartfelt, enraged message on the writer's voicemail, which DeRogatis then broadcast to all of Chicago when he did his weekly radio show. Mayhem ensues. Produced by Steve Nelson.

If you're watching the baseball playoffs this season, you may have noticed the grass underfoot at Fenway Park, home of the Boston Red Sox. Those geometric patterns criss-crossed in light and dark are the handiwork of David Mellor. Mellor is the director of grounds at Fenway, and he designs ...

Today, St. Paul, Minnesota is home to more Hmong people than any other city in the world. Many fled there from Laos and Cambodia after the Vietnam War. Until 50 years ago, the Hmong, originally scattered across Southeast Asia, had no written language at all. Steve Nelson of Minnesota Public ...

Every year the Minnesota State Fair names twelve young women “dairy princesses,” based on their knowledge of the dairy industry and the fact that they live on farms. Each of those princesses gets to step into a big Plexiglass refrigerator, sit in a winter coat on a ...

The steel storefront gates along 125^th Street become brightly colored canvases for one of Harlem’s most prolific mural painters.

(Originally aired: July 4, 2002)

The multimedia artist and designer Ben Rubin explains the origin of an everyday sound — the telephone ring.

(Originally aired: May 16, 2002)

On his fourth and newest CD, 27-year old jazz pianist Jason Moran goes it alone without a drummer or bassist.

Last weekend the International Spy Museum opened in Washington, DC. The museum displays real spy stuff from real spies, and some not-so-real spy stuff from the movies.

The steel storefront gates along 125^th Street become brightly colored canvases for one of Harlem’s most prolific mural painters.

The multimedia artist and designer Ben Rubin says more effort should go into creating audio landmarks — like the sound of subway doors opening.

Ukuleleist Herb Ohta has recorded more than 60 albums. His most recent is a collaboration with Lyle Ritz. The new release is being touted as the first-ever live jazz ukulele CD.  

Muhammad Ali's moves become the inspiration for a new dance by the choreographer of Rent. Marlies Yearby's Brown Butterfly will bring Ali’s life to the stage with a mixture of dance, music, and video.

Multimedia artist and designer Ben Rubin explains the origin of something we hear everyday — the telephone ring.