Weekend Edition Sunday: About
Airs Sundays at 8AM on 93.9 FM and AM 820
When Weekend Edition Sunday debuted on Jan. 18, 1987, NPR's morning and evening newsmagazines were extended to seven days a week. Conceived as a cross between a Sunday newspaper and CBS'Sunday Morning with Charles Kuralt, the program has featured interviews with newsmakers, artists, scientists, politicians, musicians, writers, theologians and historians as well as news events including Nelson Mandela's 1990 release from a South African prison and the capture of Saddam Hussein.
Susan Stamberg was the original host of the show. Liane Hansen replaced her in 1989. Her travels took her from the slums of Cairo to the iron mines of Michigan's Upper Penninsula; from the oyster beds on the bayou in Houma, La., to Old Faithful in Yellowstone National Park; and from the kitchens of Colonial Williamsburg, Va., to the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, where Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated. Since September 2011, the show has been hosted by Audie Cornish.
Every week, nearly 3 million listeners tune in to hear a unique blend of news, features and our regularly scheduled puzzle segment with Will Shortz, the crossword puzzle editor of The New York Times and Weekend Edition's puzzlemaster.
Weekend Edition Sunday is heard on nearly 600 NPR stations across the U.S. and around the globe via NPR Worldwide. It is also a pioneer in using new technology and social media platforms to create a conversation between the audience and its staff that enriches the show every week.
http://www.npr.org/programs/weekend-edition-sunday/
Show Staff
Latest Stories from Weekend Edition Sunday
Under Summer Sun, Presidential Race Heats Up
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
Host Rachel Martin talks with NPR's Scott Horsley about the aggressive campaigning in recent weeks by both President Obama and Mitt Romney. Both men are focusing on jobs and the economy.
Is Latest Attack In Syria A Game Changer?
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
The United Nations has confirmed that at least 90 people were killed by tank shells and artillery fire in central Syria this weekend. While the UN did not outright say this was the work of the Syrian army, activists and residents say the military is the only institution that has such weapons. NPR's Kelly McEvers in Beirut tells host Rachel Martin the latest.
Captain Remembers Sept. 11 Ceremony In Kabul
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
Throughout our show this Memorial Day weekend, we're hearing from members of the 182nd Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard as they tell us their most vivid memories of their recent deployment to Afghanistan. In this installment, Capt. Michael Currie remembers a ceremony honoring those who died in the war, both civilian and military.
Reporting The American Dream
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
Throughout the summer, NPR News will look at the history, culture and current state of the American Dream. NPR's Ari Shapiro and John Ydstie join host Rachel Martin to take a political and economic look at the ultimate American aspiration.
A Soldier's Rush To Share Grandfather's Final Days
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
Throughout our show this Memorial Day weekend and as part of our Home Front series, we're hearing from members of the 182nd Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard. Pfc. Joshua Stein remembers his grandfather, who had a stroke during Stein's deployment.
A Moment That Forever Changed A Soldier's Outlook
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
Throughout our show this Memorial Day weekend, we're hearing from members of the 182nd Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard. In this installment, Spc. Michael Cella remembers a close call while on patrol.
Military Children Act Out: Performing 'Deployment'
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
Since 2001, more than 700,000 American children have had one or more parents deployed overseas by the military. Missed birthdays and other milestones become a part of life for military kids who are not always vocal about their feelings. In Grand Forks, N.D., a play called Deployed helped give some of them a voice. Meg Luther Lindholm reports.
Musings On The NBA Draft Lottery
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
Host Rachel Martin talks with NPR sports correspondent Mike Pesca, who has an off-speed pitch on the week's sports news.
Women Push Their Limits In Pro Cycling Race
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
The Exergy Tour began Thursday night in Boise, Idaho. It's the largest women's five-day stage race in North America. It's also the last major race before cycling teams are chosen for the Olympics in London. This Tour is meant to raise the bar for women's cycling but as Sadie Babits reports, the race began with a major upset.
'Finding Ultra': The Ultimate Athletic Test
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
The Ironman World Championship takes place this fall in Hawaii. Host Rachel Martin talks with super-endurance athlete Rich Roll, who has competed in several ironman and ultraman competitions. He's the author of Finding Ultra: Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Fittest Men, and Discovering Myself.
A Cook-Out Brings Home To Afghanistan
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
Throughout our show this Memorial Day weekend, we're hearing from members of the 182nd Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard. In this installment, Spc. Kory Desmond tells us of a moment that felt close to being back at home.
The State Of The Church
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
The Catholic Church has been in the public spotlight a lot this year. The issues of contraception and gay marriage have been part of the presidential campaign and church leaders have weighed in. There have also been new revelations in a case involving leaked Vatican documents, and it may actually be a case where the butler did it. Host Rachel Martin speaks with John Allen, a senior correspondent for the National Catholic Reporter.
The Best Moment Of Deployment: Coming Home
Sunday, May 27 2012 12:00 PM
Throughout our show this Memorial Day weekend, we're hearing from members of the 182nd Infantry Regiment of the Army National Guard. In this installment, Staff Sgt. James Bradosky describes a family tragedy that struck just before he left for war.
Hard Lessons Follow Rocky Start For Chicago Teacher
Sunday, May 27 2012 10:34 AM
Tyrese Graham is a second-year science teacher at John Marshall Metropolitan High School on the West Side of Chicago. When he started teaching, Marshall was among the worst public schools in the city.
Canadian Brass: Spiking The Recital With Humor
Sunday, May 27 2012 10:33 AM
The legendary brass group has been pleasing crowds for decades with a repertoire that mixes classic and modern compositions with Dixieland, jazz and Broadway. Tuba player and founding member Chuck Daellenbach says the band brings a playful approach to its stage show to build an audience for brass.