Listen

Weekend Edition Saturday

Saturdays, 8am - 10am

NPR's Peabody Award-winning correspondent Scott Simon captures the spirit of Saturday with an informative and worldly blend of news and analysis, and special features including the topics of sports, gardening, entertainment and more.

Ways to Connect

Notre Dame Fire Revives Demand For Skilled Stone Carvers In France

By • Jul 20, 2019

A little over three months after Paris' Notre Dame caught fire, French officials say the cathedral is still in a precarious state and needs to be stabilized. Ultimately, they aim to restore the monument, a process that will take years.

When that work begins, there will be a new demand for experts who have the same skills required to build Notre Dame 900 years ago. In the workshops of the Hector Guimard high school, less than three miles from the cathedral, young stone carvers are training for that task.

On Apollo 11 Anniversary, A Former Crew Member Reflects On The Lunar Trip

By editor • Jul 20, 2019

Humans first landed on the moon 50 years ago on July 20. Former astronaut Michael Collins was a member of the historic mission.

: 7/20/19

In an early version of the audio, we incorrectly referred to the far side of the moon as the dark side of the moon.

Sports Roundup: Previewing Sunday's Baseball Hall Of Fame Induction

By editor • Jul 20, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Now, time for sports.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

Russians Demonstrate Against Putin Over Health Care, Controversial Projects

By • Jul 20, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Resident Talks About Hurricane Barry Making Landfall In Louisiana

By editor • Jul 13, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Latest On Tropical Storm Barry

By • Jul 13, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

Visiting A Historic Mosque In North Dakota

By • Jul 13, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Signature Song: Pink Floyd's 'Speak To Me/Breathe'

By editor • Jul 13, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

We've asked you to tell us about your signature song, the song that's become almost a part of you. Today, we hear from Toby Lineaweaver from Woods Hole, Mass. His story starts in the summer of 1973 when he was 19.

Saturday Sports: Wimbledon, NBA Off-Season

By • Jul 13, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

No matter what else is happening in the world, it's time for sports.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SIMON: A new name on top at Wimbledon and lots of new jerseys on a lot of NBA free agents. NPR's Tom Goldman joins us.

Good morning, Tom.

What's Happening In The Aftermath Of Latest California Earthquake

By • Jul 6, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Kern County Fire Chief On Earthquake Response

By editor • Jul 6, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Taking Stock Of The June Jobs Numbers

By • Jul 6, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Cardi B Can't Trademark 'Okurrr'

By editor • Jul 6, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office has ruled it is not OK for rapper Cardi B to trademark one of her signature catchphrases.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

CARDI B: Okurrr.

MONTAGNE: One more time.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

Encore: Comedian Brian Regan Sees The Dinosaurs In Everyday Life

By • Jul 6, 2019

RENEE MONTAGNE, HOST:

Stand-up comedian Brian Regan has been on the road performing almost nonstop since the 1980s.

(SOUNDBITE OF ARCHIVED RECORDING)

BRIAN REGAN: I'm trying to go to more parties. I'm not good at them. I'm not good at talking to people, which might sound weird in this setting.

(LAUGHTER)

New Novel Asks: What Would You Do To Get Your Kid Into 'The Gifted School'?

By • Jul 6, 2019

When Bruce Holsinger heard about the "Operation Varsity Blues" college admissions bribery scandal he admits he felt "a shiver of self-recognition."

"I don't think there's a parent in America who hasn't had anxiety about where their kid goes to school," he says.

North Carolina Tries To Clean Up Its Electricity

By • Jun 29, 2019

Let's say you want to help stop global warming and kick your gasoline habit.

You buy an electric car. And then you go to charge it up and you think: Wait, where's this electricity coming from?

Nationwide, 60% of it comes from power plants burning coal and natural gas, belching carbon dioxide. And across the country, energy experts are trying to figure out what might persuade these electric utilities to change.

Boston's Suffolk Downs Holds Its Last Live Horse Races

By editor • Jun 29, 2019

Copyright 2019 WGBH Radio. To see more, visit WGBH Radio.

SARAH MCCAMMON, HOST:

Move Over, Goat Yoga. Alaskans Now Have Reindeer Yoga

By • Jun 22, 2019

If you want to incorporate quality time with animals into your yoga practice, you have a lot of options these days. There's puppy yoga, cat yoga, and perhaps the most famous — goat yoga.

Now, in Fairbanks, Alaska, there's a new offering: a yoga class with fauna particular to the cold northern climes of the subarctic. Reindeer.

Himesh Patel On The Beatles And 'Yesterday'

By editor • Jun 22, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Chanelle Benz On 'The Gone Dead'

By editor • Jun 22, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

How White Politicians Can Talk About Race

By editor • Jun 22, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Joe Biden's explanation of how he had a collegial working relationship with Southern segregationist Democratic senators highlights the complicated task of talking about race in politics.

Franco Zeffirelli, Creator Of Lavish Productions On Screen And Stage, Dies At 96

By • Jun 15, 2019

Franco Zeffirelli once said that when the curtain comes up "you have to give the audience a big thing to look at."

The Italian filmmaker and opera director gave audiences plenty to look at — in his lavishly styled operas and his biblical and Shakespearean film adaptations.

Zeffirelli died Saturday in Rome after a long illness. His death was announced on the Foundation of Franco Zeffirelli website. He was 96.

Hong Kong To Shelve Controversial Extradition Bill

By • Jun 15, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Saturday Sports: Women's World Cup, U.S. Open

By • Jun 15, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

I wait all week to say, it's time for sports.

(SOUNDBITE OF MUSIC)

SIMON: International women's football - the Women's World Cup now happening in France. NPR's Tom Goldman joins us. Good morning, Tom.

Yazidi Children, Torn From Their Families By ISIS, Forget Their Identities

By • Jun 15, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Audra McDonald And Michael Shannon On 'Frankie And Johnny In The Clair De Lune'

By editor • Jun 15, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Opinion: Here's A Dad Joke! What Does The Buffalo Tell His Son In The Morning?

By • Jun 15, 2019

Why don't you hear a pterodactyl go to the bathroom? The P is silent.

I'm a father. I tell dad jokes.

See that farmer? A man outstanding in his field.

Peter Sokolowski, editor at large of Merriam-Webster, defined dad jokes for us as "an obvious or predictable pun or play on words and usually judged to be endearingly corny or unfunny."

Did you see that documentary about beavers? What a great dam show ...

Encore: New Orleans Music Legend Dr. John Dies At 77

By • Jun 8, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Elizabeth Gilbert On 'City Of Girls'

By editor • Jun 8, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

University Of Wisconsin Aims To Preserve Nearly Century-Old Public Radio

By editor • Jun 8, 2019

Copyright 2019 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

(SOUNDBITE OF RADIO SHOW, "THE NATIONAL FARM AND HOME HOUR")

EVERETT MITCHELL: "The National Farm And Home Hour" comes to you today from the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

SCOTT SIMON, HOST:

Pages