Top Stories & Episodes
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The Sam Sanders ShowHow 'Heated Rivalry' Even Seduced Russia
The gay hockey romance became a signal of hope for queer Russians.
KCRW ReportsActivists Say L.A. Could Be Next After Protester Shooting
Since Border Patrol agents shot and killed protester Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Angelenos have worried violence and increased ICE presence could be headed to Southern California.
Press Play with Madeleine BrandWill CBP agents who killed Alex Pretti be held accountable?
Plus, how LA activists are monitoring ICE activity at a MacArthur Park Home Depot, and rapper IDK on how serving time set him on a path to make music.
The Sam Sanders ShowWhat’s Raphael Saadiq’s Golden Rule for Making Music?
The legendary musician reflects on Sinners, Beyoncé, D'Angelo and his life in sound.
The BusinessTom Freston on building MTV during cable’s wild west years
Kim Masters talks with former Viacom CEO and MTV co-founder Tom Freston about his memoir Unplugged. Masters and Matt Belloni then dig into Netflix’s stock stumble and what CNN’s potential spin-off value says about the Warner Bros. merger.
Good FoodRené Redzepi brings Noma to Silver Lake
Plus: Cuisines of the Silk Roads, the best veggie burgers, and chanterelles at the farmers market.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand“They’re all kind of mid”: An underwhelming CA governor’s race
Plus, a new magazine called Geezer is a tongue-in-cheek alternative to the AARP, our weekend film reviews, and Evan Kleiman previews Dine LA’s Restaurant Week.
Left, Right & CenterTrump threatens Greenland… then pulls back
President Trump eases up his pursuit of Greenland. What stood out in the first year of Trump 2.0? Plus, unpacking the White House’s social media presence.
Question EverythingInside ICE’s Push to Go Viral
ICE is filming arrests in an effort to control the narrative, recruit officers, and shape public sentiment.
Weekend Film ReviewsWeekend Film Reviews: ‘Arco,’ ‘Sound of Falling’
And is ‘Mercy’ the “worst movie of the year" so far?
The TreatmentThe Treat: Darren Aronofsky
The director pays tribute to a scrappy often overlooked Martin Scorsese film.
The TreatmentDirector Jafar Panahi on hope in his films
Plus, the director talks casting non-actors and being a socially engaged filmmaker.
Second OpinionThe Blue Blood That Saves Lives — But At What Cost?
Horseshoe crabs have been bio-harvested for decades in the United States. Is it time for a change?
KCRW ReportsChimney "tombstones" rise in memoriam on a Palisades bluff
A historic preservation group is relocating chimneys from houses that burned down to commemorate the people and places lost to the Palisades Fire.
KCRW ReportsReport says hate crimes are up in Orange County
The Orange County Human Relations Commission released its annual hate crimes report. The news is not good.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand“This is NATO’s funeral,” even as Trump tempers Greenland threat
Plus, why a particularly nasty strain of flu is surging, LA drops charges against a crosswalk vigilante trying to make the city safer for pedestrians, and the future of the dictionary in an age of AI.
KCRW ReportsPicking a new home off the shelf to speed up fire rebuild
In the Palisades and Altadena, architects are pre-designing houses to save homeowners time and money. These programs carry on the legacy of one of LA's most famous architectural experiments.
Press Play with Madeleine BrandComedian Eddie Izzard takes on the ultimate tragedy: Hamlet
Plus, the Supreme Court hears cases on gun rights and executive power, why the U.S. has had a longer adversarial relationship with Iran than with the USSR, and remembering fashion designer Valentino.
KCRW ReportsStudy: L.A. Metro riders feel safer with Ambassador program
LA Metro’s transit ambassador program has had a positive effect on riders, a new UCLA study says.
- Second Opinion
The Antidepressant Trap: The Story We Weren’t Told
Patients deserve to know the risks that come with stopping their antidepressants. - Weekend Film Reviews
Weekend Film Reviews: '28 Years Later: The Bone Temple,' 'Night Patrol'
Plus, Jodie Foster flexes her French in the new mystery movie 'A Private Life.' 
Left, Right & CenterTrump threatens to enact Insurrection Act in Minnesota
Protestors in Minneapolis clash with ICE agents after the killing of Renee Good. Plus, the president tries to flex his power at home and abroad.
Good FoodAre grocery stores charging you more than your neighbor?
Dynamic pricing, the Sioux Chef's new cookbook, California bees and why one farm is dropping its organic certification.
Press Play with Madeleine BrandBTS is back! Previewing the year ahead in KPop
Plus, San Francisco’s free childcare could be a way for Democrats to thread the affordability needle, a campaign for social media not in the hands of tech billionaires, and our weekend film reviews.
The TreatmentJosh Safdie on the ambition of ‘Marty Supreme’
Plus, the director talks cinematic inspirations for 1950s New York.
KCRW Reports"I could be homeless": Palisades' 1st Black Homeowner
97-year-old Louvenia Jenkins reflects on her future, one year after losing her home in the Palisades fire.
The TreatmentThe Treat: Emily Blunt
The actress looks back on the inspiring films she might have been “too young to be watching.”
Press Play with Madeleine BrandSelena, A Tribe Called Quest inspire Adrian Quesada’s ‘boleros psicodelicos’
Plus, LA-based quintet SML blurs the lines between jazz and electronica, and a new book tells the story of the women of Parliament-Funkadelic who shaped the sound of ‘70s funk.
KCRW ReportsEvolution happened quick for birds at UCLA during pandemic
Evolutionary biologists believe juncos’ beaks evolved during pandemic-era lockdowns when the birds could no longer rely on human food.
The Sam Sanders ShowDid Social Media Kill The Dance Floor?
Many young people are now afraid to let loose at the club.
KCRW ReportsSouth L.A. is California’s first Black cultural district
The designation is expected to bring at least $2 million in state investments to boost tourism in South LA.
Latest Playlists
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Morning Becomes EclecticMorning Becomes Eclectic: Margo Price dotes on Doechii and honors her late friend Bob Weir
KCRW’s signature music program — defying format since 1977.
Ro "Wyldeflower" ContrerasRo "Wyldeflower" Contreras dives into sounds inspired by the sign of Aquarius
Music to lift your spirits. An expansive sonic journey featuring new and classic rhythms from all over the globe.
Morning Becomes EclecticMorning Becomes Eclectic: A timely protest song from Jesse Welles + a rare posthumous feature from DMX
KCRW’s signature music program — defying format since 1977.
Morning Becomes EclecticMorning Becomes Eclectic: The Neverending groove of Sly Dunbar + Kate Bollinger covers her mother
KCRW’s signature music program — defying format since 1977.
Peanut Butter WolfPeanut Butter Wolf pays tribute to the TR-808 drum machine's early years
Peanut Butter Wolf digs through his crates of over 50,000 records, as well as digital crates of tons of unreleased music, to favor the underdog. In this month's episode, he pays tribute to the early years of the Roland TR-808 drum machine: one of the most foundational, influential, and widely-heard pieces of gear in the history of popular music.
Tyler "Boogie" BoudreauxTyler "Boogie" Boudreaux throws back to the "Valley Girl" soundtrack and beyond
Part wax. Part digital. Pure heat.
LeRoy DownsLeRoy Downs puts out a "love call to the world" and finds beauty in chaos
Exploring the multitudes contained within jazz.
Chris DouridasChris Douridas reaches for the heartbeat of the city, with thoughts of love and empowerment
Genre-defying sounds, from fresh cuts to timeless gems.- Ro "Wyldeflower" Contreras
Ro "Wyldeflower" Contreras explores sounds inspired by MLK Jr.
Music to lift your spirits. An expansive sonic journey featuring new and classic rhythms from all over the globe. - LeRoy Downs
LeRoy Downs puts out a "love call to the world" and finds beauty in chaos
Exploring the multitudes contained within jazz.
- Ro "Wyldeflower" Contreras
Ro "Wyldeflower" Contreras' playlist: January 25, 2026
Music to lift your spirits. An expansive sonic journey featuring new and classic rhythms from all over the globe. - Tyler "Boogie" Boudreaux
Tyler "Boogie" Boudreaux throws back to the "Valley Girl" soundtrack and beyond
Part wax. Part digital. Pure heat. - Chris Douridas
Chris Douridas reaches for the heartbeat of the city, with thoughts of love and empowerment
Genre-defying sounds, from fresh cuts to timeless gems. 
John TejadaJohn Tejada's playlist: January 24, 2026
John Tejada crafts seamless journeys through electronic music, blending deep cuts and future sounds to connect the underground's past with its evolving future.
Jason Bentley's MetropolisJason Bentley: Groove Armada, Polo & Pan remixed, Apparat, Claptone
Jason Bentley captures a hypnotic pulse of modern city life.
Raul CamposRaul Campos' playlist: January 24, 2026
Soulful grooves, fresh remixes, Latin rhythms, and rock.
Anne LittChris Douridas revels in an earthy, feel-good soundscape with balmy Saturday vibes (January 24, 2026)
Genre-defying sounds, from fresh cuts to timeless gems.
LUXXURYLUXXURY's playlist: January 23, 2026
LUXXURY plays a mix of post-punk and proto-punk from disco to dub new wave to darkwave and from stoner rock to rocksteady.
Morning Becomes EclecticSpecial Guest Jean Dawson + New James Blake & Joshua Idehen
KCRW’s signature music program — defying format since 1977.
Resident DJRESIDENT DJ 016: TOKiMONSTA
Jennifer Lee, aka TOKiMONSTA, got her start in the beat battles of Leimert Park, and quickly carved out a space in the legendary Low End Theory scene out of Lincoln Heights. She was the first female artist to join Flying Lotus's Brainfeeder label/collective and has since started her own imprint, Young Art. Her most recent album is 2025's Eternal Reverie. She joins KCRW as our Resident DJ for January 2026. Her third mix includes music by Weval, Soul Clap, and Nala.- Tyler "Boogie" Boudreaux
Tyler "Boogie" Boudreaux's playlist: January 22, 2026
Part wax. Part digital. Pure heat. 
Morning Becomes EclecticMorning Becomes Eclectic playlist: January 22, 2026 (Stereolab & Silvana Estrada - Live from KCRW 30 years apart)
KCRW’s signature music program — defying format since 1977.
Morning Becomes EclecticMorning Becomes Eclectic playlist: January 21, 2026 (A persian pop song dedicated to the resilience of Iran)
KCRW’s signature music program — defying format since 1977.
Morning Becomes EclecticMorning Becomes Eclectic playlist: January 20, 2026
KCRW’s signature music program — defying format since 1977.
- Ro "Wyldeflower" Contreras
Ro "Wyldeflower" Contreras explores sounds inspired by MLK Jr.
Music to lift your spirits. An expansive sonic journey featuring new and classic rhythms from all over the globe. 
Morning Becomes EclecticMorning Becomes Eclectic playlist: January 19, 2026 (with guest host Chris Douridas on MLK Day)
KCRW’s signature music program — defying format since 1977.
- Peanut Butter Wolf
Peanut Butter Wolf pays tribute to the TR-808 drum machine's early years
Peanut Butter Wolf digs through his crates of over 50,000 records, as well as digital crates of tons of unreleased music, to favor the underdog. In this month's episode, he pays tribute to the early years of the Roland TR-808 drum machine: one of the most foundational, influential, and widely-heard pieces of gear in the history of popular music. 
Dan WilcoxDan Wilcox's playlist: January 18, 2026
New discoveries, remixes, rarities, b-sides, and classics.
Music Shows & DJs
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Resident DJ
TOKiMONSTA drops original mixes just for KCRW. Every Friday in January.
LUXXURY
LUXXURY plays a mix of post-punk and proto-punk from disco to dub new wave to darkwave and from stoner rock to rocksteady.John Tejada
John Tejada crafts seamless journeys through electronic music, blending deep cuts and future sounds to connect the underground's past with its evolving future.Peanut Butter Wolf
Peanut Butter Wolf digs through his crates of over 50,000 records, as well as digital crates of tons of unreleased music, to favor the underdog.
Morning Becomes Eclectic
Novena Carmel hosts KCRW’s signature music program — defying format since 1977.
Henry Rollins
A mix of all kinds, from all over and all time.
Jason Bentley's Metropolis
Capturing the hypnotic pulse of modern city life.
Anne Litt
New rhythms. Sonic memory lanes. Everything else in between.Chris Douridas
Genre-defying sounds, from fresh cuts to timeless gems.
Raul Campos
Soulful grooves, fresh remixes, Latin rhythms, and rock.
SiLVA
A dance-forward mix spanning all genres.Tyler "Boogie" Boudreaux
Part wax. Part digital. Pure heat.Dan Wilcox
New discoveries, remixes, rarities, b-sides, and classics.
LeRoy Downs
Exploring the multitudes contained within jazz.Francesca Harding
Music to make you feel.
Ro "Wyldeflower" Contreras
A globe-trotting journey through new and classic rhythms.
KCRW Original Shows & Podcasts
Left, Right & Center
Different takes. Same table.
Good Food
We’ll feed your belly and your curiosity.
The Sam Sanders Show
Big questions & hot takes on pop culture.
Question Everything
Fight for the truth. New episodes every Thursday.
The Business
Inside Hollywood with all the deals, drama, and decision-makers.
The Treatment
The most interesting and influential figures in entertainment.
Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Host Madeleine Brand looks at news, culture and emerging trends through the lens of Los Angeles.
KCRW Reports
Original reporting and interviews bring you the stories of LA.
Lost Notes
This season on Lost Notes: Groupies. Women of the Sunset Strip from the Pill to Punk.
Weekend Film Reviews
The best film reviewers in the business give you recommendations on what to see and what to skip each week.
Bodies
Each episode of this documentary series begins with a medical mystery. Sometimes the sickness is in the body, and sometimes the sickness is in the system. Once you peel back the layers, more questions emerge. Created by Allison Behringer and supported by KCRW.
Life Examined
KCRW's Life Examined is a one-hour weekly show exploring science, philosophy, faith — and finding meaning in the modern world. The show is hosted by Jonathan Bastian. Please tune in Sundays at 9 a.m., or find it as a podcast.
Newsletters
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5 Things To Do This Week
What to do with your free time in LA.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
5 Songs to Hear This Week
Must-hear tracks, curated by KCRW’s music team.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
Local Newsletter
From Santa Barbara to Orange County, Los Angeles to Riverside — and points between — get the best local stories to your inbox every week.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
Music Insider
New tracks, free music downloads, and live performances, curated by legendary KCRW DJ Anne Litt.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
Art Insider
Let KCRW's art expert Carolina A. Miranda share where and how art and design are transforming LA's cultural landscape.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
The Good Food Newsletter
Weekly food recommendations and story roundups from the Good Food podcast. Written by Evan Kleiman.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
Entertainment Newsletter
A look into who and what’s shaping the entertainment we consume.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
Sam Sanders Newsletter
Find out what pop culture Sam can’t stop thinking about, plus behind-the-scenes tidbits that didn’t make the show.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
Design & Architecture Newsletter
Frances Anderton's dispatches on the world of design and architecture, and a roundup of related events.
Bi-weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
KCRW Insider
The best of KCRW – new music, new podcasts, events, and more.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
Top 30 Albums Of The Week
A list of the top 30 albums in KCRW’s on-air rotation.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
Second Opinion
Dr. Michael Wilkes offers an alternative perspective on medical ideas.
Weekly. Cancel or pause anytime.
Upcoming Events
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Ski Team, See Night
Healing Force of the Universe, Pasadena, CA
Indie / AltKCRW PresentsConcert Calendar
Cate Le Bon
The Belasco, Los Angeles, CA
KCRW PresentsConcert CalendarFeatured
The Album Leaf, Shannon Lay
Zebulon, Los Angeles, CA
KCRW PresentsConcert CalendarIndie / Alt
Ron Trent (Grammy Nomination Celebration) feat. Rochelle Jordan (live), DāM-FunK
Private Location, n/a, CA
KCRW PresentsConcert CalendarDance
Trivia Night
Re/creation Cafe, Los Angeles, CA
KCRW PresentsFree
Tyler Ramsey & Carl Broemel
Pappy & Harriet's, Pioneertown, CA
Concert CalendarKCRW PresentsSinger-Songwriter / Folk
Say She She
The Belasco, Los Angeles, CA
KCRW PresentsHand-Picked MusicConcert Calendar
Tyler Ramsey Carl Broemel
Lodge Room Highland Park, Highland Park, CA
Indie / AltSinger-Songwriter / FolkKCRW Presents
Say She She and Katzù Oso
Pappy & Harriet's, Pioneertown, CA
KCRW PresentsConcert CalendarSoul / FunkTrivia Night
Re/creation Cafe, Los Angeles, CA
KCRW PresentsFree
