Listen and Subscribe to These Great Podcasts from WQED Multimedia
Conversations with Coach Cowher
Coach Bill Cowher's series of one-on-one conversations with Pittsburghโs finest โ athletes, innovators, and artists whoโve carried the cityโs grit, passion, and heart into every arena of their lives.
Gumbands: A Podcast with Rick Sebak
GUMBANDS is a podcast about Pittsburgh, its people, its history, its neighborhoods, its small businesses, its food, its charms, its stories, and many of its surprises.
@ the Symphony
Conductors, soloists and composers involved in making great Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra performances talk about their music.
Voice of the Arts
Insights and anecdotes from musicians, dancers, artists, actors and directors, as well as audience response.
Pittsburgh Symphony Radio
A complete two hour concert hosted by Jim Cunningham. Listen for interviews and features, historic recordings and the latest weekly concerts from Heinz Hall.
Encore!
Did you miss a recent live broadcast? Or do you just want to hear it again? Relive recent WQED-FM live broadcasts on the Encore podcast page. Stream full length broadcasts by the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra and others.
Artists in the World
Hosted by WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham and CMOA's Dana Bishop-Root, Artists in the World uplifts artistic voices and explores multiple histories, geographies, and current events.
Pittsburgh Symphony on Tour
Jim Cunningham reports from the PSO's domestic and international tours.
Latest Podcast Episodes
July 17, 2026
Jacob Joyce talks Bach, Beethoven and Brunch
This Sunday, July 19th, members of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jacob Joyce perform for Bach, Beethoven and Brunch. Fresh off conducting a concert of movie music the night before, Maestro Joyce joined Jim Cunningham to talk about what they will play on the concert. They also touched on other topics like the PSO’s recent 4th of July concerts, the upcoming tour of Europe, the Festival in Danbury Connecticut Jacob will participate in, and a recap of the Pittsburgh Youth Symphony Orchestra tour of Greece.
Catch members of the Pittsburgh Symphony at the City of Pittsburgh’s FREE Bach, Beethoven and Brunch concert – Sunday July 19th, 10:30am at Mellon Park (Rose Garden Lawn at the intersection of 5th and Shady Avenues.)
July 17, 2026
Bruce Broughton – And on the Sixth Day / String Theory
Emmy Award-winning composer Bruce Broughton speaks with Anna Singer about his album, And on the Sixth Day / String Theory from the Naxos label. He also touches on his celebrated career as a film and television composer, having worked on Tombstone, Miracle on 34th Street, Hawaii Five-O, and more.
Bruce talks about his approach to composing, how he handles instrumentation, and writing themes. He tells the story of his piece And on the Sixth Day, which highlights oboist Olivier Stankiewicz. Bruce also remembers starting his film career at CBS surrounded by the likes of Henry Mancini and Jerry Goldsmith, and provides insight into the life of a studio musician.
For more information and to purchase Bruce’s CD, And on the Sixth Day / String Theory, visit the Naxos label website.
July 16, 2026
The New Ground Orchestra Festival Returns to State College!
The New Ground Orchestra Festival returns for its second annual concert at Penn State’s main campus on Friday, July 31st! Founder and conductor Rebekah O’Brien speaks with Jim Cunningham about the festival.
Rebekah created the New Ground Orchestra Festival as a supportive community for women in classical music. The festival with open with Fanny Mendelssohn’s Overture in C and closes with Dvoลรกk’s New World Symphony. In addition to the concert, the festivals rehearsals are open to the public and take place July 28th through the open dress rehearsal on the morning of the 31st.
Jim and Rebekah also listen to an excerpt of the second movement of Mendelssohn’s Italian symphony from last summer’s festival.
The festival concert is free to attend and takes place on Friday, July 31st at 7:30pm at Penn State’s School of Music Recital Hall. More information is available on the New Ground Orchestra Festival Facebook page.
July 15, 2026
Danny Elfman with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra
Danny Elfman brings a brand-new symphonic project featuring music from his celebrated film career to Pittsburgh! Danny speaks with Jim Cunningham ahead of the concert about the program and his career.
Danny will premiere five new pieces with the PSO, while featuring favorites from The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, Beetlejuice, and more. He talks about working with Tim Burton and violinist Sandy Cameron, as well as his “Halloween reputation.” Danny also shares with Jim how special it is to play with a symphony orchestra and what success means to him.
July 15, 2026
A Midsummer Night’s Dream with Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company
Johnstown’s Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company continues their run of A Midsummer Night’s Dream this weekend in Powell Stackhouse Park. Doug Meagher, who plays Bottom, speaks with Jim Cunningham about the show.
The company celebrates their 35th anniversary this year. Doug has been with performing with them for many years and talks about why he loves Shakespeare and theater. Doug says this production has been a lot of fun to prepare and shares his favorite things about his character, Bottom. He also praises his fellow cast members and the company’s founders for their work sharing Shakespeare with the Johnstown community.
Don’t miss A Midsummer Night’s Dream tonight, July 15th, through Sunday, July 19th, every evening at 7:00pm, at Powell Stackhouse Park. Guests are encouraged to park at Westmont Elementary School and take the shuttle down to the performance location. More information is available on the Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company’s website.
July 14, 2026
Thomas Essig – Something Divine
Filmmaker Thomas Essig’s documentary Something Divine comes to WQED+ this Friday, July 17th! Thomas speaks with Melissa Black about the story of the film.
Thomas calls Something Divine a healing journey about learning how to love yourself and others. He drew on his own experiences–growing up religious, struggling with expression, and discovering spiritualism through yoga philosophy–to form the concept of this documentary. Thomas talks about getting the idea from a joke about Ray Cappo, lead singer of the hardcore punk band Youth of Today, who went to India to become the monk Raghunath.
You can learn more about Something Divine on the film’s website. Access WQED+ on your Smart TV, streaming services, or through your browser.
