Gather with BPR for a lineup of special programs to accompany the Thanksgiving holiday, from 10 AM to 2 PM on Thursday, November 23, on BPR News and BPR Classic.
From exploring Native American heritage through classical piano to tips for navigating the biggest cooking day of the year, these special programs will offer thoughtful, grateful listening opportunities.
Hear the specials on air, streaming here at bpr.org, and on the free BPR mobile app.
BPR News
10AM to 12 noon: Turkey Confidential
Turkey Confidential is The Splendid Table’s annual Thanksgiving show. Francis Lam takes calls and comes to the rescue of Thanksgiving cooks, kitchen helpers, and dinner guests during the biggest cooking day of the year.
12 noon to 1 PM: Giving Thanks—or Miigwetch
Take a look at the indigenous side of a Thanksgiving table. Minnesota Chef Sean Sherman (the Sioux Chef) gives a taste of pre-contact American Indian cuisine. Examine the complicated history of the most well-known reservation food, fry-bread. And talk with American Indian scholars Anton Treuer and Karenne Wood about their food traditions.
1 PM to 2 PM: No Small Endeavor Thanksgiving Special: Conversation & Gratitude
Life itself can be a revelation that attunes us to awe, wonder, and the present moment. Six time Grammy-award-winning musician Amy Grant shares her newfound gratitude in the wake of a traumatic bike accident. Author and professor Heather Holleman gives practical tips on having great bonding conversations that make people feel seen and heard. Community activist Diane Latiker shares how she opened up her home and changed the trajectory of a neighborhood through hospitality. And Author Oliver Burkeman reveals how quantifying your life to 4,000 weeks can help you live in the moment and transform even the most mundane of moments.
BPR Classic
10 AM to 11 AM: Reclaiming the Sound Waves: with Connor Chee
Navajo pianist and composer Connor Chee has embarked on a mission to translate traditional Navajo vocables to the modern piano. Host Scott Blankenship talks with Chee about his artistic process, the importance of preserving Navajo music for future generations, and the Land Back movement. Music includes solo piano compositions from Chee's recordings, plus the premiere of "Unbroken: Music for the Navajo Code Talkers," commissioned by American Public Media.
11 AM to 12 noon: Every Good Thing
Host Andrea Blain and classical music fans from all around the country take some time to give thanks and celebrate one of life's most meaningful gifts: music. The playlist includes Karl Jenkins: The Armed Man: “Benedictus,” Gioachino Rossini: William Tell Overture, Gustav Holst: "Mercury," Antonin Dvorak: "Largo", and more.
12 noon to 1 PM: Wind & Rhythm: Gratitude
What are you thankful for this season? Join BPR as we share our gratitude with music from David Maslanka’s Eighth Symphony, right here, at the gathering place for people who love band music.
1PM to 2PM: My Journey, Yours: A Cantus Immigration Special
My Journey Yours explores the courage of those who leave their homes in search of a brighter future and how they adapt to their new homeland. This program honors the struggle, courage, and deep humanity of migration with music from around the world, as well as a newly-commissioned piece by Melissa Dunphy, one of today’s most compelling compositional voices.
