December 16, 2016
#OnlyOnKojo: Top 10 Shows Of 2016
Kojo Nnamdi and Tom Sherwood broadcasting live from Slim's Diner in Petworth.
One more year of Kojo Nnamdi on the radio has come to a close and we have hours of audio to show for it. Spend the last days of 2016 enjoying some of our favorite conversations:
10. Why Did A Congressman From Iowa Tweet That D.C. “Needs A Recession?”
Our favorite conversations are hyper-local. This show, inspired by an Iowa congressman who took offense D.C.’s cranes and wished the city would spiral into a recession, was no exception. In an #OnlyOnKojo moment, D.C.’s Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton called Congressman Blum’s tweet for what it was: “crane envy.”
9. Feyisa Lilesa: An Ethiopian Marathon Runner In Exile
While the Kojo Nnamdi Show focuses on local issues and news, our coverage sometimes goes global because our audience comes from all over. When Ethiopian marathoner Feyisa Lilesa used his moment in the Rio Olympics spotlight to make a risky political statement, Kojo followed up with Lilesa, with D.C.’s vibrant Ethiopian community in mind.
8. Are Washington Audiences Too Subdued?
There are plenty of negative stereotypes associated with Washingtonians. And to outsiders only familiar with the “official Washington” they see on the news, acting like an uptight jerk is one of them. But that doesn’t square with how local D.C. performers see the local music scene. Kojo cracked the myth with WAMU’s arts reporter Ally Schweitzer.
7. Gallaudet University’s First Deaf, Female President
Gallaudet University is the world’s only university designed to be “barrier-free” for deaf and hard of hearing students. While the school is a pinnacle in the deaf community, its role in D.C. is sometimes overlooked by the city’s hearing residents. We spoke with Gallaudet’s history-making president Roberta Cordano on practical ways for hearing Washington to connect with their deaf and hearing-impaired neighbors.
7. “Hopeful” Millennials And Their Role Living And Working In Political D.C.
If you’re like Kojo, you didn’t grow up in Washington, D.C., but you’ve made it your home. For young people in particular, coming of age in this city is a unique experience that may involve changes in jobs or social circles. We explored what that feels like with two Washingtonians who approached the topic through fiction and real-life experiences.
6. 5. D.C. Girls Play Baseball On A Team Of Their Own
Some of our favorite guests on the show are the youngest. In this conversation with two young ball players and their coach, Kojo got insight into an oft-overlooked narrative: growing up in local D.C.
4. Writer Neely Tucker opening up about depression on-air
There are plenty of things we could talk to Washington Post writer Neely Tucker about: Ole Miss football, writing crime novels and more. But we consider it a privilege to hear about his personal experiences, especially his challenges with mental health. When he sat down with Kojo in August, the conversation that flowed was something that we couldn’t forget afterward.
3. Dan Reed uses ice cream to talk about urban planning
Sometimes you just gotta hear someone talk about walkability and urban planning –said nobody ever. We kid, we kid. While there are plenty of urban development fans in Kojo’s audience, adding ice cream to the mix makes conversations about development a bit more palatable. In this show, Kojo Show super guest Dan Reed uses the sweet treat to predict walkability in Washington region neighborhoods.
2. Baltimore Joyce J. Scott on winning a MacArthur Genius Grant
Next time you’re feeling a little blah, press play on this show with Baltimore artist and MacArthur Foundation “Genius” Joyce J. Scott. Her positivity and golden radio voice will boost your spirits and inspire you to search for ways to live more creatively. As Scott says, “We forget how artistically gifted we all could be.”
1. What Does It Mean To Be An American?
Before this year’s election, Kojo hosted a town hall with NPR’s Asma Khalid to discuss what was at the heart of our American identity. So many themes surfaced. We heard from veterans, felons, undocumented immigrants and more.