Monsters are our subconscious perversions, our twisted fears realized, but what causes their creation, and how are they made? This hour, we look at fantastical creatures, terrifying beasts, and the scariest monsters of all: humans.

GUESTS:
Natalie Lawrence: Historian of science and the author of Enchanted Creatures: Our Monsters and Their Meanings
Surekha Davies: Historian of science, speaker, and monster consultant for radio, tv, and film. She writes a newsletter called “Strange and Wondrous: Notes from a Science Historian,” and is the author of books including Humans: A Monstrous History
Margery Cuyler: Author of 62 children’s books including Monster Mess, Bonaparte Falls Apart, Skeleton Hiccups, and the forthcoming Stompie the Zombie

Monsters are our subconscious perversions, our twisted fears realized, but what causes their creation, and how are they made? This hour, we look at fantastical creatures, terrifying beasts, and the scariest monsters of all: humans.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Natalie Lawrence:&nbsp;Historian of science and the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.nataliejlawrence.com/books">Enchanted Creatures: Our Monsters and Their Meanings</a></li>
<li>Surekha Davies:&nbsp;Historian of science, speaker, and monster consultant for radio, tv, and film. She writes a newsletter called &ldquo;<a href="https://buttondown.com/surekhadavies?tag=websitehomepage">Strange and Wondrous: Notes from a Science Historian</a>,&rdquo; and is the author of books including&nbsp;<a href="https://www.surekhadavies.org/humans-a-monstrous-history">Humans: A Monstrous History</a></li>
<li>Margery Cuyler:&nbsp;Author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.margerycuyler.net/">62 children&rsquo;s books</a>&nbsp;including&nbsp;Monster Mess,&nbsp;Bonaparte Falls Apart,&nbsp;Skeleton Hiccups, and the forthcoming&nbsp;Stompie the Zombie</li>
</ul>

The Colin McEnroe Show is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called The Nose for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/about">The Colin McEnroe Show</a> is public radio’s most eclectic, eccentric weekday program. The best way to understand us is through the subjects we tackle: Neanderthals, tambourines, handshakes, the Iliad, snacks, ringtones, punk rock, Occam’s razor, Rasputin, houseflies, zippers. Are you sensing a pattern? If so, you should probably be in treatment. On Fridays, we try to stop thinking about what kind of ringtones Neanderthals would want to have and convene a panel called <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/tags/the-nose">The Nose</a> for an informal roundtable about the week in culture.

The Colin McEnroe Show

Monsters: A look at the real, the fake, and the friendly

Aswehaveeveryyearforatleastthelast12years, to round out the year, we round up the best jazz of the year.

GUESTS:
Jen Allen: A pianist, composer, arranger, and educator; her new album is Possibilities
Noah Baerman: A pianist, composer, and educator; in 2025, he has released a four-volume series of albums called Right Now
Gene Seymour: A film, television, and music critic

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2024-12-27/our-favorite-jazz-of-2024">As</a> <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2023-12-28/our-favorite-jazz-of-2023">we</a> <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2022-12-29/our-favorite-jazz-of-2022">have</a> <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2021-12-30/the-best-jazz-of-2021">every</a> <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/arts-and-culture/2020-12-31/the-best-jazz-of-2020">year</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/celebrate-best-jazz-2019">for</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/celebrate-best-jazz-2018">at</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/look-back-best-jazz-2017">least</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/who-created-best-jazz-2016">the</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/look-back-best-jazz-2015">last</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/best-jazz-2014">12</a> <a href="https://www.wnpr.org/post/2013-jazz-picks-jazz-fanatics">years</a>, to round out the year, we round up the best jazz of the year.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Jen Allen: A pianist, composer, arranger, and educator; her new album is&nbsp;<a href="https://trrstore.bandcamp.com/album/possibilities">Possibilities</a></li>
<li>Noah Baerman: A pianist, composer, and educator; in 2025, he has released a four-volume series of albums called&nbsp;<a href="https://noahbaerman.bandcamp.com/album/right-now-volume-4-visions-of-steveland">Right Now</a></li>
<li>Gene Seymour: A film, television, and music critic</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show.

Our favorite jazz of 2025

Lists feel especially suited to the digital age, but humans have been creating lists for a long time.

So why are we drawn to lists?

This hour, the art and the utility of the list.

GUESTS:


Matthew Dicks: A West Hartford elementary school teacher and the author of Twenty-One Truths About Love


Dan Kois: Editor and writer at Slate, where he recently wrote the list “The 50 Greatest Fictional Deaths of All Time”


Ann Powers: NPR Music’s critic and correspondent


Liam Young: Author of List Cultures: Knowledge and Poetics from Mesopotamia to BuzzFeed

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.

Colin McEnroe, Jonathan McNicol, and Cat Pastor contributed to this show, which originally aired October 4, 2022.

Lists feel especially suited to the digital age, but humans have been creating lists for a long time.
So why are we drawn to lists?
This hour, the art and the utility of the list.
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>
Matthew Dicks: A West Hartford elementary school teacher and the author of&nbsp;<a href="https://matthewdicks.com/Books/twenty-one-truths-about-love/">Twenty-One Truths About Love</a>
</li>
<li>
Dan Kois: Editor and writer at Slate, where he recently wrote the list &ldquo;<a href="https://slate.com/culture/2022/07/best-death-scenes-movies-tv-books-theater-songs.html">The 50 Greatest Fictional Deaths of All Time</a>&rdquo;
</li>
<li>
Ann Powers: NPR Music&rsquo;s critic and correspondent
</li>
<li>
Liam Young: Author of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.aup.nl/en/book/9789462981102/list-cultures">List Cultures: Knowledge and Poetics from Mesopotamia to BuzzFeed</a>
</li>
</ul>
Join the conversation on&nbsp;<a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on&nbsp;<a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode.
Colin McEnroe, Jonathan McNicol, and Cat Pastor contributed to this show, which originally aired October 4, 2022.

List making, listicles, lists of lists: An hour devoted to list culture

On the night of December 4, we went to Watkinson School in Hartford, put 11 performers together on the stage there, and let them rock their way through 27 holiday- and holiday-adjacent classics.

We’re turning that two-hour performance into two radio shows over the two holiday weeks. Part onepremiered on Christmas Eve.

And this hour, live from the Foisie Family Amphitheater at Watkinson, it’s part two of our annual holiday spectacular!

GUESTS:
Jim Chapdelaine: Guitar and vocals, The Shinolas
Atla DeChamplain: Vocals, Atla & Matt
Matt DeChamplain: Piano, Atla & Matt
Lorne Entress: Drums and vocals, The Shinolas
Latanya Farrell: Vocals
Jim Henry: Guitar and vocals, The Shinolas
Paul Kochanski: Bass and vocals, The Shinolas
Steve Metcalf: Piano
Molly Sayles: Drums, Atla & Matt
Tyler Sherman: Bass, Atla & Matt

The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!

Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Colin McEnroe, Maegn Boone, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Megan Fitzgerald, and Lily Tyson contributed to this show.

On the night of December 4, we went to Watkinson School in Hartford, put 11 performers together on the stage there, and let them rock their way through 27 holiday- and holiday-adjacent classics.
We&rsquo;re turning that two-hour performance into two radio shows over the two holiday weeks. <a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/show/the-colin-mcenroe-show/2025-12-24/live-from-watkinson-its-part-1-of-our-2025-holiday-spectacular">Part one</a>premiered on Christmas Eve.
And this hour, live from the Foisie Family Amphitheater at Watkinson, it&rsquo;s part two of our annual holiday spectacular!
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li>Jim Chapdelaine: Guitar and vocals,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.lorneentress.com/theshinolas.html">The Shinolas</a></li>
<li>Atla DeChamplain: Vocals,&nbsp;<a href="https://atlaandmatt.com/">Atla &amp; Matt</a></li>
<li>Matt DeChamplain: Piano, Atla &amp; Matt</li>
<li>Lorne Entress: Drums and vocals, The Shinolas</li>
<li><a href="https://latanyafarrell.com/">Latanya Farrell</a>: Vocals</li>
<li>Jim Henry: Guitar and vocals, The Shinolas</li>
<li>Paul Kochanski: Bass and vocals, The Shinolas</li>
<li><a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/people/steve-metcalf">Steve Metcalf</a>: Piano</li>
<li>Molly Sayles: Drums, Atla &amp; Matt</li>
<li>Tyler Sherman: Bass, Atla &amp; Matt</li>
</ul>
The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-colin-mcenroe-show/id714179884">Apple Podcasts</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/0AXtqrzWounIoJyIqz003p">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/9b6b3cee-f69b-4729-a78b-181f851d80e8/the-colin-mcenroe-show">Amazon Music</a>, <a href="https://tunein.com/podcasts/News--Politics-Podcasts/The-Colin-McEnroe-Show-p1208473/">TuneIn</a>, <a href="https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/the-colin-mcenroe-show-connecticut-public-lXR08dxQSM5/">Listen Notes</a>, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode!
<a href="https://www.ctpublic.org/newsletters">Subscribe to The Noseletter</a>, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show.
Join the conversation on <a href="https://facebook.com/ColinMcShow">Facebook</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/colinmcshow">Twitter</a>.
Colin McEnroe, Maegn Boone, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Megan Fitzgerald, and Lily Tyson contributed to this show.

Monsters: A look at the real, the fake, and the friendly

In 1 playlist(s)

The Colin McEnroe Show

Social links

Follow podcast

Recent clips