Earth Day is a huge deal for eTown. We taped our first show on Earth Day in 1991, launching our program with a commitment to both entertain and inform by featuring great live music, plus interviews with artists while presenting the views of experts, scientists, authors, and policy makers about the state of our environment and how we can each try to help heal the planet.

When we started, many radio stations were unsure of our particular format: one-of-a-kind live musical moments combined with compelling conversation. But eTown soon caught on, and we continue to reach more and more people. eTown was ahead of the curve, talking about climate change, almost 30 years ago. But though that discussion is far more common today than it was in 1991, the truth is, the Earth still needs our attention – now more than ever.

This week, we present our “Earth Day’s 50th Anniversary” Special, Covid-19 edition. Helen and Nick worked from home, she combing through the archives to select the various pieces, he writing and recording his parts. Their voices were recorded in their basement. eTown audio engineer extraordinaire Todd Ayers assembled it all with their direction. And the result is a lively, rich program we’re pretty sure you’ll enjoy. Lots of music, conversations with people like Jane Goodall and even the founder of Earth Day, the late Senator Gaylord Nelson – all from the eTown archives.

Where else are you going to hear Mavis Staples, a Woody Guthrie song sung in Arabic, Jack Johnson, and Jane Goodall all on the same show? That’s this week – in eTown.