Rag Radio

853px-Rag_radio2RAG RADIO:

Driving in the Left Lane!

with host Thorne Dreyer

Cutting-edge alternative journalism, politics, and culture
in the spirit of the Sixties underground press.

KEEP TUNED IN WITH RAG RADIO!

Listen to it here:

  • KOOP 91.7-FM in Austin, Texas, Friday, 2-3 p.m. (CT) and streamed here.
  • WFTE 90.3-FM in Mt. Cobb, PA, & 105.7-FM in Scranton, PA, Sunday, 10-11 a.m. (ET) and streamed here,
  • KPFT HD-3 90.1 (Pacifica Radio) in Houston, Wednesday, 1-2 p.m. (CT) and streamed here.
  • KKRN 88.5-FM in Round Mountain, CA. Monday, 5:30-6:30 a.m. (PT) and streamed live here.
  • WALHRadio.com in Wilmington, OH. Streamed Thursday at 8 p.m. and midnight (ET) here.
  • KZSM.ORG in San Marcos, TX, Saturdays from 2-3 p.m. (CT). Here.
  • Internet Archive. Listen to the podcast of any Rag Radio show here.
  • The Rag Blog. Find links to all podcasts below.
  • AudioPort.org. The Rag Radio feed is available to all Pacifica stations and Pacifica affiliates here.
down arrow 2 FIND PODCASTS OF ALL RAG RADIO SHOWS BELOW
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Photo by Alan Pogue.

Rag Radio is a syndicated weekly radio show that features hour-long in-depth interviews and discussion about issues of progressive politics, culture, and history. Our guests include newsmakers, artists, leading thinkers, and public figures. The show also frequently features musical performance from leading artists from Austin and beyond.

Host Thorne Dreyer, who also edits The Rag Blog, was a leader in the ‘60s New Left and a pioneer of that era’s historic underground press movement. A founder of The Rag in Austin and Space City! in Houston, Dreyer also managed Houston’s Pacifica radio station, KPFT-FM.

Rag Radio is produced in the studios of KOOP 91.7-FM, a cooperatively-run all-volunteer, solar-powered community radio station in Austin, Texas, in association with the New Journalism Project, a Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. Thorne Dreyer is host, producer, and managing editor; Tracey Schulz is engineer and associate producer; Roger Baker is staff photographer; Suzy Shelor is Rag Radio associate; Alice Embree is guest host and contributing editor; Glenn W. Smith is resident political analyst.

Contact us at RagRadio@koop.org.

Rag Radio Podcasts

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Pupulist pundit and Rag Radio regular Jim Hightower with host Thorne Dreyer, Sept. 4, 2015. Photo by Daniel Schacht. [Listen 

2022

2021

2020

2019

Rag Radio gang, 10th Anniversary Show, Sept. 27, 2019. Photo by Charlie Martin / KOOP. [Listen]

Raj Patel on Rag Radio, July 5, 2019. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

Radio guru Larry Yurdin, right, and Thorne Dreyer at the KOOP studios, Austin, March 2019. Photo by Greg Ciotti. [Listen]

Briscoe Center for American History Director Don Carleton on Rag Radio, January 11, 2019. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

2018

Rag Radio host Thorne Dreyer, left, country singer/songwriter Kasey Lansdale, and author/Hap and Leonard creator Joe R. Lansdale. Photo by Roger Baker. Listen.

Architectural Sculptor Margo Sawyer at KOOP in Austin, April 20, 2018. [Listen]

Austin Chronicle Music Editor Raoul Hernandez on Rag Radio, Feb. 23, 2018. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

2017

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Timothy Leary biographer Bill Minutaglio, right, and host Thorne Dreyer, Feb. 2, 2018. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

Kerry Awn (front in Astros shirt) and the Uranium Savages at KOOP studios, Sept. 1, 2017. Host Dreyer at right. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen.]

Armadillo World HQ founder Eddie Wilson with author/musician Jesse Sublett on Rag Radio, March 24,2017. Photo by Bob Simmons. [Listen]

Peace and justice activists Medea Benjamin and Col. Ann Wright, Feb. 3, 2017. Photos by Alan Pogue. [Listen]

2016

Astronomers Dr. Neal Evans and Dr. Cecilia Colomé search for extraterrestrial life on Rag Radio! Dec. 16, 2016. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

Historian Doug Rossinow, Thorne Dreyer, and UT-Austin American Studies prof Julia Mickenberg: Live remote broadcast from Rag Reunion, Austin Community College. Broadcast Oct. 15, 2016. Photo by Alan Pogue. [Listen]

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Former Texas State Rep. Elliott Naishtat, Austin progressive icon, on Jan. 29, 2016. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen.]

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Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Ben Sargent joined Michael Hoinski on Nov. 20, 2015. Photo by Greg Ciotti. [Listen.]

2015

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Economist James K. Galbraith on Rag Radio Oct. 30, 2015. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen.]

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Immigration attorney, educator, and activist Barbara Hines on Rag Radio, April 17, 2015. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

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Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT) with Rag Radio host Thorne Dreyer. Show aired March 27, 2015. Photo by Alan Pogue. [Listen]

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Honky-tonk legend Dale Watson and “Rockabilly Filly” Rosie Flores at the KOOP studios, Feb. 13, 2015. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

2014

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Television and motion picture actress Cindy Pickett on Rag Radio, Friday, Oct. 3, 2015. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

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Chaka, left, and Qi Dada of hip-hop duo Riders Against the Storm on Rag Radio, August 15, 2014. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

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Hall of Fame singer-songwriter Eliza Gilkyson with Rag Radio host Thorne Dreyer, May 21, 2014. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

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From left, Rag Radio’s Tracey Schulz, Bill Ayers and Bernardine Dohrn, and Thorne Dreyer at the KOOP Studios, Friday, Jan. 17, 2014. Photo by Bob Simmons. [Listen]

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Newsman Dan Rather and environmentalist Robin Rather in first-ever father-daughter interview on Rag Radio, Friday, Sept. 27, 2013. Photo by Roger Baker. [Listen]

2013

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Pioneering Houston feminist Poppy Northcutt in Rag Radio show broadcast from the KPFT studios in Houston, Oct. 25, 2013. Photo by Guy Schwartz. [Listen]

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Texas novelist Thomas Zigal on Rag Radio, Oct. 4, 2013. Photo by Carlos Lowry. [Listen]

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Leftist author and journalism prof Robert Jensen in the KOOP Studios, May 10, 2013. Photo by William Michael Hanks. [Listen]

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Famed Arhoolie Records founder Chris Strachwitz, flanked by filmmakers Chris Simon, left, and Maureen Gosling. With Dreyer and Schulz, at KOOP, March 15, 2013. Photo by Bob Simmons. [Listen]

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Musician, author, and satirist Kinky Friedman on Rag Radio, Oct. 25, 2012. Photo by William Michael Hanks. [Listen]

2012

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Psychedelic rock pioneers Charlie Prichard, from left, and Powell St. John, with Rag Radio’s Dreyer, Dec. 21, 2015. Photo by Alan Pogue. [Listen]

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Texas Observer founding editor Ronnie Dugger on Rag Radio, June 8, 2012. Photo by Alan Pogue. [Listen]

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Legendary composer and jazz musician David Amram on Rag Radio, Sept. 29, 2012. Photo by James Retherford. [Listen]

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Musician and historian Bobby Bridger performs on Rag Radio, Nov. 18, 2011. Photos by Carlos Lowry. [Listen]

2011

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Carl Davidson, right, with Rag Radio’s Schulz and Dreyer, discussed Mondragon and workers’ coooperatives. Photo by Jim Cleveland. [Listen]

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Texas civil rights pioneer Dr. Leon McNealy with Rag Radio host Thorne Dreyer at the KOOP studios, May 6, 2011. [Listen]

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Black Panther and Angola 3 defendant Robert King, with Thorne Dreyer, Mariann Wizard, and Tracey Schulz at the KOOP studios, June 22, 2010. Photo by Ann Harkness. [Listen]

2010

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Author and music historian Jan Reid, Oct. 12, 2010. Rag Radio photo. [Listen]

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Legendary armadillo artist Jim Franklin, shown signing his Rag Blog poster, was our guest April 20, 2010. Photo by James Retherford. [Listen]

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Our first show! “The Rag & the Underground Press.” L-R: Alan Pogue, Jeff Shero Nightbyrd, Thorne Dreyer, James Retherford, Alice Embree. Photo by Alan Campbell. [Listen]