Stephen Kallao (right) and Raina Douris (left) posing as the new hosts of WXPN. (Credit: World Cafe)
WXPN’s World Cafe has been recognized with two accolades from the 2025 New York Festivals Radio Awards. The feature Abdullah Ibrahim Hears the World in Many ‘Different Colors’ and host Raina Douris were the recipients of the awards.
The New York Festivals Radio Awards are based in New York City, where they recognize ‘The World's Best Work’ in radio broadcasting. Currently, they distribute awards across 14 audio categories.
Abdullah Ibrahim Hears the World in Many ‘Different Colors’ was awarded a Bronze Radio Award in the News Report/Features category.
The feature was produced and presented by World Cafe host Stephen Kallao, who joined the station in 2017. The feature was a conversation between Kallao and South African jazz artist Abdullah Ibrahim, which reflected on his lifelong journey as an artist.
Kallao described this segment as “a conversation that fills your heart.”
Douris, who joined WXPN’s World Cafe as its host in 2019, was awarded a Finalist Diploma in the Craft/Interview category for her interview with Nick Cave.
The interview was timed with the release of Cave’s album, Wild God, where they discussed the relationship between joy and grief, spirituality and religion, and Cave’s ever-changing creative process following the loss of his sons.
Douris’s preparation for the interview and her approach to the conversation led Cave to openly reflect on his experiences, turning the discussion from music to a discussion about life.
Both awarded pieces were produced at WXPN-FM and distributed by NPR.
