Nocturne

Nocturne is essay radio – a hybrid form of audio storytelling that blends elements of documentary, fiction and sound-art. It is produced by Vanessa Lowe.

Shared Space 06/02/2025

Shared Space Scientists have dubbed this time period the Lunar Anthropocene, a new geological epoch in which human's have become the dominant force shaping the moon's environment. As humans race forward into deeper exploration and utilization of the moon and beyond, astronomer, Dr. Aparna Venkatesan, urges us to consider the shared nature of the cosmos. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/36813405

The Night Self 03/18/2025

The Night Self Many of us have struggled with insomnia at various times in our lives. Annabel Abbs' journey through insomnia led her to discoveries that completely changed her life. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/35767735

Impression 01/28/2025

Impression Nathanael Gray paints dramatic landscapes of wild nature. He paints them in the dark. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/35040325

Henry 1 11/27/2024

Henry 1 "Henry 1" is the Sonoma Country Sheriff's Office helicopter rescue unit. They're available 24/7, and are one of the busiest programs of their kind in the country. They're the only one in the country that does long line rescues at night. They're super badass. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/34184655

Into Under Through Again 09/26/2024

Into Under Through Again Nocturne is turning 10 YEARS OLD next month! In honor of this huge milestone, we are revisiting an early listener favorite, with a twist. It turns out, the night, with it's hidden, pulse quickening, mystery, may not be something to triumph over, it might be something to savor. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/33223987

Tom and Savannah 08/02/2024

Tom and Savannah An early tragedy led Tom Turcich to examine what he wanted out of life. Over the course of seven years, Tom and Savannah walked around the globe. Tom is the 10th man to walk around the world, and Savannah is the first dog. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/32417002

Noctalgia 06/01/2024

Noctalgia As the world changes around us, how do we balance grief and gratitude? How do we stay connected enough to what we love, to be able to mobilize the energy and spirit to fight for it? Some people in Point Reyes Station, in northern California, are acutely aware of what they have, what they could lose, and why it matters. So they've banded together, harnessing the power of community, to do what they can. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/31557052

Balaclava 04/05/2024

Balaclava As winter fades into memory in the northern hemisphere, many breathe sighs of relief, looking forward to longer days and the warmth of the sun inviting time spent outside. But some are not so excited, hanging on to the wisps of winter with its long cold nights. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/30699053

Merlin Tuttle 03/02/2024

Merlin Tuttle This episode is about the only mammal that can fly, one that's reviled, but actually pretty darned gentle, unlike in the vampire stories that sprung up around it. But it's also about the dogged man who's been working on saving them for the the last 65 years. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/30201248

Nocturnalia 01/17/2024

Nocturnalia There's a lot to be sad, stressed and upset about in the world right now. It's important to give those things our focus and attention and action, but we also need to take the time to appreciate the world around us - the precious, beautiful, strange planet we call home. There are gifts to be discovered in the darkness. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/29536258

Season of Night 12/21/2023

Season of Night Today is the winter solstice in the North hemisphere - the longest night of the year. What better time to gather with a group of strangers and walk through the glowing streets of the Mission District in San Francisco, carrying boomboxes and speakers, creating something unique and beautiful together. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/29176518

East of Nowhere 11/30/2023

East of Nowhere What leads a 21-year-old to leave the college of her dreams and travel clear across the country to live off grid, in the middle of a vast barren desert, surrounded by art made from trash? The answer is East Jesus. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/28875078

The Light That Gives 10/18/2023

The Light That Gives In 2013, Ben Davis had the crazy idea to light up the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge for it's 75th birthday, and turn it into a nightly art installation. Ten years later, the Bay Lights went dark, but Davis' mission is brighter than ever. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/28358930

On the North Face 09/21/2023

On the North Face The U.S. Forest Service defines wilderness as having "outstanding opportunities for solitude". When Adam Danielson summited Mount Shasta he got more solitude than he would ever want. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/28108334

The Nyctalops 07/18/2023

The Nyctalops Many sighted people envision being blind as inhabiting an endless night, but the realities of blindness are often much richer and more varied. Andrew Leland offers glimpses from the Country of the Blind. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/27503436

Angel Shot 06/26/2023

Angel Shot Whether it's to hear live music, to hang out, or to hook up, bars and clubs are a big part of nightlife for a lot of people. But going out to a bar is not without risk, particularly for women, LGBTQ and non-binary people. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/27280647

Nightways 05/22/2023

Nightways Until fairly recently, there was no distinct focus on the archeology of the night. Lacking a specific nighttime lens through which to view relics from the past, archeologists had been missing an opportunity to capture a whole complete portrait of ancient people's lives. It was kind of like painting a picture and filling in only half the canvas. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/26919798

Bonus Episode - Introducing the Podcast, Out There 05/09/2023

Bonus Episode - Introducing the Podcast, Out There /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/26793279

Bump in the Night 04/28/2023

Bump in the Night An unexplained sound at night is like an actor on a stage, or a mystical beast drawing power from the moon. Without all the other noise competing for attention, sound at night stands out, it travels farther, it bends and shimmers in unexpected ways. It can tantalize, mesmerize, terrify or downright destroy you in irritation. At the very least it can capture the imagination. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/26685696

In Shadow Places 03/24/2023

In Shadow Places Christina Gil began her career as an architect in Columbia. As she worked and traveled, she started thinking about how lighting could be part of the solution to making cities safer and more inviting, specifically for women at night. An idea began to take form for a project, an initiative really - called The Nightttime Traveller. The mission of the Night-time traveler project would be to explore urban night design from a women's perspective. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/26334729

Hot for Teacher 02/24/2023

Hot for Teacher In most major urban and suburban areas in the U.S., it's easy to take for granted that the streets are for cars - that's just the way it is almost all the time. That's what we expect to see and experience, day and night. So, when you come across a road taken over by joyful people on bicycles, with cars stuck on the sidelines, it's kind of a delightful spectacle. In fact, around where I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, that's called a bike party. Support Nocturne by donating at /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/26037309

Meals 4 Heels 01/18/2023

Meals 4 Heels In a world where the nutritional needs of sex workers is not given much consideration, Nikeisah Newton feeds strippers the most scrumptous healthy things she can think of. And she delivers. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/25651824

Tree Time 12/20/2022

Tree Time From tree surfing to sleeping in trees, Peter Jenkins has done it all. And he's spent more than half his life teaching others how to do it, too. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/25388406

Fresh Out the Grease 11/18/2022

Fresh Out the Grease There are some experiences that, while wonderful at any time, are amplified in their wonderfulness when they happen at night. This is one of them. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/25066392

Dream Doctor 10/15/2022

Dream Doctor Dreams are often thought of as windows into the unconscious mind. Charles Mcphee made a career of interpreting people's dreams on the radio as "The Dream Doctor". When Rachel discovered the show as a kid, it became a different kind of window - offering strange and surprising insight into the world of adults. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/24694389

Manhunt on Bohemian Highway 09/21/2022

Manhunt on Bohemian Highway Monte Rio is a tiny peaceful Northern California town, nestled in a hilly forest of redwoods, beside a river. Who’s starting all the fires? /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/24441687

Dream Walk: The Gate 06/14/2022

Dream Walk: The Gate Lately, I've been thinking a lot about what it would feel like to take a long walk through a dark dark night, without fear. So, I decided to take myself on a walk like that, with you. This night feels strange and different. The darkness and the glittering bits of light are not as they usually appear, how they usually feel. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/23431229

Light Enough 05/22/2022

Light Enough You won't find the word "Tenebrisology" in the dictionary - yet. It means, "the study of natural darkness", and it was created by Jane Slade. Her work in the lighting industry woke her up to the darkness we're all missing, and her mission to bring it back. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/23191349

What Would You Do? 04/20/2022

What Would You Do? I rarely talk about the fact that I pretty much always feel hyperaware, if not nervous, when I'm out alone at night. I'm embarrassed to admit that. But I'm not alone. Hannah Drake asked the question, "What would you do out at night if you weren't afraid?", and the answers were illuminating. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/22850171

Into the Wave 03/16/2022

Into the Wave Amanda and her husband went out on a guided nighttime kayaking tour for their anniversary. What they'd hoped would be a relaxing, romantic excursion into nature turned into something else entirely. /episode/index/show/nocturne/id/22474154

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