Wisconsin Public Radio’s “to the Best of Our Knowledge” Special Collection Featured in the American Archive of Public Broadcasting
When ideas are shared, they can grow and take on a life of their own. And some ideas are timeless, they inspire conversation, innovation and communities for generations. For 35 years, Wisconsin Public Radio’s “To the Best of Our Knowledge” has been a welcoming place for big ideas, the people who have them and those who can’t stop thinking about them.
Now, on the eve of their final broadcast, the show has announced that every episode of the Peabody Award-winning program will be archived for free, for everyone, forever. The “To the Best of Our Knowledge” Special Collection will be housed in the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, a collaboration between the Library of Congress and Boston public media producer GBH, available online at americanarchive.org/special_collections/ttbook
“When we shared the news that ‘To the Best of Our Knowledge’ would broadcast its final show on September 27, we heard from listeners throughout the country who were so disappointed,” Host Anne Strainchamps said. “We hope knowing the entire body of work will be preserved — every interview, series, essay and investigation — provides some solace. We’re deeply grateful this archive will be here for fans and researchers now and in the future.”
Since 1990, “To the Best of Our Knowledge” has interviewed some of the most influential scientists, writers, musicians, politicians and thinkers in the world. Some highlights in the archives include interviews with Jane Goodall, Jimmy Carter, Toni Morrison, Stephen Sondheim, Susan Sontag, JD Vance, David Lynch, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Maurice Sendak, Salman Rushdie, Margaret Atwood, Barack Obama and many others.
The “To the Best Of Our Knowledge” special collection features over 1,150 episodes that aired from 2001 to 2025. More episodes from the first 11 years of the program will be added in the coming months.
Public media explores complicated issues and ideas without rancor. It welcomes and celebrates voices and creativity that can be harder to find in mainstream media. The AAPB was established to ensure the singular and historic work of public radio and television stations around the nation is preserved.
“We’re thrilled to welcome ‘To the Best of Our Knowledge’ to the American Archive of Public Broadcasting, representing decades of in-depth interviews and award-winning radio storytelling,” said Karen Cariani, the David O. Ives Executive Director of the GBH Archives and Co-Project Director of the AAPB. “We know the treasures in this collection will continue to inspire longtime listeners and create new fans long into the future.”
“We’re incredibly proud of ‘To the Best of Our Knowledge,’” WPR Director Sarah Ashworth said. “This is a fitting honor for the show and an enduring resource for current and future listeners.” “To the Best of Our Knowledge” is distributed nationally to more than 150 stations by PRX in partnership with WPR.
“Ending the show has been difficult,” Executive Producer and Co-Creator Steve Paulson said. “We have an amazing team working on the show now, and so many talented people have contributed to it over the past 35 years. We’ve been touched by the outpouring of support from listeners. It’s gratifying to know that our work will be preserved, but more than anything, we hope these big questions and beautiful ideas will continue to delight and nourish people for years to come.”
Support for the “To the Best of Our Knowledge” special collection was provided by the Mellon Foundation.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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