Today, Bob Boilen is best known as the creator and co-host of the NPR podcast All Songs Considered, but he started his NPR career working with the news reporters and hosts—for 18 years, he directed the flagship show All Things Considered.
In this interview, he tells us how the small music clips between news stories led to the creation of his music show. We also talk about his voracious appetite for live music—in 2015, he saw 506 shows. And we discuss NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Contest, and he gives some tips for bands who are entering.

Credit Hollie Daughtery