April Peavey

Studio Director and Producer

April Peavey is studio director and producer for PRI's The World.

I work out of the Boston newsroom and studio for The World. Half of my day is devoted to producing sound rich music features (known as the Global Hit) or hard news interviews; the other half is spent in the studio directing the show.
Much of the music you hear between reports and breaks was chosen by me. My goal is to try and keep the music sounding fresh and "worldly."
I also work closely with the show producer and engineer to make sure the show keeps a steady pace and that all the pieces/interviews come in on time. 
Math was never my strong suit, so I always need to make sure I have a stopwatch! 
Before coming to The World I produced for the daily news program "Here and Now" based at WBUR.
While there I served as a field producer for the 2004 Democratic and Republican Conventions and produced a one-hour radio documentary on Cuba. 
Other career ventures include: NBC in New York, the Museum of Television and Radio and ushering at the Metropolitan Opera House.
I received my Bachelors degree from Emerson College and have a Master’s in Theological Studies from Boston University.
I currently reside in New Hampshire with my partner, three cats, a dog and 20k-plus bees.
man at piano

Artist Daniel Jobim honors the musical legacy of his grandfather, a bossa nova pioneer

Daniel Jobim is now on the road playing his grandad's music on tour with Seu Jorge, another Brazilian superstar. 

Artist Daniel Jobim honors the musical legacy of his grandfather, a bossa nova pioneer
Seafood Congee, as presented in the Taiwanese cookbook Made in Taiwan: Recipes and Stories from the Island Nation.

A new book explores Taiwan's culinary identity

A new book explores Taiwan's culinary identity
Screenshot from "Cape Flats Kung Fu" by Eavesdrop.

'Planet Hip Hop': The music will always be the voice of the people, Samy Alim says

'Planet Hip Hop': The music will always be the voice of the people, Samy Alim says
Black woman performing on stage in white dress

Women rap artists a driving force as hip-hop turns 50

Women rap artists a driving force as hip-hop turns 50
"Les Princes de la Ville" by 113, a French rap group.

Planet Hip Hop: How French rappers continue to raise their voices for justice and identity

Planet Hip Hop: How French rappers continue to raise their voices for justice and identity
Critically-acclaimed hip-hop artist Dope Saint Jude performs at the Cape Town Jazz Festival, April 2017.

Planet Hip Hop: The World celebrates 50 years of hip-hop around the globe

Hip-hop turns 50 this summer, and its influence has been felt in all corners of the globe. From the streets of the Bronx to a revolution in Beirut, from anti-apartheid messages in Cape Town to graffiti in Cairo. Throughout the summer, we will be exploring Planet Hip Hop.

Planet Hip Hop: The World celebrates 50 years of hip-hop around the globe
Pilani Bubu found her music community after she moved from South Africa to New Orleans. She understood that the people she met wanted to learn more about her culture back home. That’s when she started to incorporate South African music into her repertoire

South Africa’s Pilani Bubu has ‘jumped off the shoulder of giants’ to create music filled with tradition

The singer-songwriter has always straddled between the worlds of globalization and the traditions of her homeland.

South Africa’s Pilani Bubu has ‘jumped off the shoulder of giants’ to create music filled with tradition
Haitian Musician and Voudo priest Erol Josué has a new album titled Pèlerinaj, which includes songs like “Rén Sobo,” “Ati Sole” and “Palave Maria" that invoke Voudo goddesses and saints.

Erol Josué’s new album Pèlerinaj highlights Haiti’s Vodou tradition and the artist’s own pilgrimage

The 18 tracks on "Pèlerinaj," or “pilgrimage” in Haitian Creole, are a mix of sacred Vodou chants and traditional Haitian rhythms with funk, jazz, rock and electronic music.

Erol Josué’s new album Pèlerinaj highlights Haiti’s Vodou tradition and the artist’s own pilgrimage
woman onstage

Irish singer-songwriter Dani Larkin navigates a troubled border with song 

Dani Larkin was too young to have lived through the troubles in Northern Ireland. But growing up along the Armagh-Monaghan border in Ireland, close to Northern Ireland, she knew all about the sectarian tension and conflict in the area. She also knew about kindness and a history that brings people together. 

Irish singer-songwriter Dani Larkin navigates a troubled border with song 
band

TarantisT bandleader on protests in Iran: 'This is not protest anymore. This is a revolution'

In the Iranian diaspora community of Los Angeles, members of the heavy metal group TarantisT have added their artistic voices to the protests in Iran. Arash Rahbary is the band's singer and bassist. He speaks to host Marco Werman.

TarantisT bandleader on protests in Iran: 'This is not protest anymore. This is a revolution'
View of the Earth as seen by the Apollo 17 crew.

NASA’s iconic image of Earth still inspires 50 years later. Fmr astronaut Mae Jemison reflects on it.

Former NASA astronaut Dr. Mae Jemison, who now directs the 100 Year Starship Project, talks about the power of the "big, blue marble" image of planet Earth, taken 50 years ago.

NASA’s iconic image of Earth still inspires 50 years later. Fmr astronaut Mae Jemison reflects on it.
As a part of the Afro-Andean Funk duo, Araceli Poma, a Latin Grammy-nominated Peruvian singer and producer, together with bassist, composer and producer Matt Geraghty, often makes music about Indigenous language, culture and shamanism.

Afro-Andean Funk duo unites cultures through music

The New York-based duo makes music about a wide variety of themes but often come back to songs about Peruvian shamanism.

Afro-Andean Funk duo unites cultures through music
One of Joanne Lee Molinaro's recipes from The Korean Vegan

The Korean Vegan reflects on food, family and life

Food blogger Joanne Lee Molinaro speaks with The World's host Marco Werman about her cooking, social media success and the personal stories behind the experience.

The Korean Vegan reflects on food, family and life
São Sebastião Fort and Museum with statues of conquistadors São Tomé.

'Born in Blackness': A new book centers Africa in the expansive history of slavery

Major aspects of the trans-Atlantic slave trade from an African perspective have gotten erased throughout time. Howard French set out to illuminate a more expansive understanding in a new book called, "Born in Blackness: Africa, Africans, and the Making of the Modern World, 1471 to the Second World War."

'Born in Blackness': A new book centers Africa in the expansive history of slavery
Poet Malik al-Nasir with Gil Scott-Heron, a jazz and spoken-word artist.

Gil Scott-Heron 'was first and foremost an activist,' fellow poet says

Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee Gil Scott-Heron had a profound influence on many aspiring poets including Malik al-Nasir and his band, Malik and the OGs. Nasir joined The World's host Marco Werman to talk about his lifelong connection with Scott-Heron recounted in his new book, "Letters to Gil."

Gil Scott-Heron 'was first and foremost an activist,' fellow poet says