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Desert Oracle Radio

Desert Oracle Radio

Written by: Ken Layne
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About this listen

 Desert Oracle Radio is a weekly road trip through the weird American desert from the publisher of Desert Oracle, the pocket-sized field guide published in Joshua Tree, California. Hear tales of mysterious lights, missing tourists, lost mines, venomous creatures, weird history and weirder people. Hosted by editor Ken Layne and featuring a cast of intriguing mystics, oddballs, scientists and artists, Desert Oracle Radio is your soundtrack for a desert night. The program is broadcast on Friday nights at 10 p.m. on KCDZ 107.7 FM in the Mojave high desert, with field reports from around and across the desert lands, and is distributed by Public Radio Exchange (PRX).2026 Ken Layne Philosophy Social Sciences Travel Writing & Commentary
Episodes
  • Yucca Yuletide: A Desert Holiday

    Yucca Yuletide: A Desert Holiday
    Dec 20 2025

    Join Desert Oracle Radio for an audio tour of how the American Desert celebrates Christmastime, or Christmastide. With festive soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver.

    Desert Oracle Radio (c)(p) 2017-2025 http://DesertOracle.com

    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/desertoracle

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    28 mins
  • Christmas In Chelsea with St. Nicholas

    Christmas In Chelsea with St. Nicholas
    Dec 5 2025

    From Desert Oracle Radio, this is The Eldritch Republic, our new series about America’s strange history & uncanny folklore.

    Tonight we visit the beautiful country estate of Clement Clarke Moore, the big house called "Chelsea" where he read his Christmas poem to the family. The poem is "A Visit From St. Nicholas," and the country estate is now the neighborhood of Chelsea, New York City.

    Santa Claus, it turns out, is a New York City native. He was created from old Dutch traditions of St. Nicholas and Sinterklaas, by NYC boosters and literary men such as Clement C. Moore, Washington Irving and John Pintard.

    Written and hosted by Ken Layne, with soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver.

    Desert Oracle Radio © ℗ 2017-2025 https://DesertOracle.com

    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/desertoracle

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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    28 mins
  • Thanksgiving In the High Desert

    Thanksgiving In the High Desert
    Nov 25 2025

    Snowy mountaintops across the Western Mojave, all the transverse ranges have at least a dusting, with the big peaks covered in white. San Gorgonio looks so pretty right now, you can almost forget it’s a haunted mountain that eats people alive and is usually known by its grim local nickname “Old Grayback.” It must be Thanksgiving in the High Desert! An all-new episode with new soundscapes by RedBlueBlackSilver, this is Desert Oracle Radio Episode #253.

    ALSO: Listen to the end, for important information on our Stocking Stuffer Special: a rare print edition of Desert Oracle (issue #11) & a DOR yellow vinyl bumper sticker, postage-paid to your mailbox for only $15.99.

    Desert Oracle Radio (c)(p) 2017-2024 http://DesertOracle.com

    Support the show: https://www.patreon.com/desertoracle

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
    Show More Show Less
    28 mins
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