Curious Listening In the Streaming Era

What does it mean to be a curious listener?  In this episode, recorded live at Big Ears 2026, author and music journalist Liz Pelly joins legendary WNYC radio host John Schaefer to explore the art of curious listening — and what we risk losing in the age of algorithmic recommendations. Alongside guitarist Yasmin Williams, saxophonist Patrick Shiroishi, and musician/podcaster Bob Holmes, they unpack how streaming services reduce listeners to data profiles, and why the music that changes your life rarely comes from a playlist built for you.  From Guitar Hero to Tokyo listening bars, vinyl collections to trusted curators, these five share habits, communities, and happy accidents that shaped their musical lives.  In the process, they make the case that real discovery requires friction, surprise, and a willingness to sit with something you don't always immediately like or understand.