“You’ve got to look back at the old things and see them in a new light,” John Coltrane once said. That spirit guides Angélika Beener, host and producer of WBGO podcast Milestones: Celebrating the Culture. Each episode revisits a landmark album or pivotal cultural moment that is celebrating a milestone anniversary, uncovering fresh meaning and revealing how the past continues to move us forward.
Milestones is where artists become fans. It is a unique space where legends and rising voices alike reminisce, reflect (and geek out!) on the albums and projects that have shaped their lives. Guests have included Bob James, Brian Jackson, Bertha Hope, Jason Moran, Christian McBride and other influential figures across the culture, each offering rare and distinguished insight and genuine reverence for the art that inspires them.
A new season of Milestones kicks off at the top of 2026 with a dynamic roster of legendary and up-and-coming artists. We’ll trace 60 and 70 year anniversaries of projects that remind us of the roots and brilliance of jazz; move through the genre-expanding innovations of the 1970s that stretched jazz into soul, pop, and beyond; and follow the thread into late-20th and 21st-century projects that celebrate jazz as a vital music worthy of continual cultural dialogue. Expect episodes to meaningfully interrogate legacy, reveal unexpected connections, and celebrate records that continue to shape how we listen, create, and understand music today.
A lifelong archivist of culture, Angélika recorded her first interview in elementary school, sitting with her grandparents, with intention to preserve their histories. That instinct to listen deeply has guided her ever since as a DJ, producer, director, and award-winning journalist whose work has appeared in TIDAL, NPR Music, DownBeat, The Huffington Post,and The New York Times.
Celebrate culture in conversation. Listen to Milestones: Celebrating the Culture wherever you get your podcasts.
Check out the rest of our line up at WBGO Studios.
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In the world of music, few names resonate quite like that of Steely Dan. Often cited by critics as one of their finest works, Pretzel Logic — their third album — marks a significant evolution in their musical journey. In honor of its 50th anniversary, on this episode of Milestones we delve into the landmark album with GRAMMY winning guitarist Isaiah Sharkey, whose admiration for Steely Dan runs deep. -
Lee Morgan's The Sidewinder is 60 -
The family of Max Roach discusses their iconic dad during centennial year -
Pianist, composer, educator and advocate Bertha Hope-Booker, joins us to discuss her fascinating musical journey -- including her recording career and her legacy and preservation work. With a career spanning over six decades, we take a deep dive into the early years that brought her from Los Angeles to New York City, the keys to developing her own sound, the best advice she received from Philly Joe Jones and Johnny Griffin, and her thoughts on being an inspiration to women in jazz. -
Legendary pianist, composer, arranger, and contemporary jazz giant Bob James joins Milestones as we delve into his experimental CTI debut, One, for its 50th anniversary. -
Soundtracking Society: Brian Jackson Talks Winter in America at 50 -
In Part Two of our special Isley Brothers celebration, award winning vocalist, instrumentalist, producer, composer, and cultural historian TL Cross is back to help unpack the genius of The Isley Brothers' 1973 classic '3+3.' -
In Part One of this episode of the Milestones podcast, host Angelika Beener talks with vocalist, instrumentalist, producer, composer, and cultural historian TL Cross about the legacy of The Isley Brothers. -
In honor of Coltrane's 97th birthday, renowned astrologer Sam Reynolds joins Milestones host Angelika Beener to explore the inner journey of John Coltrane through the lens of astrology.
