Hearts of Space

Hearts of Space has become a constant force in my life since discovering it while attending college in OK. I grew up a fan of ambient music after discovering some used Pete Namlook CD’s in my local record store. After that, my music collection was built primarily around the ambient/​space music genres. It was lonely being an ambient music fan in Oklahoma, so I was shocked and thrilled when I stumbled upon my first HOS show on NPR. Since then it has become an integral part of my Sunday evening, and now with their online service I can enjoy their extensive library of shows any time of the week.
Obviously it helps if you are a fan of this style of music, though I don’t always find myself enjoying every show. BUT, what I really appreciate about HOS is their diversity within the genre. If I don’t like a show one week, I’ll tune in the next week and may find myself loving everything they’re playing. Each week is different, and regardless of what they spin, the time, effort, and love they put into each show is obvious. This is quality radio. I am so grateful for HOS.

Hearts of Space started out as a late night radio show in the Bay Area and became nationally syndicated. Back when I worked in Sausalito, my office was in the same building as HOS and I used to walk by all the time to peer into their dark windows (it was hard to see anything). Apparently, after I left, they also moved.
Anyone with an internet connection can listen to HOS at
and for a fee, you can listen to it all the time.
It still comes on late Sunday nights (with free access), which for me is the perfect time for space music. It’s music I can fall asleep to, dream to, and truly relax to. I wouldn’t want to listen to it all the time (too relaxing), but there’s something very special about space music. Free of human voices, it does transport you to a different realm. You have to listen to it to understand what I mean. Set aside what you’re doing and just listen.
The host of the program sounds like Rod Serling, too. It’s «slow music for fast times.»