Philly Radio: WXPN's Kathy O'Connell Announces Retirement

Kathy O'Connell

After four decades of soundtracking childhoods across the region and beyond, WXPN host Kathy O’Connell has announced her retirement. Since O’Connell is irreplaceable, this also means that the Peabody Award-winning show Kids Corner will draw to a close, with its final shows airing this June.

The news was announced this morning on-air, and WXPN’s Max Bennett has published an article on the WXPN website featuring interviews with O’Connell, Kids Corner Producer Robert Drake, and General Manager Roger LaMay. Read it HERE.

In the piece, Robert Drake likens their collective impact to that of Fred Rogers. "He talked a number of times about how humbling it was to have generations of people come up to him and say how they grew up with his show," Drake said. "It's kind of like that, but a very small version. You play a role in these people's lives from a developing age through adulthood. You meant a lot to them when they were 12 years old, but then they're 45 years old and you still mean a lot to them."

LaMay sees it in person at XPN events. "We have kids who grew up listening to Kids Corner, who now have kids of their own who listen to Kids Corner," he said. "They come to XPoNential Music Festival together."

"If you've ever listened to Kathy O'Connell interview kids for an hour about what costume they're wearing for Halloween and why, it sounds simple, but she makes it magical," LeMay adds. "She has this unique thing of being able to talk to eight-year-olds on their own level and gets the sort of wide lens that's part of being a kid."

Over the next few months WXPN will be celebrating both Kids Corner and Kathy O’Connell with some special programs and outreach events. Kids Corner will also be creating The Top 50 Kids Corner Songs of All Time list – and want your song suggestions. Additionally, we are launching the Kids Corner Treasure Box and encourage fans to submit their memories, moments, pictures and even audio/video clips for inclusion. We’ll have our big reveal of the Treasure Box in June.

Listeners can click HERE to learn more and to submit your Kids Corner memories and song suggestions.