U2 X-Radio: Elevation with John Kelly Episode Guides: 2020

Episode Guides | Schedule and News | Statistics

"Celebrating news and ideas from the worlds of science, medicine, faith, and the arts. Hosted by Irish broadcaster/writer John Kelly, this show features music and poetry; interviews with artists, activists, and thinkers; plus the occasional member of U2."

John Kelly, an Irish broadcaster and writer, hosts a weekly show on the channel, where he interviews a variety of guest, including the occasional member of U2. The show started with the launch of the station, and the first episode was July 5, 2020.

Below you will find the latest information about episodes of this program on U2 X-Radio on SiriusXM. Our full U2 X-Radio discography page is available if you are looking for news, scheduling information, and other information. Additional episode guides are available to the right.

Weekly Show
Airs initially on Sunday at 10:00 ET
Shows available on demand.
Repeats twice on Sunday, and throughout the week.

Elevation With John Kelly:

Episode: 01 Bryan Stevenson
Initially Aired: 2020-07-05 10:00
Includes a reading of Psalm 100 by Bono, and a special appearance by The Edge during the Bryan Stevenson discussion. The show opens with "Sunday Morning" by Julie London.

Episode: 02 Judy Collins
Initially Aired: 2020-07-12 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "I’ll be talking to folk legend Judy Collins about the power of song & the story of Amazing Grace. Also a poem from Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Paul Muldoon." The show opens with "No Twistin' on Sunday" by The Zircons.

Episode: 03 David Lynch
Initially Aired: 2020-07-19 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "I’ll be talking meditation, inspiration and creativity with the great David Lynch." The show opens with "Sunday Morning" by Velvet Underground.

Episode: 04 Cillian Murphy
Initially Aired: 2020-07-26 10:00
Includes a reading of R.S. Thomas' "The Bright Field" by The Edge. John Kelly tweets, "I’ll be talking empathy and acting with Cillian Murphy, music includes Emmylou Harris, Villagers and U2." The show opens with "Sunday Walker" by Villagers.

Episode: 05 Roman Krznaric
Initially Aired: 2020-08-02 10:00
Includes a reading of "Psalm 121" by Bono and a guest appearance by The Edge during the Roman Krznaric discussion. John Kelly tweets, "I’ll be talking to the philosopher Roman Krznaric - plus a few surprises - musical and otherwise." The show opens with "A Sunday Kind of Love" by Etta James.

Episode: 06 Naomi Shihab Nye
Initially Aired: 2020-08-09 10:00
Includes an appearance by The Edge discussing the passing of John Hume the previous week. John Kelly tweets, "I’ll be talking to the poet Naomi Shihab Nye - and The Edge pays tribute to John Hume." The show opens with "A Sunday Morning Love" by The Chariots.

Episode: 07 Adam Clayton
Initially Aired: 2020-08-16 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "I’ll be talking to Adam Clayton from U2 - plus some great tunes" The show opens with "Everyday Will Be Sunday (By and By)" by Dorothy Love Coates.

Episode: 08 Catherine Heaney
Initially Aired: 2020-08-23 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "I’ll be talking to Catherine Heaney about her dad, the poet Seamus Heaney - and she’ll be reading some of his work. That plus some great tunes." The show opens with "I Want Sunday Back Again" by Bettye Swann.

Episode: 09 Simon Armitage
Initially Aired: 2020-08-30 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "I’ll be talking to Britain’s Poet Laureate Simon Armitage. Simon is also the voice of the brilliant LYR." The show opens with "Heaven on a Sunday" by Paul McCartney.

Episode: 10 Kevin Barry
Initially Aired: 2020-09-06 10:00
Includes a reading of Psalm 23 by The Edge. John Kelly Tweets, "On ELEVATION this morning on U2X-Radio I’ll be talking to the writer Kevin Barry. Plus some great tunes." The show opens with "Sunday Sun" by Beck.

Episode: 11 Tracy K. Smith
Initially Aired: 2020-09-13 10:00
Incudes a reading of Psalm 150 by Bono. John Kelly tweets, "I’ll be talking to the poet Tracy K. Smith - winner of the Pulitzer Prize, and two-time US Poet Laureate. Plus some great tunes." The show opens with "Sunday's Child" by John Martyn.

Episode: 12 Thurston Moore
Initially Aired: 2020-09-20 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "On this morning’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be talking to Thurston Moore. Plus some great tunes." The show opens with "Sunday Kind of Love" by The Harptones.

Episode: 13 Emer Reynolds
Initially Aired: 2020-09-27 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "On today’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be talking space travel and beyond with Emmy Award winning director Emer Reynolds - plus some great tunes." The show opens with "Sunday Morning's Gonna Find Us In Love" by Bettye Crutcher.

Episode: 14 Eric Mingus
Initially Aired: 2020-10-04 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "On this morning’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be talking music, genre and race with the mighty Eric Mingus - plus some great tunes." The show opens with "Remember That Sunday" by Alton Ellis and Phyllis Dillon.

Episode: 15 Elvis Costello
Initially Aired: 2020-10-11 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "On Sunday’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be joined by Elvis Costello - and we’ll be premiering a brand new song." The show opens with "Let's Go to Church (Next Sunday Morning)" by Jimmy Wakely.

Episode: 16 Robert Pinsky
Initially Aired: 2020-10-18 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "On Sunday’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be joined by three term US Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky." The show opens with "Sunday Afternoon" by Blossom Dearie.

Episode: 17 Sam Amidon
Initially Aired: 2020-10-26 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "Friends in the US and Canada. On Sunday's ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I'll be joined by Sam Amidon - noted for his radical reworkings of American folk music. New album from NoneSuch Records this weekend." The show opens with "Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Kris Kristofferson.

Episode: 18 Kevin Young
Initially Aired: 2020-11-01 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "On this morning’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be joined by the poet Kevin Young - his new anthology of African American poetry is magnificent." The show opens with "Hello Sunday! Hello Road!" byGil Scott-Heron and Brian Jackson.

Episode: 19 Lisa Dwan
Initially Aired: 2020-11-08 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "On Sunday’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be joined by actress & director Lisa Dwan currently starring in Top Boy Netflix - we’ll talk the power of theatre and the genius of Samuel Beckett"

Episode: 20 Peter Guralnick
Initially Aired: 2020-11-15 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "Friends in the US and Canada. On this morning’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be joined Peter Guralnick - one of the very finest writers on music and musicians. Looking to Get Lost: Adventures in Music and Writing." The show opens with "I Met Him on Sunday" by Laura Nyro. The show also features The Edge reading the poem "Praise Song For the Day" (written by Elizabeth Alexander, the poem was also featured on screen during The Joshua Tree Tour 2017 and 2019, and was read by the author at the inauguration of Barrack Obama.)

Episode: 21 Caspar Henderson
Initially Aired: 2020-11-22 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "Friends in the US and Canada. On tomorrow’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be joined by the writer Caspar Henderson - we’ll be talking about wonder. What is it? And why do we need it?" The show opens with "Sunday Morning" by Margo Guryan.

Episode: 22 Donny McCaslin
Initially Aired: 2020-11-29 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "Friends in the US and Canada. On Sunday’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be joined by Donny McCaslin - from Santa Cruz to NYC and working with David Bowie on Blackstar." The show opens with "Sunday" by Frank Sinatra.

Episode: 23 Cosmo Sheldrake
Initially Aired: 2020-12-06 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "On Sunday’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be joined by the multi- instrumentalist and producer Cosmo Sheldrake. We’ll be talking music, birds, the environment and beyond." The show opens with "A Sunday Smile" by Beirut.

Episode: 24 Mark O'Connell
Initially Aired: 2020-12-13 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "On tomorrow’s ELEVATION on U2X-Radio I’ll be joined by the writer Mark O’Connell. We’ll be talking humans, machines and the modest problem of death." The show opens with "Sunday Best" by Bobbie Gentry.

Episode: 25 Paula Meehan
Initially Aired: 2020-12-20 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "Paula [Meehan] will be my guest on Elevation on the day between the Solstice - and the light will return." The show opens with "Suzanne on a Sunday Morning" by Ricky Nelson.

Episode: 26 Various
Initially Aired: 2020-12-27 10:00
John Kelly tweets, "Friends in the US & Canada. This morning’s ELEVATION is a special poetry edition. Four laureates, two Pulitzer Prize winners, five rock n’rollers, a President - and a few surprises." Broadcast includes The Edge reading Psalm 46, Bono reading Psalm 100, Adam Clayton reading William Blake's "Little Boy Lost" and "Little Boy Found" and Irish President Michael W. Higgins reading "Saturdays Made Holy." The show did not open with the usual "Sunday" titled song.