The Brazilian Hour is one of the longest-running international radio programs on U.S. NPR-affiliated stations, celebrating nearly 50 years of broadcasting Brazilian culture abroad. Founded in 1978 by Sergio Mielniczenko, the show brings Brazilian music, identity, and storytelling to audiences in the United States and around the world. Produced in five languages and aired in dozens of countries, it has become a cultural bridge between Brazil and the Brazilian diaspora. Today, it remains a powerful voice of Brazil on global airwaves.
By Lindenberg Junior
The program reaches listeners in the U.S. and more than 100 countries
The radio show Brazilian Hour, one of the longest-running international radio programs on NPR stations in the U.S., marked its 47th anniversary in March 2025. Since its debut in 1978, the show has earned a reputation for delivering the vibrant and varied flavors of Brazilian culture straight from the United States.
Its founder, Sergio Mielniczenko, moved to Los Angeles in the early 1970s to study radio and television. Shortly after beginning his work at the Brazilian Consulate, in 1978 a local radio station approached the Consulate to produce a Brazilian music program. Sergio embraced the opportunity and has led The Brazilian Hour ever since.
Aiming to reach a global audience, the show is produced in five languages – English, Portuguese, Spanish, French, and Mandarin, and airs across about 40 U.S. NPR-affiliated stations and in over 100 countries. Sergio has continued to write and produce the program since day one, and continues to work at the Brazilian General Consulate of Los Angeles (*2025).
The show is promoted by Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and, locally in Los Angeles, it still originates from KXLU 88.9 FM, where it airs on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 to 10 a.m. Brasília time. Additionally, The Brazilian Hour is available via mobile apps and streaming on its official website, and ranks among the top 100 most-listened-to shows on the Live365 network of 5,000 stations.
FAQ – The Brazilian Hour
1. What is The Brazilian Hour?
The Brazilian Hour is an international radio show dedicated to promoting Brazilian music and culture to global audiences, especially in the United States.
2. When and where did the show begin?
The show debuted in 1978 in Los Angeles, after a local radio station partnered with the Brazilian Consulate to create a Brazilian music program.
3. Who created and hosts The Brazilian Hour?
The program was founded, written, and produced by Sergio Mielniczenko, who has led the show since its inception.
4. Where is The Brazilian Hour broadcast today?
It airs on around 40 NPR-affiliated stations in the U.S., reaches more than 100 countries, and is available via streaming, mobile apps, Live365, and KXLU 88.9 FM.
5. Why is The Brazilian Hour important to the Brazilian community abroad?
The show serves as a cultural connection for Brazilians living outside Brazil, preserving language, music, and national identity while introducing Brazilian culture to international audiences.
