GBH launches ‘The Curiosity Desk,’ trims ‘Boston Public Radio’

Public media organization GBH is launching “The Curiosity Desk,” a new radio show, as it scales back its flagship program “Boston Public Radio” from three hours to its original length of two hours.

The new broadcast will be hosted by longtime GBH producer, reporter, and host Edgar B. Herwick III. The show builds on his digital series of the same name, which most recently aired segments on YouTube and has explored everything from Americans’ rising obsession with pickleball to why there’s been a surge of speed humps in Greater Boston.

“The Curiosity Desk” radio show will begin Feb. 2 and air weekdays from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m, followed by “The Culture Show.”

“It’s an honor to launch this new iteration of ‘The Curiosity Desk’ — and what a dream spot, between ‘Boston Public Radio’ and ‘The Culture Show,’” Herwick said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside my colleagues to shed light on a wide variety of stories.”

The new show represents GBH’s first major editorial change since federal funding cuts to public media took effect in October. That led GBH to launch a $225 million funding campaign to help support the organization and to invest in its future.

GBH has also been trying to reach audiences beyond traditional television and radio. It relaunched the long-time television show ‘Basic Black’ last year under the new name ‘GBH News Rooted,’ airing the program on YouTube, through a podcast, and via the traditional broadcast.

“As part of our ongoing multiplatform growth strategy, we are building on ‘The Curiosity Desk’s’ digital popularity, so that audiences can enjoy the content on the radio, in person, and even as segments on our other news programs,” said GBH editor-in-chief Dan Lothian.

The launch of “The Curiosity Desk” comes as Jim Braude and Margery Eagan, co-hosts of the nearly 14-year-old “Boston Public Radio,” sought to scale back the length of their show to its original length to open up a slot for other GBH talent and to have more time for other interests, they told listeners Thursday.

“For ages Margery and I have urged long-timers like us to make space for the next generation,” Braude said on Thursday’s broadcast. “Finally, Margery, we decided to take our own advice.”

Other than the switch from three hours to two, “Boston Public Radio” will continue to air weekdays on GBH, with live tapings at the Boston Public Library on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday. “The Curiosity Desk” will also start airing live shows from GBH’s library studio in the coming months, the station said.

Aidan Ryan can be reached at aidan.ryan@globe.com. Follow him @aidanfitzryan.