The following audio files come from a larger group of 241 for the week. Double or ctrl-click individual highlighted links, below, to get single podcasts. A zip file of all 58 podcasts converted to 1.5x speed will download here for four months. Older groups of podcasts are discussed at the end of this episode.
3D Printing 54 mins – “This week, are we on the verge of being able to print a new kidney or liver? And will every home soon have a machine in it to make medicines so we don’t need to head off to the chemist for a dose of antibiotics? This is the world of 3D printing and we’ll show you what it promises to deliver… Plus, in the news, is fracking contaminating underground water or is it just leaky pipes? And a new breakthrough therapy for multiple sclerosis…” At the link right-click “Download as MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Aging Passionately 10 mins – “Author Isabel Allende is 71. Yes, she has a few wrinkles—but she has incredible perspective too. In this candid talk, meant for viewers of all ages, she talks about her fears as she gets older and shares how she plans to keep on living passionately.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Antibiotic Resistance 7 mins – “Susan Jaffe with discussion about the US President’s Scientific panel report on antibiotic resistance.” At the link find the title, “Listen to The Lancet: 19 September,” right-click “19september.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Artificial Sweeteners 41 mins – “It seems we are finally making headway in the fight against obesity. The Centers for Disease Control announced this week that rates of diabetes in the U.S. may be leveling off. Researchers credit the good news in part to a plateau in obesity rates. In other news, the top three soda makers pledged to cut beverage calories in the American diet by one-fifth over the next decade. But consumers turning to diet soda to decrease those calories should consider this: A new study in the journal “Nature” suggests artificial sweeteners may interfere with the way our bodies process sugar. Diane and her [5] guests discuss the latest news in the fight against obesity.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the file is included in the blog archive.
Astronomy 18 mins – “Big Data is everywhere — even the skies. In an informative talk, astronomer Andrew Connolly shows how large amounts of data are being collected about our universe, recording it in its ever-changing moods. Just how do scientists capture so many images at scale? It starts with a giant telescope …” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu. The visual aids are impressive, so you may want the video version, too.
Augmentation 54 mins – “ideacity is a three-day gathering of minds held each June in Toronto, produced and presented by Moses Znaimer. In this episode: Humans love tools, and speakers explore new devices for doing things — maybe even leaving the earth.” The main segment presents mind control of hardware based on a Canadian product called Muse from InteraXon.ca ($299). At the link find the title, “Moses Znaimer’s ideacity Conference – Augmenting Ourselves,” right-click “Download Moses Znaimer’s ideacity Conference – Augmenting Ourselves” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Autism Study 44 mins – “Ron and Cornelia Suskind had two healthy young sons, promising careers, and a brand new home when their youngest son Owen started to disappear. 3 months later a specialist sat Ron and Cornelia down and said the word that changed everything for them: Autism. In this episode, the Suskind family finds an unlikely way to access their silent son’s world. We set off to figure out what their story can tell us about Autism, a disorder with a wide spectrum of symptoms and severity. Along the way, we speak to specialists, therapists, and advocates including Simon Baron-Cohen, Barry and Raun Kaufmann, Dave Royko, Geraldine Dawson, Temple Grandin, and Gil Tippy.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bank Regulation 59 mins – “536: The Secret Recordings of Carmen Segarra: An unprecedented look inside one of the most powerful, secretive institutions in the country. The NY Federal Reserve is supposed to monitor big banks. But when Carmen Segarra was hired, what she witnessed inside the Fed was so alarming that she got a tiny recorder and started secretly taping.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu to get the podcast. The web site also has the link to the mentioned confidential report of 27 pages.
Bob Newhart Interview 115 mins – “Bob Newhart is an American institution thanks to his incredibly funny and popular television shows. But the way Marc sees it, Bob Newhart is one of the most important stand-up comedians ever. Marc talks with the legend about the comedy albums that turned Bob into an overnight sensation and changed the game for American comedy….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Brain Trauma Treatment 21mins – “Mental trauma is a growing issue in society, yet current treatments may not be addressing the issue. On this episode, Dr. Bessel van der Kolk discussed new methods for healing mental trauma.” At the link right-click “Listen to Episode” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
CAD and CAM 114 mins – “This week’s show (#278, if you’re keeping score) covers a lot of ground, and the silliness is certainly in full swing! In the NEWS department, Horizon has some new offerings and I got my OX CNC up and running … We conclude our CNC discussion this week with possible solutions for CAD design applications, as well as CAM programs. We wrap things up with Tim (IFLYOS) King discussing his adventures at the Heli Extravaganza he attended last weekend.” The CAD-CAM portion runs from 25 – 65 mins. At the link right-click “TCC_278.mp3” beside “Direct download:” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Chess of Interest 48 mins – “A young grandmaster just did the impossible at a top chess tournament. No one paid attention. Does chess still matter?” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Activist 25 mins – “As world leaders converge for the UN’s global summit on climate and thousands gather in New York for the People’s Climate March, Bill talks to 18-year-old Oregonian Kelsey Juliana, who is walking across America to draw attention to global warming. Kelsey Juliana comes by her activism naturally – her parents met in the 1990’s while fighting the logging industry’s destruction of old growth forests and she attended her first protest when she was two months old. Now just out of high school, she’s co-plaintiff in a major lawsuit being spearheaded by Our Children’s Trust that could force the state of Oregon to take a more aggressive stance against the carbon emissions warming the earth and destroying the environment. She’s walking across America as part of the Great March for Climate Action, due to arrive in Washington, DC, on November 1.” At the link find the title, “Climate Change: The Next Generation,” right-click “Media files Moyers_and_Company_337_Podcast.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate and Capitalism 47 mins – “Three hundred thousand in the streets of New York yesterday, shouting for change on the deteriorating global climate. More marches in more than 100 cities around the world. And more thousands flooding Wall Street this morning, saying no more business as usual. Steps so far aren’t cutting it. My guest today, Naomi Klein, says there’s a reason for that. We’re in a system, she says, that drives us toward global warming. A system called capitalism. It’s time to rein it in, she says. It’s the conservative nightmare. And a new rallying cry.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Politics 62 mins – “[Starts at 15 mins.]On the show this week we talk to author and social activist Naomi Klein about her new book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. the Climate. In it, Klein argues that we are past the time when incremental change can get us to where we need to be to properly address the challenge of climate change—we’re in a situation, she says, where no non-radical choices are left. This episode also features a discussion on new research that suggests gut bacteria could be affecting our minds, and a study that examines the cross-species influence of a babies’ cries.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Copernicus Complex 58 mins – “Caleb Scharf talked about his book The Copernicus Complex: Our Cosmic Significance in a Universe of Planets and Probabilities, in which he talks about the possible beginnings of life on earth and argues that earth and humanity are unique in the universe.” At the link find the title, “After Words: Caleb Scharf,” right-click “Media files program.362433.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Data Breach Report 28 mins – “Wade Baker, author of a yearly report from Verizon on worldwide data breaches, talks about the dimensions and types of data breaches and recommendations for reducing their frequency. Recent breaches include Home Depot, Target and JP Morgan Chase. “ At the link find the title, “The Communicators: Wade Baker,” right-click “Media files program.366185.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Data Gathering 52 mins – “You may not by aware of it, but you are being tracked. Nearly every move you make on the Internet results in data that is gathered not just by governments, but by marketers, retailers, and just about any company looking for a financial edge. They harvest your information with near impunity. The journalist Adam Tanner has surveyed the world of personal data and investigated the companies mining it for profit. He joins us Thursday to explore how big data could result in the end of privacy as we know it….Adam Tanner is a fellow at the Institute for Quantitative Social Science at Harvard University and was previously a Nieman fellow there. Tanner has worked for Reuters News Agency as Balkans bureau chief and San Francisco bureau chief. His new book is called What Stays in Vegas: The World of Personal Data—Lifeblood of Big Business—and the End of Privacy as We Know It.“ At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Digital Journalism 10 mins – “The growing use of tablets and mobiles by younger people is creating new challenges and pressures on broadcasters, and making space for new organisations to enter the news business. Rajan Datar discusses the future of independent journalism and the implications for existing broadcasters with Marius Dragomir, the author of a major report on digital media from the Open Society Foundation, and professor Stewart Purvis of City University.” At the link for a short time find the title, “News in a Digital World,” right-click “Download 5MB” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Doctor-Patient Interaction 17 mins – “In April 2006 one of the largest hospitals in the Netherlands hit the national headlines with the exposure of “scandalously” poor results for cardiac surgery. Melvin Samsom, CEO of the hospital, explains how the high death rates galvanised quality improvement and innovative change, transforming it into a model for patient participation.” At the ink right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dying in America 48 mins – “A bipartisan report says medical care at the end of life needs a big overhaul. One bioethicist says, “After 75, no major interventions. Let me go.’” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Fungi – Good and Bad 66 mins – In This Week In Parasitism 77 hosts Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier discuss the exchange of messenger RNAs between a parasitic plant and its hosts. At the right-click TWIP #77” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Genetic Genius 54 mins – “2014 Friesen Prize Winner Lap-Chee Tsui talks with IDEAS host Paul Kennedy about how a boy who remembers raising tadpoles in Hong Kong became the scientist who ultimately isolated and identified the gene that causes cystic fibrosis.” At the link find the title, “Genetic Genius,” right-click “Download Genetic Genius” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Google Story 41 mins – “When Google founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page were looking for someone to run their fledgling Internet start-up, they chose Eric Schmidt. The Bell Labs alum took the reins at Google just as the company faced a major battle with Microsoft. Under Schmidt’s leadership, Google established itself as the dominant Internet search engine and a global technology giant with more than $55 billion in annual revenues. Known for its “Don’t be Evil” corporate motto, the Mountain View, Calif., company is consistently ranked as the best place to work in the United States. A conversation with Google’s executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, on fostering innovation, managing millenials and how the company is responding to privacy concerns by consumers.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the file is included in the blog archive.
Government CTO 5 mins – “If you’re looking to push government out of its funk, try technology. According to Aneesh Chopra, America’s first Chief Technology Officer, young techies are coming up with ingenious solutions to government problems in their spare time.” At the link find the title, “How Tech Helps Government,” right-click “IHUB-092714-B.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gun Seizures 6 mins – “Contrary to the impression given by Hollywood’s depictions, most firearms seized from drug traffickers and gang members in the United States are handguns, not automatic rifles or sub-machine guns. In this podcast, senior researcher Matt Schroeder highlights and explains key findings from his analysis of more than 140,000 records on firearms seized from criminals in eight US cities. These findings were released this summer as a chapter in Small Arms Survey 2014: Women and Guns.” At the link find the title, “Instruments of Crime: Illicit weapons in the United States” right-click “Media files SAS-Podcast-25-Instruments-of-crime-illicit-weapons-in-the-US.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Health Care for Third World 54 mins – “Healthcare professionals worldwide often have extensive non-clinical skills in management, public health, policy, or other fields which are not officially recognized through a degree. In this talk, Rebecca Weintraub, MD — Assistant Professor at Harvard Medical School and Faculty Director of the Global Health Delivery Project at Harvard University — introduces the concept of digital badges for healthcare professionals, a means for demonstrating skills and experience to potential new employers, grant-giving organizations, and others. Like other well-known badge and certification systems — such as Fair Trade and organic standards for food, or LEED certification for buildings — digital badges can improve the quality of health services, and help others to recognize the skills of healthcare professionals. But how should such a system be implemented?” At the link right-click “Download MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Human Age 52 mins – “As the writer Diane Ackerman tells it, homo sapiens is a force of nature nearly unprecedented in Earth’s 4.5-billion years. Like an asteroid blast, humans altered some of the planet’s fundamental processes in a geological blink of an eye. In her latest book, Ackerman takes stock of the changes wrought in the Anthropocene or “human age,” from the stamp of our settlements viewable from space, to the redistribution of life-forms, to ocean acidification. She joins us Monday to take stock of the world shaped by us… Her new book is called The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Indian Prime Minister 39 mins – “This week, on a special edition of GPS, Fareed interviews two of the world’s most powerful men. Can India become the next China? And will the world’s largest democracy ever be strategic allies with the world’s first democracy? Fareed will ask India’s new prime minister, Narendra Modi, in a global exclusive interview. Then, on the eve of the 10th annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, Fareed asks former President Bill Clinton his thoughts…. “ At the link find the title, “Crisis.GPS September 21st,” click it and select “Save” from the pop-up menu.
Innovative Economics 14 mins – “America is in danger of losing its innovative edge and sliding into economic malaise. Clayton Christensen, author of “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” says that business leaders may be too scared to save us from the downturn.” At the link find the title, “Clayton Christensen: Our Innovation Slump,” right-click “IHUB-092714-D.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Insect Eating 60 mins – “This week, we’re looking at the environmental impact of foods we eat, and others that we should. We’ll speak to Daniella Martin, host of the insect cooking/travel show “Girl Meets Bug,” about her book “Edible: An Adventure into the World of Eating Insects and the Last Great Hope to Save the Planet.” And we’ll talk about the environmental effects of salmon farming with Peter Bridson, Aquaculture Research Manager for the Seafood Watch program at the Monterey Bay Aquarium.” At the ink right-click “Listen Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Invasion Biology 54 mins – “Millions of YouTube viewers have seen the jumping silver carp. It’s just the newest in a long line of “celebrity alien invaders”. Barbara Nichol examines the phenomenon of invasive species: a story as much about human nature as about nature.” At the link find the title, “Bioinvasion: Attack of the Alien Species!” right-click “Download Bioinvasion: Attack of the Alien Species!” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
ISIS Controversy 25 mins – “As Congress skipped town and avoided a vote on war, President Obama announced this week that the US was taking the lead in bombing jihadists in Iraq and Syria, opening what is being widely interpreted as another long and costly American military campaign in the Middle East. This week, Bill discusses the latest on the conflict with Jonathan Landay, a veteran national security reporter for McClatchy Newspapers and Matthew Hoh, a former Marine and foreign service officer in Afghanistan. “As much as President Obama wishes we weren’t the world’s policemen, perhaps we are,” Landay tells Moyers. “And there’s no escaping that curse.” Hoh, who resigned in protest from his post in Afghanistan over US strategic policy there, adds: “Is this really our model for the Middle East that we are going to bomb countries, continuously, take part in civil wars, sometimes supporting one side, maybe supporting the other, with no means or no real desire or effort to achieve a peace?” At the link find the title, “ Full Show: America’s New War in the Middle East,” right-click “Media files Moyers_and_Company_338_Podcast.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Legal Injustices 54 mins – “ideacity is a three-day gathering of minds held each June in Toronto, produced and presented by Moses Znaimer. In this episode: speakers ponder how we can start to really understand other people, other cultures and ways of thought.” Topics include the Innocence Project, Mandela, Sharansky and lust! At the link find the title, “Moses Znaimer’s ideacity – Remaking Ourselves,” right-click “Download Moses Znaimer’s ideacity – Remaking Ourselves” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Linux Assistive Tech 133 mins (2 parts) – “(Part 1-#255, 65m)Topic: The state of accessibility in Linux. “There are 1 billion people in the world with some type of disability. 360 million of these people are blind and have low vision. 90% of these people live in developing countries. How are they accessing technology you and I take for granted everyday? The problem is they’re not. There is proprietary software for accessible technology but it is extremely expensive and out of reach of the people that need to use it in order to access a computer. Did you know that 80% of blind people in the United States are unemployed? That’s why this is very important.” “(Part 2 -#256, 27m) In today’s episode, an introduction to assistive technology for desktop computers. Assistive technology is known by several names: Accessible technology, adaptive technology, rehabilitative devices, accessible computing, assistive devices, and more. Whatever it’s called, it’s designed to provide assistance to people with disabilities and impairments to help them improve or maintain the capabilities that their condition is preventing.” At the link and episodes 255 and 256, right-click “mp3” beside “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Little Miss Cornshucks 27 mins – “In the late 1930’s a young Mildred Cummings from Dayton, Ohio is barefoot, standing in the spotlight on stage, wearing that same old shabby dress and a broken straw hat. This is Little Miss Cornshucks and she has the audience in the palm of her hand, a unique act and larger than life personality. By the 1940’s she made top-billing at nightclubs across America, performing heartbreaking ballads. But who remembers her now? At the link find the title, “DocArchive: The Lost Legacy of Little Miss Cornshucks,” right-click “Media files docarchive_20140924-0332a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Midwifery in Canada 28 mins – “A check up on midwifery in Canada. We visit Toronto’s new birth centre where more than 400 babies are expected to be born this year, and then Brian goes to Newfoundland find out why it’s taken 30 years for midwives there to get licensed. “ At the link find the title, “Haves and Have Nots: Midwifery in Canada,” right-click “Download Haves and Have Nots: Midwifery in Canada” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Migrant DACA and DREAM 61 mins – “With postsecondary degrees proving to be beyond the reach of many low-income immigrant youth, and a vastly under-resourced adult education system the weakest link in the U.S. educational pipeline, a lack of educational attainment and opportunities stands to block hundreds of thousands of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) youth from obtaining immigration protections for which they would otherwise qualify. This Migration Policy Institute (MPI) webinar discusses the findings of the report Diploma, Please: Promoting Educational Attainment for DACA- and Potential DREAM Act-Eligible Youth, from MPI’s National Center on Immigrant Integration Policy. The discussion covers the education challenges facing DACA youth, targeted programs designed to address them, and recommendations for overcoming the education-success obstacles that key subgroups of DACA-DREAM youth face. The report highlights some of the promising programs, emerging models, and policy contexts in states such as California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Georgia, and Washington State.” At the link left click “Download,” then right-click the second “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Neuroscience for Kids 16 mins – “High school student Grace Greenwald shares her passion for neuroscience by connecting her peers with leading researchers in the field to inspire future innovators. At the age of 15, Grace came up against a lack of resources to help high school students explore the field of neuroscience. Undaunted, she designed her own neuroscience curriculum and founded The Synapse Project, a virtual learning platform that connects professionals in brain research to high school students, especially young women, offering the next generation of neuroscientists a head start through mentorship, classes, and lab experience.” At the link find the title, “The Synapse Project: Inspiring the Future of Neuroscience,” right-click “Media files synapseproject.MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Overdiagnosing 15 mins – “ Jocalyn Clarke, executive editor at icdd,b, argues the solutions proposed to improve global health are too focused on the medical, and fail to tackle the underlying socioeconomic factors which will undermine those efforts. Read her full analysis of the situation.” At the link find the title, “Are we overmedicalising global health?” right-click “Media files 169434890-bmjgroup-are-we-overmedicalising-global.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Palliative vs Assisted Death 13 mins – “Will more access to palliative care curb support for assisted suicide in Canada?” At the link find the title, “White Coat Mini Podcast – Palliative Care vs Assisted Death,” right-click “Download White Coat Mini Podcast – Palliative Care vs Assisted Death” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Parasites 55 mins – “In this episode we talk to fellow podcasters Vincent Racaniello and Dickson Despommier about viruses, bacteria and other parasites. Among other topics we discuss what each kind of parasite is made of an how they interact with the human organism (in good and bad ways).” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Parkinson’s Patient 28 mins – “The long and personal journey of Dr. Phil Hebert from family physician to patient with Parkinson’s disease. He tells why he kept the diagnosis a secret for so long and what finally convinced him he had to quit practising medicine. “ At the link find the title, “WCBA – Dr. Phil Hebert and Parkinson’s Disease,” right-click “Download WCBA – Dr. Phil Hebert and Parkinson’s Disease” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Police History 52 mins – “For many Americans, the storyline that played out on August 9 in Ferguson, Mo. — when an unarmed black teenager was fatally shot by a white police officer — is not a new one. But the sustained protests that followed, in which Ferguson police used military equipment for crowd control, have generated a new round of questioning about the role of local police in their communities. So on this episode, we’re looking at the history of policing in America, and how the police departments we’re familiar with today began to take shape. And we’ll consider what happens when the police don’t protect those they serve.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow at the right end of the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Press Freedom 72 mins – “James Risen and other journalism advocates spoke at a press conference on freedom of the press and Obama administration efforts to compel New York Times reporter James Risen to disclose a confidential source. Mr. Risen was subpoenaed in 2008 to testify at the trial of a former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) officer accused of leaking information on Iran’s nuclear program. Mr. Risen refused to name a source for information about a CIA operation in Iran that appeared in his book, State of War. Journalists and journalism advocacy groups have supported a petition to the Justice Department to cancel the subpoena. National Press Club president Myron Belkind also spoke about the arrest of journalists covering protests in response to the police shooting of unarmed teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri” At the link you can watch and listen, but an audio download costs $.99; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Primitive Technology 21 mins – “New evidence reveals the complicated history of stone tool use 400,000 – 200,000 years ago.” At the link find the title, “The spread of an ancient technology and a daily news roundup (26 September 2014),” right-click “Media files SciencePodcast_140926.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Prison Reform 11 mins – “In the United States, the agencies that govern prisons are often called ‘Department of Corrections.’ And yet, their focus is on containing and controlling inmates. Dan Pacholke, Deputy Secretary for the Washington State Department of Corrections, shares a different vision: of prisons that provide humane living conditions as well as opportunities for meaningful work and learning.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Rape and Alcohol On Campus 52 mins – “Wednesday, we continue our examination of the problem of sexual assault on America’s college campuses. Alcohol is at the heart of that problem. According to researchers, students who are either the victims of rape or the assailants are more often than not drunk. But, for lots of reasons, schools avoid directly discussing alcohol and rape in the same breath. We’ll talk about what colleges and universities should be doing to prevent rape and where the blame lay when an assault does occur. GUESTS: Robin Wilson is a senior writer at the Chronicle of Higher Education; Holly Mullen is the executive director of the Rape Recovery Center in Salt Lake City; Kathleen Bogle is an assistant professor of sociology and criminology at LaSalle University.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Richard Branson 41 mins – “Billionaire entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson has never taken the traditional route. At 16, he dropped out of school to start “Student” magazine, marking the start of a lifetime spent building companies from scratch. Virgin Records, his first major venture, grew to become the world’s biggest independent record label. Today, Branson is worth $5 billion, and is as well-known for his publicity stunts and risk-taking as for his business success. One of his latest ventures may be the boldest yet: with plans to make commercial space flight a reality with Virgin Galactic, he says it’s time we stop looking at our iPhones and turn our gaze skyward. In his latest book, he reflects on more than 40 years of leadership and the risks that built the Virgin empire. Richard Branson on his unconventional life in business.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the file is included in the blog archive.
Ride Sharing 20 mins – “Nobody hitchhikes anymore. Back in the 1980s getting a ride with a stranger became decidedly un-trendy. Rugged individualism was in and ridesharing was out. But now, with the advent of social media and mobile platforms, ridesharing is making a come-back. This week’s guests on Sea Change Radio are Paul Minett, the founder of the Ridesharing Institute in Auckland, NZ and Mark Svenvold, a journalist and Professor at Seton Hall University who recently profiled Minett’s work on ridesharing for Orion Magazine. Dubbed by some as the Johnny Appleseed of the new ridesharing, Minett points out that if everybody carpooled one day a week we could see as much as a 20 percent reduction in traffic volumes. The corresponding reduction in traffic jams and carbon emissions would also be pretty great. Catch a ride with us now, across the planet, to hear what it will take to put ridesharing back in vogue.” At the ink right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Robin Williams Interview 62 mins – “Robin Williams passed away on August 11, 2014. This is Marc’s conversation with Robin from April 26, 2010, as well as Marc’s reflections about the great comedian and actor.” At the ink right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Seeing Eye App for Apple 2 mins – “A new app may provide invaluable aid to the blind. Charlie Turner reports.” From Dow Jones MarketWatch. The app is called KNFB. At the link you can only listen, but a copy of the file is in the blog archive.
Sex Warfare 47 mins – “The news is full of beheadings, but ISIS fighters are now infamous for a campaign of sexual violence. We’ll look at the Islamic State’s war on women.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Smells 44 mins – “If you asked people which of their senses they most feared losing, they’d probably say sight or hearing. But what about the ability to smell? This episode of Distillations examines what is perhaps our most underrated sense, and ponders what life would be like without it. Producer Mariel Carr hit the streets of South Philadelphia to understand how a pervasive odor troubled neighborhood residents in the summer of 2014. Then reporter Jocelyn Frank tells us the story of Mario Rivas, a man who has lived his whole life without a sense of smell, and the great lengths he went to gain one. Then, we talk to two smell experts, Pamela Dalton, a psychologist at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia, and David Barnes, a professor of the history of medicine and public health at the University of Pennsylvania. Our guests discuss the connection between smelling, odors, and emotions, as well as the history of odors, germs, and public health crises.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tea Party 59 mins – “Jenny Beth Martin discusses her book, [Tea Party Patriots: The Second American Revolution], how she helped found the organization, and the work it is doing on a grassroots level around the country.” At the find the title, “Q&A: Jenny Beth Martin.,” right-click “Media files program.364368.MP3-STD.mp3 and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Technologist Innovator 29 mins – “Keith & Russ welcome Kenneth McLeod from the Department of Bioengineering at Binghamton University, where he is also the Entrepreneur in Residence and the Director of the Clinical Science & Engineering Research Center. Kenneth shares how his fascination with ideas spurred his career as an engineer and ultimately, an entrepreneur. Kenneth has successfully helped launch 12 companies that produce innovative products. He also explains why the process of trial & error is essential in eventual success.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen”and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tennessee Williams 47 mins – “Great American playwright Tennessee Williams’ battle for art and sanity – a big new biography brings his story alive.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Texting Hazard 41 mins – “Eight years ago, a 19-year-old college student in Utah was driving in the Rocky Mountains. His car jumped a divider and hit another car, causing an accident that killed two scientists on their way to work. The driver said he had no idea what happened, but phone records showed he was texting. The case was one of the first texting-while-driving accidents and helped spark state laws and a national awareness campaign. A New York Times journalist, who won a Pulitzer prize for his reporting on the use of cell phones while driving, is out with a new book about the accident. Matt Richtel argues texting while driving could be as dangerous as drunk driving, but may prove even harder to curb.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the file is included in the blog archive.
Traumatic Memory Control 54 mins – “Some neuroscientists believe they are on the verge of being able to delete memories. It could mean a cure for people who suffer from PTSD.” “But at what cost to the individual and at what cost to society?” At the link find the title “Hit Delete,” right-click “Download Hit Delete” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
============================================================== ARCHIVE
An alphabetic encyclopedia of 4200 of these hyperlinked descriptions is here and updated quarterly. A file of the podcasts is here , updated weekly, and can be downloaded as a 21+ GB zipped file, or individually. A separate folder of C-Span, Diane Rehm, et. al. files that aren’t available at their sites is here, too, and can also be downloaded as a zip file or individually. Over 210 feeds used to prepare this blog are harvested with Feedreader3 and Juice. The feeds are available in this opml file which Feedreader and Juice can import. A list of the feeds is here. Free Commander is used to compare old with new downloads and remove duplicates. MP3 Speed Changer is used on batches of new files to boost playback speed 150%. A speed listening background article is here. Please comment on any problems with the links and downloads.
Thank you for visiting.
Media Mining Digest 