The following audio files come from a larger group of 172 for the week. Double or ctrl-click individual highlighted links, below, to get single podcasts. A zip file of all 40 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 Medical Printing 51 mins – “Bioengineers are creating human body parts to replace organs and manage life-threatening diseases. How techniques like 3-D printing and stem cell research are driving medical advances and raising ethical questions. [3 guests]” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Afghan Women 27 mins – “A vivid portrait of the everyday lives of girls and women at a turning point in Afghan history. Lyse Doucet visits Kabul to see how the lives of Afghan girls and women have changed since the fall of the Taliban 13 years ago, and to hear concerns that these hard-won gains are already being threatened as the troops depart.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: Afghan Women: Speaking Out, Losing Lives,” right-click “Media files docarchive_20141217-0232a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
American Deconstruction 23 mins – “We’ve just watched the Senate and the House — aided and abetted by President Obama — pay off financial interests with provisions in the new spending bill that expand the amount of campaign cash wealthy donors can give, and let banks off the hook for gambling with customer (and taxpayer) money. What happened in Washington over the past several days sounds strikingly familiar to the First Gilded Age more than a century ago, when senators and representatives were owned by Wall Street and big business. Then, as now, those who footed the bill for political campaigns were richly rewarded with favorable laws. Bill’s guest this week, historian Steve Fraser, says what was different about the First Gilded Age was that people rose in rebellion against the powers that be. Today we do not see “that enormous resistance,” but he concludes, “people are increasingly fed up… their voices are not being heard. And I think that can only go on for so long without there being more and more outbreaks of what used to be called class struggle, class warfare.’” At the link find the title, “Full Show: The New Robber Barons,” right-click “Media files Moyers and Company 350 Podcast.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Artificial Intelligence 58 mins – “Gary Marcus of New York University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about the future of artificial intelligence (AI). While Marcus is concerned about how advances in AI might hurt human flourishing, he argues that truly transformative smart machines are still a long way away and that to date, the exponential improvements in technology have been in hardware, not software. Marcus proposes ways to raise standards in programming to reduce mistakes that would have catastrophic effects if advanced AI does come to fruition. The two also discuss “big data’s” emphasis on correlations, and how that leaves much to be desired. “ At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Astronaut Life 38 mins – “Chris Hadfield, the former astronaut, has inspired millions with his space photography, his books and, of course, his hit cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity. This is a Hadfield special, pulling together highlights from Chris’s fascinating conversation with Ian Sample at a Guardian Membership event hosted by the Royal Geographical Society in London….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Aviation Scholarships 64 mins – “Today you will get an inside view into the scholarship process. We created the Aerospace Scholarships Guide because many of you wanted to know how to obtain money for your training and career advancement… Many of you have asked for a print or ebook version of the guide so we decided to create an ebook for now with a printed version coming in the future. The e-book will be available for download to premium members who purchase annual membership and will also be available in iTunes and Amazon… To help us understand the process of applying for scholarships and to give us an inside view of the administration of aviation scholarships I have with me Mark Ducorsky, administrator of numerous aviation scholarships. Mark is an accomplished flight instructor and business owner. He recently has been awarded the distinction of Master Flight Instructor of which fewer than 800 have ever achieved this status in the United States…” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bilingualism Impact 51 mins – “Speaking multiple languages is like exercise for your brain. That’s according to a growing body of research suggesting that bilingualism can have cognitive benefits beyond the realm of language use. Recent studies say it may improve the brain’s ability to multitask, and could even mean a four- to five- year delay in the onset of Alzheimer’s symptoms. Some believe this area of research will advance our understanding of how to keep our brains healthy longer, and could prompt people to reconsider the value of bilingual education. The latest on the impact of bilingualism on the brain.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Bipartisanship 59 mins – “Brothers Brad (D) and Dallas Woodhouse (R) talked about Woodhouse Divided, their documentary on bipartisanship and the political divide around the U.S. and in individual family politics. During the viewer phone calls portion of the program, the brothers’ mother Joy Woodhouse called in unexpectedly to talk about life in their family.” At the link find the title, “Washington Journal: Brad and Dallas Woodhouse,” right-click “Media files program.380981.MP3-STD.mp3”
Broadband in Kansas City 20 mins – “We have seen a lot of claims about Kansas City – whether Google Fiber’s approach is increasing digital inclusion, having no impact, or possibly even increasing the digital divide. This week on our Community Broadband Bits podcast, we are excited to have Michael Limatta, President of a Kansas City nonprofit called Connecting for Good, that discusses what is happening in Kansas City….” At the link right-click “…download this Mp3 directly…”and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Broadband Options 39 mins – “The open access approach, which generally refers to multiple service providers offering services across the same physical network, remains a challenge for those who want to implement it. Though many communities would prefer to focus on the infrastructure rather than selling services directly in competition with existing providers, most find the approach is not feasible. This week, Eric Lampland is back on the show to discuss what the challenges are and how the future of open access may not be what many imagine it to be. Will we be purchasing a gigabit of Internet connectivity from service providers or will we instead be directly purchasing many services directly from service providers — whether video, health care related, or other?” At the link right-click “…download this Mp3 directly…”and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Broadcast Engineer 66 mins – “How has the move to digital audio changed audio routing and workflow at TV stations? Gibson Prichard should know. He’s the Chief Engineer for Journal Broadcasting’s WTVF-TV – News Channel 5 – the CBS affiliate in Nashville, Tennessee. Self-educated in broadcast engineering, Gibson started at a local FM station and has worked through digital and HD upgrades at two television stations.” At the link find the title, “TWiRT Ep. 238 – Audio for TV with Gibson Prichard 12-11-14,” right-click “Media files TWIRT238.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Charity in America 53 mins – “…The stories we’re working on explore gifts in the American past and consider how ideas about charity, philanthropy and generosity have changed over the centuries. Sometimes, it paid to be poor — but not too poor. In earlier days, philanthropy had humble aims: to foster community and put the idea of charity out of business. Along the way, we’ll also look the questionable notion of the “free gift,” the idea of reciprocity in Native cultures, and the back story to the Salvation Army Santas.” 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.
Chickens 46 mins – “Why are there more chickens than people in the world? The remarkable story of what happened when the chicken crossed the road and the world. A reporter who writes about archaeology gets a writing assignment that doesn’t thrill him. Go find out how a chicken bone ended up buried on an Arabian Beach. “Follow the bird” his boss tells him. The reporter does, slowly realizing, that the bird that goes “buck buck” has a back story like no one ever imagined. That chickens aren’t just food. They’re a historical bookmark. Critical to the shaping of America, a bit player in several religions, plus, there’s a lot of them: more chickens in the world than all the cats, dogs, pigs and cows on Earth put together. More chickens than people too. Not that they’re ready to take over. Or have they already?” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Coastal Sea Rise 52 mins – “This week we have a panel-discussion titled “How Coastal Cities are Preparing and Adapting to Rising Sea Levels.” Our discussion is moderated by WBUR’s Bob Oakes, and co-sponsored by the Boston University Initiative on Cities and the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future.”At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Crow Killing 6 mins – “Tourists flock to the Israeli Red Sea resort town of Eilat for sea, sun and snorkeling. But crows have flocked there too — and one man is on a mission to get rid of them. At 7 a.m. in Eilat, the ocean is still. The tourists are fast asleep in their hotel rooms. One man, approaching retirement age, with a baby face and sparkling eyes, makes his rounds in a white pickup truck. We’ll call him Yoram, though that’s not his real name. Every once in a while he stops, rolls down the window, looks through the sight of his hunter’s rifle, and shoots….” At the link right-click the blue down-pointing arrow at the right end of the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cuban Relations 47 mins – “Following months of secret talks the US will restore full diplomatic relations with Cuba after more than fifty years. After more than a half a century of mutual hostility, President Obama opened the door to Cuba. The two countries, just 90 miles apart, once had the world on the edge of nuclear war. Now, after secret meetings, an assist from Pope Francis, and a prisoner swap, they’re talking about re-opening embassies, easing travel and trade restrictions. While tough issues remain, church bells rang in Havana, but some US hard-liners condemned the deal.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cuban Relations 51 mins – “In a televised address to the nation, President Barack Obama outlined a dramatic change in U.S. policy toward Cuba. The U.S. will restore full diplomatic relations with the island nation that sits 90 miles off the tip of Florida, and it will establish an embassy in Havana. The president said a half-century of isolating Cuba and its communist regimes has not worked and it’s time to begin a new chapter. Many Republicans and prominent Cuban-Americans, such as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, sharply criticized the announcement. Join Diane and [4] guests in a discussion on the future of U.S.-Cuba relations and what led up to the policy shift.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Data Collection 29 mins – “Mary Gray, an associate professor with Indiana University, talks about the ethical questions raised by personal data collection on the Internet and how that data is being used for commercial and academic purposes.” At the link find the title, “The Communicators: Mary Gray,” right-click “Media files program.378726.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Donald Trump 55 mins – “In remarks at the Economic Club of Washington, D.C., Donald Trump says he will decide on a president run next spring. He also talks about the state of the nation and the economy.” At the link find the title, “A Conversation with Donald Trump,” right-click “Media files program.380750.MP3-STD.mp3 “ and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Ebola Economic Impact 51 mins – “The current outbreak of the Ebola virus has infected nearly 18,000 people and caused more than 6,000 deaths. The suffering these numbers represent is overwhelming, but for the West African countries at the center of the epidemic, Ebola is much more than just a healthcare crisis. The virus has affected every corner of society in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Schools have been closed for months. Infrastructure projects have been put on hold. GDP growth has slowed to a crawl. And elections have been postponed. An update on the social and economic cost of Ebola in West Africa. [3 guests]” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Endocrine Disruption Exchange 25 mins – “Dr. Theo Colborn (start time 15:22) Dr. Theo Colborn passed away on Sunday December 15th at the age of 87. She was a scientists, activist and founder of The Endocrine Disruption Exchange (TEDX). The exchange served to collect and disseminate scientific evidence on the effects of exposure to low-levels of industrial chemicals. During this pre-recoreded interview from our colleagues at KVNF Paonia Public Radio, she talks about the lack of scientific testing methods for fracking fluids.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Expertise 56 mins – “For the last show for 2014, I’m pleased to post Show # 226, November 20, my interview with Prof. Stephen Turner of the University of South Florida on technological and scientific expertise in policymaking and democracy. Stephen has spent a career focusing on the often overlooked question of how experts operate in the policymaking world, and has recently published a collection of his work entitled The Politics of Expertise. This issue has been of critical importance in the science and technology space due to perceived and real gaps in technological understanding amongst policymakers (think the battle around the Stop Online Piracy Act a few years ago and the need to “bring in the nerds”). We discussed the undefined role of experts in policymaking and how we might better utilize expertise in making complex decisions.” At the link right-click “Show #226, November 20,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Fukushima Survivors 37 mins – The last of three stories (23 min mark) in this episode of “The Moth” is by a man who was working at the Fukushima nuclear site when the earthquake and tsunami struck. The two other stories are typical of the material routinely provided by this program. At the link you can listen, but not download; however, the program is included in the blog archive.
Fundraising 60 mins – “Lindsay Mark Lewis discusses his book, [Political Mercenaries: The Inside Story of How Fundraisers Allowed Billionaires to Take Over Politics], about the ways political parties and candidates raise money and how spending in campaigns has increased.” At the link find the title, “After Words: Lindsay Mark Lewis,” right-click “Media files program.374301.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Greyhound Buses 27 mins – “For 100 years, an intriguing mix of people have been criss-crossing the US by Greyhound bus. To mark the company’s centenary, Laura Barton sets off on an unplanned journey ‘to look for America’. She is conscious of the discrepancy between what the bus line represents in the collective imagination – an idea of freedom, adventure and possibility – and the realities of cross-country coach travel.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: Greyhound 100,” right-click “Media files docarchive_20141216-1357a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Health Coaches 28 mins – “This week on White Coat Black Art: a trip to Vegas to get a prescription for an ailing health care system. Dr. Brian Goldman heads to the Strip to meet up with Zubin Damania- aka ZDogg MD, a larger-than-life Vegas-based MD… …Damania has what he says is a secret weapon: the health coach, a new breed of health care worker that helps keep patients in the pink and out of hospital. Brian tours Turntable Health, a shiny new primary care clinic in the heart of The Downtown Project. Eighty dollars a month gets patients same day appointments, 24/7 access by phone, fitness and a yoga studio. The emphasis is prevention so that the clients– mostly millennials who work in the hospitality industry and their young families — won’t age into patients who need a lot of expensive hospital care. Brian then heads home to Canada to talk to Durhane Wong Reiger, the president and CEO of the Institute for Optimizing Health Outcomes. This leading health care advocate tells us why she thinks coaches could make a big difference here if we’d only let them into the game.” At the link find the title, “WCBA – Health Coaches: The Vegas Gamble,” right-click “Download WCBA – Health Coaches: The Vegas Gamble” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Home Ownership 51 mins – “Owning a home has long been a linchpin of the American Dream. But the recent housing crisis and changing bank lending practices have led to a drop in the number of people buying houses: The nationwide rate of home ownership is at its lowest rate in 20 years. While some have mourned this loss for the U.S. economy, a new study finds that half of American homeowners would have built more wealth by renting. The new research says many people looking to buy a home overestimate tax deductions, rely on biased, online calculators and underestimate expenses. Diane and a panel of [3] experts discuss rethinking the benefits of home ownership.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Honduras Gangs 19 mins – “Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world. Jobs that seem dull and safe in most countries have become incredibly dangerous professions in Honduras. For example: Driving a bus. On today’s show: what it’s like to live and work in the most dangerous country in the world.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
ISIS Social Media 5 mins – “An investigation by the UK’s Channel 4 has revealed the identity of the person behind a very prolific, pro-ISIS Twitter account. According to the report, the account with handle @ShamiWitness, which has since been shut down, had about 18,000 followers and was run by a man named Mehdi. Channel 4 described him as “an executive in Bangalore, working for an Indian conglomerate.” J.M. Berger, editor of intelwirepro.com, says he wasn’t surprised that the news channel was able to find Mehdi’s identity. Berger, who has researched jihadi activities on social media for years, says the @ShamiWitness account had intrigued many users. It constantly defended ISIS and regularly shared information about the group….” At the link right-click the blue down-pointing arrow at the right end of the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Ketamine as Antidepressant 11 mins – “Some psychiatrists say ketamine is a powerful treatment for depression but critics are waving a cautionary flag. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, at least eight percent of Canadians will suffer from major depression at some point in their lives. Antidepressants won’t work for half of them. Now, a small but growing number are finding relief thanks to ketamine, which is now best known as a club drug. In the ER we give it to patients as a sedative and pain reliever. The idea to use a club drug to treat depression came in part from anecdotal observations that people with depression who used ketamine for recreational purposes found their mood was lifted. Researchers at Yale University have found that ketamine works very differently than conventional antidepressants….” At the link find the title, “White Coat Mini Podcast – Special K,” right-click “Download White Coat Mini Podcast – Special K” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Media Reform 19 mins – “Under the United States Constitution, the First Amendment protects free speech from government restriction or interference. Yet government has a significant oversight role for a variety of media. In his new book, America’s Battle for Media Democracy, Victor Pickard asks how well public policy has served the public interest or only protected private business. In 2014, the so-called “net neutrality” debate has focused attention on ways that government, specifically the Federal Communications Commission, can or should regulate media companies and their business practices. In the 1940s, the FCC similarly weighed in on the future direction for radio, the dominant broadcast media of that era. The policy decisions made then, says Prof. Pickard of the Annenberg School for Communications at the University of Pennsylvania, not only shaped what America heard over the air, but also forged a path favoring property rights over the right to free access of information.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Medical TV 37 mins – “This week on White Coat Black Art: two stories that take us back to the origins of modern medicine. White Coat’s senior producer Dawna Dingwall made a house call to Dr. Stanley Burns. Dr. Burns is an ophthalmologist, surgeon and historian who lives right near Grand Central Station in Manhattan. …There’s a tiny sign on the door that says Burns Archive but inside is one of the largest and most important photographic archives of early medical history in the world. Currently Dr. Burns serves as the medical and historical adviser to The Knick, a hit HBO series. Then Dr. Brian Goldman talks to Dr. Baron Lerner, one of medicine’s foremost doctor-bioethicists. His latest book, The Good Doctor takes a look back at some of his doctor-father’s ethically questionable medical decisions. His book begins in the 1960’s with an up-and-coming American doctor named Philip Lerner, a highly respected expert and researcher in infectious diseases.” At the link find the title, “WCBA – Medicine’s Murky Past – Extended Podcast,” right-click “Download WCBA – Medicine’s Murky Past – Extended Podcast” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Open Access Journals 19 mins – “According to a recent industry report from Simba Information, Article Processing Charges (APCs) – the fees that publishers collect from authors for making their work available under “Open Access” rules – are expected to grow 80% from 2014 to 2017. Indeed, the report projects OA publishing revenues will rise at a pace far faster than traditional publishing. Clearly, OA is here to stay. And the disruption that Open Access has generated has publishers rethinking business models and turning to technology for solutions.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pakistan School Tragedy 46 mins – “The death toll at the school in northern Pakistan continues to rise; nearly all the casualties are children. As the country mourns, condolences come from around the world, from the US, and Turkey and rival India. The Pakistani Taliban claims responsibility and now Pakistan’s government vows, at long last, to work with neighboring Afghanistan to stamp out the Taliban for good. But Pakistan itself helped create this monster, and stamping it out won’t be easy. And add this to the mix: the US is getting ready to pull out of Afghanistan and leave a major power vacuum. This hour, On Point: Pakistan confronts the Taliban.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Russian Economy 51 mins – “Russia’s economy is in turmoil as authorities there take drastic steps to stabilize the ruble. To help prop it up, the central bank raised a key interest rate and the Russian government has begun selling off its foreign currency reserves. The economy is being battered by a combination of western sanctions and falling oil prices. The country faces fears of a bank run as consumers buy big-ticket items before prices rise. While some say this crisis will erode President Vladimir Putin’s political support, others believe he can weather the crisis. Diane and her [4] guests discuss what’s next for Russia’s economy and its impact on global markets.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Sharing Economy P2 55 mins – “Is a Sharing Economy sustainable for the economy, for us and for the planet? A public event in collaboration with the Munk School of Global Affairs. Featuring Jeremy Rifkin, Bob Rae, Anita M. McGahan, and moderator Janice Stein.” At the link find the title, “The Sharing Economy and The Public Good, Part 2,” right-click “Download The Sharing Economy and The Public Good, Part 2” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Shuttle Mission Control 163 mins – “In this episode we talk about mission control for the Space Shuttle. Our guest is Dan Adamo, a former flight dynamics officer (FDO) in the Mission Control Center. We cover the organization of mission control, the various roles, qualification and training, the specific tasks of the FDO as well as a little bit of history. Dan also relates many interesting episodes from his time “in the trench”.” At the link find the title, “162 – Shuttle Mission Control,” right-click “Media files omegatau-162 spaceShuttleMissionControl.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Sound Psychology 35mins – “Public bathrooms are noisy, poorly designed, and often nonexistent. In this episode, we explore the history of the public restroom, the taboos that accompany it, and the public-health risks of paying too little attention to the lowly toilet. (In India, for instance, more households have phones than toilets.) Along the way, we learn about the design of public spaces and how their environments are shaped, particularly by sound. You’ll hear from: Ronald Milliman, a longtime professor of marketing at Western Kentucky University who, in part because he went blind, became a scholar of sound. We discuss a few of his many studies, including “Using Background Music to Affect the Behavior of Supermarket Shoppers” and “The Influence of Background Music on the Behavior of Restaurant Patrons….’” At the link find the title, “Time to Take Back the Toilet,” right-click “freakonomics_podcast121814.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Torture – CIA View 46 mins – “The CIA on the CIA. …The Senate’s intelligence report lays out gruesome examples of prisoners subjected to stress positions, rectal feedings, ice baths, and more. And since those details became public, defenders and critics of the CIA and of the report itself have been speaking out. Now, we’re about to hear from the ultimate insiders: former CIA officers. How could this have happened? What did they know? And where do they see the agency going on from here? This hour, On Point: The Agency’s own, weigh in.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
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ARCHIVE
An alphabetic encyclopedia of 5000 of these hyperlinked descriptions is here and updated quarterly. A file of the podcasts is here , updated weekly, and can be downloaded as a 30+ 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 a podcast aggregator. The feeds are available in this opml file which most aggregators can import. A list of the feeds is here. 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.
Media Mining Digest 
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