The following audio files come from a larger group of 245 for the week. Double or ctrl-click individual highlighted links, below, to get single podcasts. A zip file of all 9 podcasts converted to 1.5x speed will download here for four months. Older groups of podcasts are discussed at the end of this episode.
Acting Profession 52 mins – “ In a new book, film critic David Thomson tackles this question: Does acting matter? Put another way, when economies struggle, wars explode, and climate change looms, what’s the value of the performing arts? Thomson thinks acting is important, but not because it tries to be realistic. Acting matters, he says, because it empowers us to escape reality, and to exalt and despair over it. Thomson joins us Thursday to examine the methods and genius of the great actors and to explore how we all perform every day.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Alzheimer’s Summary 12 mins – “In an interview Michael Heneka considers the contribution of neuroinflammatory mechanisms to Alzheimer’s disease pathogenesis.” At the link find the title (newest material at bottom of page), “Neuroinflammation in Alzheimers,” right-click “Media files laneur_150316.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Alzheimer’s Treatment 4 mins – “…apart from symptomatic relief, there are currently no treatments that can actually halt the disease process. Now University of Queensland scientist Gerhard Leinenga has found that ultrasound waves can be used to remove from the brain the toxic chemical amyloid-beta, which, scientists think, causes Alzheimer’s Disease. He spoke to Chris Smith…” At the link right-click “download as mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Australia Pharmacology 58 mins – “Medicines Australia Chairman Dr Martin Cross addresses the National Press Club in Canberra on health policies and medicine.” Of note are Australia’s efforts to reduce drug costs. At the link find the title, “National Press Club: Dr Martin Cross, Medicines Australia,” right-click “Media files NPCc_MartinCross_1803_512k.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Barbed Wire 23 mins – “In the mid 1800s, not many (non-native) Americans had ever been west of the Mississippi. When Frederick Law Olmstead visited the west in the 1850s, he remarked that the plains looked like a sea of grasses that moved “in swells after a great storm.” Massive herds of buffalo wandered the plains. Cowboys shepherded cattle across long stretches of no man’s land. It was truly the wild and unmanaged west, but it was all about to change, due, in large part, to one very simple invention that would come to be known as “the devil’s rope.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bhutan 27 mins – “Bhutan is a landlocked country in the eastern Himalaya, best known as a Buddhist kingdom where the policy of ‘Gross National Happiness’ replaced GDP. Anthropologist and linguist Mark Turin documents the country’s endangered oral traditions. Can Bhutan’s languages and cultures be preserved in the face global influences through television and the internet?” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: On Language Location: Bhutan,” right-click “Media files docarchive_20150318-0245a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Biodiversity Decline P1 29 mins – “’Learning from Past Extinctions” by Anthony D. Barnosky PhD: The fossil record contains evidence of five mass extinctions, when more than 75 percent of species went extinct. Mammals are a key group for comparing past and present extinction rates. Many living species are threatened, but there is still time to avoid a sixth mass extinction.” At the link find the title, “2014 Biodiversity Lecture 1,” right-click “Media files 14Lect1_400.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Biodiversity Decline P2 33 mins – “’Humans, Biodiversity, and Habitat Loss” by Elizabeth A. Hadly PhD: Human activities have caused the extinctions of many species in the past, and that is also happening today. Human population growth is driving habitat destruction and climate change, both direct threats to biodiversity.” At the link find the title, “2014 Biodiversity Lecture 2,” right-click “Media files 14Lect2_400.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Biodiversity Decline P3 29 mins – “’Rescuing Species” by by Elizabeth A. Hadly PhD: The loss of biodiversity also means a loss of genetic diversity, which is the biological toolkit for adaptation. As populations of animals become increasingly isolated due to habitat fragmentation, assisted migration may be a strategy for preserving genetic diversity.” At the link find the title, “2014 Biodiversity Lecture 3,” right-click “Media files 14Lect3_400.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Biodiversity Decline P4 29 mins – “’Extreme Life of the Sea” by Stephen R. Palumbi PhD: Ocean biodiversity is also threatened by human activities. But because the ocean is huge and has highly diverse environments, marine organisms appear to be more resilient than land animals when threatened by extinction and can bounce back with modest conservation efforts.” At the link find the title, “2014 Biodiversity Lecture 4,” right-click “Media files 14Lect4_400.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Biodiversity Decline P5 29 mins – “’Ocean Species Respond to Climate Change” by Stephen R. Palumbi PhD: Coral reefs are threatened by many human activities, including global ocean warming from climate change. Some corals can survive unusually high temperatures by virtue of their genetic makeup. These heat-tolerant corals may hold the key to preserving coral reefs into the future.” At the link find the title, “2014 Biodiversity Lecture 5,” right-click “Media files 14Lect5_400.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Biodiversity Decline P6 30 mins – “’Dodging Extinction” by Anthony D. Barnosky PhD: The current threats to biodiversity are tightly coupled to human demand for power, food, and money. We can avoid a sixth mass extinction by rethinking how we use energy, how we feed the world, and the value we place on intact ecosystems.” At the link find the title, “2014 Biodiversity Lecture 6,” right-click “Media files 14Lect6_400.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Biodiversity Decline P7 57 mins – “’Saving Biodiversity” with Anthony D. Barnosky PhD, Elizabeth A. Hadly PhD, Stephen R. Palumbi PhD: A sixty minute discussion on biodiversity with the lecturers and students attending the 2014 Holiday Lectures. Moderated by HHMI vice president of Science Education, Dr. Sean Carroll.” At the link find the title, “2014 Biodiversity Discussion,” right-click “Media files 14Discussion1_400.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bluffington Post 18 mins – “Laura Jolliffe talks about her fight to get her deafblind 8 year old daughter Ava the benefits to which she is entitled, and explains the confusion between the German System and the DWP. And Kristina Venning-Rose talks about her blog, The Bluffington Post, in which blind and partially sighted people are sounding off on all manner of things.” [and herWhite Noise Show podcast] At the link find the title, “InTouch 17 Mar 15: Children Disability Living Allowance – Bluffing,” for a short time, only, right-click “Download 9MB” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Brain Split 47 mins – “Dr. Michael Gazzaniga – Left Brain vs. Right Brain. We often hear that if we’re creative we must be “right-brained” but if we’re logical we must be “left-brained”. Science tells us that each hemisphere controls certain cognitive functions, so it only makes sense that there is a dominant side that gives us our tendencies – but is it true? Are we either “left-brained” or “right brained”? Or better yet, what happens when you disconnect the two regions from each other entirely? For over 40 years, our guest this week has been studying patients who have had their left and right brain disconnected via surgery, and he is here to set the record straight.” At the link right-click “Download” at the bottom of the page and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Brian Copeland 68 mins – “Copeland grew up in San Leandro when it was ranked one of the most racist suburbs in America. Segregation, housing discrimination and police harassment welcomed him when he moved to San Leandro with his parents in 1972. Congressional hearings and federal investigations were conducted, and through a series of media inquiries and court cases the city started to change. Copeland lived through it all and turned his story into one of San Francisco’s longest running one-man shows. He shares with us his comedic and touching tale about a part of California history mostly forgotten. Brian Copeland, Actor; Host, KGO Radio; Playwright, “Not a Genuine Black Man”; Author, Not a Genuine Black Man.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bubble Control 14 mins – “In a classic bubble—housing for example, or tech stocks or Beanie Babies—the fun ends in a crash. Things go belly up, and people can lose a lot of money. The creators of the collectible card game Magic: The Gathering faced such a bubble. The cooler they made their cards, the more the resale value increased—and threatened to send Magic cards the way of the Beanie Baby. Today on the show: how the folks who made Magic cards came up with a plan. A plan to once and for all conquer the science of bubbles, and make a collectible toy that could live forever.” At the link find the title, “#609: The Curse Of The Black Lotus,” right-click “Media files npr_392410696.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Butterflies Find Drugs 8 mins – “Just like us, the monarch butterfly sometimes gets sick thanks to a nasty parasite. But biologist Jaap de Roode noticed something interesting about the butterflies he was studying — infected female butterflies would choose to lay their eggs on a specific kind of plant that helped their offspring avoid getting sick. How do they know to choose this plant? Think of it as “the other butterfly effect” — which could teach us to find new medicines for the treatment of human disease.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cambodia’s Baggage 61 mins – “More than a generation after the fall of the Khmer Rouge, Cambodia shows many signs of having overcome its devastating history. But under this facade lies a country still haunted by terror. As many as two million Cambodians, one-third of the nation’s population, were killed during the Khmer Rouge regime. In 1992, the United Nations began an ambitious program to rebuild the country. Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Brinkley returned to Cambodia to find that its people still face brutal oppression and personal tragedy, including the PTSD that stalks much of the population. He’ll talk about what he learned, and what can be done.” Joel Brinkley, Professor of Journalism, Stanford University; Former Reporter and Editor, The New York Times. At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Chinese Translations 14 mins – “Amelia Lester hosts Evan Osnos and Peter Hessler. They discuss the pros and cons of translating ones work into Chinese.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cinderella Story 48 mins – “Cinderella is back again, Disney-style. We’ll look at the origins of the Cinderella story.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Civil Rights Movement 55 mins – “A former leader of the US civil rights movement recalls the 1965 epochal march for black voting rights. And a Toronto filmmaker tells his story going to Mississippi in the 1960s to help the civil rights cause.” At the link find the title, “The Enright Files – Memories of the US Civil Rights Movement,” right-click “Media files ideas_20150302_10454.mp3”and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Change 61 mins – “One of the world’s leading scientists and notable climate experts offers a pragmatic roadmap of the environmental challenges we face in dealing with climate change and the potential solutions toward sustainable living. Rather than looking backward and assigning blame, Flannery offers a powerful argument for immediate action and highlights some of the advancements made by wind-energy companies and automobile manufacturers to create electric cars that could end the reign of oil. Though he argues that we are approaching the point of no return, he believes there is hope that steps can be taken to avoid the worst effects of climate change. Chairman, Copenhagen Climate Council; Author, Now or Never: Why We Must Act Now to End Climate Change and Create a Sustainable Future; Greg Dalton, Founder, Climate One – Moderator” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Change and Fires 16 mins – “…In the last decade or so wildfires have been getting more intense, and more dangerous, and more frequent. No one knows this better than the firefighters themselves. Climate change—making the region hotter and drier—has a lot to do with it. But so does fire management—namely, fire suppression over recent decades. And humans living in houses in the so-called wildland-urban interface is another culprit. A new documentary that will be screened in Boulder this week documents the changes taking place with wildfires and the impact they’re having. The film is called “Unacceptable Risk: Firefighters on the Front Lines of Climate Change.” One of the film’s creators, journalist Dan Glick, joins us in the studio. Dan was also the science editor of the National Climate Assessment that came out last year. Our other guest is Don Whittemore, a long-time firefighter. He was incident commander on the massive Fourmile Canyon Fire of September 2010. …” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Change Skeptic 65 mins – “Physicist Richard Muller generated headlines last fall when he said evidence for climate change “is clear and incontrovertible.” Until then he had questioned temperature measurements gathered around the world, which he now says are valid and without bias. Yet his views on specific figures and funding from industrialists David and Charles Koch still make him a controversial figure among the climate intelligentsia. Muller says while average temperatures are rising one third of US cities have undergone cooling in the last 100 years. He also contends that scientists who claim that human fingerprints can be found on extreme weather events are “cherry picking” evidence. Despite those differences, he agrees with IPCC scientists that climate disruption “is urgent and we need to do something about it.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Friendly Diet 63 mins – “With as much as one-third of total greenhouse emissions related to food production, the cost of our eating habits on the environment has never been more apparent. Lappe highlights the hidden cost of America’s culinary culture and outlines seven principles for a climate-friendly diet. Anna Lappe, Founding Principal, Small Planet Institute; Author, Diet for a Hot Planet: The Climate Crisis at the End of Your Fork and What You Can Do About It; Steve Wright, Vice President of Strategic Communications, Silicon Valley Leadership Group – Moderator” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Hope 55 mins – “News about climate change is almost always alarming, depressing, or both. Tim Flannery is a mammalogist, paleontologist and novelist. He’s also world authority on climate. Tim Flannery believes there is qualified hope that things will get better.” At the link find the title, “Climate Hope,” right-click “Media files ideas_20150316_36970.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Journalists 63 mins – “In a warming world, developing countries are being hit hard by drought, storms and sea level rise. Their effort to develop energy resources is increasingly complicated by a choice between cheap fossil fuels and more expensive clean energy. With political strife and economic woes often taking precedence over environmental issues, journalists, in partnership with Internews’ Earth Journalism Network, are stepping up to fill the information gap and tell the stories of climate change. Join journalists representing Brazil, China, Nigeria and the Philippines for an in-depth conversation on the trials and triumphs of environmental journalism in the developing world. Imelda Abano, President, Philippine Network of Environmental Journalists Inc., Philippines; Gustavo Faleires, Environmental Journalist and Knight Fellow, Brazil; Lican Liu, Water Director, Greenovation Hub, China; Michael Simire, Deputy Editor, Sunday Independent, Nigeria” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Stories 68 mins – “The lead character in the story of carbon is a gas that is invisible and has no smell. The impacts of that gas are often thought to fall first on polar bears and people in faraway lands, in a time far into the future. While human creation of carbon pollution is believed to be hitting closer to home faster than many think, there is still a dearth of compelling narratives about how global warming affects the lives of average people. Join an evening with skilled storytellers for a look at the story of our times. Carrie Armel, Researcher, Stanford; Co-Chair, Behavior, Energy and Climate Change Conference;nJon Else, Cinematographer, Last Call at the Oasis; Professor of Journalism, UC Berkeley
Jonah Sachs, Co-founder, Free Range Studios; Author, Story Wars” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cognition 76 mins – “A fundamental challenge of modern society is the development of effective approaches to enhance brain function in both healthy and impaired individuals, and some people have serious concerns about the ability of either our current education or health-care system to meet this challenge. Gazzaley will share a vision of the future in which video games integrated with technological innovations in software and hardware are used as an engine to harness brain plasticity and enhance our cognitive abilities, thus reducing our reliance on non-specific drugs to treat neurological and psychiatric conditions and allowing us to better target and personalize our educational efforts. Adam Gazzaley, M.D.; Ph.D; Founding Director, Neuroscience Imaging Center, Associate Professor in Neurology, Physiology and Psychiatry, UCSF” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Colin Powell 68 mins – “Throughout his decades of service to the country, General Powell has kept his private life out of the limelight. Now, in his new book, It Worked for Me: In Life and Leadership, Powell is opening up to reveal the important principles that guided his journey from being the son of Jamaican immigrants to becoming chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the first African-American secretary of state. He will reveal the foundations for achievement and leadership that worked for him and can help make others’ dreams come true, too.” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Commercial Trucks 62 mins – “For the first time ever, commercial trucks will soon be subject to federal standards for fuel efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. How will that impact buyers and makers of medium- and heavy-duty trucks? California is a center of activity for creating and deploying hybrid and fully electric drivetrains and other technologies. We’ll discuss the move to increase efficiency, create jobs and build a cleaner transportation sector. John Boesel, CEO, CALSTART; Mike Tunnell, Director, Environmental Affairs, American Trucking Associations; Alan Niedzwiecki, CEO, Quantum Technologies” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Company Construction 67 mins – “Join Silicon Valley serial entrepreneur-turned-educator Blank in a lively discussion with Dan’l Lewin of Microsoft. This program will introduce best practices, lessons and tips that have swept the startup world, offering a wealth of proven advice and information for entrepreneurs of all stripes. Hear about a tested and proven Customer Development Process, helping get it right –and how to “get, keep, and grow” customers.” Steve Blank, Serial Entrepreneur; Founder, E.piphany; Professor, UC Berkeley and Stanford Engineering; Author, The Startup Owners Manual; In conversation with Dan’l Lewin, Corporate Vice President of Strategic and Emerging Business Development (SEBT), Microsoft” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Congo Violence 16 mins – “Severine Autesserre studies the Democratic Republic of Congo, which is in the middle of the deadliest conflict since World War II; it’s been called “the largest ongoing humanitarian crisis in the world.” The conflict seems hopelessly, unsolvably large. But her insight from decades of listening and engaging: The conflicts are often locally based. And instead of focusing on solutions that scale to a national level, leaders and aid groups might be better served solving local crises before they ignite.” At the link click ‘Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Courtroom Cameras 37 mins – “Dahlia Lithwick speaks with Sonja West and RonNell Andersen Jones, two Supreme Court experts who don’t buy the justices’ arguments against allowing cameras in the courtroom” At the link find the title, “Cameras in the Courtroom,” right-click “Media files 2015-01-31-Amicus-010.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Creative Process 55 mins – “Revolutionary ideas don’t come out of nowhere. Or do they? Starting with Archimedes’ original “eureka” moment, producert John Chipman dissects “aha” moments both big and small, and draws a road map to understanding Big Ideas.” At the link find the title, “Eureka! Mapping the Creative Mind,” right-click “Media files ideas_20150319_33821.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Creativity 62 mins – “Acclaimed science writer and popular blogger Jonah Lehrer helped us learn about our decision making process in his best-selling book How We Decide. Now he delves into the human mind to decipher the anatomy of imagination and explore the new science of creativity with Imagine. Lehrer introduces us to musicians like Bob Dylan and Yo Yo Ma, artists working at Pixar, engineers at Procter and Gamble, and even a bartender who thinks more like chemist, to demonstrate our most important mental talent: the ability to imagine what has never existed. Find out what cities and companies are doing to double our creative output and make our culture more creative.” Contributing Editor, Wired; Author, How We Decide and Imagine: How Creativity Works; Tim Ritchie – President, The Tech Museum- Moderator” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Crisis Responses 66 mins – “In a world beset with global financial, climate and poverty crises, getting a good handle on the problems is as important as finding good solutions. What steps can we take to better anticipate and manage mega-crises, such as Haiti, Katrina and 9/11? Engaging with one of the fathers of modern crisis management, this panel will offer tools and frameworks you and your organization can use to more effectively deal with the interconnected “messes” and crises of today and tomorrow.” Ian Mitroff, Professor Emeritus, USC; Adjunct Professor, UC Berkeley; Author, Why Some Companies Emerge Stronger and Better from a Crisis; Can M. Alpasian, Professor, College of Business and Economics, California State University, Northridge; Kevin O’Malley, President, TechTalk / Studio – Moderator” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Crowdsourcing 62 mins – “Since Jeff Howe coined the phrase “crowdsourcing” in 2006, the idea of tapping into the power of the human cloud has brought both innovation and controversy. From building a people-powered online encyclopedia to algorithm contests, crowdsourcing might be the world’s largest real-time workforce. But questions remain: Can you trust the crowd to give high-quality information? Will this movement allow a whole new way to work for the disenfranchised? How will being able to share knowledge more efficiently than ever before change the world? Lukas Biewald, CEO, CrowdFlower; Sharon Chiarella, Vice President, Mechanical Turk at Amazon; Lilly Irani, Ph.D. Candidate, UC Irvine, Dept. of Informatics; Previously a User Experience Designer, Google; Leila Chirayath Janah, Founder and CEO, Samasource; Brad Stone, Technology Correspondent, The New York Times – Moderator” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cultivate Stillness 38 mins – “Rosenbaum combines his experience in neuropsychology, psychotherapy and Zen teaching with the Tao’s ancient guidance to suggest that rather than always “pouring more and more into a vessel,” we all need to also stop and cultivate stillness order to recover, revive and endure. Come hear a refreshing new interpretation of the Tao te Ching and glean insights into how to ensure a life well-lived. Robert Rosenbaum, Ph.D., Neuropsychologist; Psychotherapist; Zen teacher; Credentialed mountaineer; Dayan QiGong instructor; Author, Walking the Way: 81 Zen Encounters with the Tao Te Ching” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cults 71 mins – “Learn about cults from a man who’s seen them from the inside. Professional investigator Sullivan describes the process of identifying and investigating cults, providing an overview of how cults recruit, convert and maintain control of their members through a variety of psychologically coercive techniques. A licensed private investigator for more than 19 years, Sullivan has worked in collaboration with leading authorities in the area of undue influence.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Culture 31 mins – “Is your state of mind from one situation to the next drastically altered by the state in which you live? According to cultural psychologists, yes it is. Studies show that your thoughts, perceptions, emotions, and behaviors in response to a particular setting will reliably differ from those of others in that same setting depending on where you spent your childhood or even where you spent six years or more of your adult life.On this episode of the You Are Not So Smart podcast, we explore cultural cognition and the psychological effects of the region you call home on the brain you call yours.” At the link find the title, “Culture | Hazel Rose Markus.” right-click “Culture Hazel Rose Markus.mp3“ and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Death Penalty 47 mins – “Capital punishment by lethal injection may soon be impossible because of drug shortages. Firing squads are back on the table. We’ll look at how the way we execute affects our thinking about the death penalty.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Death Penalty Concerns 61 mins – “While most know him as Captain B.J. Hunnicutt from the hit television series “M*A*S*H,” Farrell has been a fierce advocate for progressive political causes for decades, using his celebrity to speak out on important human rights issues. In this capacity he has served as a board member for Human Rights Watch, and he has been the president of Death Penalty Focus for more than 15 years. He has also written two books, Just Call Me Mike and Of Mule and Man, which detail his path from actor to activist. He will explain his belief that the death penalty is an ongoing human rights violation and will outline the punishment’s moral and policy failings. He will also discuss the importance of zealously searching for more effective alternatives to capital punishment and will suggest how concerned citizens can bring about lasting policy change in this important arena.” Mike Farrell, Actor; Human Rights Activist” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Death Valley 56 mins – “Many think of Death Valley as a land of geological wonder and remarkable wildflowers, but few know its protection has not been simple. Ackerman will speak about the conflicting forces driving decisions made in Death Valley, part of the National Park Service for nearly 80 years. Ackerman will discuss policies on mining and groundwater extraction, the effects on the region, and where the preservation mandate is paradoxically in conflict with itself. Frank Ackerman, Retired National Park Ranger, Death Valley; Curator of Education, Nevada State Railroad Museum.” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Deforestation Control 30 mins – “Greenpeace’s Rolf Skar brings us up to date on the latest Greenpeace campaigns to push paper companies into adopting more sustainable forestry practices.” At the link find the title, “Greenpeace’s Rolf Skar On Big Paper,” right-click “Media files SC-2015-03-17.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Delusions 40 mins – “David McRaney joins us to speak about delusion from his blog and book, You Are Not So Smart: Why You Have Too Many Friends on Facebook, Why Your Memory Is Mostly Fiction, and 46 Other Ways You’re Deluding Yourself.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Denialism 57 mins – “Denialism: How Irrational Thinking Hinders Scientific Progress, Harms the Planet, and Threatens Our Lives – Specter says that Americans have come to mistrust institutions, especially science, more today than ever before. For centuries, the general view had been that science is neither good nor bad, that it merely supplies information and that new information is always beneficial. Now, science is often viewed as a political constituency that isn’t always in our best interest. Michael Specter, Author, Denialism; Staff Writer, The New Yorker” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Desalination 56 mins – “For California, 2013 was the driest calendar year ever recorded across virtually the entire state. On January 17, 2014, Governor Jerry Brown proclaimed the drought to be a State of Emergency, directed state officials to take all necessary actions to assist the hardest hit communities, and called for all Californians to pitch in to reduce water use by 20 percent. While CA agencies and experts have clearly identified those actions best suited to provide relief, some observers wonder whether the long-term answer to California’s drought lies in the ocean through the promotion of seawater desalination. On today’s episode, we’ll explore an overview of the science and policy related to seawater desalination and demonstrates why this option is generally the least promising option for drought relief.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Design Thinking 66 mins – “Design is not just for house interiors or a tech gadget’s user interface. Design has come to infiltrate how great leaders think, collaborate and tackle the world’s smallest and greatest problems. The idea of design thinking, often credited to IDEO CEO Tim Brown, has transformed analytical thinking into creative yet practical problem solving. It is thinking outside the box come to life. Yves Béhar has leveraged his design ethos with a dedication to quality and a positive consumer-product relationship, and has led a number of diverse design projects like One Laptop Per Child and the NYC Condom, for that city’s Department of Health. Join us as the wizards of design thinking Brown and Béhar dissect the formula for harmonizing industry, beauty, brand and meaning. Yves Béhar, CEO/Founder, fuseproject; COO, Jawbone; Tim Brown, President and CEO, IDEO; Peter Schwartz, Co-founder, Global Business Network; Senior Vice President, Salesforce – Moderator” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dianne Feinstein 64 mins – “With the Middle East in turmoil and America’s main Asian ally reeling from a tsunami-triggered crisis, the United States is facing unexpected challenges overseas. Senator Feinstein, chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, will offer her views on what the United States should do to promote democracy in countries attempting to throw off authoritarian regimes. What national interest is really at stake in Libya and Afghanistan? Will the United States ever wean itself from foreign oil? Also, Senator Feinstein recently toured California’s two nuclear plants and will discuss how Japan’s disaster impacts existing and planned U.S. atomic reactors. Can they help reduce carbon emissions along with investments in California’s clean tech sector? Join us for a broad conversation with California’s senior senator about advancing freedom abroad and pursuing a clean and safe future at home.” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Digestive Health 66 mins – “Three experts will discuss the most common maladies of the digestive tract, such as belching, bloating and flatulence, heartburn, inflammatory bowel disease, constipation and dietary fiber intake, absorption of nutrients, and the effects of aging and medication on the digestive tract. Liz Lipski, Ph.D. and C.C.N.; Richard Auld, M.D.; Len Saputo, M.D.” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Digital Mastery 61 mins – “Like it or not, knowing how to make use of online tools without being overloaded with too much information is an essential ingredient to personal success in the 21st century. How can we use digital media so that they make us empowered participants rather than passive receivers? In Net Smart, author and Stanford lecturer Rheingold shows how to use social media intelligently, humanely, and, above all, mindfully. There is a bigger social issue at work in digital literacy, one that goes beyond personal empowerment. If we combine our individual efforts wisely, it could produce a more thoughtful society: countless small acts like publishing a Web page or sharing a link could add up to a public good that enriches everyone.” Howard Rheingold, Lecturer, Stanford University; Author, Net Smart: How to Thrive Online” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Digital Vellum 55 mins – “Why games are crashing through the screen and into the physical world, looking for the digital elephant that never forgets, reclaiming online ephemera and more.” At the link find the title, “277: Digital vellum, reclaiming ephemera, room escape games and more,” right-click “Media files spark_20150301_41749.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Disaster Response 59 mins – “The citizen response to 2012’s Hurricane Sandy was in many important ways more effective than the response from established disaster response institutions like FEMA. New York-based response efforts like Occupy Sandy leveraged existing community networks and digital tools to find missing people; provide food, shelter, and medical assistance; and offer a hub for volunteers and donors. In this talk Willow Brugh — Berkman fellow and Professor of Practice at Brown University — demonstrates examples ranging from Oklahoma to Tanzania where such distributed and digital disaster response have proved successful, and empowered citizens to respond in ways traditional institutions cannot.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Disease Prevention 67 mins – “Learn how a significant portion of cardiovascular diseases and Alzheimer’s disease can be delayed or avoided completely when adults pursue active lifestyle habits throughout their adult years. Survey responses from 1,600 Bay Area residents reveal important differences in the cognitive experience of fitness buffs vs. people who are rarely active. Psychological research provides insights into specific methodologies that create opportunities for shaping new active lifestyle behaviors and improving outcomes for physical and behavioral health.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Doctor’s Emotions 56 mins – “In this episode, we talk to Danielle Ofri, a physician and author of “What Doctors Feel” – a book about the emotional lives of doctors and how compassion fatigue, biases, and other mental phenomena affect their decisions, their motivations, and their relationships with patients. You’ll also hear Ofri discuss emotional epidemiology, the viral-like spread of fear and other emotions that can lead to panics like those we’ve seen surrounding Ebola, the Swine Flu, SARS, and other illnesses.” At the link find the title, L”045 – Doctors – Danielle Ofri,” right-click “Media files 045_-_Doctors_-_Danielle_Ofri.mp3” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dollar Strength 47 mins – “The almighty dollar. It is at big highs right now against currencies all over the world. We’ll look at why, and what it means for the US economy.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Double Agent Nutrients 88 mins – “Two new studies supported by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council have discovered a link between nutrition and increased immunity while aging, giving new meaning to the phrase, “You are what you eat.” Join Dr. Robert J. Marshall as he discusses the scientific connections between nutrients, regeneration and disease prevention. Robert J. Marshall, Ph.D., CCN, DACBN” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Drug Trafficking 37 mins – “General John Kelly, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, briefs reporters and responds to their questions on a variety of defense topics, including stemming the flow of illegal narcotics, Guantanamo prison conditions, and combating extremism.” At the link in Podcast of the Week find the title, “Defense Department Briefing with General John Kelly,” right-click “Media files program.392618.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dylan Ratigan 66 mins – “Dylan Ratigan, host of one of the highest rated daytime shows on MSNBC, graces The Commonwealth Club with his hardball, gloves-off approach to American politics and big business. In his first book, Greedy Bastards, Ratigan details what he calls a “broken system” and “illustrates how fixing these problems will release a renaissance of growth and innovation.” Prior to joining MSNBC, Ratigan previously launched CNBC’s highly successful Fast Money and Closing Bell. Come join the debate as Ratigan discusses the repercussions and remedies to the problems we face in America today.” Quentin Hardy, Deputy Technology Editor, The New York Times- Moderator” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Economic Growth 50 mins – “Theo Leggett looks at our apparent addiction to economic growth as the secret to prosperity and cure for global poverty. In a finite world with limited resources, can economies continue to grow indefinitely, or will physical and environmental constraints have the final word?” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: Can the World Get Rich Forever,” right-click “Media files docarchive_20150315-2100a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Fecal Transplants 16 mins – “…Emily Eakin reports on fecal transplantation, a medical procedure in which the stool from a healthy person is transferred to the bowel of a sick person to restore the balance of flora in the latter’s gut. On Out Loud, Eakin explains that it’s “a procedure that grew out of desperation”—patients suffering from certain untreatable conditions, such as infection with the superbug C. difficile, formed a D.I.Y. fecal-transplant movement. In a conversation with Nick Thompson, the editor of newyorker.com, Eakin and Alan Burdick—an editor at the magazine, as well as the editor of the Web site’s Elements blog—discuss the science world’s fascination with the microbiome, the F.D.A.’s attempts to regulate the procedure, and the reasons fecal transplantation caught their interest as a story worth reporting. Eakin says, “the notion that stool—something that we associate with aversion and repulsion—was being elevated into a substance that was lifesaving and precious was tremendously appealing.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Fraternities 47 mins – “Another spate of awful headlines from college fraternities this week. What is going on with ‘Greek life?” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gay Berlin 17 mins – “Recently in the magazine, Alex Ross wrote about the little known history of gay rights in Germany in the late nineteen and early twentieth century. He joins Amelia Lester on this week’s Out Loud podcast to discuss how many of the ideas that we consider foundational to the modern gay-rights movement were first articulated in Germany more than a hundred years ago, and why this period is often overlooked. “German culture over the last couple centuries is so often seen through the lens of Hitler, of the Nazi period,” he says. “We tend to omit aspects of the story that don’t fit that narrative. And this astonishingly progressive movement around gay rights is an example of something that just doesn’t fit our stereotype.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Graphene 16 mins – “If you’ve heard about graphene, you’ve probably heard that it’s a miracle substance. The only atom-thick material known to man, it seems to also be the lightest, strongest, and most conductive material on earth. Its potential applications seem almost limitless. The only problem, as John Colapinto explained in a recent magazine piece, is that nobody has figured out what to do with it yet. On this week’s Out Loud, Colapinto joins Nicholas Thompson, the editor of newyorker.com, and Vauhini Vara, a business and technology blogger for the site, to discuss the challenges that hyped new technologies face in the marketplace, and whether graphene is likely to live up to its promise.” At the link find the title, “ThePuzzling Promise of Graphene,” right-click “Media files 141222_outloud_graphene.mp3” and select “Save link as” from the pop-up menu.
Hockey 23 mins – “The New Yorker’s staff contains a small but vocal contingent of hockey fans. On this week’s Out Loud podcast, three of the magazine’s most ardent rink rats—Ben McGrath, who recently wrote about the hockey player P. K. Subban; Nick Paumgarten, who plays regularly in a local league; and Adam Gopnik, who is Canadian—join the editor John Bennet to discuss the sport. They talk about how they first encountered hockey and learned to love it, the relationship between hockey and writing, and why, as Bennet puts it, having a child who plays hockey “seems to exacerbate the psychosis that is parenthood.” 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.
India’s Lower Casts 27 mins – “Journalist Rupa Jha travels to her own state of Bihar, where nearly 10% of the population now live, and who face many of the issues confronting the average citizen. In part two Dalit student Sunil hopes his exam results will help lift his entire family out of poverty.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: Living India – A Dalit’s Tale,” right-click “Media files docarchive_20150317-0232a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Investing Balance 23 mins – “In this podcast Paul reviews the returns of combining into one portfolio the S&P 500, large cap value, small cap blend and small cap value. He answers questions most investors have: What happens to the risk and return over the short to long term? What happens to the best and worst returns? If this is the first of the Performance Series podcast you have heard, Paul recommends you review the four MW articles on the pertinent asset classes. He has prepared a new table to support the 4 asset classes as well as the combination of all four.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
James Randy Film 51 mins – “James “The Amazing” Randi is a renowned magician and escape artist, but he can’t abide charlatans. So he turned his energy to exposing psychics and con-artists with intricate investigations and hoaxes of his own. His story is the focus of a documentary by Utah filmmaker Tyler Measom. It’s opening in Salt Lake City this weekend, so we’re rebroadcasting our conversation with Measom about Randi’s crusade for truth and how all of us, even “The Amazing” Randi himself, are susceptible to deception.”
Katie Couric 63 mins – “The Ounce that Saves a Life by Couric, Katie” At the link right-click “Play now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Liberal Arts Education 31 mins – “Joseph Epstein and Andrew Ferguson discuss where liberal arts came from and what has happened to them. Liberal arts, they say, emerged from an ancient stream of thought, learning, and belief about what is important in life, yet liberal arts degrees are not held in high regard today.” At the link find the title, “Joseph Epstein and Andrew Ferguson discuss the state of liberal arts education,” right-click “Media files 20130530.mp3 “ and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Marijuana Is Bad 57 mins – “William Bennett, former director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy under President George H.W. Bush, talks about his book [Going to Pot], in which he argues against the legalization of marijuana.” At the link find the title, “After Words: William Bennett,” right-click “Media files program.389973.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Microprocessor History 180 mins – “Welcome Chuck Peddle, inventor of the 6502 and the father of the personal computer revolution! A lot of Chuck’s timeline can be seen on the Commodore history site and on his wiki page. The 6502 was used in seminal personal computers like the PET, the Atari 2600, the original Nintendo, the C64 and the Apple II….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Music Copyright 49 mins – “Music, copyright and the “Blurred Lines” verdict. How it may lock the music industry, and songwriting.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Net Neutrality Discussion 30 mins – “Mignon Clyburn, the longest-serving commissioner at the Federal Communications Commission, discusses the political and industry response to the newly adopted net neutrality rules, and other major communications issues.” At the link find the title, “The Communicators: Mignon Clyburn,” right-click “Media files program.392286.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder 53 mins – “ The average person has about 4,000 thoughts a day. Most are fleeting snippets, some are banal, and sometimes, they can be disruptive. But when most people question whether they left the coffee maker or imagine something bizarre like jumping out into traffic, they shake it off. A person with OCD though can’t let it go, and may spend as many as 6 hours a day obsessing over that one idea. Tuesday, Doug’s guest is the science writer David Adam. He’s written a book about OCD and his own life lost in thought.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Online Dating 30 mins – “The episode is, for the most part, an economist’s guide to dating online. (Yes, we know: sexy!) You’ll hear tips on building the perfect dating profile, and choosing the right site (a “thick market,” like Match.com, or “thin,” like GlutenfreeSingles.com?). You’ll learn what you should lie about, and what you shouldn’t. Also, you’ll learn just how awful a person can be and, if you’re attractive enough, still reel in the dates.” At the link find the title, “ What You Don’t Know About Online Dating,” right-click “Play Now “ and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pearson College 55 mins – “Dr. Joe MacInnis profiles Pearson College- a place where education is a “force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future” At the link find the titl,e “Learning to Lead,” right-click “Media files ideas_20150318_71080.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Rodeos 20 mins – “…Burkhard Bilger writes about the children who compete in rodeo in his home state of Oklahoma. Bull riding is the most dangerous sport in the world, and it’s become even riskier in recent years, as bull breeders have begun selecting for extreme aggression. But in the families Bilger interviewed for his story, little boys as young as three or four years old participate in rodeo events, and begin riding bulls around the age of ten. Bilger and Mark Singer, another staff writer and Oklahoma native, join host Amelia Lester on this week’s Out Loud podcast to discuss the kids who compete in rodeo, the parents who let them do it, and the attraction of trying to ride an angry two-thousand-pound animal. As Bilger describes it, when the kids start out, riding sheep and calves, “it’s like the best bumper-car ride you’ve ever been on. And then what you’re doing is just gradually turning up the volume. Or another metaphor might be the frog in the water.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Serial Killer Dad 59 mins – “Next, on an all-NEW SnaP, “Infamous.” Sure they want to take your picture, have your autograph… but for all the wrong reasons. Snap Judgment, storytelling with a beat…from NPR and PRX.” Rapper life and serial killer father. At the link find the title, “Snap #607 – Infamous,” right-click “Media files npr_394214172.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Sex Trafficking 47 mins – “A former prostitute is trying to help young women escape the sex trade in the Bakken Oil Fields of North Dakota. We’ll talk to her, and look at the big picture of sex trafficking in the USA.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Social Security Maze 48 mins – “Many Americans never collect thousands they’re due in Social Security. We’ll look at why and how to get what – under current, confusing law – is yours.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
South America Turmoil 47 mins – “South America in turmoil. Brazil. Argentina. Venezuela and more. Going volatile right now. We’ll ask why.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Spotify 19 mins – “In this week’s issue of The New Yorker, John Seabrook writes about how the streaming service Spotify is changing the landscape of the music industry. On Out Loud, Seabrook joins Kelefa Sanneh, who also writes frequently about music for the magazine, and Nicholas Thompson, the editor of newyorker.com, to discuss how artists, record companies, and their own listening habits are adapting to the economics of streaming. They discuss how Spotify became the dominant streaming company, why Taylor Swift recently pulled her entire catalogue from the service, and how the industry is likely to evolve as the tech industry and the music business continue to converge. Seabrook says, “The tips of the two continents are just touching. And that is going to be a fascinating, enormous cultural change, conflict, and hopefully synthesis to watch.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Synthetic Biology 96 mins – “…Massively collaborative synthetic biology: Natural genomes are nearly impossible to figure out, Endy began, because they were evolved, not designed. Everything is context dependent, tangled, and often unique. So most biotech efforts become herculean. It cost $25 million to develop a way to biosynthesize the malaria drug artemisinin, for example. Yet the field has so much promise that most of what biotechnology can do hasn’t even been imagined yet….” At the link hover over “Download,” right-click “Audio Podcast” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Television Unbundled 47 mins – “The Internet “unbundles” cable TV. We’ll look at big new deals and what they mean for cost, content and you.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tumor Tests Improve 17 mins – “Is there a way to identify early stage cancer while treatments are an option? On this episode, Sanjiv Gambir discusses the detection of tumor cells using blood sampling.” At the link right-click “Listen to episode” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Urban Cities 63 mins – “Paul Romer of New York University talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about reforming cities to allow growth and human flourishing. Topics discussed include charter cities, the role of population density in city life, driverless cars, and various ways to help the poorest people in the world.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from thepop-up menu.
Violence Causes 55 mins – “Mass murder, senseless violence, random brutality. The human thirst for atrocity is at the heart of what psychologist Jordan Peterson has to say, in a talk he gave at the Stratford Festival, and in conversation with Paul Kennedy.” At the link find the title, “A History of Violence,” right-click “Media files ideas_20150320_91244.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Watchdog Project on Drugs 58 mins – “Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman, director of PharmedOut, talks about the organization, the money made by the pharmaceutical industry, the advertising the industry produces, how pharmaceutical companies lobby Congress, and how they try to influence doctors.” At the link find the title, “Q&A: Dr. Adriane Fugh-Berman,” right-click “Media files program.390059.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Yemen 27 mins – “Lyse Doucet talks to journalist Safa al-Ahmad about her recent reporting trip to Yemen to cover the takeover of the capital Sanaa by Houthi rebels from the north of the country.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: Meeting the Houthis and Their Enemies in Yemen,” right-click “Media files docarchive_20150319-0232b.mp3” 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
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Media Mining Digest 