The following audio files come from a larger group of 180 for the week. Double or ctrl-click individual highlighted links, below, to get single podcasts. A zip file of all 57 podcasts converted to 1.5x speed will download here for four months. Older groups of podcasts are discussed at the end of this episode.
Adaptation of Life 52 mins – “Darwinian evolution is adaptive and slow … millennia can go by before a species changes very much. But with the tools of genetic engineering we can now make radical changes in just one generation. By removing genes or inserting new ones, we can give an organism radically different traits and behaviors. We are taking evolution into our own hands. It all began with the domestication of plants and animals, which one science writer says created civilization. Today, as humans tinker with their own genome, is it possible we will produce Homo sapiens 2.0? Also, what happens to those species who can’t control their destiny? How climate change is forcing the biggest genetic reshuffling in recorded history.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
African Students in Britain 27 mins – “Over 35,000 African students studied at British universities last year – part of a growing number of foreign students coming to the UK. Bola Masuro charts the progress of four students from Africa. What do they want to take back with them from the British way of life? And what could the UK learn from Africa?” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: African Students Abroad,” right-click “Media files docarchive 20150513-0300a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up men.
AIDS History 27 mins – “AIDS Expert Dr Tony Fauci looks back at the scientific breakthroughs that have transformed HIV/AIDS from a death sentence to a disease that can now be treated and prevented. Archive clip from ‘How to Survive a Plague’ courtesy of Dartmouth Films & Public Square Films.” At the link find the title, “HealthC: The Truth About AIDS,” right-click “healthc_20150506-2005a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.”
Backyard Brains 87 mins – “…Greg Gage and Tim Marzullo of Backyard Brains! (hereafter annotated as “BB”) The focus of BB is to make simple to use electronics so that neuroscience is taught sooner in students’ lives. The Spiker box is a signal chain with bio instrumentation amp, then bandpass filtering, then an amplifier to output through a speaker; It turns out that plants also have electrophysiology (action potential firing). Especially – The cortex is done in layers, so the polarity lines up and the signals are detectible; The human brain initiative is part of a push from the Obama administration. It’s meant to increase the understanding of the brain. Tim did some predication of the future: 2035 neuromotes, silicon wrapped in biocompatible material [and] 2165 is the completely controllable to the single neuron layer. There is a bluetooth kit to control bugs by manipulating their antennae. It’s called The Roboroach; it uses similar science as to the experiments by Luigi Galvani on frog legs. Greg gave a TED talk about the human to human interface” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Beatrix Potter 54 mins – “Most people only know Beatrix Potter as the author of children’s books such as The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Her books have sold more than 100 million copies in 35 languages. But Beatrix Potter only began writing seriously in her 30s and before this pursued an interest in the natural sciences. She made intricate drawings of fungi and lichens and worked as an amateur scientist. She even wrote a scientific paper which despite its quality was dismissed as it was written by a female amateur. Sharon Carleton traces the scientific life of author Beatrix Potter.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Billards 16 mins – “We live in a post-billiards age. There was an age of billiards, and it has been over for so long, most of us have no idea how huge billiards once was. For many decades, starting in the mid-19th Century, billiards was the one of the most popular amusements. A hundred years ago, there were 830 pool halls in the city of Chicago. Today, there are ten. Billiards is not what it used to be—but we continue to live in a world affected by its former prominence. The growth of billiards led to the development of a material that would come to define the modern world. Without billiards, we might never have discovered plastic. The story starts with a man named Michael Phelan, the father of American billiards.
Blind Guide Dogs 26 mins “Professor Paul Upchurch is a Palaeobiolgoist at London’s UCL. His interest in dinosaurs and the living world began when he was a small boy and he now regards his hobby as his work. Paul is registered blind and talks to Peter about the way his visual impairment impacts on his work and his personal life. Lee Kumutat has travelled to Torquay in Devon, to meet Steph Read. Steph has the hereditary connective-tissue disorder known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and she uses a wheelchair. Steph has a dual assistance dog, called Vegas, to help her with both her visual impairment and her physical disability and she talks to Lee about the difference Vegas makes to her daily living. Producer: Cheryl Gabriel” At the link for a few weeks find the title, “InTouch 05 May 15: Dinosaurs and Dogs,” right-click “Download 9MB” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Blindness for Beginners 19 mins – “In Touch revisits its ‘Blindness for Beginners’ series to look at shopping. Peter White is joined by broadcaster Richard de Costobadie and Diane Roworth, CEO of the York Blind and Partially-Sighted Society, who share their experiences and advice on what can make shopping trips easier. They discuss the best way to retain your independence and choice if you’re blind or visually-impaired. The emphasis is on staying in control and finding the best way to get exactly what you want without losing your autonomy …. or temper. Producer: Cheryl Gabriel” At the link, for a short time, find the title, “InTouch 12 May 15: Blindness for Beginners – Shopping, “right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Boat Migrants 47 mins – “The boats out of Burma and Bangladesh are bobbing off of Malaysia and Thailand right now. Jammed and desperate. You already know about the boats out of North Africa – Libya – coming in waves across the Mediterranean. Europe, debating whether to save them or sink them before they can leave their ports. The world is looking at another migrant crisis moment. Last summer it was kids on the Rio Grande. In the future, with political upheaval and climate change, it could be all over. With tough choices attached. This hour On Point: desperate migrants on the move.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Book Future 36 mins – “In a lecture at the Canadian Literature Centre at the University of Alberta and in interview with Paul Kennedy, novelist Lynn Coady explores what happens if we separate the idea of ‘the book’ from the experience they’ve traditionally provided.” At the link find the title, “The Monster At The End,” right-click “Media files ideas_20150506_98892.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Brewing and Distilling 53 mins – [starts at 12 m]“Adam Rogers is an editor at Wired and the author of Proof: The Science of Booze. On the show this week we talk to Rogers about alcohol and the science behind it—from yeast, to bourbon, to Star Trek’s synthehol.” At the link find the title, “86 Adam Rogers – The Science of Booze,” “Media files 205557655-inquiringminds-86-adam-rogers-the-science-of-booze.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Civil War Echoes 52 mins – “One hundred and fifty years have now passed since the end of the civil war. Pulitzer-prize winning historian James McPherson argues that most of today’s pressing issues – from racial inequality and voting rights to state sovereignty – can be traced back to this war. In a new book, McPherson says it is impossible to understand most contemporary issues without understanding their roots in the civil war era. We look at the enduring legacy of the conflict that nearly destroyed the country.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Civil War Thoughts 49 mins – “American historian David Blight explores the legacy of the American Civil War – especially regarding the issue of race-relations. He joins the dots between events from 150 years ago through to the American Civil Rights movement of the 1960s to more recent protests in the US cities of Baltimore and Ferguson.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: The Alistair Cooke Memorial Lecture 9 May 2015,” right-click “Media files docarchive 20150509-2259a.mp3” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Change 56 mins – “In her new book, Driving the Future, Margo Oge (Former Director, Office of Transportation and Air Quality, United States Environmental Protection Agency) portrays a future where clean, intelligent vehicles with lighter frames and alternative power trains will produce zero emissions and run at 100+ mpg. With electronic architectures more like that of airplanes, cars will be smarter and safer, will park themselves, and will network with other vehicles on the road to drive themselves. Offering an insider account of the partnership between Federal agencies, states, environmental groups, and car manufacturers that led to the historic deal, she discusses the science of climate change, the politics of addressing it and the lessons learned for policymakers.” At the link right-click “Download MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
College Thesis 47 mins – “ For many college seniors, it’s the last great intellectual exercise of their college careers. The capstone before donning the cap and gown. I’m talking about the senior thesis. That deep dive into the unexplored and unanswered. Original research. Fresh takes on the classics. Out of the box thinking on just about everything: neotropical migrant birds. Feminism and fairy tales. An original musical. Must-reads, at least for the eyes of the thesis advisor — and hopefully mom and dad. And you’re in for a treat, too. This hour, On Point: the Class of 2015 presents their senior theses.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Concrete Problems 7 mins – “You already feel guilty about the car you drive to work, but you might want to start feeling guilty about your workplace too. Reporter Daniel Gross takes a look at why concrete is helping destroy the environment.” At the link find the title, “How Concrete Is Crushing the Earth,” right-click “Media files GROSSCONCRETEWEBMIX.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Conspiracy Theories 21 mins – “What is a conspiracy? Why do conspiracies – real or imagined – matter to philsophy? Cassim Quaassam explores these questions in conversation with Nigel Warburton “ At the link right-clcik beside “Direct download:” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Creatine 28 mins – “What is Creatine? It’s long been known as a supplement-of-choice for athletes and weightlifters… but what cognitive benefits might Creatine provide? To answer these and other questions, Dr. Maurizio Balestrino joins Jesse for an intellectual powwow this week.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cuban Science 24 mins – [starts at 10 m]On this week’s show: Cuban science looks toward the future, and a roundup of daily news stories”At the link right-click “Download MP3 file for this show” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Currency Concepts 55 mins – “The world over, alternative currencies are helping societies solve key issues. Sheetal Lodhia explores how healthy communities can be built without money.” At the link find the title, “Why Money Isn’t Everything,” right-click “Media files ideas_20150512_56349.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dementia P4 46 mins – “In this episode of the Dementia Decoded series, we’ll look at new and innovative ways people around the world are addressing this problem, and offer some tools and strategies for people dealing with dementia in their own families and communities.” At the link find the title, “Dementia Decoded: Fighting Forgetting,” right-click “Media files 150400_dementia_decoded_ep4.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Drone Construction Lessons 109 mins – “In this week’s show we get a little deeper into FPV and talk about some of the cool Ground Stations we’ve seen – some are really stinking expensive, while others show that you can get the job done WITHOUT breaking the bank (these are MY favorite systems). Also, we get a chance to visit with Jake ‘FleshPilot’ Wells for the first time on the show. You may remember our referencing Jake in some previous shows, as he’s the guy that’s been putting out some of those awesome videos we’ve enjoyed from Washington state.” At the link right-click beside “Direct download:” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Freakonomics Insights 47 mins – “Dubner and Levitt are live onstage at the 92nd Street Y in New York to celebrate their new book “When to Rob a Bank” — and a decade of working together.” At the link find the title, “Ten Years of Freakonomics,” right-click “Media files freakonomics_podcast051415.mp3” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Free Speech – Cartoons 47 mins – “On Sunday in the Dallas suburb Garland, Texas, two men with assault rifles were shot dead by an off-duty traffic cop. The men had come to kill attendees of a Muhammad Art Exhibit and Contest where there was a $10,000 prize for the best caricature of the prophet. Images considered sacrilegious by many Muslims. But the outspoken organizer Pamela Gellar says it’s all fine and well – it’s free speech. Others say, not so fast. This is hate. Bigotry. Racism. This was meant to provoke violence. So where is the line between free speech and hate speech? How far can you go? This hour, On Point: Free speech, hate speech.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Hair Tragedy 14 mins – “Geneticist Chris Gunter worries about passing on a rare condition to her son. Chris Gunter is a human geneticist by training, and a science communicator by choice. She earned her Ph.D. at Emory University and then moved up and down the east coast, ending up as a Senior Editor at the journal Nature. Currently she serves as the Associate Director for Research for the Marcus Autism Center, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and as an Associate Professor in Pediatrics for the Emory University School of Medicine. If she had any spare time, she would probably garden or bake.” 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.
Hedy Lamarr 42 mins – “Hedy Lamarr provides the classic case of a superbly bright woman constrained by the narrow views of her time as to what women should be allowed to do. She is well known as a 1940s actor, and was promoted as “The Most Beautiful Woman in the World.” But behind the gloss, Lamarr was a natural inventor and amateur engineer. Together with composer George Antheil, she patented a new system of communication. That technology forms the basis of ‘spread spectrum technology’ which gives us our mobile phones today. Sharon Carleton traces the life of Hedy Lamarr, ‘the most gorgeous geek of all time’ and a very damaged woman.” At the link right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
HIV in Austin Indiana 48 mins – “Austin, Indiana, a town with just 4,200 people, is in the throes of a HIV outbreak. Austin is poor. With a huge opiate addiction problem. Addicts are sharing dirty needles. The governor declared a state of emergency and Tuesday expanded a needle exchange program to address the crisis. The issues facing Austin – addiction, poverty, unemployment –aren’t unique to rural Indiana. Communities across the country face similar challenges. With dire outcomes. This hour, On Point: Indiana’s HIV outbreak, needle exchanges and America’s enduring drug problem.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Hyaluronic Acid 6 mins – “If there’s one thing to make anyone with a scientific background cringe it’s when an advertiser starts pushing ‘the science stuff’. Probably the worst offenders are cosmetic manufacturers, and you don’t have to take in many of their adverts before getting the impression that hyaluronic acid is a wonder substance, a compound well worthy of study. Hyaluronic acid, also known as hyaluronan, is one of a group of naturally occurring complex organic compounds called glycosaminoglycans, that form long polysaccharide chains with a repeating formula of C14H21NO11. It was first found in the vitreous humour – the clear gel that fills the eye – which is where its name, combining ‘hyalos’, the Greek for ‘vitreous’, with ‘uronic acid’, originates. But hyaluronic acid also occurs widely in connective tissues, forming a major component of the matrix that supports cells in an organism. Its properties were first investigated by the German biochemist Karl Meyer at the University of California, Berkeley in the 1930s….” At the link right-click beside “Download:” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Iraqi Refugees 47 mins – “Sometimes the story behind the story needs a lot more attention than it gets. And that’s the case now in Iraq. We’ve watched since last summer the advance of ISIS as it swept east from Syria into Iraq. he black flags, the beheadings, the collapse of the Iraqi army. Now the pushback, with the help of Iran on the ground and the US in the air. But almost overlooked are the millions of Iraqis who had to flee all that fighting. And all those refugees, all those lost towns, a whole other layer of despair and challenge.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
ISIS Propaganda 27 mins – “Dominic Casciani explores the way the so called Islamic State use social media to recruit people to their cause, and what can we be done combat this. Dominic travels to Canada to meet a mother whose son was recruited by IS and executed by the FSA, and the police chief who says a lot more needs to be done to counter IS online.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: The Islamic State’s Social Media Machine,” right-click “Media files docarchive_20150505-0300a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Israeli Dilemma 54 mins – “Michael Enright in conversation with Ari Shavit, the author of the acclaimed book, My Promised Land: The Triumph and Tragedy of Israel, and the award-winning, but highly polarizing Gideon Levy.” At the link find the title, “The Enright Files – Israeli-Palestinian Relations,” right-click “Media files ideas_20150504_56711.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Japanese Internment 52 mins – “Shortly after the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the U.S. began rounding up tens of thousands of Japanese Americans. They were sent to concentration camps in the western U.S. For nearly four years, men, women and children spent their lives enclosed behind barbed wire, watched by armed guards in towers. President Franklin D. Roosevelt and those who supported his executive order that paved the way for the camps said they were a military necessity. It was, after all, a time of war. But today many consider it to be one of the most shameful periods in American history. We look at how internment camps affected the lives of Japanese Americans for generations.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Las Vegas Rejuvenation 56 mins – “Zappos CEO Tony Hsieh has a wild vision and the dollars to try to make it real. But it still might be the biggest gamble in town.” At the link find the title, “Could the Next Brooklyn Be … Las Vegas?!” right-click “Media files freakonomics_podcast050715.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Laughter 17 mins – “Did you know that you’re 30 times more likely to laugh if you’re with somebody else than if you’re alone? Cognitive neuroscientist Sophie Scott shares this and other surprising facts about laughter in this fast-paced, action-packed and, yes, hilarious dash through the science of the topic.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As “ from the pop-up menu.
Meat Contamination 57 mins – “FRONTLINE investigates the spread of dangerous pathogens in meat particularly poultry.” At the link find the title, “The Trouble With Chicken,” right-click “Download File – 85.3 MB” and select “Save Link As” form the pop-up menu.
Migrant Child Disposition 52 mins – “Last spring, striking images of the U.S. border began showing up in the media: Children from Central America, many traveling alone, piling up at immigration facilities. By October, nearly 70,000 unaccompanied child migrants had arrived seeking entry to the United States. This year, the numbers have dropped by about 40 percent, due in large part to stepped up enforcement by Mexico. However, that still means tens of thousands of kids will be taken into custody by the U.S. immigration system, even as the government struggles to process last year’s arrivals. A look at the ongoing migration of children from Central America and the tension between protection and prevention.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Nancy Houston 55 mins – “Paul Kennedy talks to the writer Nancy Huston, winner of the 2015 Blue Metropolis Grand Literary Prize.” At the link find the title, “Literary Amphibuim – Nancy Huston,” right-click “Media files ideas_20150507_84074.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Patient Power 28 mins – “Episode 12 of the health podcast from Slate and WBUR offers up three ways to take charge of your medical experience. There are specific ways to feel better about both the quality and cost of your medical care, says Dr. Don Goldmann of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement. Also, medical informatics wiz Dr. Isaac Kohane on pushing the “blue button” to gain real control of your own medical data. And, we’ll show how telling your own medical story can help you heal.” At the link find the title, “The Checkup: Power to the Patient,” right-click “Media files checkup15051102_checkup.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop up menu.
Patient Power 67 mins – “We’re in the middle of a healthcare revolution but it’s about more than marvelous life-saving and life-enhancing apps on our smartphone. Eric Topol of the Scripps Translational Science Institute and author of The Patient Will See You Now argues that the digital revolution will give us more control of our health information and data. More powerful patients will transform the doctor-patient interaction. Topol talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his new book giving us a glimpse of the changes coming to medicine from the digital revolution.” At the link right-click ‘Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Patriot Act 47 mins – “We know because of Edward Snowden. The NSA – the National Security Agency – took the PATRIOT Act, passed after 9/11, and ran and ran with it. Including forcing American phone companies to pour their records directly into government computers. Where our “metadata” was at their fingertips. Everyone you called. Now, that PATRIOT Act provision is expiring. Should that NSA domestic surveillance be ended with it? Defenders say no. Say ISIS and more are a real and current threat. Opponents say end it. For privacy. For freedom. And we don’t need it. This hour, On Point: the NSA’s spying at home.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Patriot Act Limits 52 mins – “Most Americans had no idea the U.S. government was conducting a daily dragnet of their phone records until two years ago. That’s when Edward Snowden made this and several other NSA operations public, sparking a firestorm. Last week, a federal appeals court ruled that the Patriot Act, as written, doesn’t allow this practice. Now it’s up to Congress to make a decision. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) supports re-authorizing bulk surveillance for five years, but a bipartisan group in the House is pushing for changes. If Congress doesn’t act, the program expires on June 1. We look at the future of the Patriot Act and what it means for your privacy and security.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Peru Wildlife Trade 27 mins – “Peru is one of the most biodiverse nations in the world. But its precious wildlife is threatened by traffickers. Crossing Continents goes on operations with the wildlife police.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: Peru’s Wildlife for Sale – 14 May 2015,” right-click “Media files docarchive 20150514-0232a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Powers of Two 52 mins – “Forget what you think you know about creativity being the domain of the solitary genius. The writer Joshua Wolf Shenk says it’s a myth that’s outlived its usefulness. In his book Powers of Two, Shenk looks at hundreds of creative duos — like John Lennon and Paul McCartney or Marie and Pierre Curie — to understand what he calls the “electrified space” of their partnership. Friday, Shenk joins us to explain how these creative connections work, and why two heads really are better than one.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Racism and Drones 53 mins – “The deep historical roots of the Baltimore protests, shedding light on drone strikes, and combating sex worker stereotypes.” At the link find the title, “Unseen & Inscrutable,” right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Rebellion 47 mins – “Chris Hedges went out into the world as a journalist. Covered war and more all over for years. And came back an activist. Warning first against war, and then more. Against what he calls a corporate takeover of power globally. Against the crushing of the possibility of real change through democracy. Against what he sees as a profit-driven rush to environmental catastrophe, and maybe the extinction of the human race. The only answer now, says Hedges, is revolt. Even if it hurts. It’s a hard message, and he knows it. This hour On Point: Chris Hedges on the case for revolt.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Saudi Social Change 27 mins – “Tarek Osman considers how the impact of the Arab Uprisings of 2011 was felt in Saudi Arabia. The country’s growing youth population faced high unemployment and was well adapted to social media. But unlike other Arab countries, they did not take to the streets. And, As King Salman takes power, what is the future of this traditional society and global banker of oil?” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: The Saudi Arabian Spring,” right-click “Media files docarchive_20150506-0300a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Social Media Propaganda 27 mins – “The Jordanian social media campaign run in response to the burning of pilot Moaz al-Kasasbeh. Dominic Casciani examines Islamic State’s social media strategy and the attempts to combat it.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: Jordan Takes On the Islamic State’s Digital Machine,” right-click “Media files docarchive 20150512-1330a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Stereotypes 11 mins – “Psychologist Claude Steele says stereotypes are even more important than we realize, and he explains the psychology that underpins them.” At the link find the title, “Looking Closer at Stereotypes,” right-click “Media files SteeleWebMix.mp3” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Superpowers 60 mins – “This is an updated version of a classic episode, featuring a new story from Snap Judgment. We answer the following questions about superpowers: Can superheroes be real people? (No.) Can real people become superheroes? (Maybe.) And which is better: flight or invisibility? (Depends who you ask.) Chris ware’s comic mentioned in the episode is here.” At the ink right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Teen Driver Deaths 54 mins – “The number of young drivers killed on the roads is double what we’d expect. Despite clever advertising campaigns, psychologist Bridie Scott-Parker says there hasn’t even been a way of measuring young driver behaviour. Progress has not been made in road safety for young drivers. Bridie Scott-Parker has taken the first step by bringing together information about the drivers, their behaviour and the environment as they all affect each other. At the Australian Academy of Science in Canberra, Bridie Scott-Parker describes her new approach to addressing safety amongst young novice drivers.” At the link right-click “Download Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Teen Suicides 47 mins – “Three Palo Alto, California teenagers took their own lives this winter. And it’s happened there before. In Newton, Massachusetts, three teens committed suicide last year. And another three in Fairfax County, Virginia. Is there too much competition in these hyper-competitive communities? Psychologists tell us that suicide clusters are rare. And caution against singling out any one factor. But with one in four kids now with a clinical diagnosis of depression or anxiety — something’s going wrong.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Trans Pacific Partnership 50 mins – “The Democrats’ revolt against President Obama’s Trans Pacific Partnership has everything to do with the “giant sucking sound” of job loss echoing over Baltimore and St. Louis, Detroit and Gary… and still more to do with the inability of our own polarized and privatized society to repair the social contract at home. Only at the end of our untypically acrimonious hour did a moral come clear: the 30-year regime of expanding global trade could well founder for want of a firm public decision to share the pain and the profits in that transformation. The more we learn about TPP, the more it looks like a blunt instrument of the banking and corporate interests to protect their investments, and of Big Pharma, Hollywood and Info Tech to protect their “intellectual property” abroad. Enforceable compensations for workers and communities, here and there, would be nice, too.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Trans Pacific Partnership 47 mins – “The President wants a huge new Pacific trade deal, and he wants it fast so it doesn’t get bogged down and derailed. So China doesn’t write the rules. Yesterday, his own party said no. Senate Democrats rebelled without more assurances, protections, guarantees. And now, the fate of the Trans Pacific Partnership – the TPP – is way up in the air. The White House is calling it a “snafu.” Maybe. But it’s also a serious battle over how the world will work. How Americans workers, business and trade will fare. This hour On Point: the red hot politics of Pacific trade.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Ty Cobb Story 48 mins – “’Ty Cobb.‘ That name is hard-wired into the story of baseball and the roaring early days of 20th Century America. One of the game’s first superstars. Babe Ruth admired him. His fans adored him. Other fans hated how he could hit, steal and run rings around their teams. But somehow, after he died, he became baseball’s anti-hero. The guy who sharpened his spikes and used them. The violent man, the racist, the major league bully. Turns out, that whole anti-hero story is wrong. This hour, On Point: the true story of the great Ty Cobb.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Underground Coffee 50 mins – “This week we talk to Chris Hoke about finding spirituality within the darkness – Chris Hoke is a jail chaplain and minister to Mexican gang and migrant worker communities in Washington’s Skagit Valley. His experiences are recounted in his new book, Wanted: A Spiritual Pursuit Through Jail, Among Outlaws, and Across Borders, which Kirkus calls “a liberating, transformative chronicle of how spirituality can foster inspiration and hope while emboldening the downtrodden through their darkest days.” Through his work with the organization Tierra Nueva, Hoke co-founded a coffee-roasting business, Underground Coffee, which employs men coming out of prison and addiction, and connects them to agricultural partners in Honduras. Hoke’s work has been featured on NPR’s Snap Judgment and in Sojourners, Image Journal, Modern Farmer, and Christian Century. At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Vietnam War Photography 54 mins – “Members of the U.S. Army’s 221st Signal Company, an official documenting agency for the U.S. Army, talk about their work chronicling the Vietnam War through photography and film.” At the link right-click “IM_20150509.mp3” beside “Direct download:” and select “Save Link As from the pop-up menu.
Walter Pincus 60 mins – “Walter Pincus talked about the framework agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, U.S.-Israel relations, and defense department spending and budget sequestration. He also spoke about the 2003 war in Iraq, his career at the Washington Post, and his forthcoming book.” At the link find the title, “Q&A with Walter Pincus,” right-click “Media files program.396138.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Wright Brothers 52 mins – “On Dec. 17, 1903, Orville Wright, in a plane he designed with his brother Wilbur, becomes the first person to fly. For many of us, this is where the story of the Wright brothers begins and ends. But Pulitzer Prize-winning author and historian David McCullough says there’s so much more to what the two accomplished. By examining a trove of private letters, diaries and notebooks, McCullough finds the brothers extraordinary intelligent, intensely driven, loyal to their family and completely self-made. David McCullough gives us more insight into the men who taught the world to fly.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
WW II – Crete 52 mins – “Thursday, our guest is journalist Christopher McDougall who wrote the book that kicked off the barefoot running movement. While he was writing, McDougall came across the story of a Greek foot messenger who accomplished remarkable athletic feats during World War II. It got him thinking about what makes a hero, and he learned it’s not chance and you don’t have to be superhuman. McDougall is in Utah and joins us to explore how normal people can develop their natural skills to be ready in a crisis.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
WWII Code Breaking and Quantum PCs 60 mins – “This week, we’re looking at technology for keeping secrets safe from prying eyes and ears. We’re joined by Dan Younger, professor emeritus of mathematics at the University of Waterloo, to discuss the remarkable work of his colleague Bill Tutte, who broke the German Lorenz Code during World War II [first 30 mins] And we’ll discuss the cutting edge of quantum security with Physics and Computer Science Professor Shohini Ghose [starts at 29 mins].” At the link find the title, “#317 Secure Communications,” right-click “Media files Science for the People_317_Secure_Communication.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
WWII Displaced Kids 50 mins – “Following the end of World War Two, the BBC began a series of special radio appeals on behalf of a group of children who had survived the Holocaust but were now stranded as orphans in post-war Europe. Alex Last finds out what happened to the 12 children named in the recordings.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: Lost Children of the Holocaust,” right-click “Media files docarchive 20150506-2200a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
WWII Rapes 50 mins- “Lucy Ash investigates the mass rapes committed by Soviet troops in Germany at the end of World II – in part as revenge for Nazi atrocities in the Soviet Union.” At the link find the title, “DocArchive: The Rape of Berlin – 2 May 2015,” right-click “Media files docarchive 20150502-1830a.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
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ARCHIVE
An alphabetic encyclopedia of 6000 of these hyperlinked descriptions is here and updated quarterly. A file of the podcasts is here , updated weekly, and can be downloaded as a 40+ GB zipped file, or individually. Over 230 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.
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Media Mining Digest 