The following audio files come from a larger group of 211 for the week. Double or ctrl-click individual highlighted links, below, to get single podcasts. A zip file of all 42 podcasts converted to 1.5x speed will download here for four months. Older groups of podcasts are discussed at the end of this episode.
Addiction Fix 15mins – “What really causes addiction — to everything from cocaine to smart-phones? And how can we overcome it? Johann Hari has seen our current methods fail firsthand, as he has watched loved ones struggle to manage their addictions. He started to wonder why we treat addicts the way we do — and if there might be a better way. As he shares in this deeply personal talk, his questions took him around the world, and unearthed some surprising and hopeful ways of thinking about an age-old problem.” At the link click “Download,” right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Broadband Dynamic Sharing 25 mins – “After reading “Amtrak’s Lessons for Access to the Airwaves,” I knew we wanted to talk to Michael Calabrese and Patrick Lucey of the Open Technology Institute at the New America Foundation to discuss wireless policy. Unfortunately, scheduling challenges kept Patrick off the this show but we do have a great discussion for this week’s Community Broadband Bits podcast with Michael Calabrese, who runs the Wireless Future program at OTI. We discuss the wireless technology Amtrak has wanted to deploy and alternatives that would have been less costly and more quickly to implement. However, this is really just an opportunity to begin the larger discussion about where wireless is going….” At the link right-click “…can download this Mp3 file ….” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Clean Power Legislation 28 mins – “President Obama announced a bold new climate plan last week. The plan is being widely heralded by environmental advocates, but, perhaps unsurprisingly, pilloried by coal states and fossil fuel companies who are actively mounting legal challenges. This week on Sea Change Radio we talk with two environmental reporters, Alex Guillén from Politico and Tim McDonnell of Mother Jones. They provide an overview of the climate plan and its goals, discuss some political and legal responses, and talk about how it may be viewed globally as we anticipate the UN Climate Summit in Paris. At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Change Comedy 24 mins – “Where are the laughs in global warming? Is there a comedy of climate? Three renowned experts in the field offer their considered opinions: Rod Quantock, Hannah Gadsby and Andrew Denton. Recorded at Womadelaide’s 2015 Planet Talks, our guests provide advice on boiling billionaires for dinner, and how to change the minds of sceptics. “ At the link right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Community Issues 13 mins – “Already tired of the 2016 election? Well, you’re not alone. Social scientist Kate Krontiris tells us why Americans don’t really care about civic engagement, and how we can fix that.” At the link find the title, “Civic Disengagement (And How To Fix It),” right-click “Media files KRONTIRISWEBMIX.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Community Strategist 62 mins – “Guest Jono Bacon is a community manager, writer, musician and Software Engineer, originally from the United Kingdom, but now based in California. Bacon is a speaker on community management, works as the XPrize Community Manager, authored The Art of Community by O’Reilly and is the founder and organizer of the annual Community Leadership Summit. At the link right-click “Download options,: right-click “Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Concrete 20 mins – “…Fun fact: the author of the James Bond books, Ian Fleming, named Goldfinger for a real person—an architect by the name of Ernő Goldfinger, who made giant, hulking, austere concrete buildings. Fleming disliked these buildings so intensely that he immortalized their architect as villain in pop culture….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Contract Work 30 mins – “In this final (for now) episode in the mini-series, expert “indies” from Toronto and Newfoundland join host Tina Barton to discuss how to turn prospects into clients, formalize agreements, and establish prices and terms that satisfy both sides.” At the link find the title, “Going Indie: How to Pitch Prospects and Formalize Agreements (Part 3),” right-click “Direct download: ep89_FINAL.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Creativity 29 mins – “Kevin Ashton discusses where the Internet is headed and his book, [How to Fly a Horse], which examines the creative process. Mr. Ashton coined the term, the “Internet of Things.’” At the link find the title, “The Communicators with Kevin Ashton,” right-click “Media files program.394414.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cuban Embargo 27 mins – “Will Grant takes a ride in Cuba to discover how people get around and whether the thaw in relations with the United States will make any difference to their lives.” At the link find the title, “Cuba on the Move,” right-click “Media files p02z86hz.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dating Scene 47 mins – “Dating and mating. They’re not exactly the same thing. Take nowadays, for example, when cultural observers are reporting that dating is becoming a lost art, while mating is getting transformed into the art of the hookup. Caught in the evolution, says one writer: women with college degrees. All that learning is working to their disadvantage in the dating game. Especially since there are so many more of them than men with degrees. Also not helping? Mobile phone matchup apps.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Detroit Manager 58 mins – “Kevyn Orr, who served as emergency manager for the City of Detroit from 2013 to 2014, discusses overseeing the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history. Detroit faced a long-term debt of $18 billion when he took over the post.” At the link find the title,”Q&A with Kevyn Orr,” right-click “Media Files program.408807.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Diet Drug DNP 8 mins – “…In the early 1930s, a team of researchers at Stanford University, led by Winston Cutting and Maurice Tainter, studied the effect of DNP on human metabolism. It was found that moderate doses of DNP produced an increase in metabolic rate of about 50 percent. It was considered as a possible diet-aid medication, and weight losses of 2 to 3 pounds a week could be obtained with safe doses of dinitrophenol. At the time, when people were less conscious of health and safety, it was possible to obtain DNP from a drug store. Fatalities were observed among unsupervised people, including doctors. Another side effect was that it led to the formation of cataracts. In 1938 the American Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned its use in humans….” At the link right-click “Download: CIIE_2-4DNP.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Farming Trends 48 mins – “As populations rise, arable land shrinks and the Earth grows warmer, we look at how technology and big data are coming deep into American farming.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Food Production 12 mins – “Hunger isn’t just driving you to get that double bacon cheeseburger at Five Guys – it’s also been a main force behind all of civilization. Columbia’s Ruth DeFries talks about the unexpected ways our quest for food has shaped, and is still shaping, the world we live in.” At the link find the title, “Why Hunger Drives Human Ingenuity,” right-click “Media files 050215DefriesWebMix.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
GM Foods 60 mins – “The science behind genetically modified food is a very divisive issue for a lot of people. We’ve already talked about it a few times on the show, but this week we sought out a new perspective and talked to Fred Perlak, a Monsanto Distinguished Science Fellow. He’s been with Monsanto since 1981 and his work has focused on Bt genes, insect control, and plant gene expression. In this episode, he talks about his research and responds to concerns about GM health safety, risks to our eco-system, and the economics associated with food security.” At the link click “Download” to download the file.
Graduate Research 52 mins – “What does it take to become a tenured professor? Actually, scratch that for a second… what does it take just to get into grad school? As someone who has only scaled the towers of formal education far enough to gracefully descend with a bachelor’s degree as my parachute, these aren’t questions I cover very often on College Info Geek. The higher reaches are something I knew nothing about – until I talked with Karen Kelsky. Karen spend 15 years as a tenured professor and department head in cultural anthropology. She earned her Ph.D. in the subject from the University of Hawai’i (and she focused on Japan, which is super cool).” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Graphene 59 mins – “Hundreds of times stronger than steel, transparent, an excellent electrical conductor and weighing next to nothing, graphene is hailed as a wonder material. But what is it doing for us now? And where will it take us in future? This week graphene goes under the microscope. We hear how industry can mass produce it, we uncover how it can clean up air in cities, produce the world’s fastest lasers, revolutionise communications and boost the power of computers. Plus, news of how Earth’s earliest life reproduced, how to regenerate human organs, and why animals have different shaped pupils…” At the link right-click “Download as mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Human Traffkicking 19 mins – “Behind the everyday bargains we all love — the $10 manicure, the unlimited shrimp buffet — is a hidden world of forced labor to keep those prices at rock bottom. Noy Thrupkaew investigates human trafficking – which flourishes in the US and Europe, as well as developing countries – and shows us the human faces behind the exploited labor that feeds global consumers.” At the link click “Downloads,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Infrastructure 52 mins – “As crash experts sort out why an Amtrak train derailed in Philadelphia last month, killing eight passengers, Congress is still haggling over how to replenish the nation’s Highway Trust Fund before it goes dry. All the while, the safety of America’s roads and rails hangs in the balance. So on this show, Brian, Ed and Peter uncover the stuff of modern life that’s hidden in plain sight. How have Americans decided what infrastructure to invest in, how to maintain it, and who ultimately has to pay for it? Our stories take a look behind the scenes at the electric grid, the shipping industry and the origins of oil pipelines.” 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.
Integrated Schools Work 118 mins (2 parts) – “Right now, all sorts of people are trying to rethink and reinvent education, to get poor minority kids performing as well as white kids. But there’s one thing nobody tries anymore, despite lots of evidence that it works: desegregation. Nikole Hannah-Jones looks at a district that, not long ago, accidentally launched a desegregation program. First of a two-part series. [In part 2] Last week we looked at a school district integrating by accident. This week: a city going all out to integrate its schools. Plus, a girl who comes up with her own one-woman integration plan.” At the link for P1 right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu. Do the same here for Part 2.
Job Searching 13 mins – “Even if you’re pretty happy with the job you have, you still might want to see if there’s anything better. CEO Tom Leung talks about Poachable, his anonymous online talent marketplace that lets you look for cool new jobs, without your boss finding out — and lets companies find the right match as well.” At the link find the title, “The Rise of the Continuous Job Search,” right-click “Media files 0530LeungWebMix.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Migrants to Europe 52 mins – “Authorities fear there are no more survivors of a fishing boat that capsized late last week off the Libyan coast. The boat carried some 600 migrants; officials say more than 200 drowned. The U.N. said that so far this year, at least 224,000 thousand migrants and refugees have crossed the Mediterranean to reach Europe. Many are fleeing conflict in the Middle East and North Africa. Greece and Italy have been particularly hard hit by the influx. We look at how the wave of migration has created major political, social and economic challenges for European nations.” [Four guests.] At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Organ Supply 15 mins – “Do we know our bodies’ true value? Northeastern’s Kara Swanson says the massive gap between organ supply and demand makes it much higher than we might think.” At the link find the title, “’Organ Marketplaces‘ of the Future,” right-click “Media files Swanson-Webmix-0620.mp3” right-click “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Paraben 6 mins – “The chemistry of cosmetics is constantly caught in controversy. The esoteric-sounding ingredients listed on make up, shampoo and other personal hygiene products can alienate and worry consumers, some of whom are concerned about the impact of putting ‘synthetic chemicals’ on to their skin. This leads to an ongoing tension in cosmetic marketing between the desire to sound cutting edge and ‘sciencey’ versus the appeal to natural, traditional materials perceived by the public as ‘safe’.One recent controversy has been around a family of preservatives known as parabens, which are found in cosmetics, shampoos and toothpastes, and also as a food additive, where they act as an antibacterial and antifungal agent, extending the shelf life of products significantly….” At the link right-click “Download: CIIE_Paraben.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pigs and Hogs 28 mins – “In this in-depth conversation with author and historian Mark Essig, author of the book Lesser Beasts: A Snout-to-Tail History of the Humble Pig, Gastropod discovers the evolutionary source of the pigs’ intelligence (scientists have judged them the cognitive equal of a human three-year-old), and why the animals’ physiology so closely resembles our own. We also uncover the real reason Jews originally eschewed pork, and how pigs were the essential but forgotten weapon, alongside guns and germs, that allowed the Spanish and English to conquer and colonize the Americas. Plus, we read and review Barry Estabrook’s book, Pig Tales: An Omnivore’s Quest for Sustainable Meat, which picks up the porcine tale in the present, where Mark Essig leaves off. From helicopter hunting to manure spraying and more, join us and pig out!” 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.
Police Shootings and Libraries 60 mins – “Two newspapers’ quests to count every person killed by police in 2015, how librarians shaped the original debate over the Patriot Act, and more.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow under the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Production Costs 14 mins – “Printing everything out seems so wasteful, but is sending an email any better? Social scientist Toby Miller looks at the real environmental consequences of our digital lives.” At the link find the title, “The Environment and the ‘Weightless’ Economy,” right-click “Media files 050215MillerWebMix.mp3”
Research Questions 12 mins – “Information on the effectiveness and safety of healthcare should be valid, precise, up to date, clear, and freely available. Currently none of these criteria are fully satisfied, and Cochrane systematic reviews are not the solution. Ian Roberts, co-director of the clinical trials unit at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, joins us to describe what the Cochrane Injuries Group is doing to address some of these problems.” At the link find the title, “Methodological gloss won’t fix a rubbish evidence base,” right-click “ Media files 209858280-bmjgroup-meta-analysis-is-broken.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Satire in American History 54 mins – “ Millions of Americans tuned in on August 6 to watch Jon Stewart’s last episode behind the anchor desk on The Daily Show. His 16-year run on the show helped usher in a new generation of satirists, including former correspondents Stephen Colbert, Steve Carell and John Oliver. In honor of Stewart’s satirical legacy, Brian, Ed, and Peter are recalling how satire has played throughout American history. From songs mocking the redcoats during the American Revolution, to the political cartoons that helped decide a presidential election, to the biting social commentary of the Harlem Renaissance, the Guys explore how satire has both critiqued and shaped American society for generations.” 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.
Sex Worker Laws 47 mins – “It may be the most controversial stance in its 55 year history. The human rights organization Amnesty International is calling for an end to making sex work a crime globally. After debating the issue for two years, the group says its just-announced position will destigmatize and protect women working in the industry. Sex workers themselves overwhelmingly support the move. But critics say it will lead to more sex trafficking than ever, and amounts to a perverse assertion: prostitution as a human right, which will protect pimps more than anyone else.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Sushi Parasites 90 mins – “This Week in Parasitism This Week in Parasitism (TWiP) is a podcast about eukaryotic parasites started by Vincent Racaniello and Dick Despommier. Daniel Griffin, MD joined the team in January 2015 and added not only his expertise in infectious diseases, but began a new feature of TWiP, the case study. Each week Daniel presents the symptoms and signs of an interesting case that he has investigated during his work, without identifying the infectious agent. Listeners are encouraged to send in their guesses to this weekly infectious disease mystery. We call this new change ‘TWiP reboot’. The TWiP trio strives for an informal yet informative conversation about parasites which is accessible to everyone, no matter what their science background. As science Professors at Columbia University, Dickson and Vincent have directed research laboratories focused on parasites and viruses. Their enthusiasm for teaching inspired them to reach beyond the classroom with new media. TWiP is for everyone who wants to learn about parasites in a relaxing way.” This episode starts with comments about the extreme work hours new doctors must endure followed by the main segment about parasites contracted by a patient who ate fresh sushi. At the link right-click “Download TWiP #93” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Synthetic Drugs 48 mins – “The street drug called “spice” is a kind of black box of chemicals and reactions. Chemicals, largely from China, sprayed over maybe oregano or basil. Sold in little packets marked “not for human consumption.” Reactions, all over the place. A high that can be manic or depressive. That can leave users giddy or angry or fighting for their lives in the emergency room. It gets called synthetic marijuana, but it’s not marijuana. It is a cannabinoid. And it is confounding health officials and law enforcement.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Synthetic Drugs 52 mins – “Emergency room doctors and police across the country say they are seeing a new surge of overdoses and crime related to drugs known as “synthetic marijuana.” Federal investigators say the drugs have little to do with marijuana and are often made with a variety of unusual chemicals produced in China. The drugs, also known as synthetic cannabinoids, are sold in slickly marketed packets that look like candy; with names like Spice and Scooby Snax, they’re sold online and in convenience stores. We look at what’s behind the increase in the use of synthetic marijuana and efforts to educate the public.” [Four guests.] At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Teacher Shortage 48 mins – “School time is coming again for millions of American students. For some, it’s already here. In many schools there will be well-known and loved teachers ready to dive in. At others, administrators are still racing, even now, to find bodies to put at the front of the class. Teacher shortage is not a wall-to-wall national phenomenon. But there is a patchwork of teacher shortage hotspots across the country that has schools scrambling. Making late hires. Tinkering with training requirements, standards.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Teacher Shortage 52 mins – “It’s almost back-to-school time, but districts across the U.S. are struggling to find teachers for areas like science, math and bilingual education. Fewer people are becoming teachers than in the past: Enrollment in teacher preparation programs in the U.S. fell by around 30 percent between 2010 and 2014. Some blame the economic recovery, which is giving former teachers, who suffered through years of recession layoffs and poor teacher wages and working conditions, other options. Now, as schools scramble to fill slots, there’s concern fast hiring will lead to under-qualified teachers and weaker school systems. As we head into the new academic year, we look at what’s causing a shortage in teachers and how some school districts are responding.” [Five guests.] At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Trans-Pacific Treaty 57 mins – “The Federal Minister for Trade and Investment Andrew Robb addresses the National Press Club concerning the impact on Australia of the forthcoming Trans-Pacific Treaty. At the link find the title, “National Press Club: Andrew Robb,” right-click “Media files NPC_AndrewRobb 1208_512k.mp4” right-click and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tunisia Extremists 27 mins- “The gun attack on the beach resort of Sousse that killed 38 tourists, deterred many holiday-makers from travelling to Tunisia. But not journalist, Frances Stonor Saunders. She packed her bags, no flak jacket in sight, and set off for an all-inclusive package deal to Hammamet, a nearby seaside resort. What did she find? As well as deserted beaches and eerily empty hotels, Frances has a chance meeting with a man who helped foil a previous terror attack on a popular tourist site; and she finds out why Tunisians are refusing to go to local hotels, despite desperate pleas from hotel owners.” At the link find the title, “Tunisia on the Fault Line,” right-click “Media files p02zdqn5.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Turkish Counterterrorism 48 mins – “Turkey sits right on top of the zone of crisis inhabited now by ISIS, the Islamic State, in Syria and Iraq. And Turkey has hot politics aplenty at home, within its own borders. For a long time, Turkey – a NATO member – let ISIS through its borders and kept its home politics buttoned up. Now, Turkey has joined the fight against ISIS, opened a key airbase to US fighter jets, and unleashed arrests and attacks on domestic challengers in its own version of “war on terror.‘” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Virtual Reality 55 mins – “On the show this week we talk all things virtual reality with Will Smith and Norman Chan from Tested.com. Did VR fail in the 90s?How many times does it have to fail to succeed? What’s it useful for besides video games and Lawnmower Men? If you’re confused by the recent VR comeback, Will and Norm have answers.” At the link find the title, “90 Will Smith & Norman Chan – Understanding Virtual Reality,” right-click “Media files 209977852-inquiringminds 90-will-smith-norman-chan-understanding-virtual-reality.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Weather Science 52 mins – “As the writer Peter Moore points out, we’re never far from a weather forecast. It’s become a quotidian component of modern life. But were it not for a host of daring experiments in the 19th century, we might not know that Wednesday is sunny with a chance of t-storms. In a new book, Moore tells the stories of the sailors, artists, astronomers, adventurers, and others who laid the foundations of today’s meteorological sciences. He joins us Thursday to explore the experiments that helped us divine the weather.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save link As” form the pop-up menu.
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ARCHIVE
An alphabetic library of 7000 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 250 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 