The best 87 podcasts from a larger group of 276 for the week are shown below. Double or ctrl-click individual highlighted titles to get single podcasts and explore the source, although it’s easier to get all of them as a zip file here for the next four months. A collection of over 8000 similar podcasts grouped by topic can be downloaded here, but you will be limited to a 4GB maximum per download, so twelve of those will be needed to get all files, which total over 45GB and will take awhile. The first entry of that collection is a text file listing all the titles for quick searches and researching. All these abstracts have also been assembled alphabetically in three free large volumes at this link and are updated quarterly. Even more diversity is possible using a podcast aggregator loaded with this opml file of 280 sources so even the discarded podcasts can be downloaded.
Agriculture Water Issues 13 mins – “Water needs for municipalities and agriculture can intersect and sometimes conflict. In this third interview in the series exploring some of the nation’s water challenges, we talk with Bill Stowe, General Manager of the Des Moines, Iowa, Water Works, who describes the problems that drainage of chemicals, principally nitrates, from nearby farms affects the quality of input waters and the treatment technologies and costs of potable water. Driven in part by substantial advances in agricultural productivity, solutions may lie in adjustments in farming technologies and regulatory actions that address the externalities of large-scale agriculture.” At the link right-click “Download MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
American Resilience 45 mins – “If you listen to all the dark, despairing voices on the 2016 campaign trail, you might want to drown yourself in a bucket. America’s a “hell hole,” says Donald Trump – and there are many echoes and versions of that on the trail. There are reasons for the anger. But there are also, says my guest today, Atlantic writer James Fallows, great reasons for hope. He’s just traveled 50,000 miles criss-crossing the country, and he’s here to say “cheer up!” This hour On Point, sources of American strength, in a political season of doom and gloom.” At the link right-click “Listen to this episode” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Apple vs FBI 43 mins – ““This case is about much more than a single phone” Apple CEO Tim Cook wrote in a letter to Apple employees yesterday. Last week’s court order calling for the company to help law enforcement access the iPhone of one of the San Bernardino shooters has touched off a new heated chapter in the debate over privacy versus security in tech. In comments on Sunday, FBI director James Comey wrote that the FBI does not want to “set a master key loose on the land”. What’s at stake for law enforcement in the debate goes beyond terror investigations; new encryption technologies could be hampering all sorts of criminal investigations, many say. But Apple and its supporters say helping officials hack in to the phone would set a dangerous precedent and put Americans’ privacy at risk. Inside the escalating debate.” (4 guests) At the link you can listen but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Artificial Intelligence Misconceptions 118 mins – “Featuring pragmatic solutions combining economics, emerging technology, and positive psychology, HEARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE provides a human-centric roadmap to help readers embrace their present to better define the future. Leo sits down with author John C. Havens to discuss his newest book.” At the link click “Download Options,” then right-click “Audio” and select ”Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Australia Broadcasting Corp 57 mins – “ABC Managing Director Mark Scott addresses the National Press Club in Canberra.” At the link fid the title, “National Press Club: Mark Scott,” right-click “Media files NPCc_MarkScott_2402_512k.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bio Defense Meeting 44 mins – “Host: Vincent Racaniello; Special guests: Rebekah Kading and Wyndham Lathem. From the ASM Biodefense and Emerging Diseases Research meeting, Vincent speaks with Rebekah and Wyndham about their work on Rift Valley Fever virus and other vector-borne pathogens, and the evolution and pathogenesis of Yersinia pestis, the agent of plague.” At the link find the title, “TWiM #121: A plague of pathogens,” right-click “Media files TWiM121.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Boda-Boda Boom Vehicles (2 parts) 60 mins – “For many Ugandans boda bodas are the transport of choice. They are quick and cheap, and can be a vital mode of transport in remote areas. They have also become one of the best ways to make a living in Uganda which has a high rate of youth unemployment. But the motor taxis are also divisive, and a lack of regulation means they are hated by many in the capital Kampala, and outlawed in some other African cities….Alan Kasujja meets the start-ups in Kampala which are trying to turn the industry around by making it safer and enabling riders to increase their profit margins. He speaks to the Kampala City Authorities and the city’s Traffic Police to find out whether it is possible to control this sprawling industry, and whether there are other means of employment for the riders. He also meets Kampala’s only female boda-boda rider and explores the political pressures on this hugely lucrative but unregulated industry.” At the link find the title(s), “The Boda-Boda Boom – Part One,” right-click “Media files p03kcczy.mp3” and select “Save Link As” for Part 1, then do the same for “The Boda-Boda Boom – Part Two,” and Media files p03l2n63.mp3.
Brain Repair 12 mins – “Through treating everything from strokes to car accident traumas, neurosurgeon Jocelyne Bloch knows the brain’s inability to repair itself all too well. But now, she suggests, she and her colleagues may have found the key to neural repair: Doublecortin-positive cells. Similar to stem cells, they are extremely adaptable and, when extracted from a brain, cultured and then re-injected in a lesioned area of the same brain, they can help repair and rebuild it. “With a little help,” Bloch says, “the brain may be able to help itself.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Canadian Weapon Diversion 12 mins – “There are concerns Canadian-made weaponry sold to Saudi Arabia may have fallen into the hands of rebel fighters in Yemen. Experts believe the rifles are made by a Winnipeg-based company, PGW Defence Technologies. CBC’s Nahlah Ayed brings us the story.” At the link find the title, “Canadian weapons may have fallen into hands of Yemen rebels – Feb, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160222_44313.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cell Phone Encryption 125 mins – “Leo Laporte, Ben Thompson, Ed Bott, and Christina Warren discuss the Apple DOJ case further, hospital ransomeware, and Mobile World Congress announcements from Samsung, HTC, and, LG. That and more… “ At the link click “Download options,” then right-click “Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Central Bank Breakup 53 mins – “Slate Money with Neil Irwin on Neel Kashkari’s plan to break up the banks.” At the link find the title, “The Too Big to Fail Edition,” right-click “Media files SM2693460069.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Chinese Military at Sea 17 mins – “China’s growing military muscle in the South China Sea has Washington strategists seeing red. Today The Current takes a look at how Beijing’s military power may be used, who is wary and who thinks its time has come.” At the link find the title, “China flexes military muscles with missiles in South China Sea – Feb, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160223_91031.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Christian Persecution 28 mins – “Thousands of Christian refugees who have fled religious violence in Pakistan are stranded in Thailand. They travel there because of cheap tourist visas but quickly get caught in a tangle of asylum bureaucracy which can mean waiting years to move on to a third country. It happens because Thailand does not offer asylum to refugees, but passes them on to the UNCHR for processing; but the UN is overwhelmed, leaving many to suffer poverty and deprivation while they await news of their cases. In some cases men, women and children are rounded up by the Thai authorities and incarcerated in grim detention centres or even imprisoned. For Assignment, the BBC’s Chris Rogers reports from the backstreets of Bangkok where many of the refugees are in hiding and goes undercover to expose the treatment of these people in Thailand’s detention system. Produced by Michael Gallagher” At the link find the title, “The Christians Stranded in Thailand,” right-click “Media files p03kl3sl.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Computer Coding 11 mins – “Computer code is the next universal language, and its syntax will be limited only by the imaginations of the next generation of programmers. Linda Liukas is helping to educate problem-solving kids, encouraging them to see computers not as mechanical, boring and complicated but as colorful, expressive machines meant to be tinkered with. In this talk, she invites us to imagine a world where the Ada Lovelaces of tomorrow grow up to be optimistic and brave about technology and use it to create a new world that is wonderful, whimsical and a tiny bit weird.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cory Booker 43 mins – “ New Jersey Senator Cory Booker grew up in an affluent suburb surrounded by a supportive family and limitless opportunities. But it was the troubled city of Newark he felt drawn to as a young adult. After law school, Booker began to pursue a career in public service and eventually moved into a low-income housing development in Newark. In 2006, Booker was elected mayor there and seven years later, he became New Jersey’s first African-American senator. Guest host Cecilia Kang talks with Sen. Cory Booker about his life in politics, criminal justice reform and why he says America needs to focus on compassion and solidarity.” At the link you can listen but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Cory Booker 65 mins – “Cory Booker, the junior U.S. senator from New Jersey, has built his career in public service by fighting for his belief that we as a nation must come together and rise above that which divides us in order to protect the principles and ideals that unite us. Senator Booker’s first book, United: Thoughts on Finding Common Ground and Advancing the Common Good, details the people who inspired him to seek public office, the moments that influenced his civic vision once he was elected and the issues that drive his political agenda, such as social, economic and environmental justice. In United, Senator Booker also calls for the American people to refocus our attention and especially our politics on the principals of compassion and solidarity to steer our nation toward a brighter future.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cory Booker 52 mins – “Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) discusses his book [United], in which he calls for America to shift its vision to one of solidarity and community and recounts the people and personal experiences that shaped his vision. He is interviewed by Robert George.” At the link find the title, “After Words with Cory Booker,” right-click ”Media files program.430277.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Coyotes in New Hampshire 14 mins – “Chris Schadler is a wild canid biologist, and for about 25 years, her specialty has been the coyote. The first confirmed case of coyotes in New Hampshire was an individual found in a trap in Holderness in the mid 1940s. But they have likely been here longer, because as Schadler points out, they didn’t parachute into Holderness, they will have migrated south from Canada….” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cuban Commerce 48 mins – “President Obama is headed to Cuba soon. You may wish you were, too. All that sun and great music, and tropical breezes, just 90 miles as they say from Florida. Yes, there is tough history there. And the Castros still rule. But three million visitors from around the world poured into Cuba last year. There are Canadians and Europeans all over the clubs and beaches. And more Americans on the streets than ever. How’s that work? This hour On Point, the thaw with Havana, and all about traveling to Cuba.” At the link right-click “Listen to this episode” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cultural Differences 70 mins – “Matt Ridley talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, The Evolution of Everything. Ridley applies the lens of emergent order to a wide variety of phenomena including culture, morality, religion, commerce, innovation, and consciousness.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dementia Research 89 mins – “With our aging population the incidence of brain disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease are predicted to reach epidemic proportions. Look at AD and other neurodegenerative disorders. Recorded on 12/02/2015. (#30142)” At the link right-click “Audio MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Digital Conflict Needs 9 mins – “The Internet has transformed the front lines of war, and it’s leaving governments behind. As security analyst Rodrigo Bijou shows, modern conflict is being waged online between non-state groups, activists and private corporations, and the digital landscape is proving to be fertile ground for the recruitment and radicalization of terrorists. Meanwhile, draconian surveillance programs are ripe for exploitation. Bijou urges governments to end mass surveillance programs and shut “backdoors” — and he makes a bold call for individuals to step up.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
DIY Finances 15 mins – “He has thousands of dollars stashed around his house. She’s part of an informal savings club. And Miguelo Rada has a whole bank in his pocket.” At the link find the title, “#466: DIY Finance,” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Drinking in America 52 mins – “Historian Susan Cheever says that America has always oscillated between temperance and drunkenness, but that alcohol often gets left out of the story. She says one of the reasons is that we like our history “high-minded.” But Cheever’s new book chronicles the way alcohol has influenced critical moments in our history – from Paul Revere stopping for a drink during his famous ride to “our drunken friend” Richard Nixon. Tuesday, Cheever joins Doug to talk about “Drinking in America.”…” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Drug Delivery Breakthrough 3 mins – “Taming ‘punchy’ proteins could lead to better ways to deliver drugs in the body.” At the link find the title, “Episode 609 – February 24 2016,” right-click “Media files ScienceElements_Feb24_2016.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Economic Growth Model Change 16 mins – “The developed world holds up the ideals of capitalism, democracy and political rights for all. Those in emerging markets often don’t have that luxury. In this powerful talk, economist Dambisa Moyo makes the case that the west can’t afford to rest on its laurels and imagine others will blindly follow. Instead, a different model, embodied by China, is increasingly appealing. A call for open-minded political and economic cooperation in the name of transforming the world.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Egyptian Revolution Social Media 24 mins – “In 2011, at the height of the political uprisings in Egypt, Wael Ghonim said that to liberate a society, all you need is the internet. Today, he’s not so sure.” At the link find the title, “Social media can start a revolution but people have to finish it – Feb, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160225_52946.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Energy Strategies by Bill Gates 33 mins – “Scientific American‘s energy and environment editor, David Biello, met with Bill Gates on February 22 to discuss tackling carbon emissions while at the same time making necessary energy available to ever more of the globe’s growing population.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow at the end of the sound bar and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Female Genital Mutilation 13 mins – “Female Genital Mutilation is a ritual forced upon girls in countries and cultures abroad. Despite efforts to stop the practice, it continues. Two U.S. doctors are arguing for the legitimacy of minor cutting, saying banning FGM is cultural prejudice.” At the link find the title, “Female genital mutilation should be legalized in some forms, doctors say – Feb, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160224_88297.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Firefighter Salaries 18 mins – “Firefighters don’t go to fires as much as much as they used to. Yet the fire department is still set up the same way. What should change?” At the link find the title, “#424: How Much Is A Firefighter Worth?” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Food Fraud 29 mins – “In 2013 food crime hit the headlines in the UK: horsemeat had found its way into burgers, lasagne, bolognese and other meat products. Richard Evershed is professor of biogeochemistry at the University of Bristol, and is the co-author with Nicola Temple of a book exploring how food fraud is not only common, but also hard to detect. Since the horsemeat scandal, UK testing has revealed that 40% of lamb takeaways contain other meat, and more than 60% of ham and cheese pizzas tested contained neither ham nor cheese. So how can we avoid adulterated food?” At the link right-click “Download MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Foods for Infants 46 mins – “How do we learn to eat? It may seem like an obvious question, but it’s actually quite a complicated process. Who decided that mushed-up vegetables were the perfect first food—and has that always been the case? What makes us like some foods and hate others—and can we change? Join us to discover the back story behind the invention of baby food, as well as the latest science on flavor preferences and tips for how to transform dislikes into likes….” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Freelance Writing 57 mins – “On today’s episode my guest is Aja Frost, an English major who does exactly that in her spare time between classes. Aja began writing for fun shortly after starting her freshman year at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She sought out pretty much any site that openly accepted guest contributions, writing on a wide variety of topics and slowly building a portfolio. Before her freshman year had ended, she was getting offers to write paid articles – and now, she’s paid off all her student loans and created a self-sustaining writing career (all before graduating). Between then and now, Aja has written for TechCrunch, Fast Company, USA Today, Inc., and lots of other sites. In this episode, we get into the details of how Aja got started, her daily habits, writing routine, and how she gets ideas and does research. We’ll also dig into exactly how she goes about getting her writing on high-profile sites.” At the link right-click “download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gospel Music (2 parts) 60 mins – “Gospel’s uplifting and rejoicing sound is world famous, a multi million-dollar music genre that in many ways has ended up being the beating heart of American popular music. But can gospel be gospel if it entertains and makes money as well as praises the Lord? Financial educator Alvin Hall explores how this American religious music genre has been affected by commercialisation. (In Part 1;. In Part 2) …Alvin Hall explains how gospel became a global force in popular music. He reveals how Aretha Franklin’s pop success introduced the gospel world to an international audience. He looks at the rise of the gospel choir in the 1970s and 80s and discovers how this religious music increasingly became a money-making industry. And, he meets leading gospel stars Kirk Franklin and Donnie McClurkin.” At the link find the title(s), “The Gospel Truth – Part One,” right-click “Media files p03kgf32.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu. Do the same for “The Gospel Truth – Part Two” and “Media files p03l6b1g.mp3” for Part 2.
Guantanamo Closing 16 mins – “President Obama is pushing to close Gitmo which means bringing some detainees onto U.S. soil. Communities with empty prisons don’t want them. Congressional leaders vow to block them. And constitutional experts say the whole idea is on shaky legal ground.” At the link find the title, “Obama’s plan to close Guantanamo raises concern over prisoner transfers – Feb, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160224_84936.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-menu.
Guantanamo Closing 47 mins – “Once more with feeling, the President called yesterday for the closing of the detention center at Guantanamo Bay. He laid out a broad plan to do it. He laid out – again – the rationale: that Guantanamo is a costly stain on American core values and a recruiting poster for ISIS. Guantanamo, he said, is counter-productive. Donald Trump and Marco Rubio’s immediate response: keep it open. Ted Cruz’s response: expand it. Republicans in Congress: hands off. This hour On Point, Guantanamo.” At the link right-click “Listen to this episode” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Guantanamo Prison Closure 43 mins – “President Obama gave Congress his latest plan to close the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay. The prison was set up by the George W. Bush administration to house terror suspects after 9/11. When President Obama took office, he vowed to close the facility and transfer detainees to their home countries or prisons on U.S. soil. The president said the new plan is not only right for national security but also would save $300 million over 10 years. Opponents are not buying those arguments. A panel of experts discusses the latest White House effort to shutter Guantanamo prison and why Congress is not likely to approve it.” (4 guests) At the link you can listen but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Health Care Fraud 9 mins – “Audio interview by GAO staff with Kathleen M. King, Director, Health Care” At the link find the title, “Health Care Fraud,” right-click “Media files 675070.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Heroin 117 mins – “A searing, two-hour investigation places America’s heroin crisis in a fresh and provocative light — telling the stories of individual addicts, but also illuminating the epidemic’s years-in-the-making social context, deeply examining shifts in U.S. drug policy, and exploring what happens when addiction is treated like a public health issue, not a crime.” At the link find the title, “Chasing Heroin,” right-click “Media files 248873060-frontlinepbs-chasing-heroin.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Hydro Electric Power Issues 5 mins – “After a quarter-century of plans and protests and construction and more protests, the Belo Monte dam complex on a tributary of the Amazon River in north-central Brazil will start generating power next month. Its capacity will make it the third largest hydro-electric system in the world. But women are among those who have fought it every step of the way… “This project is a project of destruction and death of the environment, of the water, of nature, of human life,” …Independent monitoring may form the legacy of Belo Monte activism In response to these concerns, independent monitors are documenting impacts on traditional communities. Carolina Reis is a lawyer at the Instituto Socioambiental, a non-profit that has been documenting the dam’s impact on fishing grounds. …The Brazilian constitution requires indigenous groups be formally consulted before any hydropower projects on their lands are approved… …the legacy of activism against Belo Monte may yet be felt in fewer and less damaging hydropower projects elsewhere.” At the link find the title, “Brazil’s huge dam is built, but these women won’t stop fighting, Feb, 2016” right-click “Media files 0225201608.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Industries of the Future 36 mins – “While Alec Ross was working as Senior Adviser for Innovation to the US Secretary of State, he travelled to 41 countries, exploring the latest advances coming out of every continent. From start-up hubs in Kenya to R&D labs in South Korea, Ross has seen what the future holds. In The Industries of the Future, Ross explores the changes that may be coming – with special emphasis on robotics, cybersecurity, and the commercialisation of genomics. …PARO the seal-like robot is on trial in a hospital and dementia day centre in New Zealand as a comforter for elderly residents. Simon Morton visits a home and talks to some of the residents, carers and a health psychologist from the University of Auckland….The philosopher and executive board member of the Foundation for Responsible Robotics, Shannon Vallor, discusses the ethics of using robots to care for human beings….Scientists have developed a bat-inspired membrane for use in micro air vehicles (MAVs) that changes shape in order to improve performance. Click talks to Professor Rafael Palacios.” At the link right-click “Download MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Infectious Disease Specialist 28 mins – “Puscast: February 1 to 14, 2016. Dengue in Hawaii, Flu vaccine prevents afib. Measles in the air. Plague is older than we thought. Seal finger. A fine patina of poo. Latent TB causes cancer? And more.” At the link find the listed dates, right-click “Download podcast” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Infrastructure Book 43 mins – “America’s transportation infrastructure is crumbling. The scorecards for our roads and bridges have been dire over decades. This puts our country’s economic health in grave danger, according to civil engineer and historian Henry Petroski. In a new book, he highlights the challenges involved in making and funding infrastructure decisions, from major undertakings like our interstates, to small details like the fonts of our road signs…and explains why it’s not only up to Washington to point us in the right direction, but also states and individuals. The history and future of America’s infrastructure, and an urgent call to action.” At the link you can listen but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Innovation in Publishing 53 mins – “Yet the technology-driven approach to business is profoundly and fundamentally different from traditional publishing practices. How can and will scholarly publishers reconcile that dichotomy? How should a publisher harness today’s dynamic digital environment in order to drive innovation? Those were the questions recently put to the opening plenary panel at the 2016 PSP Annual Conference that CCC’s Chris Kenneally recently moderated. The group accepted as obvious that technology is playing an increasingly central role in the publishing business. Grounded in real-world experiences, they examined how to approach innovation and change without losing focus, especially when job roles have evolved from the very well-defined to more open and ambigious. Panelists were Kent R. Anderson, Founder, Caldera Publishing Solutions; Phil Faust, Vice President/Publisher, Research Databases, Gale/Cengage Learning; and Sarah Tegen, Vice President, Global Editorial & Author Services, Journals Publishing Group, American Chemical Society.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Internet Startup PR 64 mins – “From software architectures to the Internet itself, the legendary Niehaus/Ryan/Wong PR firm helped shape and evangelize many of the stories that drove technology trends, market landscapes and demand for over a decade. In his first public conversation, NRW chairman Bill Ryan will share lessons learned from his pioneering work with clients such as Apple, Yahoo!, Xerox and others. Lessons that continue to impact his approach to brand development today.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Investing Diversification 32 mins – “Paul updates the latest results for The Ultimate Buy and Hold portfolio through the end of 2015. This podcast should be reviewed, along with the latest article on the same topic . The key to this updated study is the huge impact small changes in return can create for long-term results.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
ISIS Hostage Story 16 mins – “For ten months, French correspondent Nicolas Hénin was a prisoner of ISIS. One of his captors was the notorious extremist known as “Jihadi John.” Nicolas Hénin joins Anna Maria to share what he thinks is the best strategy for defeating ISIS.” At the link find the title, “Former ISIS hostage Nicolas Hénin says Western bombing only helps Islamic State – Feb, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160222_67667.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Maggie Smith Interview 47 mins – “Known for her recent work in ‘Downton Abbey’ and the ‘Harry Potter’ films, the Oscar-winning actress now stars in ‘The Lady in the Van,’ a film about an elderly woman who lived in a van for 15 years. Also, Ken Tucker reviews Bonnie Raitt’s new album ‘Dig in Deep.’” At the link find the title, “Maggie Smith,” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Mass Extinctions 60 mins – “SUMMARY: Coming up on Radio Ecoshock two heavy hitters. We have the expert on past mass extinctions, and maybe the present one, scientist Peter Ward. Then climate scientist Paul Beckwith joins me. There is serious news about plankton, the tiny ocean plants that feed the seas, and provide most of the oxygen you are breathing right now. I’m Alex Smith. Welcome to Radio Ecoshock.” At the link find the title, “SCIENCE OF CATASTROPHE, February, 2016,” right-click much futher down on “Media files ES_160224_LoFi.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Medical Marijuana in Utah 53 mins – “Medical marijuana is legal in 23 U.S. states, and Utah is now considering whether it should be an option for patients here. Two bills are working their way through the legislature. The more controversial is sponsored by Republican Senator Mark Madsen. It proposes making the whole plant – including the psychoactive chemical THC – available. Wednesday, we’re talking about the bill and the politics around it. We’ll also break down the science to analyze the benefits and risks of medical marijuana.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Mein Kampf 53 mins – “Mein Kampf was Adolf Hitler’s autobiographical manifesto, a kind of campaign biography. He wrote the first draft of it while in prison for leading a failed coup, and historian Peter Ross Range says the book crystallized Hitler’s “faith in himself as Germany’s coming redeemer.” Mein Kampf was recently republished in Germany for the first time since WWII. Range will join us Wednesday to talk about the notorious book’s history, influence, and future. Peter Ross Range is a specialist on Germany and a former foreign correspondent for Time Magazine and a White House correspondent for U.S. News & World Report. His new book is called 1924: The Year that Made Hitler “ At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Microbiology History 29 mins – “In a rebroadcast from a June 2011 interview, host Keith Pannell interviews Barry Marrs, Chief Technical Officer with Athena Biotechnologies Inc. Marrs describes the fascinating ways bacteria reproduce, and how the cost of ethanol can be significantly cut by using bacteria that function under higher temperatures.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Microbiology Overview 65 mins – “The rise of the antibiotic “superbugs” such as MRSA and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis, and recent viral pandemics are all examples of the threats posed to human health by infectious disease. These impact severely on our crops and livestock, significantly increasing the challenges associated with sustaining food security on a global scale. In this lecture, Professor Ed Feil (Milner Centre for Evolution) reflects on how our current situation compares with our recent history and the scale of the challenges ahead.Professor “ At the link find the title, “Ed Feil inaugural lecture: How do you solve a problem like bacteria?” right-click “Media files 248852994-uniofbath-professor-ed-feil-inaugural-lecture-how-do-you-solve-a-problem-like-bacteria.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Middle East Book 49 mins – “Over the past two decades, the Middle East has been rocked by war, deep religious tension and social unrest. Richard Engel, the chief foreign correspondent for NBC News, has been on the ground covering it all. In Jerusalem, he witnessed the failed peace process between Israel and Palestine. From Baghdad, he reported on the Iraq war, and watched the rise of ISIS. In Egypt, Libya and Syria he saw the promise and the failure of the Arab spring. Richard Engel’s new book “And Then All Hell Broke Lose” is a first-hand account of his reporting in the region. He joins Diane to give an insider perspective on the interconnected forces impacting the Middle East.” At the link you can listen but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Migrant Health 13 mins – “The Department of Health is proposing to extend charging for migrants into some NHS primary care services and emergency departments. Although the government asserts that the NHS is “overly generous to those who have only a temporary relationship with the UK,” Lucy Jones, UK lead for Doctors of the World says these proposals will disproportionately harm vulnerable undocumented migrants.” At the link find the title, “Frontline NHS charges for migrants will harm the most vulnerable,” right-click “Media files 247873562-bmjgroup-migrant-health-charges.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Money Defined 2 parts 96 mins – “We think we know what money is. We use it every day and our lives are unimaginable without it. But look more closely and you find that coins and dollar bills aren’t “real”. They’re promises, symbols, ideas.” At the link find the title, “The Illusion of Money, Part1,” and “Part 2,” right-click “Media files ideas_20160225_61428.mp3” for part 1 and “Media files ideas_20160224_86647.mp3” for part 2, then right-click “ and select “Save Link(s) As” from the pop-up media.
Neanderthal DNA 7 mins – “It has been known since 2010 that people of Eurasian origin have inherited between 1 and 4 per cent of their DNA from Neanderthals. The actual pieces of inherited material varies from person to person. Neanderthals were living in Asia and central Europe for hundreds of thousands of years before modern humans arrived. The original inhabitants were thought to offer genetic adaptations to pathogens and a new environment. Today some of those adaptation are still beneficial, but others not….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Newspaper Trends 16 mins – “Things were looking up for Postmedia last March with its regulatory green light for the acquisition of Sun Media. Less than a year later, the layoffs began. Former newspaper editor Margo Goodhand joins us to speak to the slow death of Canada’s dailies.” At the link find the title, “Former newspaper editor bemoans death by a thousand cuts for Canada’s dailies – Feb, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160223_15589.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pandemic Research Needs 10 mins – “When Ebola broke out in March 2014, Pardis Sabeti and her team got to work sequencing the virus’s genome, learning how it mutated and spread. Sabeti immediately released her research online, so virus trackers and scientists from around the world could join in the urgent fight. In this talk, she shows how open cooperation was key to halting the virus … and to attacking the next one to come along. “We had to work openly, we had to share and we had to work together,” Sabeti says. “Let us not let the world be defined by the destruction wrought by one virus, but illuminated by billions of hearts and minds working in unity.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pandemic Research Needs 10 mins – “When Ebola broke out in March 2014, Pardis Sabeti and her team got to work sequencing the virus’s genome, learning how it mutated and spread. Sabeti immediately released her research online, so virus trackers and scientists from around the world could join in the urgent fight. In this talk, she shows how open cooperation was key to halting the virus … and to attacking the next one to come along. “We had to work openly, we had to share and we had to work together,” Sabeti says. “Let us not let the world be defined by the destruction wrought by one virus, but illuminated by billions of hearts and minds working in unity.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pandemics 48 mins – “Author Sonia Shah says that urbanization and air travel put the global population at an increased risk for disease. “Zika is a great example of how new pathogens are emerging today,” she says. Her new book is ‘Pandemic.’ Also, book critic Maureen Corrigan reviews ‘A Doubter’s Almanac.’” At the link find the title, “Is A Disease That Will Kill Tens Of Millions Coming?” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Physical Therapist 15 mins – “While working at a hospital, David Putrino finds a surprise in his own medical records. David is a Physical Therapist with a PhD in Neuroscience. He has worked as a clinician in the US, UK and Australia, studied computational neuroscience at Harvard Medical School and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and designed prostheses for Brain Machine Interface devices at New York University. He is an Assistant Professor of Rehabilitation Medicine at Weill-Cornell Medical College, and the Director of Telemedicine and Virtual Rehabilitation at Burke Medical Research Institute. He works to develop low-cost patient monitoring and treatment systems, designed to decrease healthcare costs whilst improving the standard of patient care. David is a co-founder and Chief Medical Officer of GesTherapy, a telerehabilitation software company that works to improve the standard of care patients who require rehabilitation. He is also a volunteer for Not Impossible Labs, a company that develops technological solutions for large-scale humanitarian problems globally.” At the link rclick “Download” and select “OK” from the pop-up menu.
Police Violence 40 mins – “On the show this week we talk to social epidemiologist Nancy Krieger about her research that suggests we should start tracking law enforcement involved deaths as public health data.” At the link find the title, “122 Nancy Krieger – Police Involved Killings Are Public Health Data,” right-click “Media files 059473c3-5d70-4a6f-b9f3-a7ae89e3c438.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Predictive Policing 21 mins – “Predictive policing has been making inroads in Saskatchewan and B.C., but it’s also raised civil liberty concerns in the United States.” At the link find the title, “Does predictive policing prevent crime, or lead to racial profiling? – Feb, 2016 ,” right-click “Media files current_20160226_64572.mp3”and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Profession Futures 67 mins – “Richard and Daniel Susskind predict the decline of today’s professions and discuss the people and systems that will replace them. The Future of the Professions explains how ‘increasingly capable systems’ – from telepresence to artificial intelligence – will bring fundamental change in the way that the ‘practical expertise’ of specialists is made available in society.” At the link click “Download Options,” then right-click “Audio” and select ”Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Psilocybin Research 37 mins – “From coyotes to university researchers to biohacking entrepreneurs, there is more and more study going on into the effects of psilocybin. Psilocybin is a naturally occurring psychoactive compound found in hallucinogenic mushrooms. The mind-altering effects of ‘shrooms first gained counterculture notoriety during the 1960s, when they mushroomed in popularity (sorry, couldn’t resist) among recreational users. Recently however, a quiet rebirth of scientific study into psychedelics is looking likely to add therapeutic legitimacy to the use of these chemicals. In the United States, psilocybin is a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act — meaning the compound has a high potential for abuse, no currently accepted medical use, and a lack of accepted safety for use under medical supervision. But — leaving aside the very questionable fit of the “Schedule I” definition — there is increating reason to believe that in the case of psilocybin, we may be throwing out a therapeutic baby with the recreational bathwater.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Refugee Stories 43 mins – “Amy Zayed, follows the lives of five Syrians as they attempt to settle into their new home. While many are keen to learn their new language, they are quickly diverted by preoccupations about access to money, securing permanent residency status and health.” At the link find the title, “Die Klassen: How Syrians Adapt to Life in Germany,” right-click “Media files p03k38tl.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Refugees Get Private Help 61 mins – “As the European Union considers scaling up plans to resettle refugees from Turkey and other countries of first asylum to improve protection, as well as reduce pressures to travel illicitly, limit the power of criminal networks and develop more equitable responsibility sharing among EU Member States, speakers, including the author of a recent MPI report, will discuss their analysis on how private sponsorship programs for refugees could possibly enhance outcomes and spread costs. Used by Canada, Australia, and a handful of other countries, as well as 15 of the 16 German länder, these programs permit private individuals, groups, corporations, and other entities to sponsor individual refugees for resettlement and accept financial responsibility for them for a period of time. Panelists explore how these programs, if implemented or expanded in EU countries, might provide an additional safe and orderly channel for refugees to gain protection and become one part of the broader solution that policymakers are seeking in response to the current crisis.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Right to Die Children 14 mins – “Until now, the discussion about physician-assisted death has focused almost exclusively on adults. But some child rights advocates are calling for the law to allow minors access as well.” At the link find the title, “Should children be given access to physician-assisted death? – Feb, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160225_51425.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Robot Uses 14 mins – “Roboticist Auke Ijspeert designs biorobots, machines modeled after real animals that are capable of handling complex terrain and would appear at home in the pages of a sci-fi novel. The process of creating these robots leads to better automata that can be used for fieldwork, service, and search and rescue. But these robots don’t just mimic the natural world — they help us understand our own biology better, unlocking previously unknown secrets of the spinal cord.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
São Paulo Fights Drought 7 mins – “Many of the alleys in São Paulo’s favelas have trash or weeds in them, the things you’d expect in alleys. But one in Sao Mateus, on the outskirts of the city, also has something you might not expect — two brightly painted plastic rain barrels, decorated with kids’ hand and footprints. Water gets funneled down from the roof above, passes through a filter to catch mosquitoes or leaves, and then settles into the barrel for use in watering plants, cleaning, flushing toilets and other household necessities… São Paulo residents were angry about the water crisis. They felt their government wasn’t doing enough to solve it, so many started taking matters into their own hands… It’s raining again now in São Paulo, but scientists believe that climate change is disrupting weather patterns here. Porto says the drought helped leaders in the region realize that São Paulo needs a water system that’s better prepared for whatever the future brings….” At the link find the title, “Little Teresa’ helps São Paulo women fight drought and male domination — with rain barrels, right-click “Media files 0224201604.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Scalia Impact 44 mins – “A week after the death of Justice Antonin Scalia, one of his former clerks shares fond memories of a mentor with whom she didn’t always agree politically. And a legal scholar explains why Scalia didn’t always remain true to his originalist principles.” At the link find the title, “The Contradictions of Antonin Scalia,” right-click “Media files SM1138014229.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Scalia Replacement 43 mins – “Justice Antonin Scalia was the leading conservative voice on the U.S. Supreme Court. His death over the weekend from natural causes ended a decades-long judicial career marked by lively opinions and adherence to a textural interpretation of the Constitution. Almost immediately after Scalia’s passing was announced, a political battle began. President Obama said he would nominate someone to succeed Scalia. And Republicans vowed to block any successor the president named. With cases this term concerning affirmative action, abortion and immigration, the stakes are high. Diane and her guests discuss the life and legacy of Justice Scalia – and the fight ahead over the makeup of the Court.” (4 guests) At the link you can listen but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Social Media Teen Stars 45 mins – “Some of the most striking voices in American social media today are voices of users still in their teens. Sometimes barely into their teens. Young people taking their view of the world onto Tumblr, Instagram, Vine, Snapchat, and coming out with, sometimes, hundreds of thousands of followers. And sometimes, a bundle of cash. Once they might have shoveled snow or bagged groceries. Now, they’re building personal brands online. This hour On Point, teenage social media superstars.” At the link right-click “Listen to this episode” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Solar Power War 28 mins – “Think about the sunniest states in the U.S. Florida, the place that calls itself “the sunshine state” is sure to come to mind. Indeed, the solar industry considers Florida to be the state with the third greatest rooftop solar potential in the country. So the place must be almost totally off the grid at this point, right? Well, no. Florida boasts only 9,000 homes with solar rooftops, while New York, a state with a similar sized population, and a much less hospitable weather profile, has 25,000. What is going on with Florida? Do people there just really like to pay more for their electricity, or, is it something else? Our guest this week on Sea Change Radio is Rolling Stone reporter Tim Dickinson, who has just completed an excellent piece of investigative journalism on Florida and the role the Koch brothers play in thwarting the use of the world’s most renewable and abundant power source.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Street Harassment Solution 5 mins – “Medical student Rita Parashumti has many horror stories about walking the streets of Kosovo as a woman… But a new mobile app called Ec Shlirë — Walk Freely in Albanian — hopes to change that. Ec Shlirë, which launched on Thursday, is inspired by Hollaback, an American movement to report street harassment. The Kosovar app gives users the ability to discreetly report instances of sexual harassment of all types. The reports will be visualized on an interactive map and will be sent to the authorities. While individual perpetrators won’t be identified, the data gathered by the app will allow Kosovars to actually see the full extent of sexual harassment and will also put pressure on the authorities to respond… Nate Tabak Dulaj is among 30 young women who built the app as part of a group called Girls Coding Kosova. The development of Ec Shlirë also is helping address another problem in Kosovo: the lack of women in the tech industry. It’s a problem across the world, but in Kosovo it’s compounded by the absence of women in the workforce altogether….” At the link find the title, “Young women in Kosovo are writing code to fight harassment,” right-click “Media files 0224201608_Updat.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Supreme Court Explained 50 mins – “A political battle is raging over Justice Scalia’s replacement on the high court. But what does the public really know about how the court operates? We revisit our special hour on the Supreme Court, from the unknowable impact of the decisions to the justices’ peculiar traditions. Plus: how popular culture frames our understanding and the not-so-evolving position on cameras in the courtroom.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow at the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Syrian War 24 mins – “Just across Turkey’s porous border the Syrian civil war rages. Turkey is one of a list of countries with a vested interest in what happens in Syria. Today we look at what four key countries are angling to influence in Syria’s ongoing war.” At the link find the title, “Peace in Syria elusive as major foreign players complicate civil war – Feb, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160224_50178.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
TB Test Improvement 3 mins – “Cheap, easy-to-use test to quickly detect TB in developing countries.” At the link find the title, “Episode 606 – February 17 2016,” right-click “Media files ScienceElements_Feb17_2016.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu. Unemployment History
The Green Book 22 mins – “The middle of the 20th Century was a golden age for road travel in the United States. Cars had become cheap and spacious enough to carry families comfortably for hundreds of miles. The Interstate Highway System had started to connect the country’s smaller roads in a vast nationwide network. That freedom and mobility, however, was not equally available to everyone. Some African-American tourists would drive all night instead of trying to find lodging in an unfamiliar and possibly dangerous town. They would pack picnics so they could avoid stopping at restaurants that might refuse to serve them. But in 1936, a man named Victor Hugo Green started a travel guide to make life on the road easier and safer for black motorists.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Unemployment History 46 mins – “…Until the late 19th century, the word “unemployed” mostly referred to women and children. Later, the term was redefined at the federal level to address men whom the government thought weren’t fond of work—in other words, layabouts, loafers and slackers. From the stereotypes surrounding the unemployed to the repatriation of hundreds of thousands of Mexican-Americans to free up jobs for white American men, this episode of BackStory will look at what it means to be jobless and uncover the history behind unemployment in the U.S.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow beside the title, “Hard Times: A History of Employment.” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Water Pipe Protection 3 mins – “What went wrong in Flint? The chemistry behind the city’s water crisis explained.” At the link find the title, “Episode 610 – February 25 2016,” right-click “Media files ScienceElements_Feb25_2016.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
World Food Program 13 mins – “United Nations World Food Program executive director Ertharin Cousin explains the myriad challenges facing the fight against world hunger.” At the link find the title, “World Food Program struggles to keep up with mounting conflict and drought – Feb, 2016 ,” right-click “Media files current_20160226_92297.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Zika Virus Publicity 50 mins – “The threat of the Zika virus has been covered extensively, but the reality is still largely unknown. A look away from the panicked headlines at what we know and don’t know about the virus, as well as how Zika serves as a window into global questions surrounding climate change and reproductive rights.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow at the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
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Media Mining Digest 