The best 64 podcasts from a larger group of 221 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 9000 similar podcasts grouped by topic can be downloaded piecemeal 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 300 sources so even the discarded podcasts can be downloaded.
Afghani Family in Canada 13 mins – “Back in 2012, The Current brought you the story of “Froggy,” the Afghan translator who worked with the Canadian military for years, He eventually emigrated to Canada with his family and now we have an update to announce his new Canadian citizenship.” At the link find the title, “Update: Afghan interpreter ‘Froggy’ and family officially Canadian citizens, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160505_11873.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Alzheimer’s Life 46 mins – We look at how one women prepares for the full onset of Alzheimer’s disease.It’s alarming. You forget which key opens the car door. Leave the stove on. Get lost taking a walk around the block. Alzheimer’s Disease can turn basic tasks into daunting ones. The New York Times’ N.R. Kleinfield spent 20 months with one woman in the early stages of the disease as she tried to make sense of it all and live her best life. This hour On Point: A journey inside Alzheimer’s Disease.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Animal Treatment 49 mins – “The animal rights movement has seen some major victories over the last year. Ringling Brothers abandoned its use of circus elephants, Sea World vowed to end its orca breeding program and Walmart announced it will sell only cage free eggs by 2025. The head of the Humane Society of the United States says this is no coincidence. In a new book he argues that technological innovation, combined with heightened consumer awareness, is ushering in a new era of animal protection, one driven by market forces. A look at the future of the “Humane Economy.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy if included in the blog archive.
Astrophysics Research 60 mins – “This week we’re looking at astrophysics, zooming out to get a better idea of how universe works and what it might look like. Astrophysicist Ethan Siegel returns to talk about his new — and first — book “Beyond the Galaxy: How Humanity Looked Beyond Our Milky Way and Discovered the Entire Universe”. And we’ll speak with astrophysicist Katie Mack about the discovery of gravity waves, first predicted by Einstein. This episode is partially hosted by Bethany Brookshire, science writer from Science News. If you’re looking for more on gravity waves, check out this great explainer article and video on Science News.”At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
BC Land Management 26 mins – “Canadian filmmaker Nettie Wild is known for taking on politically charged topics. Now, she trains her camera on the beauty of Northwestern B.C. and the tense coexistence of First Nations, nature, and the Red Chris Mine in “Koneline: Our Land Beautiful.” At the link find the title, “Filmmaker Nettie Wild finds cinematic poetry in ‘polarized’ mining debate, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160506_88094.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bugout Property 94 mins – What should you consider when seeking and using a piece of property and structure for use as a bugout location. At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cancer Screenings Value 59 mins – “Cancer screenings sometimes sound better than they are. Dr. George Sawaya explores the major goals of these screenings – balancing benefits, harms and costs. See which cancer screening are currently discouraged and which are recommended. Recorded on 03/15/2016.” At the link right-click “Audio MP3” under the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
China’s One Child Policy 27 mins – “Now that China has ended its One Child policy, one group of state employees may soon be out of a job – the country’s hated population police. Hundreds of thousands of officers used to hunt down families suspected of violating the country’s draconian rules on child bearing, handing out crippling fines, confiscating property and sometimes forcing women to have abortions. But with an eye on improving child welfare in the countryside, there is a plan to redeploy many of these officers as child development specialists. Lucy Ash visits a pilot project in Shaanxi Province training former enforcers to offer advice and support to rural grandparents who are left rearing children while the parents migrate to jobs in the big cities. If successful, the scheme could be rolled out nationwide to redeploy an army of family planning workers and transform the life prospects of millions of rural children.” At the link find the title, “China’s Family Planning Army, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files p03t2mzt.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Chip Designer 65 mins – “Jake Baker is a chip designer and educator at UNLV. He tells us all about DRAM, Flash, ReRAM, low level design and lots more silicon goodness! Jake is currently a professor at UNLV and teach mixed signal chip design. Reticles/Mask sets are $10M+, so big companies are risk averse. Jake has a total of 142 patents, about 50 of which were non-lawyer changes. He also regularly acts as an expert witness for cases. Chris asked about the RamBus RDRAM, because it was so expensive for his old computer. One of Jake’s early job was working on projects funded by Reagan’s StarWars program…. You can find Jake on his homepage and get in contact with him there. Definitely dive down into all the great content he has made for his students and the world! Thanks to Jake for being on the show.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
College Access 53 mins – “The U.S. Supreme Court is about to make a decision that could affect college admissions across the country. And Texas’ Top 10 Percent Rule plays a starring role. On this episode of Reveal, reporter Neena Satija, of our partner The Texas Tribune, tells us how an attempt to boost diversity in Texas colleges could, paradoxically, end affirmative action. She also takes a long look at the Top 10 Percent Rule and whether it allows students from economically diverse backgrounds to attend the state’s top public universities. We’ll hear from two high-achieving young Texans: Genesis Morales and Grayson Rutherford. They’re college-bound students who attend high schools only 10 miles from one another but whose experiences are worlds apart. We’ll also take you to Berkeley, California, and look at that school district’s integration plan. Over five decades, that plan has worked, for the most part – Berkeley’s kindergarten through eighth grade system is a model for the rest of the country on how to integrate schools. But the city’s single high school faces unexpected challenges.” At the link find the title, “The price of admission, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files The-price-of-admission.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Columbine Shooter Mother 57 mins – “Sue Klebold, whose son Dylan was one of the Columbine shooters, talks about the junction between violence and mental illness. She’s interviewed by Mary Giliberti, executive director of the National Alliance on Mental Illness.” At the link find the title, “After Words with Sue Klebold, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files program.436574.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Computer Coder Stories 76 mins – “So you want to learn how to code, eh? This episode’s for you. I started coding at the age of twelve, when I started learning HTML and CSS so I could customize a website I built for a band I’d never listened to. Yes, I know that sounds stupid. I can explain (the story’s in the episode). When high school ended, I picked web development back up and built a freelance web design company with a friend. During the summer before college, we built a website for a local client and made money hand over fist. And by that, I mean we made $350 for around 100 hours of work. Woot, $3.50 an hour! Despite our incredibly low-balled quote, the project was a great learning experience, and I used what I learned to take on bigger projects when I was in college. For my final freelance project, I was able to charge over $2,500! Not bad for a college student….” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow for Ep 106 and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Confidence People 50 mins – “Maria Konnikova is a writer and journalist who focuses on psychology. She studied psychology and creative writing at Harvard University and graduated magna cum laude. Maria is the author of The Confidence Game, which reveals how con artist, mastermind, and manipulation prey on our trust.” At the link click “Download options,” right-click “Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Copyright and Creativity 13 mins – “George Lucas built a whole new industry with Star Wars.” says Peter S. Menell, devoted science fiction fan and a professor at the UC Berkeley School of Law, who studies copyright and intellectual property law. “But what funds that remarkable company is their ways of using copyright.” And he’s right. A third of the profits LucasFilm pulls in from Star Wars has come from merchandising alone. Not ticket sales, not DVDs, not video games or books. Toys, clothes, and weird tie-ins like tauntaun sleeping bags and wookie hair conditioner. But fans of Star Wars, and other stratospherically profitable creative universes, increasingly like to become creators within those universes. They write books, they make costumes, they direct spinoffs and upload them to YouTube. And sometimes they make money. How does law come into play when fans start to reinterpret intellectual property? We sat down with Menell to see where the tensions lie between the law, the courts, and the George Lucases of the world.” At the link right-click “download” near “Listen:” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Data Dilemma 12 mins – “At last month’s London Book Fair special presentation on “The Data Dilemma,” Sybil Wong, Ph.D., Head of Marketing and Communications for Sparrho, called attention to the “irrelevance crisis” facing researchers in the lab and on campus. “208,000 new articles are published every month, though a typical researcher only reads about 22 articles per month – just over 0.0001% of new publications,” said Wong. In such a dark ocean of information, discoveries important to the researcher’s own work are easily overlooked. Machine curation, including text mining, may address the problem, though only up to a point. What a machine finds must be relevant or the human reader will dismiss it. Sparrho tackles the irrelevance crisis with an innovative personal recommendation platform for scientific content and opportunities. “Machines can more easily make stringent decisions on large volumes of entries and help find ‘unexpected’ results from sources that humans may be biased against or not know about, such as smaller journals,” she explained.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dirty Jobs 141 mins – “Mike Rowe (@mikeroweworks) is perhaps the best storyteller and pitchman I’ve ever had on the show. You might know Mike from his eight seasons of Dirty Jobs, but that’s just a tiny piece of the story. His performing career began in 1984 when he faked his way into the Baltimore Opera to get his union card and meet girls, both of which he accomplished during a performance of Rigoletto. His transition to television occurred in 1990 when — to settle a bet — he auditioned for the QVC Shopping Channel and was promptly hired after talking about a pencil for nearly eight minutes. There, he worked the graveyard shift for three years, until he was ultimately fired for making fun of products and belittling viewers. Now, he is a massively successful TV host, writer, narrator, producer, actor, and spokesman….” At the link find the title, “The Importance of Being Dirty: Lessons from Mike Rowe,” right-click “Media files Tim_Ferriss_Show_Mike_Rowe.mp3” and select “Save Link As’ from the pop-up menu.
Distracted Drivers 36 mins – “Texting while behind the wheel is illegal in most states. Warnings abound about the risks of distracted driving; Texting alone can make you twenty-three times more likely to crash. And yet drivers are still doing it. A lot. New numbers say 70% of crashes could be due to distracted driving. And it’s not just teens. Meanwhile, traffic fatalities overall are rising sharply. Many experts now say the problem has reached crisis levels, and requires radical new thinking. One proposed solution: a device that lets police officers view cell phone activity after a crash, the way a breathalyzer checks for alcohol levels. What it will take to meaningfully reduce distracted driving.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy if included in the blog archive.
Distracted Driving 23 mins – “The “textalyzer” is a roadside test for your phone to see if you’ve been texting while driving. The device is a proposal in New York state but has people across North America talking. Privacy advocates say the “textalyzer” is invasive and unnecessary.” At the link find the title, “’Textalyzer’ device to catch texting and driving prompts privacy concerns, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160506_42946.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Divorce Finances 32 mins – “Married young with two kids, Margaret and Leif Jacobsen navigated different class backgrounds and a mixed-race relationship in the pursuit of a life together. When they decided to divorce, a true friendship emerged from the ashes.” At the link find the title, “Independence Day : Divorce, Finance & Friendship, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files PNC5057184055.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Economic Fallacies 67 mins – “Arnold Kling, economist and author, speaks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about his latest book, Specialization and Trade: A Reintroduction to Economics. Kling argues that macroeconomics ignores the challenges of buyers and sellers working together in the real world of specialization and trade. Instead, most macroeconomic theories struggle to incorporate the differences across workers and products. Kling points the listener toward a different perspective on macroeconomics and the business cycle that focuses on those differences. Kling also lays out related insights on political economy as well as his take on G.A. Cohen’s parable of the camping trip.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Forensic Science 49 mins – “This week on the Naked Scientists, we’ve got science on trial! We look at real case studies, finding out how forensics can both help and hinder criminal investigations, including the insects who are first on the scene, how your phone can tell tales, and why DNA can lead you on a wild goose chase.” AT the link right-click “Download as mp3” and elect “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Fusion Power 22 mins – “They said it couldn’t be done: Nuclear fusion. We visit scientists building a clean power plant that’s hotter than the sun — but can they ever deliver? Then: the strange world of cold fusion, the people who hate it and the billionaires betting on it.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow on the sound file and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gambling in America 52 mins – “…On this episode of BackStory, the Guys explore the history of Gambling in America. We look at how speculators bet on land–America’s most plentiful commodity–and created the “first” stock market. The Guys also uncover how gambling, once outlawed throughout much of the U.S., has become a major source of revenue for cash-strapped communities. From Native American gaming to the rise of Las Vegas, this episode unpacks how some Americans found opportunity in gambling, while others lost big.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow on the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
General Custer 52mins – “Even in his lifetime, George Armstrong Custer was controversial. He was ambitious and flamboyant as well as courageous and talented. Though largely remembered for his death at the Little Bighorn, T.J. Stiles’ paints a fuller picture of Custer’s colorful and complicated life. Stiles says Custer lived at a “frontier in time.” He helped usher in the modern American era, but couldn’t quite adapt to the modernity he helped create. Stiles joins us Thursday to talk about his new book “Custer’s Trials.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Grit 46 mins – “Grit is the new buzzword for success: At work, in school, in the gym. The research shows that grit really does matter after all. More than intelligence. More than talent. Even more than hard work. It’s a combination of unshakable motivation, persistence, and determination. And the belief that improvement is always possible. Maybe, it’s grit that can set you apart. Up next On Point: True grit.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Guerrilla Marketing 54 mins – “Imagine your business making a big impact solving problems like hunger, poverty, war, violence, and catastrophic climate change while making a healthy profit. A new book by Shel Horowitz and Jay Conrad Levinson, “Guerrilla Marketing to Heal the World”, shows dozens of practical examples of successful companies doing well by doing good—from solopreneurs to Fortune 100 global corporations. Learn how to: create projects (and products) that accomplish social change, profitability, and cost reduction all at once; green your company in ways that save money and make money; gain enormous positive reputation as a visionary company worth supporting; expand successfully into totally new markets through strategic thinking, powerful partnerships, and commitment to core principles; turn marketing from a cost to a revenue stream; and embrace abundance and transformation—and stop worrying about market share.” At the link right-click “Download MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gun Industry 49 mins – “From Revolutionary War militias to cowboys of the Wild West, guns are often associated with American history and identity. But a new examination of gun industry archives reveals that marketing strategies helped promote these narratives. Gun sales dwindled after the civil war. In an effort to increase sales, the Winchester Repeating Arms Company and other businesses helped promote a widespread love of guns through advertisements. And salesmen marketed firearms as essential to self-reliant Americans. Guest host Ray Suarez speaks with historian Pamela Haag about her new book on the history of U.S. gun culture.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy if included in the blog archive.
Hamilton Play 58 mins – “Author Ron Chernow discusses his 2004 book, [Alexander Hamilton], which has been adapted into the Broadway musical, “Hamilton.” At the link find the title, “Q&A with Ron Chernow, Apr, 2016,” right-click “Media files program.436397.MP3-STD.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Indian Act of Canada 55 mins – “Some prominent Indigenous Canadians discuss the wounds still afflicting First Nations people, the ways they need the government and Canadians at large to make amends, and the hopes they have for the future.” At the link find the title, “The Enright FilesThe Enright Files on Reconciliation, Redress & Restitution for Canada’s First Nations, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files ideas_20160502_45237.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
ISIS Issues 49 mins – “Yesterday President Obama announced the US will send 250 military personnel to help in the struggle against ISIS in Syria. As with the 50 already there these forces, he said, will not be ‘leading the fight on the ground’, but will be working to cement recent gains by providing critical assistance to local troops. President Obama remains opposed to any large scale US troop involvement, but is pressing our European allies and NATO to do more. Join us for an update on the battle against ISIS and new efforts to undermine its power and influence in the region and beyond.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy if included in the blog archive.
Legionnaires Disease 22 mins – “The Bellevue-Stratford opened in 1904 and quickly became one of the most luxurious hotels of its time, rivaling the Waldorf Astoria in New York. The building was an incredible work of French Renaissance architecture. It was 19 stories high, had over a thousand guest rooms, light fixtures designed by Thomas Edison, and what was said to be the most lavish and magnificent ballroom in the United States. It hosted guests from around the world, including royalty, world leaders, and the magnificently wealthy. The hotel came to be known as “The Grand Dame of Broad Street.” The hotel went through some hard times during the Great Depression and then again in the 1950s and 60s, losing some of its luster from the early days. But it was always considered one of the nicest places to stay in Philadelphia. That is, until 1976, when the Bellevue-Stratford found itself at the epicenter of a series of mysterious deaths that terrified the country and stumped everyone trying to find answers.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow at the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Malaysia Flight 370 26 mins – “The question is astonishingly simple: In the year 2015, with GPS and satellites and global surveillance everywhere all the time, how does a massive airplane simply go missing? To find the answer, writer Bucky McMahon boarded one of the vessels searching for Malaysia Air 370 in one of the most isolated and treacherous stretches of ocean on the planet. In telling the story of the search crew and the massive amounts of technology, money, and human capital being spent trying to find this airplane, McMahon tells a story of our time—of a world completely dependent on nets of redundant technology, yet completely lost and broken when those nets suddenly break. McMahon joins host David Brancaccio to discuss his October 2015 story, “The Plane at the Bottom of the Ocean.” At the link find the title, “The Plane at the Bottom of the Ocean, by Bucky McMahon, May , 2016,” right-click “Enclosure: http://tracking.feedpress.it/link/13153/3221565/The-Plane-on-the-Bottom-of-the-Ocean-by-Bucky-McMahon.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop- up menu.
MCAT Myths for Premeds 62 mins – “In today’s episode, Ryan talks with Dr. Brett Ferdinand who has turned into one of the biggest prep gurus. He is the man behind the Gold Standard and MCAT-Prep.com. Today, they cover a countdown of the Ten Myths of the new MCAT. Brett has a vast experience in the MCAT space including the creation of the MCAT online video library even before YouTube existed. They have also developed their online practice tests even before the AAMC made the MCAT a computer-based test. Today, they offer 7 full-length tests and one free abbreviated test that you can practice with. With over 6,000 practice questions, students will get a balance between knowledge-based questions, application questions, and full-length exams. It’s not just about performing better for the MCAT but about making yourself a better doctor one day.” At the link find the title, “180 : 10 Common MCAT Myths,” right-click “Media files PMY180.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Moral Limits of Markets 60 mins – “Michael Sandel is one of the world’s most acclaimed and popular political philosophers. He has given the Reith lectures, been called “the most influential foreign figure of the year” by China Newsweek, and his online video lectures for Harvard University attract millions of viewers. His book ‘Justice’ was an international bestseller. Now he turns his attention to the markets. In this special Intelligence Squared event from 2013 he discussed his provocative new book, ‘What Money Can’t Buy: The Moral Limits of Markets’. Should we pay children to get good grades? Is it ethical to pay people to test risky new drugs or to donate their organs? What about hiring mercenaries to fight our wars, or selling citizenship to immigrants willing to pay? Isn’t there something wrong with a world in which everything is for sale? Sandel argued that market values have crowded out nonmarket norms in almost every aspect of life – medicine, education, government, law, art, sports, even family life and personal relations. So what is the proper role of markets in a democratic society, and how can we protect the moral and civic goods that markets do not honour and money cannot buy?” At the link click “Download” and select “Save File” and”OK” from the pop-up menu.
Muslim Issue 56 mins – “While these two Muslim groups have often co-existed peacefully over the course of history, in our time, sectarian differences have risen and boiled over, resulting in conflicts across the Middle East. Our guest is a longtime Middle East scholar who examines the religious, economic, and political factors involved. Geneive Abdo, fellow at The Atlantic Council researching Iran and political Islam. She was formerly the liaison officer for the Alliance of Civilizations, a United Nations initiative aiming to improve relations between Islamic and Western societies. Before joining the U.N., Abdo was a foreign correspondent for twenty years, focusing on the Middle East and the Muslim world. She is the author of three books on the subject, and is here in New Hampshire speaking at the World Affairs Council’s spring ‘Global Tipping Points’ program.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Open University 27 mins – “Alan Bassindale is the retired Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Learning and Teaching, at Open University, a distance & learning university based in Milton Keynes, England. With a current enrollment of over 200,000, this experiment in open enrollment has expanded opportunities of higher education to a world-wide community. Bassindale talks about the advantages and challenges to this educational institution which was modeled on American universities.” At the link right-click the play button beside “listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pakistan – India – China 57 mins – “Experts discuss U.S. relations with India, China, and Pakistan and will discuss the challenges and opportunities for the United States in light of changing regional geopolitics. This symposium is made possible through the generous support of the MacArthur Foundation.” Right-click the down-pointing arrow on the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Panama Vice President 64 mins – “Isabel de Saint Malo de Alvarado discusses the political, economic, and foreign policy issues facing Panama and the region, including the impact of the Panama Papers, the ongoing reform efforts of the Varela administration, and the economic benefits from the anticipated expansion of the Panama Canal, to be launched this summer.” Right-click the down-pointing arrow on the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Parkinson Life 49 mins – “More than 20 years ago, journalist Michael Kinsley, founder of Slate and contributor to Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. For several years, he kept the diagnosis private, preferring to avoid what he calls “aggressive victimhood.” Eight years later, though, he went public in a TIME magazine piece titled, “In Defense of Denial.” Now in his sixties, he calls himself “a scout for his generation,” experiencing in his fifties what fellow baby boomers won’t experience until decades later. He says the competition among his peers shouldn’t be about longevity but instead about cognition. A conversation with journalist Michael Kinsley on lessons learned from his early journey into old age. At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy if included in the blog archive.
Peacemaker 24 mins – “Padraig O’Malley, the behind-the-scenes “peacemaker”, has a gift for bringing together people in conflict – from Northern Ireland, to South Africa and Iraq. His own struggle with alcoholism offered lessons to learn how to reconcile big differences.” At the link find the title, “’Peacemaker’ Padraig O’Malley uses addiction treatment to help bitter enemies, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160503_20284.mp3 “ and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Political Analysis 57mins – “Gaius Publius — Professional writer of stories, poems, and books on education & technology. Currently writes for Digby’s Hullaballoo, Down with Tyranny, Crooks and Liars and Naked Capitalism Follow @Gaius_Publius and his tumblr page, GaiusPublius See A Look Ahead: Coming to the Philadelphia Crossroads and The Rebellion Won’t Go Away” At the link find the title, “Gaius Publius Virtually Speaking Sundays, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files avedon-carol-and-gaius-publius-virtually-speaking-sundays.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Presidential Politics 57 mins – “In this tumultuous election, delegate math has a source of contention, with some calling the process rigged and many Americans scratching their heads about how much their votes matter. And while the Indiana primary may have quelled some uncertainty for the GOP, questions remain. Meanwhile, on the Democratic side, the delegate hunt continues. [with] Chris Galdieri, assistant professor of politics at Saint Anselm College, specializing in presidential politics. Ben Kamisar, campaign reporter for the Hill. Josh Putnam, lecturer in the Department of Political Science at the University of Georgia who runs FrontloadingHQ, a blog about the delegate system that tracks the presidential primary calendar.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Press Freedom 57mins – “Following the unveiling of the Newseum’s updated press freedom map, reflecting changes in the state of world press freedom in 2015, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dana Priest moderated a program examining press freedom throughout the world. Panelists included ProPublica president Richard Tofel, award-winning independent journalist Anna Therese Day, Freedom House vice president for analysis Vanessa Tucker and International Consortium of Investigative Journalists reporter Will Fitzgibbon.” At the link find the title, “Spotlight on Freedom, Apr, 2016,” right-click “Media files IM_20160427.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Protein Complexity 12 mins – “…For a long time, one thing seemed fairly solid in biologists’ minds: Each gene in the genome made one protein. The gene’s code was the recipe for one molecule that would go forth into the cell and do the work that needed doing, whether that was generating energy, disposing of waste, or any other necessary task. The idea, which dates to a 1941 paper by two geneticists who later won the Nobel Prize in medicine for their work, even has a pithy name: “one gene, one protein.” Over the years, biologists realized that the rules weren’t quite that simple. Some genes, it turned out, were being used to make multiple products. In the process of going from gene to protein, the recipe was not always interpreted the same way. Some of the resulting proteins looked a little different from others. And sometimes those changes mattered a great deal. There is one gene, famous in certain biologists’ circles, whose two proteins do completely opposite things. One will force a cell to commit suicide, while the other will stop the process. And in one of the most extreme examples known to science, a single fruit fly gene provides the recipe for more than 38,000 different proteins….” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow under the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Recycling Myths 60 mins – “…The truth can be difficult to hear. It’s even harder when somebody kicks a sacred green cow like recycling. When John Buffington wrote to me about his new book saying recycling is a myth standing in the way to a greener world, I got defensive. When he told me he was a corporate exec for a major American beer company, I told him “no”. But Jack, as he’s called, is also a post doctoral researcher at one of the premier universities in Sweden, the country with the lowest landfill rate in the world. Add that to my own doubts that what I “recycle” is actually heading anywhere useful, and here we go, with the new book “The Recycling Myth: Disruptive Innovation to Improve the Environment”.” At the link right-click “Lo-Fi” towards the top of the page and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Refugee Crises 46 mins – “The European Union was supposed to unite the continent so closely that it could not be divided by war or tribalism. But Europe is looking awfully divided these days. Politicians and people from England to Hungary are taking extreme nationalist political views toward refugees. My guest today says the US has a deep stake in a united Europe, and needs to help Europe help the refugees. This hour On Point: America and the crisis in Europe.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Robots in Movies 20 mins – “Each week, comedian Gilbert Gottfried and comedy writer Frank Santopadre share their appreciation of lesser-known films, underrated TV shows and hopelessly obscure character actors — discussing, dissecting and (occasionally) defending their handpicked guilty pleasures and buried treasures. This week: “Klaatu barada nikto!” Charlie Callas cashes a check! And Jeff Ross roasts the Caped Crusader!” At the link find the title, “Mini-Ep #58: Robots Redux and Legends of the Superheroes,” right-click “Enclosure: http://tracking.feedpress.it/link/12243/3247429/c2870493-2ae5-48bb-bb1d-fa5c06580547.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Seal Hunters 27 mins – “If the Inuit want to keep their indigenous culture, does that mean they can’t make money at the same time? Alethea Arniquq-Baril turns her lens on the fight over the sealing industry arguing the Inuit of the Canadian Arctic are collateral damage.” At the link find the title, “’Angry Inuk’ argues anti-seal hunt campaign hurts Canadian Inuit life, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160504_18314.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Sex Assaults on Campus 53 mins – “This month, The Salt Lake Tribune has been following the story of BYU students who say they’ve been punished under the school’s honor code because they reported sexual assaults. Some of the questions these women are facing have been experienced around the country: will they be believed, shamed or blamed for being a victim? Tuesday, we’re asking how LDS culture and theology of chastity complicates this, and if there are lessons from the Mormon experience that might help challenge assumptions about rape in America.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Suicides in America 49 mins – “The suicide rate in the U.S. is at its highest level in nearly 30 years. In the 1980s and 1990s the suicide rate declined. But a new report from the Centers for Disease Control shows suicides rose by 24 percent between 1999 and 2014. The sharpest increases were among middle-aged Americans and young girls, though the number of suicides in the latter group remains small. Experts say suicide involves a complex set of factors, and rarely does a single life event cause someone to take his or her life. Join guest host Ray Suarez and a panel of [4] suicide experts to explain what’s behind the rise and to talk about prevention.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy if included in the blog archive.
Tampon Tax 54 mins – “Today, we catch up with the growing movement to get over the shame and secrecy and acknowledge that women menstruate…including a look into why tampons and pads are taxed as luxury goods in 40 states. Plus, working out while pregnant. Even though the science says elite female athletes can train pretty hard, even in the third trimester, society doesn’t always agree. Listen to the full show.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Taxing the Rich 39 mins – “An audience with David Stasavage – a unique opportunity to hear him discuss his latest book: Taxing the Rich: A History of Fiscal Fairness in the United States and Europe. Taxing the Rich draws on unparalleled evidence from twenty countries over the last two centuries to provide the broadest and most in-depth history of progressive taxation available.” At the link find the title, “Taxing the rich: A history of fiscal fairness in the United States and Europe, May, 2016” right-click “Media files 262433469-uniofbath-taxing-the-rich-a-history-of-fiscal-fairness-in-the-united-states-and-europe.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tortillas Value 16 mins – “anything else involving a traditionally made corn tortilla, your taste buds get to experience the results of an ancient chemical process called nixtamalization. The technique dates to around 1500 BCE and involves cooking corn kernels with an alkaline substance, like lime or wood ash, which makes the dough softer, tastier, and much more nutritious. Only in the 20th century did scientists figure out the secret of nixtamalization—the process releases niacin, one of the essential B vitamins. Our guest, archaeologist and nixtamalization expert Rachel Briggs, says that the historical chemical process transformed corn from a regular food into a viable dietary staple, one that cultures around the world continue to rely on for many of their calories. Without nixtamalization Mesoamerican civilizations like the Maya and the Aztec would not have survived, let alone flourished….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tudor Life 52 mins – “To understand how our forebears lived, of course you’ll read period records, diaries and literature. There would still be things you wouldn’t fully grasp though, like how they smelled. So when historian Ruth Goodman wanted to understand 16th century English life, she “tudored.” She skipped bathing, brushed her teeth with soot, and slept on rushes. The result of her adventure is a new book called How to Be a Tudor, and Wednesday she joins Doug for a dawn-to-dusk guide to Tudor life….Ruth Goodman is an historian of British social and domestic life. She has presented a number of BBC television series, including Tudor Monastery Farm. She’s the author of How to Be a Victorian…and her new book How to Be a Tudor….” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
U.S. Currency History 51 mins – “the U.S. Treasury announced that Harriet Tubman would replace Andrew Jackson on the front of the $20 bill. Originally, the Treasury was considering giving Alexander Hamilton the boot from the $10, but it seems the runaway Broadway hit about his life helped to secure his spot. In this episode, we evaluate America’s relationship with money, exploring the transformations of currency over the centuries. The Guys and their guests discuss the profusion of currencies in the past, and consider how Americans decided which ones to trust.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Vaxxed Movie 96 mins – “Hosts: Vincent Racaniello, Dickson Despommier, Alan Dove, and Kathy Spindler Guest: Nina Martin – Nina Martin joins the TWiV team to talk about the movie Vaxxed, her bout with dengue fever, and the latest research on Zika virus.”
Vitamins and Supplements 78 mins – “More than half of Americans use vitamins or supplements, spending over $9.4 billion a year. Dr. Jeffrey Tice takes a look at which are encouraged, which are discouraged and which have no benefit. He covers antioxidants, folic acid, vitamin D and Calcium and Omega 3. Recorded on 03/08/2016.” At the link right-click “Audio MP3” under the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Voice Structure 39 mins – “What makes our speaking voices so distinctive and so recognisable? How can we transform the way we use our voice? Coinciding with a new exhibition at the Wellcome Collection, This Is A Voice is a book by Jeremy Fisher and Gillyanne Kayes offering 99 exercises to train, project and harness the power of your voice.” At the link right-click “Download MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Water Desalination 20 mins – “’Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.’ So lamented Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s ancient mariner 210 years ago. Today’s scientific advances in water desalination promise to edit that script into “and every drop to drink,” dramatically increasing our ability to transform sea water into fresh water and quench the thirst of 1.2 billion people facing shortages of water….” At the link right-click “Listen to podcast” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Water Issues 20mins – “From San Diego to Santiago to Seville to Sydney, billions of people are facing shortages of clean water. More than one billion people have no access to clean drinking water. And things are getting worse.” At the link right-click “Listen to podcast” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Water Solutions 20 mins – “As wagon trains of pioneers headed West to settle the American frontier, they encountered oceans of grass swaying in the wind in the prairies. This grass grew 7-10 feet high — almost to the second story windows on a modern house. Much of that green ocean consisted of switch grass. Today switch grass is looking greener than ever to new generations of pioneers. Those pioneers are chemists, chemical engineers, and other scientists who are searching for solutions to the challenges of global warming.” At the link right-click “Listen to podcast” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Weight Loss Battle 47 mins – “It takes a lot of courage to step on the scale on The Biggest Loser TV show. Sean Algier dropped 155 pounds after grueling training regimen. And then, gained it all back and a little more. Don’t blame donuts. It’s his metabolism that’s done him in. We’ll unpack the physiology and psychology of weight loss. Later in the hour, we’ll take a deep dive into American food culture with the author of Devoured. This hour On Point: Weighing weight loss.” At the link right-click “Download this story” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Wine Fraud 24 mins – “The biggest wine fraud in history is the subject of a new documentary, called “Sour Grapes.” It’s a story about the astronomically wealthy, an obsession with fine wines worth tens-of-thousands of dollars and the con man who duped them all.” At the link find the title, “Sour Grapes documentary uncorks high-end world of fine wine fraud, May, 2016,” right-click “Media files current_20160505_36658.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Winter Fortress 66 mins – “In early 1942, the U.S. and Great Britain work together to develop the Atomic Bomb, but London needs to make sure Nazi Germany doesn’t get there first. Today’s guest is author Neal Bascomb. We discuss his new book, out today, The Winter Fortress: The Epic Mission to Sabotage Hitler’s Atomic Bomb.” At the link find the title, “Episode 162-The Winter Fortress Interview with Neal Bascomb,” right-click “Media files Bascomb_Interview_5316” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
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Media Mining Digest 