Exercise your ears – the 98 podcasts shown below present the best ideas, information and stories from a larger group of 405 for the week, to hear while your hands and eyes are busy. Get all the files as a group here for the next four months, or double or ctrl-click individual titles to get single podcasts and explore the source. A collection of over 14,000 similar podcasts, listed alphabetically and grouped by topic, can be downloaded piecemeal, with files A-B at this link, files C-E link, and the remainder here. You’ll be limited to a 4GB maximum per download at the last place, so multiple group downloads will be needed to get all files, which total over 86GB and may take a few hours. The first entry in the collection is a text file with just titles for quicker reference. A collection of all 14,000 abstracts is available at this link and updated quarterly. Get even the discarded material using a podcast aggregator loaded with this opml file of the 400 sources. Exercise your ears and let the rest relax.
Afghanistan Soldiers 52 mins – “Afghanistan, strategically located between South, Central and West Asia has been invaded and fought over by the world’s superpowers for centuries. Alexander the Great, Genghis Khan, the British Empire, the Soviet Union have all tried and failed to control Afghanistan. And war rages in the country today: the US-led military coalition has been fighting in Afghanistan since 2001, and conflict has become the longest war in US history. Dawood Azami talks to the British, Russian, American and Afghan fighters and soldiers who fought in what some historians have called the Graveyard of Empires….” At the link find the title, “A Soldier’s Eye View of Afghanistan, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files p04z6y6g.mp3”and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
AI and Law 34 mins – “A number of lawyers are nervous about artificial intelligence (AI) replacing their jobs in the near future, but most don’t understand AI. In this episode of The Digital Edge, hosts Sharon Nelson and Jim Calloway talk to Mark Tamminga who defines artificial intelligence and what its growing popularity means for lawyers. Their discussion includes the big players in the AI industry, the future of technology, and what Mark would say to lawyers concerned that robots will take their jobs. They also talk about the College of Law Practice Management’s Futures Conference 2017, for which Mark and Sharon are co-chairs. This year’s focus will be artificial intelligence and its role in the legal industry.” At the link find the title, “The Digital Edge : Defining Artificial Intelligence as a Legal Tool, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files episode_112.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Airline Passenger Bumping 24 mins – “Kim Jong-un’s leadership of North Korea is raising questions after the murder of his brother this week, the execution of his uncle in 2013, and the recent testing of a nuclear- capable missile.” At the link find the title, “Feb 15: Why Trump needs to develop a North Korea policy now: analyst, 2017,”right-click “Media files current_20170215_55722.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Angles in Night Vale 29 mins – “The angels go to the Hall of Public Records. The voice of the Faceless Old Woman was Mara Wilson.” At the link right-click “Direct download: 106-Filings.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Animal Research 60 mins – “This week we’re revisiting animal research. There’s no denying animal research has done amazing things for both humanity and the animals we live and work with. But there are also good reasons why it makes people uncomfortable. We’ll talk with philosopher John Hadley about the different philosophical perspectives on animal research, and how scientists might be more open about their practices. We’ll also speak with philosopher Janet Stemwedel about current practices regulating research in the United States, how reducing animal use dovetails with issues of scientific reproducibility, and how we can have better, more productive conversations on what is often a hot button issue.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Artificial Retina [2nd item] 27 mins – “The naked mole-rat never ceases to amaze. A new study shows that when it gets stuffy in their underground burrows, this mouse-sized wrinkly mammal is able to metabolise fructose – just as plants do – and by this bypass the need for oxygen for up to 18 minutes. In a new study scientists have created an artificial retina. The retina is a light-sensitive layer of the eye which is essential for sight. The artificial retinas are able to mimic the abilities of living tissue, reacting to light and electrical signals. In the future, scientists hope that these retinas could save the sight of many. Virtual reality (VR) is not only a fun gimmick for gamers, but could be used to train dentists in dental surgery. Our reporter Marnie Chesterton visits the VR World Congress in Bristol in the United Kingdom and tries out the technology and discovers first-hand the all too real experience of dental surgery. Lastly, with 800 million people living near a volcano, spotting eruptions in advance can be crucial. We talk to the scientists working on the technology that allows us to spot them from space with satellites. And, reporter Anand Jagatia heads to Iceland which homes the volcano Eyjafjallajökull, which caused disruption to the air space back in 2010.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Astronomer Herschel 57 mins – “In 1782, William Herschel entered the service of his Royal Majesty, King George III of the United Kingdom. Over the next 20 years, he, along with his brother Alexander, would build hundred of telescopes including the largest research instruments in Europe as well as create the largest catalogue of deep sky objects ever compiled. Assisting him in this was his sister, Caroline Herschel, who would become an exceptional astronomer in her own right. He would seek to answer questions about the Sun’s motion through space, the behavior of variable stars, the nature of stellar spectra, the shape of the Milky Way galaxy and the Sun’s position in it and the composition of nebulae. In 1788, he married Mary Pitt (nee Baldwin) and, in 1792, fathered a son, John Herschel, who would go on to be the preeminent scientist of the mid-18th century; competing his father’s catalogue work by extending his observations to the Southern Hemisphere and doing much to create the technology of photography as well as making significant contributions to the philosophy of science. John and his wife, Margaret, would have 12 children, three of whom would become scientists that would make significant contributions during their lifetimes.” At the link right-click Direct Download Link” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Australia Archeology 56 mins – “When did humans arrive on this ancient continent? 4,000 years ago, as they thought in 1964? 30,000 years back, as the Lake Mungo finds suggested? 49,000 as indicated by Giles Hamm’s discovery, published last year? Or even further back? A revolution in understanding is underway: of genetics, dating, and analysis of human behaviour. The Science Show brings it all together and traces the history of the first Australians.
Australia Minimum Wage 45 mins – “Secretary of the Australian Council of Trade Unions Sally McManus addresses the National Press Club in Canberra.” At the link find the title, “National Press Club: Sally McManus, Mar, 2017,” right-click “Media files NPCc_McManus_2903_512k.mp4” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bannon Politics 49 mins – “President Trump’s top advisor Steve Bannon is a big fan of the book “The Fourth Turning” and its dark message of political upheaval. We’ll check it out.” At the link find the title, “Political Upheaval, By Design, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files npr_523427760.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Beavers 29 mins – “Beaver (Castor canadensis), have been kicking around in North America for 2 million years. Ecologically they do all sorts of great things: their ponds ease flooding downstream, and support large numbers of bird species, fish, amphibians, and otters. They’re what’s called a keystone species, as in the keystone to an entire eco-system. But they’re also the world’s second largest rodent and a nightmare for property owners. Humans and beavers have a long history together because they like to live in the same places, but the way we’ve built our infrastructure has almost guaranteed our two species will be locked in eternal conflict.” At the link find the title, “Episode 36: Leave it to Beavers, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files 5816971-episode-36-leave-it-to-beavers.mp3”and select “Save Link As” from the pop-u menu.
Blind Physics Major 31 mins – “Jamie Principato is a Physics Major at the University of Colorado at Boulder and is working on a Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) program for transition age B/VI students. Jamie talks about how she got interested in the sciences as a young child during conversations with her father. Her desire to become a Physics Major did not happen until she found the beauty in Mathematics and the determination to seek the field she desired and not to settle for less. Jamie has transitioned from high school to home school and to college. She shares her experiences and encourages others not to settle for less than what they really want.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Blueberry Farming 78 mins – “Susan and Harley Soltes of Bow Hill Blueberries raise five acres of high-bush blueberries on the northern edge of the Skagit River Valley in western Washington. Susan and Harley bought the oldest blueberry farm in Skagit County in 2011, transitioned the farm to organic, and launched a new line of value-added products along with their fresh and frozen berries. Harley shares the details of organic blueberry production, from weed control and management of mummy berry and spotted wing drosophila through the GAP-certified harvest that provides access to institutional markets. Bow Hill’s blueberry bushes were mostly planted in the 1940s, which provides a great marketing opportunity – heirlooms! – but also presents challenges when it comes to keeping the harvest crew happy, and Harley and Susan dig deep into how they work with their labor crew to maximize the harvest and keep worker satisfaction high. Susan walks us through how they market their fresh and frozen berries to institutions including Microsoft’s food service and the Seattle Seahawks, as well how they created their unique line of value-added products, and how they have established a differentiated presence in the marketplace, even though Washington State is the United States’ largest producer of organic blueberries. We also discuss how Bow Hill has developed and enhanced their u-pick market and on-farm sales, as well as how they’ve turned purslane to their advantage.” At the link right-click “Download this Episode” and select “Save Link As’ from the pop-up menu.
Boycotts 33 mins – “In this History Grab Bag, Joanne, Ed, Brian and Nathan discuss the history behind items in the news. They’ll look at the deep history of sanctuary cities and rule of law, and look at America’s history of boycotts all the way back to the Boston Tea Party. They’ll also talk about why it’s so hard for presidents – from Nixon to Trump – to actually shrink the federal government. Plus, footnotes!” 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.
Business Progress 15 mins – “In this episode we help you take a hard look at your business and its forward movement or lack there of. If you have a vision for where you want your business to be, if you want your business to grow and prosper don’t miss the four crucial questions covered in this show.” At the link click the down-pointing arrow below the sound bar to download the file.
Cancer in Your Genes 72 mins – “Cancer might be in your DNA. Cancer-causing mutations in the BRCA gene came roaring into our collective consciousness when Angelina Jolie candidly shared her decision to undergo a double mastectomy to prevent inherited cancer. How does a BRCA mutation affect the risk of cancer for both men and women? How are genetic cancers different than other cancers, and who should be tested? Join us for a panel discussion on genetic cancer, treatment and prevention. Genetic counselors from Color Genomics will be on hand to demonstrate how testing works.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Carbon Free Power 58 mins – “California has committed to getting one-half of its electricity from renewable sources by the year 2030. But clean energy advocates say the state could be more ambitious and shoot for 100% clean electricity. Still, not everyone agrees on how the existing energy grid can integrate new technologies, or whether getting to 100% is even technically possible yet. On today’s program, we hear how smart technology and the “Internet of things” can be part of the solution, while making our lives greener, safer, and more convenient. This program was recorded in front of a live audience at the Commonwealth Club of California.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
City Trends 80 mins – “Urbanist Richard Florida asserts that back-to-the-city movement ushered in by the young, educated, and affluent has resulted in “winner-take-all-urbanism,” with a small group of winners and a much larger span of losers. In his new book, “The New Urban Crisis: How Our Cities Are Increasing Inequality, Deepening Segregation, and Failing the Middle Class-and What We Can Do About It“, Florida discusses these profound challenges that threaten the economic future of cities and how they can be addressed. Florida writes that cities remain the most powerful economic engines the world has ever seen and the only way forward is to devise a new model of urbanism that encourages innovation and wealth creation while generating good jobs, rising living standards, and a better way of life for everyone. On Tuesday, April 18, the Metropolitan Policy Program at Brookings hosted Florida to discuss his prescription for more inclusive cities capable of ensuring growth and prosperity for all.” At the link right-click “Download the Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate and Energy Issues 97 mins – “In December 2015, 195 countries adopted the Paris Agreement under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. The agreement went into effect last November, and countries are now in the process of developing policies that will achieve their commitments, or Nationally-Determined Contributions (NDCs). President Trump has begun to roll back Obama-era policies that sought to reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, but so far the United States remains a party to the agreement. On April 19, the newly-launched Cross-Brookings Initiative on Energy and Climate hosted a panel discussion on the role of carbon pricing in the implementation of the Paris goals, with opening remarks from Lord Nicholas Stern of the London School of Economics and Professor Joseph Stiglitz of Columbia University, the co-chairs the High-Level Commission on Carbon Prices. They shared their thoughts on carbon pricing and other policies to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, including the objective to hold “the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels.” After the discussion, Brookings Vice President Kemal Derviş moderated a panel discussion and took questions from the audience.” At the link right-click “Download the Audio” and select “Save Link As” from th pop-up menu.
Climate Change and Biology 52 mins – “Our lecture this week is presented by the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future, titled “Biology and Climate Change.” Our speaker is Professor Thomas Lovejoy, Senior Fellow at the United Nations Foundation.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow under the play button and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Colorado River 26 mins – “New Yorker staff writer David Owen says that convoluted legal agreements and a patchwork of infrastructure determine how water from the Colorado is allocated. His new book is Where The Water Goes….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Compulsions 46 mins – “We talk to science writer Sharon Begley about her new book “Can’t Just Stop: An Investigation of Compulsions.” At the link find the title “175 Sharon Begley – Can’t Just Stop: An Investigation of Compulsions” right-click “Media files a18339e2-cebe-4014-bfd4-a3a0e84f2978.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Computer-aided Design 58 mins – “We have an interview today with Scott Tarcy of CAD Design Help. I love that we’re going to bring in somebody else who has a different CAD design view. Somebody else really who is trying to do something similar that we are in helping to be a resource for people interested in 3D printing in one way or another. His focus is a little more in the CAD side of things. It’s a bit of a cross section. He’s more of an engineer, actually is a degreed engineer, a mechanical engineer. He has worked inside a couple of different corporations, doing real serious engineering work on products. He’s complimentary to what we do on WTFFF and 3D Start Point and we thought it would be good to have him on. He’s a great resource and he’s got a podcast. It’s called The Engineering Entrepreneur Podcast. I think he’s 24 episodes into it or something at this point. I think it’s really an interesting model of who he’s talking to that’s very different than who we’re talking to. There’s plenty of room in the space for someone else with a little different perspective.” At the link right-click “Download’ and select “Save Link As’ from the pop-up menu.
Congo Crisis 96 mins – “Despite being required to step down after his second term ended in 2016, Congo’s President Joseph Kabila, relying on a dubious reading of the constitution, remains in office, due in part to the failure to hold elections last year, which would have allowed the selection of a replacement. New elections are now set to take place by the end of 2017. In the interim, President Kabila was to lead a transitional government, but talks on that matter have since broken down. As protests of his continued rule surge, violence is also increasing. The United Nations, under heavy pressure from the incoming Trump administration, is now also considering decreasing its peacekeeping commitment to the country.” At the link right-click “Download the Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Consciousness Defined 48 mins – “Since 2008, Big Think has been sharing big ideas from creative and curious minds. The Think Again podcast takes us out of our comfort zone, surprising our guests and Jason Gots, your host, with unexpected conversation starters from Big Think’s interview archives. Daniel Dennett is one of the foremost philosophers of mind working today to unravel the puzzle of what minds are and what they’re for, and Co-Director of the Center for Cognitive Studies at Tufts University. His latest book of many is called From Bacteria to Bach and Back: The Evolution of Minds, and it’s a sweeping (but detailed) attempt to demystify how we get from inanimate matter to cathedrals, symphonies, and of course, podcasts. In this fun and meaty episode of Think Again, Dennett waxes wicked and wise on consciousness, Dolphins, Artificial Intelligence, and much, much more.” At the link find the title, “91. Daniel Dennett (Philosopher) – Thinking About Thinking About Thinking,” right-click “Media files PP7121030594.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
CRISPR Uses – Problems 58 mins – “It’s a prime example of fundamental research leading to a revolution. For nearly two years, CRISPR gene editing has been a hot topic. The technology has allowed almost any hospital or small lab to undertake gene editing, a process previously only undertaken in the largest labs and costing a bomb. And it all came from fundamental curiosity and basic research with no obvious application. Peter Fineran and Adrian Patterson at the University of Otago in Dunedin describe how bacteria protect themselves against viruses by guiding proteins to destroy the DNA of an invading virus and how this process has been copied in the technology which now puts gene editing in the hands of so many.” At the link right-click “Download audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cuba 45 mins – “Guest podcast host, Tom Gjelten of NPR, speaks with Diane Rehm and her tour guide in Cuba, then a conversation with Tom Nichols, professor of national security affairs at the US Naval War College on how Americans have lost faith in expertise and why this development is so troubling….” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Documentary Film Tricks 26 mins – “In 1999, a nature documentary called Wolves came out in IMAX theaters. The film was designed to combat the misinformation campaigns of the ranching and hunting lobbies, which portrayed wolves as vicious killers. The filmmakers wanted to show a wolf pack interacting in complex, subtle ways.But filming the intimate lives of wild wolves is nearly impossible because they don’t tolerate the presence of people. So the show’s producers went to game farm, “rented” wolves who were more used to being around humans, and constructed an artificial den with cameras inside. And in the movie there are these amazing close-up shots of puppies cozying up against their mother’s belly….” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow under the title and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Domestication Experiment 33 mins – “Evolutionary biologist and science historian Lee Dugatkin talks about the legendary six-decade Siberian experiment in fox domestication run by Lyudmila Trut, his co-author of a new book and Scientific American article about the research.” 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.
Driverless Car Hacking 7 mins – “What if someone could hack into a driverless car and slam on the brakes? Some day in the future, you’ll hail a cab, then a few minutes later, a driverless, autonomous vehicle will pull up to the curb. You’ll hop into the back seat and off you go, leaving the driving to the computer. Not so fast. Driverless cars are indeed coming. Automakers are already road testing them in select US cities with standby drivers ready to take control of the steering wheel if anything goes haywire. But let’s face it. Even though automotive engineers are developing some amazing navigational technologies to function flawlessly in a driverless vehicle, it could take a while to persuade passengers to take a leap of faith and turn over the wheel to a robot. In addition to the daunting task of designing smart, driverless cars, there’s another potential pitfall that hasn’t been much talked about. And that’s the considerable risk that the software being designed to autopilot the future fleet of autonomous vehicles could be hacked. “Driverless cars have all of the problems of regular car security, and then you add in a bunch more computers and sensors and take the human out of the front seat, altogether, so it’s a difficult problem,” says automotive security researcher Charlie Miller….” 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.
Driverless Car Impact 6 mins – “Of all the questions swirling around the rise of self-driving cars, from how safe they’ll be to how we regulate them, one essential question is often overlooked. What will self-driving cars mean for the environment? Backers of the technology argue that autonomous vehicles will drive more efficiently than humans do — no more slamming on breaks or gunning it at yellow lights — so they’ll save gas and reduce pollution. But early research reveals a wide range of emissions possibilities for driverless cars. A 2016 report found that automated vehicles could reduce fuel consumption by as much as 90 percent, or increase it by 200 percent.” 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.
Drug Abuse Background 56 mins – “Attorney General Jeff Sessions has signaled that he’d like to revamp the War on Drugs. We take a look at the history of the battle, and how sensational media depictions of crack, heroin, and meth have helped fuel it. Plus: our Breaking News Consumer’s Handbook: Drugs Edition. Then, a look at how America’s first drug czar used racist propaganda to outlaw marijuana. And why the debate between treatment and law enforcement is blurrier than you might think.” At the link find the title, “This American War on Drugs, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files otm041417pod.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu. 12:00 AM
Earth 2.0 42 mins – “If we could reboot the planet and create new systems and institutions from scratch, would they be any better than what we’ve blundered our way into through trial and error? This is the first of a series of episodes that we’ll release over several months. Today we start with — what else? — economics. You’ll hear from Nobel laureate Angus Deaton, the poverty-fighting superhero Jeff Sachs; and many others.” At the link click the circle with three dpts, right-click “Download this audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Eating Disorders 57 mins – “The Internet, social media, and increased awareness both help and hinder eating disorder treatment and management. And now, as more men and pre-teens are diagnosed with eating disorders, approaches toward resolving these problems are constantly evolving.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Eco-Village 69 mins – “After more than 12 years of case study research on organic and biodynamic family farms, intentional communities, and resilient and regenerative design thinking, James Ehrlich founded ReGen Villages. At the forefront of automating thriving abundance for healthy families, ReGen is a Stanford University spin-off company which develops technology-integrated residential areas. Starting with pilot communities—one in Almere, Netherlands and the other at Summit Powder Mountain in Eden, Utah—ReGen Villages intends to reduce burdens on municipal and national governments, creating self-reliant neighborhoods that can power, feed, hydrate and digest their own organic waste. Ehrlich will discuss his inspirational research on farm-to-table communities, detailing his greater vision and plans to realize solutions for the next 2–3 billion people who will live on Earth by 2050. As a serial entrepreneur in Silicon Valley for 25 years, primarily in the video game and entertainment technology area, Ehrlich designed worlds that made sense. Recently appointed to the U.S. State Department’s joint task force on the nexus of food, water, energy and waste, the genesis of Ehrlich’s personal research came from over a decade of case studies on organic and biodynamic family farms and their connection to the strongest communities around the world.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Education Trends 14 mins – “…We discuss two major trends that we observed along with three emerging trends. The two major trends were hold-overs from our previous sessions: online learning and augmented reality and virtual reality. There were a variety of resources that focused on strategies and tools for effective online learning….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Eleanor Roosevelt and Friend 53 mins – “we’re telling the story of the unconventional relationship that deeply influenced Eleanor Roosevelt. When FDR entered the White House in 1932, Eleanor feared her independent life would take a back seat to the ceremonial role of first lady. But on the campaign trail she had met Lorena Hickok, a feisty reporter who would become her adviser, confidante, and lover. Biographer Susan Quinn joins Doug to explain how Eleanor and “Hick” used their bond to better depression-ravaged America.” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As’ from the pop-up menu.
Emergency Doctor 24 mins – “Emergency room doctor James Maskalyk looks at how societal and personal issues emerge in the ER — from a hospital in Toronto and another in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.” At the link find the title, “April 13: From Toronto to Addis Ababa: Life lessons from an ER doctor, 2017,” right-click “Media files current_20170413_99020.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
End of Life Ed 27 mins – “Teens already learn sex ed in school, so why not death ed too? The Current speaks to a palliative care doctor who says high school students should be taught about death and dying.” At the link find the title, “April 11: Why an ICU doctor says death ed is as essential as sex ed in high school, 2017,” right-click “Media files current_20170411_69294.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Execution Problems 48 mins – “Arkansas says it will execute seven death row inmates by the end of the month. Why the rush? The lethal injection drugs are set to expire. We’ll look at the controversy.” At the linkf idn the title, “Arkansas Rushes Death Penalty For 7 Inmates, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files npr_523781361.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Federalist Society 38 mins – “…One man is responsible to a considerable extent for choosing a third of the justices on the Supreme Court, including Neil Gorsuch, who was sworn in Monday. That’s what Jeffrey Toobin reports in his latest article in The New Yorker called “The Conservative Pipeline To The Supreme Court.” The article is about Leonard Leo, who Toobin says served in effect as president Trump’s subcontractor on the selection of Gorsuch. Leo also played a crucial part in the nominations of Justices Roberts and Alito. Leo is executive vice president of The Federalist Society, a national group of conservative lawyers, which Toobin also writes about in his article. The society was co-founded by law students in 1982. One of their faculty advisers was Antonin Scalia, who Justice Gorsuch has now replaced on the court. Jeffrey Toobin is a staff writer for The New Yorker and a senior legal analyst for CNN….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Female Genital Cutting 24 mins – “Many young girls face female genital mutilation in Tanzania. But now a safe haven, run by a local woman, serves as a refuge to help these girls escape the painful and potentially deadly tradition.” At the link find the title, “April 11: Tanzanian safe house helps courageous girls escape female genital mutilation, 2017,” right-click “Media files current_20170411_27571.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Female Socialization 39 mins – “Women talk to each other about more or less everything – dreams, diets, sex lives and insecurities. But there are some things women will only talk to another woman about. Deborah Tannen, professor of linguistics at Georgetown University, talks with 1A guest host Indira Lakshmanan about her new book – “You’re the Only One I Can Tell: Inside the Language of Women’s Friendships.” At the link find the title, “A Little More Conversation: How Women Talk To Each Other, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files 20170420_1a_podcastfinal.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Financial Technology Industry 15 mins – “The financial technology (fintech) industry is generally described in terms of subsectors that have or are likely to have the greatest impact on financial services, such as credit and payments. Commonly referenced subsectors associated with fintech include marketplace lending, mobile payments, digital wealth management, and distributed ledger technology….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Friendster Lessons 42mins – “In 2003, Jonathan Abrams was sitting atop one of the hottest new companies in Silicon Valley. He and his website were at the forefront of an industry that would eventually be worth more than $400 billion. So, what went wrong?” At the link find the title, “Friendster: Part 1 (Season 5, Episode 2), Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files GLT7039121697.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Genetic Testing 58 mins – “If you had a crystal ball that told you your future, would you look? Many of us are doing the next best thing: genetic tests. By examining your DNA you can find out your risks of certain diseases, how certain drugs might affect you and hidden secrets from your past. But does this knowledge come at a price, and can that information be used against you? This week, the Naked Scientists examine the secrets and surprises we might find when we probe our DNA.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Georgetown Slaves P1 26 mins – “For the residents of a small Louisiana town, there’s always been a question about their past: How’d they get there? Solving the mystery only raised more questions.” At the link find the title, “#766: Georgetown, Louisiana, Part One,” right-click “Media files 20170421_pmoney_pmpod.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Georgia State Political Race 42 mins – “After taking a beating in November, some Democrats woke up Wednesday with Georgia still on their mind. Jon Ossoff, a 30-year-old political novice, fell just short of a shocking victory in Georgia’s sixth congressional district. But how much can one well off Atlanta suburb can tell us about the future direction of the country? And what’s the path forward for Democrats seeking to capture 24 seats in the House in 2018? Joining 1A guest host Indira Lakshmanan is Andra Gillespie, professor of political science at Emory University, Jessica Taylor, lead digital political reporter at NPR, Domenico Montanaro, lead political editor at NPR, Stephanie Murphy, U.S. representative (D) for Florida’s 7th congressional district and Pete Buttigieg, mayor of South Bend, Indiana.” At the link find the title, “In Search Of A Bellwether, Democrats Look To The House, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files 20170419_1a_podcastfinal.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gerrymandering & The Legacy of Disease Experiments 28 mins – First a Civics 101 lesson on gerrymandering, followed by “Sushma Subramanian wrote about the legacy left behind in Guatemala, 70 years after American researchers infected locals with syphilis and gonorrhea in her article “Worse Than Tuskegee”. At the link right-click the play button and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gettysburg Battle 90 mins – “It was the largest battle ever fought in the Western Hemisphere, and the high tide for Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Going Viral 12 mins – “We often hear about something becoming so popular is goes “viral.” But what does that mean and why does it happen? National Press Club member Matthew Ballard discusses this topic with Derek Thompson, senior editor at The Atlantic who writes about economics and media. They discuss the science behind why some songs, books or movies become very popular and why certain headlines get more attention than others. They also talk about Thompson’s new book, “Hit Makers: The Science of Popularity in an Age of Distraction.” At the link right-click “Download the MP3” under the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Holocaust Escape Tunnel 8 mins – “…Shortly after the Nazis invaded Lithuania in June 1941, they started bringing groups of Jews from the nearby city of Vilnius, known as the Jerusalem of Lithuania, to the Ponar forest. The Nazis lined them up, shot them at close range, and tossed the bodies into pits. The unfinished fuel tank site, which was used as an execution site for Jews from the Vilna region. … the Germans recruited a group of 80 Jewish prisoners to exhume the bodies and burn them, in order to hide the evidence. …The prisoners knew that when they finished their job, they would be shot. So they came up with a plan. Every night, for 76 nights, they dug a tunnel under the Nazis’ feet. The tunnel went from the burial pit, where they were housed, 100 feet into the forest. They dug the tunnel using spoons and their bare hands. Then on the last night of Passover, April 15, 1944, the time had come. The prisoners cut off their shackles with a smuggled-in file, and shuffled through the narrow passageway in the ground. When they emerged from the tunnel, the Nazis started shooting. Only 12 prisoners made it out and joined a partisan unit in the forest. …Last year, an international group of archaeologists found the legendary escape tunnel. They didn’t want to disturb any human remains at the burial pits, so instead of digging, the archaeologists used radar and radio waves to scan beneath the ground. What they found dovetailed exactly with the survivors’ verbal accounts. The archaeologists’ discovery is the subject of a new documentary from the program Nova.” 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.
Holocaust Story 36 mins – “On this week’s podcast we pick up two very different takes on the impact of war: Xan Brooks’s debut The Clocks in This House All Tell Different Times is a novel set in England after the first world war, while Primo Levi’s If This Is a Man is his account of surviving Auschwitz during the second world war….” At the link right-click “Download MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Human rights 110 mins – “While the potential benefits of collecting vast amounts of metadata for governments and businesses are obvious, this data collection also poses a number of difficulties regarding internationally recognized rights to privacy, information, expression, and association. Confusion over the boundaries between “good” and “bad” uses of the World Wide Web is growing, with different national authorities intervening to regulate and mediate areas of conflict and competition with little to no normative consensus at the international level. Moreover, while experts recognize the need for greater international cooperation to facilitate investigation and prosecution of a wide range of violations—from cyber theft to terrorist attacks and war crimes—the necessary standards and protocols for applying technology to facilitate effective accountability are lacking. The fourth Annual Justice Stephen Breyer Lecture hosted by the Foreign Policy program at Brookings and The Hague Institute for Global Justice sought to address these issues, focusing on the intersection of technology, accountability, and international law….”At the link right-click “Download the Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Immigrants in Vermont 48 mins – “Fears on the farm. How President Trump’s immigration crackdown could impact Vermont’s dairy industry.” At the link find the title, “Big Worries In Vermont’s Dairy Industry, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files npr_523781375.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Immigration Law Locally 27 mins – “Since the election of Donald Trump, immigrants and their lawyers have been preparing for the worst. In part 2 of our series on the role some local police play in the enforcement of federal immigration laws, we spend time with the immigrant community in Frederick County Maryland, one place that’s been helping the feds since 2008. Minor offenders who were allowed to remain under the Obama administration are getting their papers together, avoiding the police and getting ready to be deported after living for years in the US.” At the link find the title, “189: What’s the difference between Trump and Obama’s immigration rules?” right-click “Media files 317529356-decodedc-189-whats-the-difference-between-trump-and-obamas-immigration-rules.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Impeachment Possibility 36 mins – “When the Founding Fathers laid out their plans for a new kind of government, they also installed an executive kill switch. Article Two, Section Four of the U.S. Constitution says presidents shall be impeached and removed from office if they commit “high crimes and misdemeanors.” Ever since President Donald Trump took office, Americans have been outraged by what they see as his financial conflicts of interest and his campaign’s links to Russia. Many have called for President Trump’s ouster. Allan Lichtman, dubbed ‘Prediction Professor’ for accurately calling every presidential election since 1984, is out with a new book and a bold prediction: that President Trump will soon get the boot. Will Allan Lichtman be proven right again? Lichtman joins 1A guest host Indira Lakshmanan along with Jeffrey Rosen, president and CEO of The National Constitution Center, to discuss the plausibility of the impeachment.” At the link find the title, “Truncating Trump: Is Impeachment Plausible? Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files 20170417_1a_podcastfinal.mp3” and select “Save Link As’ from the pop-up menu.
Islamic Contrasts 56 mins – “Was Islam founded on political principles? Is the rise of Islamism, after the Arab Spring, a natural evolution in Muslim-dominated countries? Author Shadi Hamid, an American Muslim and self-described liberal, says the rise of Islamist parties is inevitable.” At the link find the title,”Islamist Persistence: The Rise and Reality of Political Islam, Part 2, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files ideas_20170412_80960.mp3” and select “Save Link As’ from the pop-up menu.
James Baldwin P2 58 mins – “Continuing on I Am Not Your Negro, “Notes of a Native Son” (1955), and The Fire Next Time (1963). We (and Law Ware) discuss Baldwin’s critique of the American dream, how to oppose the inhumanity of others without becoming inhuman yourself, and Baldwin’s take on religion. Plus, was the the documentary actually good as a film? This continues part 1, or get the unbroken, ad-free Citizen Edition. Supplement this with the Phi Fic discussion (featuring Mark!) on Baldwin’s short stories “This Morning, This Evening, So Soon” (1960) and “Sonny’s Blues” (1957).” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Jonestown Tragedy 42 mins – “On Nov. 18, 1978, an itinerant preacher, faith healer and civil rights activist named the Rev. Jim Jones led more than 900 of his followers to kill themselves by drinking cyanide-laced Flavor Aid at their Jonestown settlement in the jungle of Guyana. Nearly 40 years later, questions still linger regarding the Jonestown massacre and the man who inspired it….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Joyce Carol Oates 58 mins – “...The writer Joyce Carol Oates grew up on a farm, tending chickens in what she describes as a very desolate part of upstate New York, and grew up to write around 90 (and counting) novels and collections of essays and short stories, many of them while teaching at Princeton University. She’s won many, many awards, including the National Book Award, the Pen/Malamud Award and the National Humanities Medal. Her powerful new novel, A Book of American Martyrs, begins with a terrible act of violence – and then deals with its complex aftermath. Today’s conversation starts there, weaving through the political and religious landscape of America, past and present. We also talk about whether writing, for Joyce, is as “effortless” as critics have described the experience of reading her. Trump comes, up, inevitably but briefly….” At the link find the title, “94. Joyce Carol Oates (Writer) – Oh, That’s Socialism, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files PP2471865598.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Junk Business Founder 43 mins – “Brian Scudamore didn’t dream of a life hauling away other people’s trash. But when he needed to pay for college, he bought a $700 pickup truck, painted his phone number on the side, and started hauling. Now 1-800-GOT-JUNK? makes over $200 million in annual revenue.” At the link find the title, “1-800-GOT-JUNK?: Brian Scudamore, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files 20170414_hibt_podcast.mp3”and select”Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Lexicographer 58 mins – “Since 2008, Big Think has been sharing big ideas from creative and curious minds. The Think Again podcast takes us out of our comfort zone, surprising our guests and Jason Gots, your host, with unexpected conversation starters from Big Think’s interview archives. Kory Stamper is a lexicographer at Merriam-Webster, often seen on their “Ask the Editor” video series. Her funny and fascinating book Word By Word: The Secret Life of Dictionaries is about the how the sausage of dictionaries is made, and about the slipperiness of words themselves. This is not a “prescriptivist” manifesto, fussily criticizing people’s misuse of apostrophes or words like “irregardless.” On the contrary, like any lexicographer worth her salt (and salt, as Kory will tell you, was once so valuable it was used as money, which is where we get the word “salary” from…) Kory’s a professional “descriptivist”, painstakingly trying to pin down how words are actually used even as they try to wriggle away from her.” At the link find the title, “95. Kory Stamper (Lexicographer) – Lair of the Level 10 Word Mage,” right-click “Media files PP8415028636.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Manufacturing Hazards 48 mins – “When Alabama drew auto jobs south, it also got low wages and lots of injuries. We’ll look at the message for American manufacturing.” At the link find the title, “Alabama: A New Detroit, Or A New Bangladesh? Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files npr_523552888.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Marijuana Addiction 22 mins – “As the government moves to legalize marijuana use, specialists in addiction say we need to confront the dependency issues we already face with the drug.” At the link find the title, “April 13: Will legalized marijuana lead to more addictions? 2017,” right-click “Media files current_20170413_77848.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Medical Errors – Problems 27 mins – “The US state of Arkansas has scheduled 8 executions by lethal injection, because one of the drugs they use, Midazolam, reaches its sell-by date at the end of April. There have been various challenges to the death penalties – including stays of execution and the drug companies trying to sue the state of Arkansas for misleading them about what the drug was being used for when they bought it. We talk to campaigning organisation Reprive and an Arkansas-based doctor. There has been a spate of forest fires in Chile which have destroyed whole communities. Jane Chambers reports on the health effects of the fires – as well as the expected burns and lung problems, there are worries about infections spread by rats fleeing from the burning hills. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has launched a global challenge to halve the number of medication errors around the world over the next five years. The cost of medication errors has been estimated at US$ 42 billion annually and in developing countries it is thought as many as 1 in 10 patients is harmed while receiving hospital care. Dr Neelam Dhingra from the WHO tells us about the human cost of medical errors.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Musical Doctor 19 mins – “Melissa Palma wanted to start SloCCOMP strong, so she spoke with the ever popular Peter Rubenstein, PhD…Ruby, as he is known (but don’t tell him, he doesn’t know), has been at the Carver College of Medicine teaching biochemistry for a long time, and has seen a few different curricula come and go. But it’s his passion for teaching and his accessibility to the students that makes him a favorite. That and his penchant for putting biochemistry to music.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
North Korea Control 21 mins – “As the U.S. faces a potential nuclear standoff with North Korea, president Donald Trump’s latest tweets show his patience is wearing thin with China and has issued an ultimatum – fix it, or the U.S. will.” At the link find the title, “April 12: Can China help de-escalate tensions between the U.S. and North Korea? 2017,” right-click “Media files current_20170412_76081.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Poisons in Nature 59 mins – “Substances that might seem innocent can be toxic. Dr. Kent Olson is the Medical Director of the San Francisco Poison Control System. He helps us understand when plants and fungi can be toxic and how to avoid misbegotten uses of herbal medications. Recorded on 03/15/2017. (#32084)” [Visual aids are useful, in addition to the audio portion.] At the link right-click “Audio MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Political Donations in Canada 26 mins – “B.C. is being called the “Wild West” of political fundraising. The province’s unique rules have allowed the B.C. Liberal Party to rake in massive amounts of cash.” At the link find the title, “April 12: B.C. Liberals face heat over ‘cash-for-access’ fundraising ahead of election, 2017,” right-click “Media files current_20170412_34632.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Political Failure 62 mins – “Has the political establishment failed America? Whether they voted for Trump or Sanders or none of the above, millions of Americans say the answer is yes – and that the system benefits the elites at the expense of everyone else. Others say that despite its flaws, the political establishment has been a force for unparalleled stability, prosperity and equality — and that it is now the only thing standing between America and the abyss. Is it time for the old guard to come to the rescue or to make way for a new political reality? Arguing in favour of the motion were Michael Eric Dyson of Georgetown University and William Howell of UChicago. Arguing against the motion were Jennifer Rubin of the Washington Post and Eric Oliver of Uchicago.” At the link find the title, “Has the Political Establishment Failed America? Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files media.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Political Populism 85 mins – “The political establishments in the United States and Europe woke to a new reality in 2016. From the UK’s Brexit decision and the election of Donald Trump as U.S. president, to creeping authoritarianism in Hungary and Poland and the rise of far-right parties across the continent, there was a dramatic resurgence of nationalist, anti-elite, and anti-immigrant currents. On both sides of the Atlantic, populists promised to give voice to the grievances of the people—the alleged “losers” of globalization who faced unemployment, socioeconomic immobility, a declining quality of life, and the erosion of traditional values. As several elections have revealed, populists channeled this dissatisfaction through platforms of economic nationalism and protectionism, challenging political establishments which they depicted as out of touch and a liberal international order—with the U.S. and Europe at its core—described as ineffective, unfair, or both….” At the link right-click “Download the Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pre-K Education 139 mins – “In 2015, 42 states and the District of Columbia spent $6.2 billion in state funds on pre-kindergarten (pre-K) programs, a fact that represents a growing commitment to pre-K as a way to help children from disadvantaged families increase their school readiness. But while numerous studies have documented the success of pre-K programs in preparing students for elementary school, inconclusive evidence about the sustainability of pre-K benefits as children move through their school years is raising important new questions for scientists, educators, and policymakers alike. How can states optimize their pre-K programs to provide both the strongest early learning boost and a solid foundation for future learning?” At the link right-click “Download the Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Product Psychopaths 46 mins – “Since 2008, Big Think has been sharing big ideas from creative and curious minds. The Think Again podcast takes us out of our comfort zone, surprising our guests and Jason Gots, your host, with unexpected conversation starters from Big Think’s interview archives. Adam Alter is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Drunk Tank Pink: And Other Unexpected Forces That Shape How We Think, Feel, and Behave, and has written for the New York Times, New Yorker, Atlantic, WIRED, Slate, Washington Post, and Popular Science, among other publications. He’s an associate professor of marketing at New York University and also teaches in the psychology department. His fascinating and chilling new book, Irresistible: the Rise of Addictive Technology and the Business of Keeping us Hooked has, among other things, convinced Jason to stop charging his cellphone in his bedroom.” At the link find the title, “93. Adam Alter (Social Psychologist) – Ping!” Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files PP5765678848.mp3“ and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Questions to Ask 48 mins – “We talk to a college dean whose graduation speech on asking the right questions and living a full life has gone viral way beyond campus.’ At the link find the title, “Wait, What?’ (And Other Big Questions), Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files npr_523739187.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Religious Freedom 57 mins – “We’re delighted to Kristina Arriaga with us to talk about the intersection of religious freedom and women’s rights around the world. Kristina Arriaga is a commission on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom. Before joining the Commission, she was the executive director of the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, a firm that defends the free expression of all religious traditions in the United States and abroad. Ms. Arriaga began her career in Washington, working for a U.S. ambassador here, Jose Sorzano, at the Cuban American National Foundation. And afterwards, served as an advisor to the U.S. delegation to the U.N. Human Rights Commission, where she worked to raise awareness of the plight of political prisoners. She is a recipient of the Newseum’s 2017 Free Expression Award, and was featured by The Federalist as one of seven most amazing women of 2016….” 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.
Roughhousing Kids 21 mins – “A new community reference guide in Quebec is advising daycares to allow roughhousing saying it helps build better social skills.” At the link find the title, “April 13: Roughhousing benefits kids, suggests Quebec daycare guide, 2017,” right-click “Media files current_20170413_78380.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Russia Apartment Building Bombings 62 mins – “Ira talks to Russian reporter Anna Nemtsova in Moscow about the recent subway bombing in St. Petersburg and the conspiracy theories she heard from Russians as soon as news about the bombing started to spread. Anna Nemtsova is a correspondent for The Daily Beast and Newsweek. Back in 1999 there was a series of bombings of apartment buildings in Moscow and across Russia. 300 people died. It happened just as Vladimir Putin was coming to power. And there was a question whether Putin or other people in the Kremlin might have been involved. Producer Robyn Semien talked to reporters who covered the bombings and reviewed the evidence…” At the link right-click “Download” and select ‘Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
School Voucher Program 7 mins – “Opponents of a school voucher bill say the proposal would violate the state constitution by allowing public money to be used at private, religious schools. The Republican-backed bill would create Education Freedom Savings Accounts, allowing parents to use public money for a broad range of education expenses, including tuition at private schools. Families would get roughly $3,400 dollars per child, or 90 percent of the average per-pupil state adequacy grant….” At the link right-click the play button beside “Listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Snake Bites P1 36 mins – “We have Dr. Ben Abo (benabo@ufl.edu) on the show tonight to talk about some common myths about snake bite injuries. Before he comes on, Kyle Nelson (@WxKyleNelson), our resident severe and disaster weather expert, joins us to talk about the upcoming severe weather roundup. Also on the call is Dr. Joe Holley calling in from his home base in Memphis. First are the old myths about coral snakes in North America. The rhyme about “Red touch black, safe for Jack. Red touches yellow, kills a fellow” is only true for one variety of coral snake in North America. It’s also a myth that coral snakes have to “latch on” for the venom to transmit. The coral snake venom is a neurotoxin and the effects can be delayed for hours after the bite. The only treatment is the antivenin for that particular bite. There are often permanent effects depending on where the bite is located.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Social Media Impact 27 mins – “Millions of people around the world use social media every day to stay in touch with friends and family. But ironically, studies have shown that people who spend more time on these sites feel more socially isolated than those who don’t. This week on Hidden Brain, we explore the psychological effects that social media has on us, and how FOMO — or, the fear of missing out — can lead to actually missing out.” At the link find the title, “Ep. 68: Schadenfacebook,” right-click “Media files 20170417_hiddenbrain_68.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Solitary Confinement Elimination 37 mins – “Evidence suggests isolating inmates inflicts permanent mental harm. So why does the U.S. have roughly 100,000 prisoners housed in solitary confinement, spending 23 to 24 hours per day alone in an 8-foot-by-10-foot cell? Joining 1A guest host Indira Lakshmanan to discuss solitary confinement is Dan Edge, director of the documentary “Last Days of Solitary”, Brian Nelson, prisoners’ rights coordinator at Uptown People’s Law Center and Andrew Cohen, senior editor at the Marshall Project.” At the link find the title, “Cruel & Ineffective: Ending Solitary Confinement, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files 20170418_1a_podcastfinal.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Solitary Confinement Reduction 116 mins – “Inside one state’s ambitious attempt to decrease its use of solitary — and what happens when prisoners who have spent considerable time in isolation try to integrate back into society.” At the link find the title, “Last Days of Solitary, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files 318676436-frontlinepbs-last-days-of-solitary.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Specialty Crops 57 mins – “What are Specialty Crops? These are the crops of the produce aisle, fruits, vegetables, nuts. These are high-value crops that receive relatively little research funding compared to other types of the big-ag crops, things like corn, wheat, sugar and soy. Helena Bottemiller-Evich is the Senior Food and Ag Reporter for Politico, and asks the question, “Why is the government not putting more funding into the foods we are supposed to be eating?” Helena discusses the paradox of funding for fruits and veggies and shares great stories of iceberg lettuce, post-harvest packaging, tribal thinking, and how we communicate topics like biotechnology.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Starshot Project 35 mins – “On 12 April 2016, Russian entrepreneur, venture capitalist, and physicist Yuri Milner announced a new and ambitious initiative called Breakthrough Starshot. Kickstarted with $100 million, the initiative aims to develop and demonstrate new technology, which will enable unmanned space flight at 20% of the speed of light, in the hope of laying the foundations for a mission to Alpha Centauri – our closest star system. But how does this proposed technology work? And what are some of the barriers and challenges in the way?” At the link right-click “Download MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Storytelling 20 mins – “Storytelling has been around for thousands of years, but it’s a practice that’s now widely used by communities and organizations as a way of initiating change at the international, national, state and local levels. Press Club member Kathy Bonk is the Executive Director of the Communications Consortium Media Center, where she’s directly involved with storytelling. In an interview with Broadcast/Podcast Committee member Mike Hempen, she discusses how and why communities use storytelling to empower their residents. She also offers advice on how journalists can benefit from grassroots storytelling initiatives.” At the link right-click “Download the MP3” under the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Superman and the Klan 10 mins – “Mr. Akai had a secret – and every kid in the neighborhood knew it.” At the link find the the title, “Episode 51: Kid Stuff” and click the down-pointing arrow below the sound bar to download the file.
Tax Reform 66 mins – “On the eve of the annual tax deadline, here’s a program that promises to provide ammunition for the next time you complain to elected officials about the hassles and inequities of the U.S. tax system. Noted journalist T.R. Reid points out the following: Last year, Americans spent more than 6 billion hours and $12 billion filing their taxes. In the Netherlands, the average filing time is 15 minutes; in Estonia, it takes 7 minutes. According to Reid, Congress has given its members various tax breaks and deductions that other Americans never receive. In Slovakia, by contrast, government representatives pay 5 percent more in tax. Reid goes on to say that U.S. billionaires can pay relatively very little tax—and sometimes no tax at all. France, Norway and Switzerland all have wealth taxes designed to reduce economic inequality. Historically, there have been total rewrites of the U.S. tax code every 32 years—in 1922, 1954 and 1986. This means the next rewrite is due in 2018, and Congress and President Trump will need to begin revamping the code this year. Can they write a new tax code that is both fair and simple? Can they cut tax rates and still bring in the revenue required? According to Reid, this can be done. In this program, he’ll detail exactly how America can rewrite the tax code, in this case learning from other democracies around the world.” At the link right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Trump Power Struggles 30 mins – “Do staff tensions interfere with Trump’s ability to govern? And are these rivalries by Trump’s design? White House bureau chief Philip Rucker talks to former Trump aide Sam Nunberg about what it’s like to work for Trump — and to get fired by him.” At the link find the title, “Do power struggles in the White House make Trump a more effective president? Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files 58f99178e4b00249e689f9e8_1351620000001-300030_t_1492750720516_44100_160_2.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Trump Transparency 15 mins – “Breaking from an open government initiative started by President Obama, the White House announced last Friday that visitor logs will no longer be published due to “national security concerns.” It’s the latest move in a plethora of actions the White House has taken to make historically public data, private. Bob speaks to Alex Howard, Deputy Director of the Sunlight Foundation, a non-profit advocate of open government, about the newly privatized logs, covert meetings at Mar-a-Lago, and secret ethics waivers that are allowing former lobbyists to shape policy from within the administration.” At the link find the title, ”Closing the Blinds, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files otm042017pod-extra.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
United Passenger Ejection 48 mins – “The shocking video of a passenger bloodied and dragged off an overbooked United flight lit up social media. Everyone’s asking — what rights do airline passengers have?” At the link find the title, “Passenger Rights And The United Scandal, Apr, 2017,” right-click “Media files npr_523739173.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Venezuela Chaos 21 mins – “As Venezuela president Nicolaus Maduro tightens his grip on power, many are saying the country is becoming increasingly unlivable — and it’s not just democracy at stake, it’s survival.” At the link find the title, “April 11: Can Venezuela protests break authoritarian rule of President Maduro? 2017,” right-click “Media files current_20170411_81471.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Video Games 60 mins – “Asi Burak is the author of Power Play: How Video Games Can Save the World. He is also the founder of Games for Change. He talks with Leo Laporte about the many ways video games can be used to foster positive change in the world.” At the link click “Download options,” right-click “Audio” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Violent Crime Decline and Overdoses 38 mins – “Dara Lind looked into how those tensions may affect the rate of homicides being solved. She wrote about it for Vox: “Police Are Solving a Lot Fewer Murder Cases Than They Used To.” Anne Marie Zanfagna is a New Hampshire based artist who has begun painting portraits of those who have died because of drug overdoses in the state. Read more and see pictures of Anne Marie’s paintings here: Portraits of Those Killed By Heroin Bring Healing and Awareness ….” At the link right-click the play button and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Vulnerability 20 mins – “Brené Brown studies human connection — our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. A talk to share.” At the link click “Download,” then right-click “Download audio” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Women in Agriculture 34 mins – “Women have been part of agriculture since the beginning of time. Today’s guest is passionate about showing how the roles of women have progressed and increased in this field. Born and raised in Iowa, Marji Guyler-Alaniz studied Graphic Journalism and Photography in college. Recently, she had a lot of surprises and transitions in her life in a span of only four years – from insurance to photography to owning a company and being a TV hostess. Today, Marji is the president of Farmher, a company that came about as a result of her passion in shining the light on women in agriculture. On today’s episode, Marji recounts the Super Bowl advertisement that inspired her to start capturing images of women in agriculture. She shares the exciting story of how she built her brand from scratch and how Farmher has progressed from a hobby to a brand with a regular TV show. She also narrates the quick progression of her journey with Farmher, talks about her mission and vision, and points out her considerations when making decisions.” At the link right-click “Download this Episode”under the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Thanks for stopping by.
Media Mining Digest 