Exercise your ears: the 135 podcasts shown below present the best ideas, information and stories from a larger group of 780 for the week, to hear while your hands and eyes are busy. Get all the files as a group for the next four months here, or double (ctrl-click) individual titles to get single podcasts and explore the source. A collection of 23,525 podcasts, listed alphabetically and grouped by topic, can be downloaded piecemeal, with files A-E at this 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, totaling over 150GB 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 abstracts for all the podcasts is available at this link and updated quarterly. Get the discarded material, too, using a podcast aggregator loaded with this opml file of the 496 sources. And try PodcastRE from the University of Wisconsin with over 150,000 titles. Exercise your ears and relax the rest.
AI and Chatbots 29 mins – “What makes a chatbot or a conversational interface actually work? What kind of work does one need to do to get a chatbot to do what one wants it to do? These are pivotal questions and questions that for most business leaders are still somewhat mysterious, but that’s exactly what we’re aiming to answer on this episode of the AI in Industry Podcast. This week we speak with Madhu Mathihalli, CTO and co-founder of Passage AI. We speak specifically about what kinds of tasks conversational interfaces are best at, what kinds of word tracks, what kind of questions and answer are they suited for and which are a bit beyond their grasp right now. In addition, we speak about what it takes to train these machines. In other words, how do we define the particular word tracks that we want to be able to automate and determine which of them might be lower hanging fruit for applying a chatbot or which of them might not?” At the link find the title, “How to Get a Chatbot to do What One Wants in Business Nov 2018,” right-click “Direct download: AI in Industry-Madhusudan Mathihalli-Mixdown.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
AI and Inventory Optimization 21 mins – “This week we talk to Alejandro Giacometti, the data science lead at a company called EDITED, based in London. The company claims to help retailers with inventory optimization, and we speak with Alejandro about how artificial intelligence can be used to search the web for the product clusters and individual products of major retailers to help inform other retailers on what products might be popular. There are two primary takeaways from this episode. The first is the broad capability of monitoring the competition with artificial intelligence, something that can be applied across industries, not just in retail. The second is that EDITED is generating information from what is freely available on the web, and so it would seem their software doesn’t require businesses to integrate it into inventory management systems in order to train the algorithm behind it. I’m not necessarily lauding the company; I haven’t used their product nor read all of their case studies. That said, it’s worth noting simply because its approach is fundamentally different than most AI vendors.” At the link find the title, “How AI Can Help Retailers With Inventory Optimization, Dec 2018,” right-click “Direct download: AI_in_Industry-Alejandro_Giacometti-Mixdown_1.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
AI Predictions 69 mins – “If anyone can make provocative predictions about technology and its impact on business and our everyday lives, it is Tom Siebel. One of Silicon Valley’s most successful entrepreneurs for more than four decades, he remains at the forefront of enterprise software, big data, cloud, the Internet of things (IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning—formerly at Oracle and Siebel Systems and, most recently, as founder and CEO of C3. Siebel explores the far-ranging impact that AI and digital innovation will have on every aspect of life and how this step function change in technology—fueled by AI and IoT—continues to disrupt critical industries from agriculture, health care, manufacturing, defense, financial services and energy. Siebel will discuss the societal and ethical implications of AI, exploring both the dangers and the opportunities where AI can have the greatest impact. Given AI is being rapidly applied to virtually all societal domains, the urgency of working together to mitigate the adverse consequences has never been greater. Leading researchers suggest it is only a matter of time before rival states, criminals and terrorists use AI’s scale and efficiency to launch finely targeted and highly efficient attacks. In this rapidly evolving climate, Siebel argues that the benefits of AI are substantial, but the potential costs are significant. He advocates that the balance between the two lies in regulation, private and public sector collaboration, and a clear focus on issues such as privacy and cybersecurity to protect us—as consumers and citizens. Join one of technology’s most preeminent leaders for a night of insightful conversation on the shaping of society by the exponential—and unstoppable—rise of AI.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
AI Requirements 19 mins – “Some businesses are going to require a sea change in the way that their computation works and the kinds of computing power that they’re leveraging to do what they need to do with artificial intelligence. Others might not need an upgrade in hardware in the near term to do what they want to do with AI. What’s the difference? That’s the question that we decided to ask today of Per Nyberg, Vice President of Market Development, Artificial Intelligence at Cray. Cray is known for the Cray-1 supercomputer, built back in 1975. Cray continues to work on hardware and has an entire division now dedicated to artificial intelligence hardware. This week on AI in Industry, we speak to Nyberg about which kinds of business problems require an upgrade in hardware and which don’t.” At the link find the title, “When to Upgrade Your Hardware for Artificial Intelligence, Nov 2018,” right-click “Direct download: AI in Industry-Per Nyberg-Mixdown.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Alan Alda 105 mins – “Gilbert and Frank welcome a sought-after guest, writer-director-actor Alan Alda, who discusses (among other topics) growing up in Burlesque theaters, working with his father Robert Alda, coping with the pressures of sudden fame and learning to live life “in the moment.” Also, Buster Keaton does a backflip, Mickey Rooney “hails a cab,” Sarah Silverman forms an unlikely friendship and Alan remembers M*A*S*H colleagues Harry Morgan, Wayne Rogers and McLean Stevenson. PLUS: The Great Blackstone! “The Beast with Five Fingers”! Revisiting “Crimes and Misdemeanors”! Beetlepuss rescues Bela Lugosi! And Alan shares the stage with Red Buttons, Phil Silvers and Mae West!” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Alan Rusbridger Journalist 25 mins – “Anna Maria Tremonti speaks to Alan Rusbridger, the former editor of the Guardian whose 20-year tenure involved explosive investigations and ushering the newspaper in the digital age.” At the link find the title, “Journalism must be remade to rebuild public trust, says veteran editor of The Guardian,” right-click “Download Journalism must be remade to rebuild public trust, says veteran editor of The Guardian” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Algonquin Controversy 19 mins – “The newly opened O Condos building is part of the $1.5-billion Zibi development, which has divided Algonquin First Nations because of its proximity to the Chaudière Falls.” At the link fnd the title, “Reconciliation or betrayal? First residents of controversial development in Ottawa-Gatineau move in,” right-click “Download Reconciliation or betrayal? First residents of controversial development in Ottawa-Gatineau move in” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Antarctica Crossing 47 mins – “Cold, alone and at the bottom of the world. We’ll hear the stories of the men who’ve sought to walk, unaided, across Antarctica.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Belief Systems 21 mins – “People will find a way to defend their beliefs even when faced with contradictory evidence, says psychologist James Alcock. He talks to Anna Maria Tremonti about why we believe what we believe, and how evolution played a role.” At the link find the title, “‘Evolution didn’t work on truth, it worked on survival’: A psychologist explains why we cling to our beliefs,” right-click “Download ‘Evolution didn’t work on truth, it worked on survival’: A psychologist explains why we cling to our beliefs” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bitcoin Power Demands 10 mins – Bitcoin creation requires considerable amounts of electrical power. The podcast isn’t available for download from Wired Spoken Edition, but is in the blog archive.
Black Youth Dangers 47 mins – “A black teenager sees a friend killed by a white police officer. That’s the storyline of the new film “The Hate U Give.” The director and young activists tell their stories.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Brexit Impact 95 mins – “In this IPR Public Lecture, Anthony Barnett explores the concept of the ‘Will of the People’ and asks; who are ‘the people’? Do they have only one ‘will’? Is it unchangeable? Is it an expression of democracy or an anti-democratic device? These are the key questions at the heart of Brexit. This IPR Public Lecture took place on 20 November 2018.” At the link find the title, “Anthony Barnett: What is the ‘Will of the People’? England and Brexit., Nov 2018,” right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Brexit Problems 21 mins – “The political turmoil and rioting in Britain and France highlight a fault line in Western democracies. Voters have seized on a ‘generalized’ rebellion against ‘thriving’ elites, according to one expert.” At the link find the title, “Throwing a wrench in political system led to chaos in Britain and France, says expert,” right-click “Download Throwing a wrench in political system led to chaos in Britain and France, says expert,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Broadband in Chicopee Maine 30 mins – “By the time a local community is ready to light up their municipal fiber optic network, they’ve already invested several years’ worth of debate, investigation, and energy. While deploying a network is certainly a complicated task, educating the community, growing support, and helping elected officials determine the best approach is equally difficult. What’s it like in the early stages for those visionaries who feel that their city or town needs a publicly owned option? This week we find out from Chicopee’s Joel McAuliffe, Councilor for Ward 1. He’s been advocating for a municipal broadband network for several years and his message is growing. In addition to working to educate his fellow council members about the need for local high-speed Internet access, Joel has reached out to folks in the community. Last fall, he encouraged citizens to sign an online petition supporting the proposal and to contact their elected officials to urge them to move forward on the matter.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Broadband in Dalton Georgia 28 mins – “Dalton, Georgia’s OptiLink has served the community for around 15 years, making it one of the first citywide Fiber-to-the-Home (FTTH) municipal networks. In this interview, Chief Technical Services Officer of OptiLink and for Dalton Utilities Hank Blackwood talks with Christopher about the past, the present, and the immediate future of OptiLink. Hank describes the original purpose for bringing fiber into the community. From utilities to businesses to residents, city leaders realized that Dalton needed better connectivity and that the best source was a hometown utility that cared about subscribers. In addition to economic development, advancing telehealth, and inspiring entrepreneurs, the OptiLink network has allowed the community to celebrate its diverse culture….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Broadband in Ontario California 19 mins – “This week, Christopher presents the last of the interviews he conducted while at the 2018 Broadband Communities Economic Development Conference in Ontario, California, in October. As long as he was in the Golden State, he decided to check in with Jory Wolf, Vice President of Digital Innovation at Magellan Advisors. Jory may work in the consulting field now, but he’s known by the MuniNetworks.org audience as the man behind Santa Monica CityNet. When he retired from his position as CIO at the city after 22 years, Jory didn’t settle for the slow lane. Now he’s working with communities all over California and in other states find ways to improve their local connectivity….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Broadband in Portland Oregon 38 mins – “This week on the Community Broadband Bits Podcast, we hear from Russell Senior and Michael Hanna from Portland, Oregon. Russell is President of the Personal Telco Project and Michael is a Data Engineer for Multnomah County; both are on the Board of the Municipal Broadband Coalition of America. In this interview Christopher, Russell, and Michael discuss the goals of the Coalition and their current work grassroots organizing in Portland and across and Multnomah County for the Municipal Broadband PDX initiative. In addition to hearing how Portland and the surrounding county has reached a point where residents and businesses are ready for better connectivity, we also find out how these two organizers became involved in the efforts.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Broadband Mapping 33 mins – “Whether it’s a local government or ISP that chooses to invest in fiber optic infrastructure accurate, dependable, mapping is critical before, during, and after initial deployment. This week’s guests deliver that service through VETRO FiberMap. CEO Will Mitchell and COO Sean Myers join Christopher to discuss their mapping platform, the creative ways they use it, and their expectations for the future of fiber networks. Will and Sean explain how in working with ISPs and local communities interested in providing better connectivity, they’ve found that they’ve been able to adjust FiberMap to deliver specialized services. FiberMap has provided the information needed to not only deploy, expand, and manage fiber networks, but it has also allowed companies and publicly owned networks to develop marketing plans and expand their future visions.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
California Wildfires 71 mins – “Wildfires have always been part of life for the state of California. However, in the past year the state has seen 7 of its 20 most destructive wildfires ever, including the recent Camp Fire in Butte County, which directly impacted the Bay Area for days, and the Woolsey Fire in Malibu outside of Los Angeles. Combined, both fires cost hundreds of lives and caused billions of dollars in damage. Coming one year after last year’s Tubbs Fire in Santa Rosa, it is clear that the state has reached a new abnormal and is at a critical juncture in how it plans and prepares for the inevitability of future fires—ones that could be more destructive and costly than what we have already faced. But what is causing these fires? What can be done to improve preparation and fighting them, and who is responsible for doing it? To address some of these critical and urgent questions, please join The Commonwealth Club for a special free town hall on California’s fires and what can be done in the short and long term to prepare for them. The Club has invited some of the region’s leading wildfire experts for an essential and honest discussion about the new abnormal and the pressing need to better prepare for the future. The town hall will also address how technology is shaping fire prevention and firefighting. Guests are invited to participate and share their experiences, thoughts and recommendations. Some of the state’s top fire experts will also be seated in the audience.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Campus Sexual Assaults 47 mins – “A narrower definition of sexual harassment, strengthening the rights of the accused. We’ll get reaction to Education Secretary Betsy DeVos’ proposed new regulations on campus sexual assault.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Canadian Auto Bailout 27 mins – “In the wake of General Motors’ decision to close its facility in Oshawa, Ont., McMaster University professor and former Unifor economist Jim Stanford argues the company is more concerned about Wall Street shareholders than the Canadian workers it employs.” At the link find the title, “GM cuts an ‘old-style, greed-driven’ decision, argues former Unifor economist,” right-click “Download GM cuts an ‘old-style, greed-driven’ decision, argues former Unifor economist” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Canadian Indian Schools 25 mins – “Witnesses to testimony at the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada have been motivated to build a better country, says the commission’s chair Senator Murray Sinclair. He’s seen firsthand who suffers most when the truth is sidelined.” At the link find the title, “Residential school survivors’ stories motivated people to make Canada better, says Murray Sinclair,” right-click “Download Residential school survivors’ stories motivated people to make Canada better, says Murray Sinclair,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Canadian Indigenous Women Protection 22 mins – “Senator Lillian Dyck is proposing harsher sentences for those who commit violent crimes against Indigenous women, such as sexual assault, manslaughter or murder. But some advocates argue that Bill S-215 could have unintended consequences that actually harm those it seeks to protect.” At the link find the title, “Bill to curb violence against Indigenous women could hurt those it aims to protect, warns lawyer,” right-click “Download Bill to curb violence against Indigenous women could hurt those it aims to protect, warns lawyer” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cancer Immunotherapy 25 mins – “James Allison is an immunologist who rejected scientific orthodoxy early in his career, but has earned the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his revolutionary work on cancer treatment. Not all scientists who go rogue reap the rewards however, so where’s the line between confidence and stubbornness?” At the link find the title, “James Allison won a Nobel for defying scientific orthodoxy. What about the mavericks that don’t succeed?” right-click “Download James Allison won a Nobel for defying scientific orthodoxy. What about the mavericks that don’t succeed?” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Carbon Tax Debate 21 mins – “As COP24 gets underway in Poland, the question of putting a price on carbon is back in the spotlight. The idea divides conservatives in Canada; some argue it’s the best way to fight climate change, while others say it’s a surefire way to kill jobs. Is there a conservative case for carbon taxes? We hear from voices on both side of the debate.” At the link find the title, “Why does the idea of a carbon tax divide conservatives in Canada?” right-click “Download Why does the idea of a carbon tax divide conservatives in Canada?” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Childrens’ Teeth Problems 59 mins – “There is a serious hidden epidemic just now being discovered by the public health community. It’s most obvious symptom is the growing frequency of children with crooked teeth wearing braces, but it includes children snoring, keeping their jaws hanging open, frequently afflicted with stuffy noses, children and adults with disturbed sleeping at night (sleep apnea) often unrecognized, attention and behavioral problems, and a general decline of physical appearance. Those symptoms indicate a building medical emergency that lies in the collection of serious diseases connected mouth breathing and disturbed sleep — a collection that includes heart disease, cancer, ADHD, depression, schizophrenia, suicide, asthma and perhaps Alzheimer’s disease. Disturbed sleep is an extremely serious stressor of the human mind and body; among other things, it tends to depress the immune system, making an individual much more vulnerable to a wide variety of diseases, and modifications of the brain that are manifest in many ways only partially understood. Add to this the large contributions of sleep deprivation to highway accidents, medical mistakes and poor performance at work and in school, and it’s easy to see how important this unrecognized public health emergency is. Come learn what causes this problem and many solutions. ‘Forwardontics’ will be discussed with clear explanations. Sandra Kahn, D.D.S., M.S.D., is a graduate from the University of Mexico and the University of the Pacific.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Civil Rights Movement 53 mins – “This week, we have a lecture presented by the Boston University African American Studies Program, titled “The Mississippi Civil Rights Movement, 1960 to 1964.” Our speaker is author, James Marshall.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Agenda Goals 25 mins – “As industries change around plans to cut greenhouse emissions, will the “green jobs” that replace them match the pay and benefits of the fossil fuel sector?” At the linkf ind the title, “Some jobs in new energy industries come with a pay cut of $50K: coal miner,” right-click “Download Some jobs in new energy industries come with a pay cut of $50K: coal miner” an select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Change Blueprint 23 mins – “As part of The Current’s special edition on climate change, we talk to two experts about the level of commitment needed to tackle the problem – and why that action isn’t taking place.” At the link find the title, “Activist urges WWII-level global effort to fight climate change,” right-click “Download Activist urges WWII-level global effort to fight climate change” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Change in Arctic 46 mins – “Warming in Arctic raises fears of a “rapid unraveling” of the region. Reindeer numbers crash by half. We’ll confront the climate emergency in the Arctic. ” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Change Solutions 11 mins – “What can environmentalists learn from the civil rights movement? We talk to Dr. Rev. Gerald Durley, a civil rights worker turned climate justice activist.” At the link find the title, “What can environmentalists learn from the civil rights movement?” right-click “Download What can environmentalists learn from the civil rights movement?” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Psychology 49 mins – “We all know about the environmental and physical effects of climate change. But what about its impact on our mental health? Therapists report that their patients are exhibiting symptoms of what they call “climate anxiety” – loss of sleep, changes in appetite, feelings of grief, anger and hopelessness. How do we maintain our optimism in the face of a global existential crisis? And how do we talk with others about our fears without turning them off – or freaking them out? Three climate psychologists discuss how to cope with mounting anxiety brought on by climate change.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Co-housing Arrangements 47 mins – “Real-life “Golden Girls.” Senior citizens getting roommates to ease financial pressures and fight loneliness. It’s a growing trend.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Colored Girls 75 mins – “Donna Brazile, Yolanda Caraway, Leah Daughtry and Minyon Moore have worked behind the scenes of some of the country’s most influential and historic presidential campaigns in history, all four beginning their careers with the Rev. Jesse Jackson and eventually working with the likes of Bill Clinton, Al Gore, Barack Obama and, most recently, Hillary Rodham Clinton. Together they form a political supergroup they like to call “The Colored Girls,” and, like many other women of color in politics, they are unsung heroes of public service who have dedicated their lives to demanding diversity in American politics. Brazile, Caraway, Daughtry and Moore paved the way for many women and people of color currently in the political arena, and they will visit The Commonwealth Club on the heels of an exciting midterm election where the topic of diversity was at the forefront. Join us as the four women discuss For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Politics, their new book, which chronicles their incredible stories, sheds light on their successes and offers insight on the many hurdles they faced in getting there.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Conversation Importance 49 mins – “Playing for Team Human today Adah Parris. Adah is here to help reorient us to ourselves and steer us to a better, more human future. Adah wears many hats. She is a tech Futurist, a transformation coach, storyteller, public speaker, consultant, and artist. Comfortable in such diverse roles, Adah brings a unique perspective to the team, having influenced both individuals and corporations to adopt a more connection-centered ethos. In this candid and open conversation with Douglas, Adah brings her empathy, insight, and creativity to the table. She reminds us of the power of putting down our smartphones, looking into one another’s eyes, and engaging in the “Art of Conversation.” At the link find the the title, “Ep. 91 Adah Parris “The Art of Conversation” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
CRISPR Discussion 58 mins – “The gene-editing technology known as CRISPR (Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) is transforming everything, from pharmaceutical research to agriculture to the process of making yogurt (really). It is a disruptive technology that allows people to edit genomes, changing the genetic code of life. In some cases, it’s also raising complicated global questions about risk, regulation and even human values. So, should we be excited or afraid? Come discuss these questions and more with science writer Jennifer Kahn, who gave a 2016 TED talk on CRISPR.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Cyber Attacks Up 9 Percent (first item) 37 mins – “The impact of cyber attacks on the economies of the world’s largest cities is up by 9% this year. Researchers from the Centre for Risk Studies at Cambridge Judge Business School say they do not want to be alarmist but hope their work will help governments, councils, companies and organisations to use their findings modelling like they would for instance flood modelling and then be able to plan for potential cyber attacks or data breaches. Cyber Sex- Can tech make our emotional and sexual experiences better? Author and academic Dr Kate Devlin, who has just published her book Turned on; Science, Sex and Robots, believes it can. She recently organised two sex-tech hackathons to see if we can get away from the current image that we have of pornographic sex robots that satisfy the needs of computer geeky men. Security flaws in widely used data storage devices – Researchers at Radboud University in the Netherlands have discovered that widely used data storage devices with self-encrypting drives do not provide the expected level of data protection. A malicious expert with direct physical access to widely sold storage devices can bypass existing protection mechanisms and access the data without knowing the user-chosen password. Beam me up Roland – Lecturers at Imperial College, London have a new star quality – they are getting the Michael Jackson treatment – being turned into holograms. The school has decided this will help connect their students around the world. Wanting a taste of the glory Roland Pease went to the college while they were testing out the system.” At the link you can download for a limited time; however, a copy is also included in the blog archive.
Cyber Hacker Threat 23 mins – “A new government report says hackers are increasingly targeting smart home devices, from thermostats to security cameras.” At the link find the title, “‘Crazy’ to expect consumers to guard against smart device hacks: cybersecurity expert,” right-click “Download ‘Crazy’ to expect consumers to guard against smart device hacks: cybersecurity expert,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Deception and Truth Erosion 28 mins – “Anna Maria Tremonti speaks with a journalist and a technologist about how technology is being deployed to undermine truth in the modern world, and whether technology could also be used to fight back.” At the link find the title, “‘It’s an arms race’: Technology amplifies fake news, but could it also hold the solution?” right-click “Download ‘It’s an arms race’: Technology amplifies fake news, but could it also hold the solution” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Digital News vs Newspapers 69 mins – “Playing for Team Human today is Eli Pariser, author of The Filter Bubble, former director of MoveOn.org and current chief executive of Upworthy.com. Eli uses media to make what’s important popular, rather than the other way around. Upworthy.com is a story-driven website focused on magnifying meaningful conversations that encourage positive social change. On today’s episode, Eli and Douglas mine our reality tunnels, looking at how perspective shapes meaning and what strategies we might employ to ground democracy in greater consciousness and empathy.” At the link find the title, “Ep. 88 Eli Pariser “The Ground Under Our Feet,” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Domestic Workers 64 mins – “Playing for Team Human today is Palak Shah, Social Innovations Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (NDWA). Palak will be enlightening us about America’s hidden labor force, the value they create, and how we can support her efforts to give them the voice and dignity they deserve. While domestic work has long been viewed as something less than “real work,” Palak explains how this invisible labor is actually the backbone of both our society and the economy. Together, Palak and Douglas look at how our perceptions of domestic work are so deeply influenced by biases of gender, race, and class. Shah also looks at how the legacy of slavery and decades of immigration policy continue to influence domestic work in today’s economy. As the economy goes digital and the labor force increasingly moves online to platforms and apps, Shah and the NDWA are working to shape the way technology and the on-demand economy intersects with care work. It’s a conversation that brings us back to fundamental Team Human questions – Who is going to care for our children, our sick, and our elderly? Who’s going to care for our caregivers?” At the link find the title, “Ep. 93 Palak Shah “Who’s Gonna Care?” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dreaming Value 47 mins – “Why do we dream? To defrag the brain? Unbound our unconscious? There’s new science on the purpose of our nightly journeys.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Ebola Returns 25 mins – “A Congolese humanitarian aid worker says the latest Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could be disastrous for the East African nation if it is not dealt with properly, and armed conflict in the country is making things worse.” At the link find the title, “Congo’s armed conflict is stopping Ebola patients from getting help, says aid worker,” right-click “Download Congo’s armed conflict is stopping Ebola patients from getting help, says aid worker,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Education Donations 8 mins – “Justin Trudeau’s $50 million tweet to Trevor Noah caused consternation among his opponents this week – but where is the money actually going? We speak to Yasmine Sherif, director of Education Cannot Wait.” t the link find the title, “Canada’s $50 million pledge will educate 350,000 children, says global fund director,” right-click “Download Canada’s $50 million pledge will educate 350,000 children, says global fund director,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
EPA Corruption 63 mins – “E.G. Vallianatos will discuss his book Poison Spring, which documents in detail the EPA’s corruption and misuses of science and public trust. In its half century of existence, the EPA has repeatedly reinforced the chemical industrial complex by endorsing deadly chemicals, botching field investigations, turning a blind eye to toxic disasters and swallowing the claims of the industry. Come find out from an insider about how the EPA has allowed our lands and waters to be poisoned with more toxic chemicals than ever.” At the link find the title, “Metabolic Syndrome and Mental Health,” left-click the square with three dots, right-click “Download/Open” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Estate Planning 67 mins – “Deciding how to structure your estate plan often presents daunting ethical and emotional challenges. As you ponder how to distribute your assets, you may struggle to design a plan that seems fair not just to you, but also to your heirs. Often, different family members have radically disparate needs, and there may be worthy causes that you would like to support. How can you create a legacy that honors your personal values without provoking family disputes or hurt feelings among those you leave behind?” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Extreme Weather 28 mins – “A new report argues that climate change is having a measurable impact on our physical and mental health, and policymakers need to plan accordingly.” At the link find the title, “Fears around climate change are causing some people to seek out support groups,” right-click “Download Fears around climate change are causing some people to seek out support groups” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Fake News Spread 28 mins – “Anna Maria Tremonti speaks with a journalist and a technologist about how technology is being deployed to undermine truth in the modern world, and whether technology could also be used to fight back.” At the link find the title, “‘It’s an arms race’: Technology amplifies fake news, but could it also hold the solution?,” right-click “Download ‘It’s an arms race’: Technology amplifies fake news, but could it also hold the solution?” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Fascia and Soffits 9 mins – “Soffits and Fascia are parts of the house that don’t often get a lot of thought or attention from homeowners planning to build their dream homes. But they’re important not only as design elements for your home but also because they protect your house. And choosing the right materials for your fascia and soffits can reduce the required maintenance for your home. This week we’ll briefly talk about soffit and fascia options so you can make the best choice for your home. Let’s start by establishing exactly what and where soffits and fascia are.” At the link right-click “Download this Episode” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Federal Sentencing Laws 47 mins – “President Trump throws his support behind a rewrite of federal sentencing laws. What’s brought us to this point where politicians from both sides of the aisle are pushing for criminal justice reform?” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Female Engineers 25 mins- “Gina Parvaneh Cody graduated from Concordia with her PhD in engineering the same year as the École Polytechnique massacre. She talks to Anna Maria Tremonti about how she donated $15 million to her alma mater to “make a future where women are allowed in engineering.” At the link find the title, “The École Polytechnique massacre ‘left a scar,’ says first woman to have engineering school named after her,” right-click “Download The École Polytechnique massacre ‘left a scar,’ says first woman to have engineering school named after her,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Film Critic Leonard Maltin P2 99 mins – “Gilbert and Frank welcome back author, film critic and Hollywood historian Leonard Maltin, who shares his expertise on a number of topics, including the death of fanzines, the disappearance of movie theaters, the charm of “The Maltese Falcon” (both versions) and the appeal of New York-set films of the 1970s. Also, Zeppo breaks up the act, Laurel and Hardy bring down the house, Steve Allen plays Benny Goodman and Gilbert and Leonard remember their dear friend James Karen. PLUS: Keefe Brasselle! “The Buster Keaton Story”! In praise of “Ed Wood”! (and “Going in Style”!) Al Pacino remembers “Scarecrow”! And Leonard spends a day with Burgess Meredith” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Fish Feel Pain 25 mins – “For centuries, the consensus has been that fish don’t feel pain. A growing body of research suggests to some scientists that fish can indeed feel pain, but not everyone in the field agrees.” At the link find the title, “Do fish feel pain? Scientists are divided on the answer,” right-click “Download Do fish feel pain? Scientists are divided on the answer,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Football Deaths 47 mins – “The University of Maryland reverses course and fires the football coach in the wake of a player’s death. We’ll look at big-time sports and the costs of too big to fail.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
French Turmoil 47 mins -”France rocked by violent demonstrations against a fuel tax hike and economic woes. Will President Emmanuel Macron’s promise of relief be enough?” At the link right-click the down-pointing button and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gen Stanley McChrystal 68 mins– “In an era where strong leadership qualities, for everyone from young college applicants to accomplished CEOs, are seemingly valued above all else, retired four-star General Stanley McChrystal offers his own experienced perspective on leadership. McChrystal has observed his fair share of successful and failed leaders—from his training at West Point to his service as top commander in Afghanistan under President Obama. In his most recent book, Leaders: Myth and Reality, McChrystal digs deeper into the legacies of famed leaders to better understand how particular environments determine what type of leader is needed. Join us for a thoughtful analysis of well-known leaders and a discussion about personal application with one of today’s most decorated military leaders.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Geothermal Energy Resources 28 mins – “The heat contained in the top 3km of the Earth’s crust could power the planet thousands of times over. Despite that, less than 1% of the world’s electricity comes from geothermal energy. That may be about to change. Near Redruth in Cornwall a 3 mile deep hole is being dug- it will be the deepest in the UK. Cold water will be pumped down to the 200 degrees hot rocks below, the hot water returning will drive turbines to provide electricity for thousands of homes. Nearby, the Eden Project and the seawater lido in Penzance are building their own geothermal plants. But Cornwall is just the tip of the iceberg. Geothermal electricity was first produced in 1904 at Larderello in Tuscany. Today Enel Green Power supply a third of the region’s electricity from natural steam and they have plans to get much bigger, exploiting an extraordinary bit of chemistry. When water goes above 374 degrees centigrade and 221 bars of pressure it becomes a supercritical fluid. This contains five times as much energy as 200 degree water, transfers energy twice as efficiently and has a lower viscosity. Overall, you can theoretically get ten times more energy than from a similar conventional borehole. The new technology also promises more efficient geothermal energy in regions far away from geological hot spots like Iceland and Italy. The only fly in the ointment is that some techniques involve creating bigger fractures in the rocks. Experiments at Basel in Switzerland provoked an earthquake. So can the incredible potential of new-gen geothermal be exploited without provoking protests?” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
GimKit Creator 36 mins – “Josh Feinsilber began creating GimKit while a sophomore in high school. Now a senior, Josh continues to improve the online quiz game and operate the website. He is an inspiration to us all. Sign up to host a GimKit game at http://www.gimkit.com This episode of the Bedley Bros is sponsored by Global School Play Day, celebrated by schools around the world on the first Wednesday in February every single year. Learn more at http://www.globalschoolplayday.com” At the link right-click “Download Episode” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Global Problems Solutions 56 mins – “Naveen Jain is an entrepreneur driven to solve the world’s biggest challenges through unique innovation. He is the founder of several successful companies including Moon Express, Viome, Bluedot, TalentWise, Intelius and InfoSpace. Naveen is a trustee of the board at the XPRIZE Foundation where he is focused on using incentive prizes to find solutions to many of the societal challenges. He recently launched a million-dollar Women Safety XPRIZE to empower the women around the world. We recorded this episode of Bulletproof Radio, live and in person, at the XPRIZE event.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gratitude 47 mins – “Just in time for Thanksgiving, we’ll look at the science of gratitude and the evidence that it really does improve our lives.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gratitude 49 mins – “A.J. Jacobs (@ajjacobs) takes over the show for a special episode. A.J. is a kindred guinea pig of self-experimentation who chronicles his shenanigans in books that seem to keep winding up as New York Times best sellers. The Know-It-All was about his quest to learn everything in the world. In The Year of Living Biblically, he tried to follow all the rules of the Bible as literally as possible. Drop Dead Healthy followed his well- (and ill-) advised experiments to become the healthiest person alive. My Life as an Experiment is about exactly what it sounds like, and It’s All Relative aimed to connect all of humanity in one family tree. His latest book, Thanks a Thousand: A Gratitude Journey, chronicles his journey around the world to personally thank everyone along the supply chain who makes his morning cup of coffee a possibility: the farmer of the coffee beans, the barista, the designer of the logo for the coffee, the truck driver who transported the coffee beans, the guy who painted the yellow lines on the road so the truck wouldn’t veer into traffic, the inventor of the cardboard sleeve that goes around the coffee cup (aka the paper zarf) so you don’t burn your fingers, and on and on. At the link right-click “Click to listen” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Great Lakes Imperiled 46 mins – “Erie, Huron, Michigan, Ontario and Superior. We’ll explore the allure of the Great Lakes – and the perils facing them.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Ground Sinking 19 mins – “We hear from scientists who are saying we need to pay more attention to something called subsidence, or sinking ground, because they say is being exacerbated by climate change.” At the link find the title, “Parts of Tehran are sinking into the ground at 25cm a year, says scientist,” right-click “Download Parts of Tehran are sinking into the ground at 25cm a year, says scientist,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gun Control Activists 20 mins – “Survivors of the Parkland school shooting started a political movement in the U.S. to increase youth voter participation. It’s unclear how successful they will be.” At the link find the title, “After Parkland shooting, students ‘marched for their lives’: Now they’re urging youth to vote in U.S. midterms” right-click “Download After Parkland shooting, students ‘marched for their lives’: Now they’re urging youth to vote in U.S. midterms” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Hand Surgery 47 mins – “The concept of microsurgery is fairly new in the history of surgery. Microsurgery is a technique that allows the surgeon to repair one millimeter blood vessels and nerves using an operating room microscope and suture finer than the human hair. In the mid-1960s, Gregory Buncke’s father, Harry Buncke, M.D., recognized that, with the right tools, technique and equipment, he could replant amputated fingers, make a thumb from the big toe or reconstruct post traumatic or large defects. However, those tools and techniques did not exist at that time. Starting nearly from scratch, Buncke began designing and creating microsurgical instruments and microsurgical suture. Most of his early work was done at his home in San Francisco. He created a research surgical suite in his garage, performing rabbit ear replantation and toe to thumb transplants in the Rhesus monkey. Buncke was eventually given the title, “father of microsurgery,” for his commitment to educating thousands of surgeons. Greg Buncke has continued in his father’s footsteps, advancing microsurgery both in training and innovation. His group has pushed the envelope in reconstruction of the mutilated hand, for example, restoring all fingers and thumbs with toe transplantation. Breast reconstruction after mastectomy can now preformed using only abdominal or thigh tissue, without the need for an implant. Facial reconstruction can happen as a one-stage operation immediately after cancer resection. Transgender males can undergo phalloplasty microsurgically and can obtain an erection, urinate and have sexual sensation. Limbs that were once amputated after trauma can be salvaged and restored to nearly normal function. Peripheral nerve injuries with large gaps can be microsurgically reconstructed with allografts, avoiding the need for sacrificing nerves from other parts of the body. The future of reconstructive microsurgery is wide open. New reconstructive indications are being created on a daily basis. Join us, and come learn more about these exciting advances.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Havana Syndrome 20 mins – “Are energy weapons behind mystery injuries in Cuba? Unlikely, but they do exist: author. A Canadian diplomat’s reported brain injury is fueling the mystery around the so-called “Havana Syndrome,” allegedly caused by a high-pitched, cricket-like sound heard by embassy workers and family members in Cuba. Could an unusual weapon be responsible?” At the link find the title, “Are energy weapons behind mystery injuries in Cuba? Unlikely, but they do exist: author,” right-click “Download Are energy weapons behind mystery injuries in Cuba? Unlikely, but they do exist: author” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Huawei Controversy 21 mins – “The Arrest of tech exec Meng Wanzhou is underlining worries that her company, Huawei, could use its position in Canada as a means for espionage or retaliation against the government.” At the link find the title, “Concerns percolating over Huawei’s ‘leverage’ over Canadian cybersecurity,” right-click “Download Concerns percolating over Huawei’s ‘leverage’ over Canadian cybersecurity” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Human Hibernation 21 mins – “We look at how the fat-tailed dwarf lemur could hold the secret to human hibernation, and whether that could be the key to deep-space travel.” At the link find the title, “Lemurs could hold the key to human hibernation, says scientist,” right-click “Download Lemurs could hold the key to human hibernation, says scientist,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Human Rights Abuses 64 mins – “There are a greater number of forcibly displaced people in the world today than at any time since the end of World War II, and the Bay Area has welcomed many of these individuals. Hear from clinicians working directly with Bay Area refugees and asylum seekers about how they are restoring health and awakening hope in response to human rights abuses.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Impact Investing 76 mins – “How did we come to separate our understanding of economic/financial value from social/environmental value? How did we come to think of ourselves as being separate from our neighbors, community and planet? By crafting a new, holistic understanding of ourselves and our relationship to one another, we are able to approach a deeper, more significant understanding of the purpose of capital, which may then anchor our definition of the purpose of capital, how we understand the nature of returns (both financial and extra-financial) and a deeper understanding of the meaning of money. In a fireside chat, Donna Morton and Jed Emerson will explore these ideas—history and culture—connecting those within the current trend toward impact investing and sustainable finance as vehicles to generate financial returns with social and environmental impacts and the creation of a more just world for both human and nonhuman communities. The audience will come away with a new mindset for a future that is clean, just and regenerative for people and planet. Asking new questions—how can the people left out of the economy become our greatest assets—financial activism could unite Occupy and Wall Street, the 99 and the 1 percent. Movements such as Black Lives Matter, sanctuary cities, intersectional feminism and climate justice are the edges and opportunities for finance. Beyond divestment, the speakers will discuss moving finance from harm to healing.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Implant Deaths 31 mins – “A new investigation led by CBC/Radio-Canada, the Toronto Star and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists found concerns in the way medical devices are approved and monitored in many countries, and patients who have suffered as a result.” At the link find the title, “New investigations reveals implanted medical devices approved in Canada despite risks,” right-click “Download New investigations reveals implanted medical devices approved in Canada despite risks,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Implant Problems 24 mins – “A new investigation led by CBC/Radio-Canada, the Toronto Star and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists found concerns in the way medical devices are approved and monitored in many countries, and patients who have suffered as a result.” At the link find the title, “New investigations reveals implanted medical devices approved in Canada despite risks,” right-click “Download New investigations reveals implanted medical devices approved in Canada despite risks” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Index Funds Trend 49 mins – “Sounding the alarm on index funds. How their runaway success has reshaped power and accountability in boardrooms and on Wall Street.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Inside Your Gut 56 mins – “Naveen Jain is an entrepreneur driven to solve the world’s biggest challenges through unique innovation. He is the founder of several successful companies including Moon Express, Viome, Bluedot, TalentWise, Intelius and InfoSpace. Naveen is a trustee of the board at the XPRIZE Foundation where he is focused on using incentive prizes to find solutions to many of the societal challenges. He recently launched a million-dollar Women Safety XPRIZE to empower the women around the world. We recorded this episode of Bulletproof Radio, live and in person, at the XPRIZE event.” At the link right-click “Download” in the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Iraqi Refugees in Canada 23 mis – “Western society doesn’t understand what trauma survivors can achieve, says Dr Jan Kizilhan, a Kurdish-German psychologist who helps Yazidi survivors of ISIS sexual slavery.” At the link find the title, “Trauma survivors ‘can change society,’ says psychologist helping Yazidi survivors of ISIS,” right-click “Download Trauma survivors ‘can change society,’ says psychologist helping Yazidi survivors of ISIS,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Japan’s WW II Biological Research 64 mins – “During World War II, Japan’s biological warfare research group, referred to as Unit 731, carried out some of the most inhumane research experiments ever recorded. They also supplied the biological weapons used in the most destructive attacks in human history, killing tens of thousands of Chinese civilians. After the war, the Soviet Union tried, convicted and imprisoned several of the researchers as war criminals. As documentary filmmaker Paul Johnson reminds us, the United States instead made a deal with the Unit 731 leaders under their jurisdiction, agreeing not to prosecute them in exchange for the data they had developed from their human experiments. Johnson will discuss what he considers to be one of the darkest chapters of Cold War realpolitik.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Jonestown Survivor Story 67 mins – “Jackie Speier was 28 when she joined congressman Leo Ryan’s delegation to rescue defectors from cult leader Jim Jones’ Peoples Temple in Jonestown, Guyana. Ryan was killed on the airstrip tarmac, and Speier was shot five times at point-blank range. While recovering from what would become one of the most harrowing tragedies in recent history, Speier had to choose: Would she become a victim or a fighter? The choice to survive against unfathomable odds empowered her with a resolve to become a vocal proponent for human rights. From the formative nightmare that radically molded her perspective and instincts to the devastating personal and professional challenges that would follow, her memoir, Undaunted, reveals the perseverance of a determined force in American politics. Deeply rooted in Speier’s experiences as a widow, a mother, a congresswoman and a fighter, hers is a story of true resilience, one that will inspire other women to draw strength from adversity in order to do what is right—no matter the challenges ahead.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Journalism War 20 mins – “Maria Ressa, named among Time Magazine’s ‘Person of the Year,’ says the Philippines is a warning to the world about the power of social media to spread misinformation. She wants platforms like Facebook to take more responsibility.” At the link find the title, “‘In the middle of a battle,’ journalist Maria Ressa, named among Time’s Person of the Year, won’t back down,” right-click “Download ‘In the middle of a battle,’ journalist Maria Ressa, named among Time’s Person of the Year, won’t back down,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Kilgallen Death Case 78 mins – “Mark Shaw’s Denial of Justice adds the final chapter to The Reporter Who Knew Too Much, the bestselling murder mystery about “What’s My Line” TV star and investigative reporter Dorothy Kilgallen. The Reporter Who Knew Too Much detailed the life and times of Kilgallen who, according to Shaw, came too close to the truth about the JFK assassination. In his new book, Shaw presents incriminating evidence about the main suspect in Kilgallen’s death from the suspect’s family members, detailing the disturbing conduct by FBI agents on the day Kilgallen died. Shaw also includes government documents never published before that may change the way you perceive the JFK assassination. Readers can find out more at thedorothykilgallenstory.org.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Last Watchman of Old Cairo 64 mins – “Michael David Lukas, who attended The American University in Cairo and was a Fulbright scholar in Turkey, will discuss his critically acclaimed multigenerational novel, The Last Watchman of Old Cairo. Lukas weaves an intriguing tale, using real and fictional characters from old and modern Cairo; Victorian England; and Berkeley, California. The novel follows Joseph (the son of a Muslim father and Jewish mother) as he traces his forefather’s role in guarding Cairo’s historic Ibn Ezra Synagogue and the ties that bind his family. Lukas’ last book, The Oracle of Stamboul, has been translated into more than a dozen languages.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Lean In Pushback 47 mins – “Five years ago Facebook’s Sheryl Sandberg told women to “lean in.” Now, many women, including Michelle Obama, say it just doesn’t work. We look at the pushback against lean in.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Less Harmful Products 66 mins – “Playing for Team Human today, recorded live on the floor at the Personal Democracy Forum 2018, are Moira Weigel and Ben Tarnoff. Moira and Ben will be showing us how the tech industry’s promise to build less harmful products and programs is just capitalism’s way of proving that love means never having to say, “I’m sorry.” Moira and Ben co-wrote the brilliant feature article in the Guardian, “Why Silicon Valley Can’t Fix Itself” Just last week, Ben’s exposé and interview with an anonymous worker/organizer at Google revealed the internal fight led by workers against Google’s contracting with the Pentagon on Project Maven, a weaponized use of Google’s AI and cloud computing technology. The interview, published June 6th, can be found at Jacobin magazine: Tech Workers Versus the Pentagon Ben’s articles in the Guardian and Jacobin have been disrupting tech industry gospel for the past decade. He is also the author of The Bohemians. Moira Weigel is a postdoc at the Harvard Society of Fellows. Her recent book Labor of Love; The Invention of Dating looks at the commodification of courtship under consumer capitalism. Moira and Ben are editors of Logic, a print and digital magazine which features thought provoking journalism on technology. Like Team Human, Logic strives to host a “better conversation” about technology…” At the link find the title, “Ep. 90 Moira Weigel and Ben Tarnoff “Humane Tech or Capitalism Rebranded?” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Levulinic Acid 7 mins – “Thousands of football fans throughout Europe will remember the name Mathieu Flamini. The French mid-fielder played for his country and prestigious clubs such as Arsenal and AC Milan. What fans did not know when he was scoring goals was that he had a secret which he kept from his team mates and even his parents. In 2008, Flamini met Italian entrepreneur Pasquale Granata. The two bonded over shared concerns about global warming and decided to team up to help tackle environmental damage. They secretly established a company to produce carbon-containing chemicals from biomass. They called the company GFBiochemicals, the G standing for Granata and F for Flamini. Over the next few years they worked in partnership with researchers at the Polytechnic University of Milan and the University of Pisa to develop technology for the production of levulinic acid, an organic compound also known as 4-oxopentanoic acid. In 2004, the United States Department of Energy had identified the acid as one of 12 platform chemicals for the development of green industrial chemical processes. These processes rely on biomass as a raw material rather than non-renewable fossil sources for the production of organic chemicals and fuels. In 2015, Flamini revealed his secret to the public by announcing that GFBiochemicals had begun producing levulinic acid at its plant in Caserta, an Italian city some 40 kilometres north of Naples. It was the first company to mass produce the acid and it did so at a rate of 2,000 tons a year. …Other companies are now developing technologies to produce the compound on a commercial scale. For example, in March 2017 the Italian companies Bio-on and Sadam Group launched a joint project for sustainable low-cost production using by-products from the sugar industry as a raw material. A Bio-on press release noted that: ‘Levulinic acid is one of the key elements of the sustainable chemical industry of the future. It is used mainly in agriculture, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, but also to make bioplastics and biofuels. …The development of low-cost processes for the large-scale production of levulinic acid is still in its infancy. But companies such as GFBiochemicals are confident that the acid has a big future. Its notes on its website that: ‘Levulinic acid is a platform chemical with significant potential to replace petroleum-based products in the chemical and biofuel sectors.’ The company anticipates that its annual production with rise to up to 50,000 tons between 2020 and 2025. Its competitor, Bio-on, is similarly optimistic. It estimates that market demand will grow 150 to 200-fold over the next seven to eight years. …” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Machine Metaphor Escape P1 60 mins –On July 9th 2018 Team Human partnered with Virtual Futures for an evening of connection and conversation at JuJu’s Bar and Stage in London. Joining Douglas on stage, science fiction, fantasy, and horror writer Pat Cadigan followed by biologist, author, and TED outlaw Rupert Sheldrake. Presented here is Part One of the program, featuring Douglas in conversation with Pat Cadigan. Pat and Douglas take a winding path through topics including virtual reality, identity, and telling the future. Inspired by Pat’s vivid and clairvoyant imagination Rushkoff asks his audience to use the term “future” as a verb, exclaiming, “We can future together!” Opening the show, Rushkoff digs deeper into his recent, now viral essay, “Survival of the Richest.” Rather than succumb to the notion that the future is something we must insulate ourselves from, what if we both imagined and committed to building a future that amplifies connection and mutual aid?” At the link find the title, “Ep. 94 Team Human w/ Virtual Futures Live in London Part 1: Pat Cadigan,” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Machine Metaphor Escape P2 75 mins – “In July 2018, Team Human partnered with Virtual Futures for an evening of connection and conversation at JuJu’s Bar and Stage in London. Joining Douglas on stage, science fiction, fantasy, and horror writer Pat Cadigan followed by biologist, author, and TED outlaw Rupert Sheldrake. Presented here in Episode 95 is Part Two of this live event featuring Douglas in conversation with Rupert Sheldrake, followed by a group conversation and audience question and answer session. If you missed part one with Pat Cadigan, find it here. Douglas and Rupert discuss science, materialism, spiritualism, and how we might break free from the machine metaphor that programs so many of our assumptions about human consciousness. In a unique impromptu treat, Rupert’s wife Jill Purce joins the stage to demonstrate the power of resonance.” At the link find the title, “Ep. 95 Team Human w/ Virtual Futures Live in London Part 2: Rupert Sheldrake,” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Maria Callas Documentary 47 mins – “We talk with the director of a new documentary about the life of Maria Callas, to this day one of the most electrifying singers in opera.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Marijuana Research 10 mins – Various aspects of marijuana research are presented. The podcast isn’t available for download from Wired Spoken Edition, but is in the blog archive.
Mars Landing (first item) 39 mins – “Kate Arkless Gray tells Click about the technology on the latest Nasa Mars lander InSight and how this will work now that it is safely on the Red Planet’s surface. Detecting unknown drones – Aviation and drone experts have been carrying out drone trials near a major airport in the UK to trial new software designed to detect unauthorised drones and see if it can alert planes to potential danger. Gareth Mitchell went along to see how the technology works. Wikipiano – Imagine if you went to a concert and perhaps thought the music that was being played there wasn’t quite to your taste, or that the performance could be improved – would you want to change it? Well if the piece being performed is a webpage – one which anyone can access – you can make changes and see them implemented at the next show. Jack Meegan reports on his experience of Wikipiano. Reading a book millions of times – Would you read the same story over a million times? New technology developed by the BBC will allow you to listen to a story in millions of combinations – the chapters are the same, just played in a different order. We hear more about B.S. Johnson’s “The Unfortunates.” At the link no downloads are possible; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Meaningful Conversations 69 mins – “Playing for Team Human today is Eli Pariser, author of The Filter Bubble, former director of MoveOn.org and current chief executive of Upworthy.com. Eli uses media to make what’s important popular, rather than the other way around. Upworthy.com is a story-driven website focused on magnifying meaningful conversations that encourage positive social change. On today’s episode, Eli and Douglas mine our reality tunnels, looking at how perspective shapes meaning and what strategies we might employ to ground democracy in greater consciousness and empathy. On the theme of reality, Douglas opens with the viral craze over the “Yanni/Laurel” audio clip. Can we really say that everything is just a matter how you hear it?” At the link find the title, “Ep. 88 Eli Pariser “The Ground Under Our Feet,” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Metabolic Health 69 mins– “Modern health means metabolic health. The main pathway to chronic diseases today is the breakdown of our finely tuned metabolic machinery inside, due to processed food, lifestyle and – mental health? Stress and depression have potent effects on our behavior and creating imbalance of hormones such as glucose, insulin and inflammation. Poor mental health contributes to the metabolic syndrome, a cluster of common maladies including a large waist, high lipid levels and blood pressure, breakdown of the balance between insulin and glucose, and the most invisible to all, a fatty liver. You will hear from four experts in this area on the important topics of nutrition, optimal daily habits and how to prevent depression and the cascade of dysregulation that manifests as the metabolic syndrome.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Midterm Election Prospects 60 mins – “Is this the last stand for American democracy? That’s what many of Donald Trump’s opponents believe. The upcoming US midterm election is the last chance to prevent the United States from becoming a truly authoritarian state. That fear has the Democrats campaigning hard. But the Republicans are scared too: If Democrats sweep the House and Senate, they could kill off Trump’s legislative agenda and gain new investigative powers to hit Trump hard over Russia, alleged obstruction of justice and the numerous allegations of influence-peddling at Trump’s businesses. And then there’s the Mueller investigation, which is due to conclude next year: if the special counsel finds evidence of criminal wrongdoing by the President, Democrats could begin impeachment proceedings. This may truly be the impeachment election. So what future awaits America in this historic election? Will Justice Kavanaugh’s acrimonious confirmation lead to a pro-Trump surge or will a wave of women voters sweep Republicans out of office? And in this hyper-partisan atmosphere, is there any chance to repair America’s fractured political landscape? We were joined by professor at Columbia University and leading expert on constitutional law Philip Bobbitt, Chair of Republicans Overseas UK Sarah Elliott and renowned American author and historian Timothy Snyder. The event was chaired by Guardian columnist, broadcaster and author Jonathan Freedland.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Midterm Elections Impact 37 mins – “Tuesday night was a good night for progressive Democrats, John Nichols argues—and Democratic control of the House will bring an epic change to Washington politics—starting with a return to Constitutional principles and an insistence that the president is subject to the rule of law. Also: women won unprecedented victories in the midterms. Joan Walsh analyzes the feminist insurgency that will bring almost a hundred women to the House of Representatives in January—including the first two Muslim women (Michigan’s Rashida Tlaib and Minnesota’s Ilhan Omar); the first Native American women (New Mexico’s Deb Haaland and Kansas’s Sharice Davids), Texas’s first two Latina congresswomen (Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia); plus three young black women (Massachusetts’s Ayanna Pressley, Connecticut’s Jahana Hayes, and Illinois’s Lauren Underwood). Plus: Brazil last week elected Jair Bolsonaro. Our man in Rio, Andy Robinson, says he is “worse than Donald Trump,” and “as close to fascism as you will get in the world today, despite a growing number of contenders.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is in the blog archive.
Minimalist Living 25 mins – “In a world of stuff, there’s a movement that sells the idea of space as a path to happiness. But some critics see this lifestyle trend as self-centred, and say it includes its own kind of consumerism that only people with money can afford.” At the link find the title, “Minimalism: Upper-class luxury or liberating lifestyle?” right-click “Download Minimalism: Upper-class luxury or liberating lifestyle?” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Musician Gender Pay Gap 24 mins – “A journalist covering an ongoing gender discrimination lawsuit launched against the Boston Symphony Orchestra by its principal flutist says the case could have broader implications for classical musicians.” At the link find the title, “How a lawsuit over gender-equal pay could change the classical music industry,” right-click “Download How a lawsuit over gender-equal pay could change the classical music industry” and select “Save Lin As” from the pop-up menu.
Myanmar’s Hidden Genocide 63 mins – “his past August marked the 30th anniversary of Myanmar’s pro-democracy uprising in 1988. At the same moment, accusations of ethnic cleansing against the Rohingya Muslims and widespread human rights abuses across the Southeast Asian nation have prompted the United States to impose new sanctions, specifically on four military and police commanders and two army units. These recent actions by government forces taking place in Rohingya communities within Myanmar suggest that the promises of democracy have been betrayed. The responsibility, according to Azeem Ibrahim, rests on Nobel Peace Prize winner and de facto leader of the country, Aung San Suu Kyi, and her party as much as anyone else. Come hear this startling story. Ibrahim’s global analytical work has been praised by the likes of Secretary Madeleine Albright and former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Ibrahim received his doctorate from Cambridge University and has previously been appointed an International Security Fellow at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a World Fellow at Yale University. Outside academia, Ibrahim has been a reservist in the 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment (the U.K.’s elite airborne infantry reserve) and an award-winning entrepreneur. He was named a young global leader by the World Economic Forum.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Myers-Briggs Controversy 25 mins – “Using the Myers-Briggs personality test is a way to engineer a workforce while appearing to care about employees’ self fulfillment, says Merve Emre, the author of The Personality Brokers: The Strange History of Myers-Briggs and the Birth of Personality Testing.” At the link find the title, “Myers-Briggs tests in the workplace help the employer, not the employee, says author,” right-click “Download Myers-Briggs tests in the workplace help the employer, not the employee, says author,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Neoliberalism Failure 68 mins – “Playing for Team Human today is activist, Guardian columnist, and author of Out of the Wreckage: A New Politics for an Age of Crisis, George Monbiot. Monbiot and Rushkoff discuss the abysmal failure of neoliberalism, a narrative that figures humans as self-interested, competitive, and greedy creatures. Monbiot offers compelling evidence, both from his own on the ground experience reporting on people’s movements in Indonesia and Brazil, as well as recent findings in neuroscience and anthropology that break the neoliberal myth. But it’s not enough to merely break a myth with facts and figures. Monbiot argues that we must offer a new, engaging story. Can we harness our “narrative instinct,” to amplify participation in a politics centered on belonging, community, and restoring power back into the hands of team human? Rushkoff opens thinking about the medium of podcasting itself. Is the podcasting landscape in danger of being overrun by cookie-cutter, corporate funded content factories? Is there still room for the quirky DIY show?” At the link find the title, “Ep. 89 George Monbiot “Beyond Salvation and Disaster” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Neuromorphic Computer (first item) 27 mins – “Largest neuromorphic supercomputer The world’s largest neuromorphic supercomputer has just been switched on. Called the Spiking Neural Network Architecture or SpinNNaker, it’s built to work like the human brain and can complete more that 200 million million actions per second, making it the fastest of its kind in the world. First AI medical app in Swahili – Ada, an AI powered health platform, is launching in Swahili, making its health assessment technology available to more than 100 million people in Sub-Saharan Africa. The app uses data from real medical cases as well as knowledge from doctors and scientists. But how useful will it be if access to the internet or a decent smart phone is limited? Coding with the Flying Scotsman – The UK has the lowest percentage of female engineers in Europe. To increase these figures the UK government has embarked on a “Year of Engineering” campaign. Our reporter Jack Meegan has travelled to the National Railway Museum in York – the home of the world famous Flying Scotsman locomotive – to find out more about the Future Engineers event designed to get girls into technology and engineering. Is Uber in the US? – Is the question that Yinka Adegoke was asked once when he hailed an Uber in Nairobi. Yinka is the Africa Editor for the Quatrz news website and he’s just published a piece about how the gig economy, pushed on by technology like Uber, AirBnB and other apps, is becoming increasingly vital to many African economies.” At the link no downloads are possible; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Oysters Affected by Early Freeze 10 mins – “An early freeze is causing havoc for oyster farmers in P.E.I.[Prince Edward Island], where more than 1,000 people are employed in the industry. We spoke to one oyster grower about the challenges they’re facing.” At the link find the title, “Earliest freeze ‘in nearly 30 years’ is causing problems for P.E.I. oyster farmers,” right-click “Download Earliest freeze ‘in nearly 30 years’ is causing problems for P.E.I. oyster farmers” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Philanthropy 64 mins – “Is philanthropy, by its very nature, a threat to democracy? Though we may laud wealthy individuals who give away their money for society’s benefit, Rob Reich shows how such generosity not only isn’t the unassailable good we think it is, but it might also undermine democratic values. Big philanthropy is often a conversion of private assets into public influence—a form of power that is largely unaccountable and tax-advantaged. And small philanthropy, or ordinary charitable giving, can be problematic as well. These outcomes are shaped by the policies that define and structure philanthropy. Reich asks: What attitude and what policies should democracies have concerning individuals who give money away for public purposes? Differentiating between individual philanthropy and private foundations, Reich suggests that the goal of mass giving should be the decentralization of power in the production of public goods, such as the arts, education and science. For foundations, the goal should be long-term horizon innovations that enhance democratic experimentalism. Reich concludes that philanthropy, when properly structured, can play a crucial role in supporting a strong liberal democracy.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Podcasting College Classes 35 mins – “This episode contains CJ’s presentation from the Sound Education podcast conference held at the Divinity School of Harvard University in November, 2018. Join CJ as he discusses: The differences he’s noticed (for both teacher & learner) between a conventional classroom setting on the one hand, and podcasting on the other; His belief that these differences are largely due to the fact that a typical classroom setting is less voluntary and revolves around extrinsic motivations, whereas something like podcasting is purely voluntary (for both teacher & learner) and revolves around intrinsic motivations, and why the latter is superior in most important ways to the former” At the link you can listen, but not download; however a copy is included in the blog archive.
Political Polarization 25 mins – “Heated rhetoric in the U.S. midterm campaign has increased divisions between voters, including among families and friends.” At the link find the title, “Voters and families remain divided as congress splits in U.S. midterm results,” right-click “Download Voters and families remain divided as congress splits in U.S. midterm results” and select ”Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pollution Art 28 mins – “Climate change is hard to depict. Polar bears on melting ice caps are far away from everyday life and the data is often complex and confusing. So could art in its broadest sense help us to understand the implications of global warming and environmental degradation? Tom Heap takes a look at how the creative community is responding to what is arguably the biggest threat of our time and asks if art can succeed in eliciting a response where science has failed. Music and visual arts which make climate data sets tangible, clothing which make pollutants visible and artists who make their creative response a form of protest. These are just a few of the ways in which artists are responding to environmental issues but it remains to be seen if these visions can impact our collective beliefs and behaviours.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Populism and Democracy 53 mins – “Our lecture this week is presented by the Boston University Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies, and the Center for the Study of Europe. Our speaker is Sheri Berman, Professor of Political Science at Barnard College, Columbia University. Professor Berman’s lecture is titled “Populism and the Future of Liberal Democracy in the West.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Positive Social Media 69 mins – “Playing for Team Human today is YouTube phenomenon, Netflix comedian, and writer and director of the movie Eighth Grade, Bo Burnham. Bo and Douglas consider the other, positive side of social media — how it still gives young people a way to test and share social strategies and express themselves. A conversation with many inspired tangents, Douglas and Bo also look at the ways social media pressures us to live our lives like a performance in a movie, the tragedy of becoming trapped in metanarratives, and how to get ahead of a self-satirizing internet. Today’s conversation references Douglas’s Frontline documentaries Generation Like and The Merchants of Cool” At the link find the title, “Ep. 96 Bo Burnham “The Movie of Your Own Life Does Not Suck” right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Republican Refugees 46 mins – “When it comes to politics, Texas is a big deal. With a population approaching 30-million and an economy bigger than Canada’s, Texas plays an outsized role in Washington. In the lead-up to the pivotal U.S. midterm elections, Anna Maria Tremonti visits the Lone State to hear from Texans.” At the link find the title, “‘As Goes Texas’: The Current digs deep into the political divide of the Lone State,” right-click “Download ‘As Goes Texas’: The Current digs deep into the political divide of the Lone State” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Rev Jesse Jackson 70 mins – “The Rev. Jesse Jackson is one of America’s foremost civil rights, religious and political figures. For more than five decades, from working with the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to his own two presidential campaigns and beyond, Jackson has played a pivotal role in virtually every movement for empowerment, peace, civil rights, gender equality, and economic and social justice. On August 9, 2000, President Bill Clinton awarded Jackson the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation’s highest civilian honor. As America grapples with polarization and increased threats of violence against social and political leaders, various ethnic groups, and the media, is it still possible for Americans to lessen the heated rhetoric and bridge divides? Come for a conversation with a man who has been called the “conscience of the nation.” Jackson will discuss the possibilities for America to be inclusive and to find common ground across lines of race, culture, class, gender and belief.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Rwanda Reconciliation 57 mins – “Twenty-four years after the genocide against the Tutsi, a process of reconciliation and redevelopment has helped Rwandans transcend many of the divisions that tore their nation apart. The process of reconciliation today is embodied by government initiatives intended to erase the old colonial construct of operation along ethnic identities. This event will discuss Rwanda’s history and how its people were able to heal the wounds of genocide and harness a shared spirit to challenge the forces that tore the country apart.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Satchel Paige 48 mins – “Soon after Leroy “Satchel” Paige arrived at spring training in 1937 to pitch for the Pittsburgh Crawfords, he and five of his teammates, including Josh Gibson and James “Cool Papa” Bell, were lured to the Dominican Republic with the promise of easy money to play in a baseball tournament in support of the country’s dictator, Rafael Trujillo. But the money wasn’t so easy. Paige and his friends soon found themselves under the thumb of Trujillo, known by Dominicans for murdering those who disappointed him. At first the Ciudad Trujillo all-star team floundered—Paige and his friends spent their nights carousing and their days dropping close games. Desperate to restore discipline, Trujillo tapped the leader of his death squads to become part of the team management. Afraid they might be shot, Paige and his teammates rallied to win. This barely registered with Trujillo, who just months later ordered the killings of 15,000 Haitians at the border between Haiti and the Dominican Republic. When Paige and his teammates returned home, they were banished from the Negro leagues. Despite this, they continued to play baseball, barnstorming across America as the “Trujillo All-Stars” team. Author Averell “Ace” Smith tells an extraordinary story of race and politics and of some of the greatest baseball players ever as they played high-stakes baseball for one of the Caribbean’s cruelest dictators.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Self Driving Car Revolution 47 mins – “There’s now an app to hail a self-driving taxi. We’ll look behind the wheel at the technology and safety concerns.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Social Justice 60 mins – “Best-selling Bay Area author Adam Hochschild is back with a varied collection of essays on ideas and concerns that have spurred his career, with a particular focus on issues related to social justice and the people who have fought for it, the toll and aftereffects of colonialism, and the dangers of government surveillance. Hochschild was moved to collect and curate these essays (more than two dozen in all) by a sense that these issues matter more than ever in Trump’s America. The pieces in his new volume range from a day on the campaign trail with Nelson Mandela to walking through construction sites with an ecologically pioneering architect near the southern tip of India. Many of the pieces evince a personal angle: visits to Finnish prisons, exploration of former gulag areas in Siberia, his own dealings with the CIA when talking about new revelations of the agency’s control of ostensibly independent organizations in the ’50s and ’60s. As always, Hochschild’s journalistic skills, deep historical knowledge and activist leanings illuminate each essay. A longtime lecturer at the Graduate School of Journalism at UC Berkeley, Hochschild is the author of numerous books. His writings have appeared in The New Yorker, Harper’s Magazine, The Atlantic, The New York Times Magazine, The Nation and other publications.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Sugar Expose 68 mins – “The eighth annual Lundberg Institute Lecture focuses on Gary Taubes’ groundbreaking exposé, which makes the convincing case that sugar is the tobacco of the new millennium: backed by powerful lobbies, entrenched in our lives and making us very sick. Diabetes is more prevalent today than ever among Americans; obesity is at epidemic proportions. Nearly 10 percent of children are thought to have nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. The excessive consumption of sugar is at the root of these and other critical health problems. Taubes delves into Americans’ history with sugar: its uses as a preservative, as an additive in cigarettes, and more recently its overuse in the form of high-fructose corn syrup. He presents the arguments against sugar, corrects misconceptions about the relationship between sugar and weight loss, and provides the perspective necessary to make informed decisions about sugar as individuals and as a society.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Supreme Court Future 66 mins – “With the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy and the appointment of Brett Kavanaugh, the Supreme Court is at a turning point. From privacy and free speech to affirmative action and immigration, how will the court and the Constitution change as a result? Join noted constitutional scholar Jeffrey Rosen for an examination of the most hotly contested constitutional questions of our time and what they bode for the future of the country. In addition to heading the National Constitution Center and teaching at George Washington University, Rosen is also a contributing editor of The Atlantic and former legal affairs editor of The New Republic. The Los Angeles Times has called him “the nation’s most widely read and influential legal commentator.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Supreme Court Problems 70 mins – “David Kaplan takes us inside the secret world of the Supreme Court and shows us how nine justices have subverted the role of the other branches of government—and how we’ve come to accept this at our peril. The court is so crucial that some voters in 2016 selected a presidential candidate based on who that candidate would likely appoint. Donald Trump picked Neil Gorsuch and now Brett Kavanaugh, both potential swing votes on social policies such as abortion, same-sex marriage, gun control, campaign finance and voting rights. Kaplan asks: Is that really how democracy is supposed to work? Based on exclusive interviews with the justices and their law clerks, Kaplan will provide fresh details about life behind the scenes—Clarence Thomas’s simmering rage, Antonin Scalia’s death, Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s celebrity. Kaplan presents a sweeping narrative of the justices’ aggrandizement of power over the decades, and he demonstrates that the arrogance of the court isn’t partisan: Conservative and liberal justices alike are guilty of overreach.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tech Industry Leadership 76 mins – “Join New York Times technology editor and renowned Silicon Valley journalist Pui-Wing Tam to discuss one of the thorniest issues in tech: how to build the next wave of industry leadership. What qualities do leaders need to move beyond an era of cultish corporate command to create fair and functional work environments? How do you keep workers and investors happy? Tam will talk about these and other concerns with: Bridget Frey, chief technology officer at Redfin—one of the few female executives in that role; Tina Sharkey, an American entrepreneur and advisor and co-founder of Brandless; Wayne Sutton, a long-time diversity and inclusion advisor and strategist; and Josh Reeves, chief executive officer and co-founder of Gusto and a longtime champion of bettering work life.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Technological Philospher 57 mins – “Playing for Team Human today is interdisciplinary thinker and technology philosopher Damien Williams. In this episode, Williams and Rushkoff look at the embedded biases of technology and the values programed into our mediated lives. How has a conception of technology as “objective” blurred our vision to the biases normalized within these systems? What ethical interrogation might we apply to such technology? And finally, how might alternative modes of thinking, such as magick, the occult, and the spiritual help us to bracket off these systems for pause and critical reflection? This conversation serves as a call to vigilance against runaway systems and the prejudices they amplify.” At the link find the title, “Ep. 74 Damien Williams “We Built It From Us,” right-click “Download “ and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tibetan Buddhism 52 mins – “Our lecture this week is titled “Interdependent Personhood and Relational Ethics: A Tibetan Perspective” and features Sarah Jacoby, Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Northwestern University. This weeks’ lecture presented by the Boston University Institute for Philosophy and Religion, and the Boston University Center for Humanities.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tom Hanks Interview 48 mins – “We’ll talk with actor Tom Hanks on his career, his book and his love affair with the typewriter.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Transgender by Law 65 mins -”The Trump administration recently unleashed what’s been criticized as another attack on transgender Americans by calling for the Department of Health and Human Services to redefine sex as biological under Title IX, which prevents gender-based discrimination. In response, LGBTQ communities and allies have mobilized community actions calling out the administration for what they’re calling a blatant attempt to erase trans and gender nonconforming communities. Join us for an informational discussion with community experts on strategies to address this latest attack and the impact of the upcoming November 6 election. Learn more on what this memo means, what people can do next.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Trump Opposition 69 mins – ““I’d give us an A.” ―President Donald Trump, on his first 100 days in office. Bill Press, a popular radio host and former California Democratic chair, argues the opposite: that every day that Trump stays in office, he diminishes the United States and its people. In his new book, Trump Must Go, Press offers 100 reasons why he believes Trump needs to be removed from office, whether by impeachment, the 25th Amendment or the ballot box. Ranging from banning federal employees’ use of the phrase “climate change” to making disparaging comments about African nations and countries such as Haiti and El Salvador, Press lists his reasons why he believes the president is unfit for office. Press says that Trump’s calendar is marked with extensive “executive time” so he can tweet, golf and watch TV. But, in a political climate where the world has learned to expect the unexpected, Press will also offer a twist: one reason not to ditch Donald Trump.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Trump Supporter 59 mins – “Sebastian Gorka served as deputy assistant to President Donald Trump for much of 2017 and continues to be an outspoken supporter of the president’s agenda. Currently, Gorka works as a national security strategist for Fox News. Since his emergence on the political stage, his controversial nationalist views have seen a resurgence across the western world. In his book Why We Fight, Gorka asserts that if America wants to succeed in the war on terror, we need a clear, unifying doctrine. He believes willful ignorance about our adversary—whether it’s Russia, China or the global jihadi movement—has crippled America and our will to fight outside threats. Join us for a conversation with this provocative figure who worked for Trump and continues to influence global affairs.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
UN Climate Change Summit 20 mins – “As the UN talks on climate change are extended in Poland, Green Party leader Elizabeth May tells us that those expecting decisive action will be disappointed.” At the link find the title, “‘Do we want to survive or not?’: Elizabeth May says climate change talks too focused on technicalities,” right-click “Download ‘Do we want to survive or not?’: Elizabeth May says climate change talks too focused on technicalities” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Undocumented Citizen 68 mins – “In Jose Antonio Vargas’ own words, his story as an undocumented citizen is “only one of an estimated 11 million in the United States.” While the details differ, they all have common threads—a feeling of homelessness in place you call home and the ever-looming fear of an uncertain future. Vargas argues that the psychological trauma attached to those experiences is often felt for generations. Join the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer as he chronicles his journey in becoming arguably the most recognizable undocumented figure in the United States and how he also became the voice of those displaced by a highly hostile, anti-immigrant culture. He will also offer insight into the everyday life of those living on the fringes of a society that does not welcome them and the unwavering spirit and generosity that perseveres in that community.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Venezuelan Crisis 19 mins – “As a former diplomat, Ben Rowswell witnessed populist politics has taken hold in recent years, and the impact that had on countries like Venezuela. Now he’s urging citizens to organize and fight back against the threat – and he’s got an app for that.” At the link find the title, “Citizens must become leaders in order to combat populism, says former diplomat,” right-click “Download Citizens must become leaders in order to combat populism, says former diplomat” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Veterans Dental Issues 32 mins – “The mission of Dentists Organized for Veterans is to enhance lives by providing free, on-going, high-quality dental services in the first private, stand alone, full-service dental clinic in the United States wholly devoted to veterans who do not qualify for dental services from the Veterans Administration and who cannot afford dental care. a significant portion of veterans, many of whom cannot afford dental insurance, suffer through extremely poor oral health and dental neglect. The dental professionals at DOV, over seen by Clinical Director Angela Bayat, DDS, seek to address this appalling circumstance and provide the same standard of care and variety of services found in any modern, private practice at no cost to the veteran. Dr. Bayat has lived all over the world and brings a global perspective on patient care and health. Beginning her professional career as a Pharmacy student, Dr. Bayat eventually pursued dentistry as a field that would give her more personal contact with patients. Fluent in three languages, she has a natural talent not only as a practitioner but a trusted caregiver who listens to and addresses the specific concerns of her patients.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Violinist Lucia Micarelli 47 mins – “Violinist Lucia Micarelli defies the limits of what music can be played on a violin. She’s with us.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Walmart CEO Interview 61 mins – “Doug McMillon (IG: @dougmcmillon) is president and chief executive officer of Walmart, a company that, if it were a country, would be the 25th largest economy in the world. Walmart serves 265 million customers weekly in 27 countries across more than 11,000 stores and online, and the company employs roughly 2.2 million associates worldwide, which would equate to the second largest army in the world (behind China) if it were tasked with defending that 25th largest economy. 75 percent of Walmart’s store management team began as hourly associates, and Doug is no exception. He started out in 1984 as a summer associate in the Walmart distribution center, and in 1990 while pursuing his MBA, he rejoined the company as an assistant manager in Tulsa before moving to merchandising as a buyer trainee. He worked his way up, and from 2005 to 2009 he served as president and CEO of Sam’s Club (owned and operated by Walmart) with sales of more than $46 billion annually during his tenure. From February of 2009 to 2014, Doug served as president and CEO of Walmart International, a fast-growing segment of Walmart’s overall operations. He has served on the board of directors for Walmart since 2013 and is currently the chair of the executive and global compensation committees. In addition, he serves on the board of directors of the Consumer Goods Forum, the US-China Business Council and Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. He also serves on the executive committee of the Business Roundtable and the advisory board of the Tsinghua University School of Economics and Management in Beijing, China. This episode was recorded live at the Heartland Summit in Bentonville, AR, surrounded by the jaw-droppingly mind-blowing Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art. Please enjoy!” At the link right-click “Download as an MP3 by right-clicking here and choosing “save as.” from below the sound bar.
Wetlands Value 27 mins – “What have wetlands ever done for us? Apart from providing fresh water, carbon storage, flood mitigation, wildlife habitat and much more….they are said to be critical to human and planetary life. But a recent report claims despite this these ecosystems are disappearing three times faster than forests. Around 35% of the worlds wetlands were lost between 1970 and 2015 – but the UK lost most of its before then. So why don’t we care? Are a ‘bunch of bogs and ditches’ less valued than a romantic forest? Tom Heap finds out what wetlands are and what they do for us and if policy makers and decision-makers need to value them more highly, should we too? The positive news is wetlands can be created and improved – both on a large scale and in our own gardens and neighbourhoods. Is it time to make some noise for the wonders of wetlands?” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Wine Harvest 2018 59 mins – “Join our distinguished vintner and winegrower panelists as they share their year-long journey toward the 2018 vineyard harvest and their commitment to a healthier environment, stronger communities and vibrant businesses. Following the program, continue the conversation with our panel and celebrate the holidays with a tasting of their outstanding wines.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Women Politician Winners 47 mins – “A record number of women ran for office. We look at how they did and how they might lead.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
World War One Impact 47 mins – “The 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Reflections from the homefront and Europe.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Yemen Destruction 59 mins – “Since 2015, a Saudi-led coalition, supported by Britain and the United States, has waged a devastating war on Yemen, resulting in a humanitarian disaster largely ignored by the world’s media. Isa Blumi, a noted historian, senior lecturer and associate professor at Stockholm University (specializing in Ottoman history, Albania and Yemen) will discuss his latest book, Destroying Yemen: What Chaos in Arabia Tells Us About the World, published by UC Press.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Yemen Famine 24 mins – “With over 60 per cent of the population living on the brink of famine and an estimated 85,000 children dead from malnutrition, the war has propelled the country into a devastating humanitarian crisis.” At the link find the title, “‘Fighting is easier than peace’: Ending war in Yemen will require global effort, says expert,” right-click “Download ‘Fighting is easier than peace’: Ending war in Yemen will require global effort, says expert,” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Youth Connecting with Family 26 mins – “Youth who find themselves at an emergency youth centre in St. Catherine’s, Ont., have been taking part in a unique program in which staff scour government records and databases to find family members who have gone missing from the teens’ lives.” At the link find the title, “How youth support staff are using their sleuthing skills to connect teens with family,” right-click “Download How youth support staff are using their sleuthing skills to connect teens with family” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Zero Visions 49 mins – “Stabilizing the climate will require going for big zeroes—a zero-carbon grid, zero-emission vehicles, zero net energy buildings and zero-waste manufacturing. Achieving these audacious goals will require dramatically remaking the way we get around, operate buildings and make products. Will these net-zero visions require massive technological breakthroughs or deployment of existing technologies? Is there a shortage or a surplus of funding to power these opportunities—and where should it be directed to maximize impact? Join us for a conversation about the policy and technologies needed to drive us toward the zeros necessary for achieving a low-carbon future.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
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Media Mining Digest 