Exercise your ears: the 67 podcasts shown below present the best ideas, information and stories from a larger group of 660 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 24,272 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 157GB 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 499 sources. And try PodcastRE from the University of Wisconsin with over 150,000 titles. Exercise your ears and relax the rest.
Ace of Cups Band 62 mins – “The Ace of Cups was legendary from the beginning—five uniquely talented women writing fantastic songs, rocking as hard as any band at the time and harmonizing like psychedelic angels. The Ace of Cups performed with fellow artists such as The Band, Jefferson Airplane, the Grateful Dead, Quicksilver Messenger Service; even Jimi Hendrix was an avowed fan. Despite eliciting music industry interest for their exceptional songs, sublime harmonies and exuberant live performances, the Ace of Cups never got a chance to make a record of their own. Until now … With the enthusiastic support of High Moon Records, and under the guidance of celebrated producer Dan Shea, four of the band’s original members holed up in San Rafael’s Laughing Tiger Studios to record gems from their back catalog and newly composed material that is as timely as it is timeless. Their self-titled debut album blends pure rock, folk, blues and gospel influences with a pop sensibility and a garage band rush—all tinted by an intoxicating psychedelic sheen. As news spread that the Cups were recording, old friends—including Bob Weir, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Taj Mahal, Jorma Kaukonen and Jack Casady—began to come by the studio to offer support and musical contributions. Thirty-six songs were recorded, and what started out as a chance to set the record straight has turned into a history-making second act. You can read more about the history here.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Adam Hochschield 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.
AI in Recruiting 20 mins – “In this episode of AI In Industry, we interview Nick Possley, the CTO of a company called AllyO, based in the San Francisco Bay area. We speak with Nick about where artificial intelligence and machine learning are playing a role in recruiting today and how picking the right candidates from a pool is in some way being informed by artificial intelligence. Whether a business leader is hiring dozens and dozens of people or whether they ’re just interested in understanding how AI can engage with individuals on more of a one-to-one basis, this should be a fruitful episode. In addition, the fundamentals of what we discuss in this episode, in terms of taking in data from profiles and responding and engaging with applicants, could be applied to all sorts of cases, such as customer service and marketing.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is in the blog archive.
American Ideals 46 mins – “American truths, not so self-evident. Historian Jill Lepore on why the tension between fact and fiction has been with us since the nation’s founding.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Arctic Report Card 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.
Beatles White Album 47 mins – “The Beatles’ “White Album” turns 50. We’ll return to Abbey Road.“ At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Bill Press Against Trump 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.
California Fire Hazards 49 mins – “California’s endless fire season. Whether it’s climate change, development or forest management, we’ll look at the causes — all man made.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Capital Definition and Purpose 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.
Chagas Disease Research 27 mins – “On this edition of Science Studio we meet two UTEP professors, Igor Almeida, Ph.D., professor of biological sciences, and Katja Michael, Ph.D., associate professor of chemistry. They have received $6 million from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to improve treatment and develop new diagnostic tools to assess post-therapeutic outcomes for patients with Chagas disease.” At the link left-click the play button and select ”Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Change and Art 27 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.
Climate Cures 17 mins – “What if we took out more greenhouse gases than we put into the atmosphere? This hypothetical scenario, known as “drawdown,” is our only hope of averting climate disaster, says strategist Chad Frischmann. In a forward-thinking talk, he shares solutions to climate change that exist today — conventional tactics like the use of renewable energy and better land management as well as some lesser-known approaches, like changes to food production, better family planning and the education of girls. Learn more about how we can reverse global warming and create a world where regeneration, not destruction, is the rule.” At the link left-click the “Square” circle, right-click the download arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
College Dropouts 47 mins – “Your college student came home for Thanksgiving and didn’t go back to campus. We’ll look at when college students come home to stay.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Colored Women Politicians 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 “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Conflict Resolution 47 mins -”Conflict resolution expert Priya Parker who works to resolve ethnic strife across the globe and corporate strife in boardrooms takes on the most fraught scenarios: holiday parties and family gatherings.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
CRISPR Gene Editing 57 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.
Democratic Candidates 47 mins – “It’s looking like a lot of Democrats will be running for president in 2020. What will it take to win back the White House?” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dorothy Kilgallen Death 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.
Drones and Journalism 33 mins – “Ian is joined by Greg Agvent, the Senior Director of CNN’s Aerial Imagery and Reporting Unit—known as CNN Air. When evaluating drones for business, it’s easy to think of all the things they can replace. For aerial journalism and newsgathering, helicopters are the first thing that come to mind. But if you think national media organizations are going to fire the helicopters in place of drones… think again. Drones aren’t replacing traditional manned aircraft any time soon. The pair discuss how CNN is using drones in their Aerial Imagery and Reporting Unit; the types of hardware and software they use, when it’s best to use a drone (or a helicopter), and getting the first waiver allowing the team to perform flights above people in the U.S.” At the link left-click the down-pointing arrow, select “Save File,” and “OK” to download the podcast.
Drones in Construction and Mining 32 mins – “Join Kespry’s CEO, George Mathew, and host, Ian Smith, for a deep dive into Kespry’s enterprise drone hardware and software offerings and outlook on where the industrial use of drones is heading. And would you like to know what the CEO of one of Airware’s direct competitors thinks about them going out of business?” At the link left-click the down-pointing arrow, select “Save File,” and “OK” to download the podcast.
Economic Models 62 mins – “Maeve Cohen, Co-director of Rethinking Economics, talks with EconTalk host Russ Roberts about her organization and its efforts to change economics education. Cohen, who co-founded the Post-Crash Economics Society, argues for a more human-centered approach to economics that would be less confident in its policy prescriptions and more honest about the significance of its underlying assumptions.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Elephant Poaching 15 mins – “The African elephant, the world’s largest land mammal, is threatened by poaching, human development, and climate change. As director of the Biodiversity and Ecosystems Services Branch of the UN Environmental Program, Max Gomera advocates for the elephant. Ensuring elephants and other animals thrive is important for the human species. In this episode, Gomera talks about improving the relationship between elephants and humans, and how our meat consumption is negatively impacting wildlife habitat. Gomera is an Aspen New Voices Fellow and spoke at Spotlight Health. Saturday, December 8, 2018”At the link find the title, “Off Stage 11: Saving the African Elephant” where you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in this blog’s archive.
Environmental Poisons 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 right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Ethn Hawke 48 mins – “Ethan Hawke on his new film about singer-songwriter Blaze Foley.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Facebook Criticism 47 mins – “Facebook in the hot seat — again. Lawmakers from around the world grill a top executive over its role in election meddling and spreading disinformation.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu
Farsighted 82 mins – “Life is fraught with hard choices and decisions. How does one make them? Most of us are familiar with pros versus cons lists, which can be applied to everything from personal diet to public welfare. But that method only involves taking an existing understanding of the decision at hand, so it is limited by one’s imagination. The key to making a better decision is to see it with fresh eyes, to make imaginative leaps, and to discover new paths and potential outcomes. Over the past few decades, a field of research has emerged that will help us do just that. Spanning cognitive science, management theory and literary studies, its methods and procedures can help us make big decisions—and make them better. This science has been followed, explained and brought to life by best-selling author Steven Johnson in his 11th book, Farsighted: How We Make the Decisions That Matter the Most….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Frederick Douglass 46 mins – “Frederick Douglass was a fierce critic of America, a radical patriot and an abolitionist who was formerly enslaved. A new biography sheds light on the lesser-known corners of Douglass’ life.“ At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Free Press 47 mins – “Freedom of the press. Reporters face jail, violence or worse — how can they be safe? And how can the truth get out? We’ll speak with journalists who have been in the arena.“ At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Gene Editing 10 mins – “The news that Chinese scientist He Jiankui had attempted to edit the CCR5 gene in the germline of two embryos led to a swift backlash in the scientific community. But the rogue experiment may inspire broader discussion about the fraught ethical issues involved. George Daley is dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Genome Editing 13 mins – “Therapeutic editing of the human genome has long been a holy grail of genetic medicine. Different approaches are founded on a bedrock of basic laboratory discovery. This article describes the history, applications, and limitations of genome editing for clinical application. Matthew H. Porteus, the interviewee, is professor of pediatrics–stem cell transplantation at Stanford University. Stephen Morrissey, the interviewer, is the Executive Managing Editor of the Journal.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Geothermal Energy in Europe 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.
Giving 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 “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Haitian Writers 52 mins – “Our lecture this week is presented by the Boston University African American Studies Program, and titled “Haiti’s Baron de Vastey and the Black Atlantic.” Our speaker is Marlene Daut, Professor of African American Studies at University of Virginia.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Index Fund Power 47 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.
Infrastructure Maintenance 47 mins – “Deadly natural gas explosions in Massachusetts drew attention to the nation’s aging pipeline infrastructure. We’ll drill down.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Jaws Shrink 58 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.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Jews in China P2 27 mins – “With the story of the Harbin Jews mostly out of the way, Laszlo moves on to the smaller and less known Jewish community of Tianjin. Then as the 1930’s unfolds and after Hitler came to power, our story shifts to the European Jews. In this episode we’ll look at the events leading up to Kristallnacht November 1938. In Part 3 we’ll focus on 1938 and 1939.” At the link “Direct download: CHP-209-The History of_the Jewish Refugees in China Part 2.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Jews in China P3 28 mins – “This third episode in a series examining the history of the Jewish refugees who found sanctuary on the east coast of China, focuses on escalating events in Europe around 1938-1939. With the consolidation of Hitler’s rise, it didn’t bode well for many Jews. As the countdown to Kristallnacht gets closer the situation becomes more urgent and Shanghai as a destination becomes more popular. The great humanitarian He Fengshan (何凤山) will also be introduced.” At the link “Direct download: CHP-210-The History of the Jewish Refugees in China_Part 3.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Jews in China P4 26 mins – “Laszlo looks at Japanese attitudes towards the Jews and how it affected their treatment in Shanghai. The focus will be on the year 1939, when the the greatest wave of Jewish refugees arrived in Shanghai. Then we will look at a little known tidbit from history concerning a plan championed by Sun Ke (son of Sun Yat-sen) to rescue of Europe’s Jews.” At the link “Direct download: CHP-211-The History of the Jewish Refugees in China Part 4.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Mars InSight Lander 47 mins – “NASA’s InSight lander is settling in for the long assignment of exploring the geology of Mars. Will its findings one day rock our world?” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Micromanaging 12 mins – “Think about the most tired you’ve ever been at work. It probably wasn’t when you stayed late or came home from a road trip — chances are it was when you had someone looking over your shoulder, watching your each and every move. “If we know that micromanagement isn’t really effective, why do we do it?” asks entrepreneur Chieh Huang. In a funny talk packed with wisdom and humility, Huang shares the cure for micromanagement madness — and how to foster innovation and happiness at work.” At the link left-click the “Square” circle, right-click the download arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Moore’s Law Extended 29 mins – “How will technology shape our future? There is no doubt that automation will evolve and life will change. Technology will have a profound effect on what’s ahead in the coming years. We can barely keep up with the pace at which it is expanding. So what will our lives be like in the future? Listen to my free Komando on Demand podcast for a list of technologies that will mold our fate.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Mouse at 50 37 mins – “Fifty years ago Doug Engelbart, engineer and inventor from the Augmentation Research Center Lab, gave what has become known as the “mother of all demos” – a demonstration of many computing concepts – such as the mouse, text links, and videoconferencing, that today we take for granted. Yet despite this landmark showcase it took another twenty years for the mouse to come into our homes and offices. Click looks back the development of the mouse and how interfaces may change in the future.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is in the blog archive.
Music Therapy 37 mins – “Dr. Concetta Tomaino is a pioneer in the field of music therapy and the executive director and co-founder of the Institute for Music and Neurologic Function. On the show this week we talk to Dr. Tomaino about her work treating individuals suffering the effects of brain trauma or neurological diseases as Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.” At the link find the title, “Music as Medicine, 05 Dec 2018,” right-click “Play Now” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Myanmar Genocide 63 mins -”This 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 “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Native American Children Relocation 42 mins – “For most of the 20th century, the U.S. government systematically forced Native American children from their homes and placed them with white families. Even as recently as the 1970s, one in four Native children nationwide was living in non-Native foster care, adoptive homes or boarding schools. Many of these children experienced devastating emotional and physical harm from adults who mistreated them and tried to erase their cultural identity. Dawnland, a feature-length documentary, follows the first government-sanctioned truth and reconciliation commission in the United States. The film tracks the commission’s journey across Maine, to gather testimony and bear witness to the devastating impact of the State’s child welfare practices on families in Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribal communities. Collectively, these tribes make up the Wabanaki people.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Paradise Fire Reconstruction Efforts 49 mins – “Back to Paradise. Three weeks after the devastating Camp Fire all but destroyed the town, children are back in school, but most everything else is in flux.“ At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pod Save America Mailbag 83 mins – “Dan and Jon answer questions about the midterms, 2020, Never Trump Republicans, Iowa, the Senate, Fox News, the plutocracy, and our favorite Thanksgiving traditions. Then Doris Kearns Goodwin talks to Jon about her new book on presidential leadership.” 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.
Preservation Efforts in Britain..28 mins – “2019 is the 70th anniversary of the legislation that created the first National Parks in the UK. At this crucial moment for the future of our countryside, Tom Heap asks how our best-loved landscapes can work better for people and wildlife. There are now 15 National Parks – all are protected areas because of their beautiful countryside, wildlife and cultural heritage. However, much has changed since the original legislation and many of these landscapes face significant challenges, including declining wildlife, a need for housing and poor public access. Tom visits two very different parks, the Cairngorms and the South Downs, to ask communities how they think National Parks should be improved to meet the needs of the 21st century. He considers some of the key issues; such as how to balance agriculture with enhancing and connecting habitats and how to deliver rural development and housing in protected landscapes.” At the link right-click “Download” 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.
Self Driving 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.
Sexually Transmitted Disease Increase 53 mins – “This week, we speak with some experts dealing with the increase in sexually transmitted diseases and how to help the LGBTQ youth population. Dr. Derek Blechinger is a physician at Kaiser Permanente San Francisco who specializes in HIV and LGBT primary care. He completed residency in San Francisco in internal medicine and preventive medicine, during which he began his career in PrEP research and is now on the clinical faculty for the Bay Area, North and Central Coast AIDS Education Training Center (AETC) conducting “PrEP Bootcamps” throughout the greater Bay Area as well as a recent tour through states in the South… Sherilyn Adams is the executive director of Larkin Street Youth Services. For more than 30 years, Sherilyn Adams has dedicated her career to the nonprofit sector, focusing on issues of child abuse and neglect, family violence, mental health, substance abuse, and homelessness….” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
State Power Grabs 47 mins – “The Wisconsin GOP’s lame-duck power grab — what the political slugfest means for democracy.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Suicide Rates 47 mins – “Americans are dying younger and death by suicide is a big reason why. We’ll look behind the rising numbers and talk about how to save lives. If you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or contact the Crisis Text Line by texting TALK to 741741.“ At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Supreme Court 69 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 “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
The Hate U Give 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.
Tom Hanks 47 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.
Trachoma Disease Control 11 mins – “Thousands of years ago, ancient Nubians drew pictures on tomb walls of a terrible disease that turns the eyelids inside out and causes blindness. This disease, trachoma, is still a scourge in many parts of the world today — but it’s also completely preventable, says Caroline Harper. Armed with data from a global mapping project, Harper’s organization Sightsavers has a plan: to focus on countries where funding gaps stand in the way of eliminating the disease and ramp up efforts where the need is most severe. Learn more about their goal of consigning trachoma to the history books — and how you can help. (This ambitious plan is one of the first ideas of The Audacious Project, TED’s new initiative to inspire global change.)” At the link left-click the “Share” circle, right-click “Download” arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Traumatized Refugees 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 “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Tribes Book by Junger – “Journalist and author Sebastian Junger talks about his book Tribe with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Junger explores the human need to be needed and the challenges facing many individuals in modern society who struggle to connect with others. His studies of communal connection include soldiers in a small combat unit and American Indian society in the nineteenth century.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Uninhabitable Earth 50 mins – “…In between scientific reticence and science fiction is science itself. This article is the result of dozens of interviews and exchanges with climatologists and researchers in related fields and reflects hundreds of scientific papers on the subject of climate change. What follows is not a series of predictions of what will happen — that will be determined in large part by the much-less-certain science of human response. Instead, it is a portrait of our best understanding of where the planet is heading absent aggressive action. It is unlikely that all of these warming scenarios will be fully realized, largely because the devastation along the way will shake our complacency. But those scenarios, and not the present climate, are the baseline. In fact, they are our schedule….” At this link you can read the article. The audio version is at the link in this abstract’s title, but you can only listen, not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Violinist Micarelli 50 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.
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.
Women in Business 74 mins – “Women, especially women of color, are underrepresented in business—from entry-level to the corner office, across corporate America—even as the number of women earning college degrees exceeds the number of men. As companies, leaders and those focused on diversity press ahead to make change, it’s become key to reflect on both data and stories to help define the problem and iterate on solutions. “Women in the Workplace,” an annual report conducted by LeanIn.org and McKinsey on the state of women in corporate America, draws from more than 250 companies that together employ 13 million people. The report shares insights into the challenges women face across many industries and sectors and identifies concrete actions that companies can take to make lasting and significant change. Join co-author, Alexis Krivkovich, managing partner of McKinsey & Company’s Silicon Valley office and a leader in the Financial Services Practice, along with other corporate and cultural leaders, as they discuss the results of the report and how companies can evolve to reflect the times.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Yemen War 60 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 “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
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Media Mining Digest 