Exercise your ears: the 68 podcasts shown below present the best ideas, information and stories from a larger group of 770 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 (25,200) 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 160GB 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 503 sources. And try PodcastRE from the University of Wisconsin with over 150,000 titles. Exercise your ears and relax the rest.
3D Printing Nano and Prosthetic Hands 29 mins – “Feeling hands, incriminating handshakes by Ian Woolf, Professor Martin Wegener talks about nano 3D Printing,” At the link right-click “MP3 Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Ageism and Innovation 7 mins – “The average age of an employee at leading Silicon Valley companies like Facebook is 28 while Google is 30. My former employer, HP looks like a retirement home with the average age of its employees being 39. Some of the companies in the valley truly believe that because someone is older, they are less able to be creative — to be innovative. Hogwash. Creativity and innovation know no limits based on age….Someone judging a persons ability to be successful creatively based on age is nothing more than ageism which is a form of bias. Bias is when a person or organization unfairly show favoritism towards something or someone such as the bias to hire younger staff because a leader believes they are more creative — more innovative. Bias is one of those things that can crop up without us even be conscious of it. Reminds me of the story of young American at a banquet who found himself seated next to a Chinese diplomat. Not knowing what to say to a Chinese person, the young man pointed to the first course and asked, “Likee soupee?” The diplomat nodded and smiled. Later, the Chinese diplomat, Wellington Koo, was called on to speak and delivered an eloquent address in flawless English. As he sat down to the sound of applause, he turned to the young American and said, “Likee speecchee?” …I’m Phil McKinney … and thanks for listening.” At the link left-click the down-pointing arrow, select “Save File,” and “OK” to get the podcast.
Artificial Meat 28 mins – “Nova Meat- Barcelona researcher develops 3D printer that makes ‘steaks’ -A researcher has developed a plant-based meat substitute that’s made with a 3D printer – PRESSKIT 100% PLANT-BASED STEAK – Vivera Vegan Steak: Does It Taste Like The Real Thing? – Sampling Vegan Steaks – Vivera vegan steak: a review” At the link right-click “MP3 Download” and select “Savev Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Ash Tree Threat 27 mins – “Adam Hart investigates yet another threat to the ash trees of Europe. In the last programme he found out about the latest research developments to save ash trees from ash dieback, a disease that has already devastated trees across Europe, but now it seems that another threat could be on its way from Russia – the emerald ash borer. This beetle already targets ash trees in the USA and kills 99% of the trees it infests. But, what is it, how great is the threat and is there any way to stopping it spreading to Europe?” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Astronomy 24 mins – “Astrophysicist Jo Dunkley just published a book titled Our Universe: An Astronomer’s Guide. In it, she reveals the history of our universe, as well as some of the remarkable – and sometimes overlooked – contributions of pioneering female astronomers. Hannah Devlin talks to Dunkley about her career which has seen her join the team looking after Nasa’s Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe, and head to Chile to work on the Atacama Cosmology Telescope.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Black Political Activism 63 mins – “DeRay, Clint, Brittany and Sam discuss Georgetown’s reparations fund, the new Black Maternal Health Caucus, life-long prison sentences without the possibility of parole, and “proactive policing.” New York Times Magazine Staff Writer Emily Bazelon joins DeRay to talk about the power of prosecutors, transforming the American court system and ending mass incarceration.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link as” from the pop-up menu.
Blockchain and Publishing 13 mins – “Imagine a digital ledger that is permanent and irreversible, and you will begin to understand why blockchain promises so much for the online world. With blockchain, transparency and certainty are guaranteed for every e-transaction. The platform that underlines bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, blockchain is already taking up a role in supply chain management, music licensing, and even health care record-keeping. Blockchain enthusiasts expect publishing will soon follow. Not only the future of the internet may come to rely on blockchain, but also the future of civilization. At least that’s the lofty dream of publisher and entrepreneur Rana DiOrio, co-founder and CEO of Creative Mint. Blockchain, she says, will bring visibility to the creative supply chain that will ensure fair treatment for authors, artists, and other creators. In fact, DiOrio believes blockchain will put in practice a digital version of the golden rule. “Rights transactions happen for creative works in myriad ways. You have your book deal, and then you have your video deal and you have your ed-tech licensing deal or your video game deal or your merchandising deal. All those deals can be committed to smart contracts that then reside in a blockchain for all to see, so there’s checks and balances built into the system,” DiOrio recently told CCC’s Chris Kenneally. “My background is a lawyer, and in my contracts class, our professor said sunlight is the best disinfectant,” she explained. “What we’re doing is we’re casting a light on the whole industry. Imagine – all of our partners are going to be able to see with great degree of granularity all of the numbers for a brand. A publishing partner is going to be able to see how the toy sales are going and how the ed-tech licensing deals are going and how the video game sales are going, and they can adjust their product offering because of that.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Body Parts Farm 18 mins – “Demand for donated organs far outstrips supply. But researchers are working to remedy the crisis using everything from gene-edited pigs to 3D-printed tissue.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a podcast copy is included in the blog archive.
Border Issues 50 mins – “Growing up in the American Southwest, the writer Francisco Cantu always had some idea of what happened along the US-Mexico border, but he wanted to know more. So, he joined the Border Patrol, hoping he could be a force for good. Growing up in the American Southwest, the writer Francisco Cantu always had some idea of what happened along the US-Mexico border, but he wanted to know more. So, he joined the Border Patrol, hoping he could be a force for good. Then he found himself tracking fellow humans through the desert. He recovered the bodies of dead migrants and hauled live ones in to detention. Along the way, he learned just how complicated the border is. He joins us to talk about what happens on both sides of the line. Francisco Cantu is a writer and translator. His book The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border was recently released in paperback” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the popup menu.
Britain Assessment from Egypt 27 mins – “Neil MacGregor visits different countries to talk to leading political, business and cultural figures to find out how they, as individuals and as members of their broader communities, see Britain. In Egypt, Neil hears from political historian Said Sadek; magazine publisher and editor Yasmine Shihata; and writer and activist Ahdaf Soueif.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Chemical Warfare P1 27 mins -”In the first of two programmes he looks back to the first attempts to ban the use of chemical weapons at the end of the 19th century. Heavily defeated in the Crimea, Russia succeeded in getting unanimous agreement at the 1899 Hague Convention that poison and poison weapons should be banned from warfare. But chemicals such as chlorine, phosgene and mustard gas were heavily used in the First World War by both sides. More substances were developed in the 1930s and 1940s but weren’t used in the battlefield in World War 2. Andrea Sella tells the stories of the chemists behind these developments.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Lower quality” from the pop-up menu.
Chemical Warfare P2 27 mins – “For more than 100 years chemical weapons have terrorised, maimed and killed soldiers and civilians alike. As a chemist, the part his profession has played in the development of these weapons has long concerned Andrea Sella, professor of chemistry at University College London. In this programme he examines the motivation of chemists like Dr Fritz Haber, who first encouraged the German military to deploy chlorine gas in World War One for the sake of “The Fatherland” and of Dr Gerhard Schrader, who, in his hunt for an effective pesticide, accidentally discovered a new class of lethal nerve agents for Nazi Germany. From chlorine, phosgene and the mustard gases, to tabun, sarin, soman, VX and the novichok agents used to target former Soviet agent Sergei Skipal in England, Andrea weaves archive with interviews with key figures in the ongoing campaign to control and ban the use of such weapons and he asks how science educators can prepare young chemists for the moral hazard posed by this particular class of weapon.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Lower quality” from the pop-up menu.
Child Care Costs 47 mins – “Some cities and states have tried implementing universal pre-K. But the idea’s struggled to find a nationwide platform. Could that be changing?” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
CIA Public Relations 52 mins – “The Central Intelligence Agency, by its very nature, is a secretive organization, yet it has a robust public affairs and media relations operation. How does the agency resolve this tension? How do its employees, from the director of the CIA to the officers needed to assist in this effort, deal with the difficult questions of how open to be? To find out, David Priess sat down with Bill Harlow and Marie Harf, two former CIA officers who were in the middle of it all.” At the link right-click “Direct download: Episode_393.mp3” and select ‘Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Climate Scientist 26 mins – “Professor Corinne Le Quéré of University of East Anglia talks to Jim Al-Khalili about tracing global carbon. Throughout the history of planet Earth, the element carbon has cycled between the atmosphere, the oceans and the biosphere. This natural cycle has maintained the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and has allowed life to exist for billions of years. Corinne Le Quéré is a climate scientist who keeps track of where the carbon comes from and where it goes – all on a truly global scale. Corinne Le Quéré is the founder of the Global Carbon Budget, which each year reports on where carbon dioxide is being emitted and where it is being absorbed around the world. More specifically, she studies the relationship between the carbon cycle and the earth’s climate, and how it is changing.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Lower quality” from the pop-up menu.
Congestive Pricing 29 mins – “They say the squeaky wheel gets the grease. This week on Sea Change Radio, we speak to two brothers who are trying to make a little noise for the issues they care about through citizen journalism. Eric and Joshua Preven put out a weekly publication, The Preven Report, from their hometown of Los Angeles. We discuss the issue of congestion pricing, a proposal to reduce traffic currently being considered by local government there. Then, we dip into the Sea Change Radio archives and hear from Rahwa Ghirmatzion, the Executive Director of PUSH Buffalo, to learn about her organization’s efforts to make Buffalo, NY greener while also helping communities of color.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Containers for Survival Situations 92 mins – “Today Steven Harris and I answer your questions on Bug Out Trailers. This time we discuss storage options for all your gear while bugging out with a trailer or in any situation really. This is the tenth in a multi part series that began with Episode-2117- Steven Harris and Jack Spirko on Bug Out Trailers. As this is clearly going to become a multi episode series I have created the tag BOT Shows so that all of them can be found at one location. The response to the first in the series was overwhelming, Steve compiled and sent me 14 pages of questions, I printed it out and it feels like a small book, and these are just questions and a few notes here and there. So we are going to run about 1 hour and 15 minutes on the interview and break it into pieces parts over the next few months. Today we about every storage option out there for all your gear, food, supplies and more.” At the link right-click “Audio MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Deepak Chopra 39 mins – “World-renowned spiritual thought leader Deepak Chopra welcomes Oprah to his homeland, India. Deepak discusses his groundbreaking work in the field of mind-body medicine, the life lessons he’s learned from his family, and the influence that India’s rich cultural traditions have had on his life’s work. Deepak explains how we can create harmony in our own lives. He says learning to move with the flow of life wherever you are is key to appreciating every moment. He also describes his life-changing experience as a Buddhist monk in Thailand.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Desert Survival 48 mins – “The chances are pretty low that you’ll find yourself lost in the desert, but on the off chance you do you’ll thank yourself that you listened to this episode, where we guide you to safety.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu to download the podcast.
Digital Democracy in Kenya 58 min – “Kenya is the most digitally advanced country in sub-Saharan Africa, where Twitter, Facebook, WhatsApp, and other online platforms are part of everyday life. And, as in Western nations, the digital age has had dramatic effects on society and politics. Yet, while we hear about the #MeToo movement and the Russian bot scandal, there is little appreciation for the feminist movement #MyDressMyChoice and the subversion of state-run political propaganda by social media. Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics aims to change this by presenting a unique contribution to the debate on digital democracy. For traditionally marginalized groups, particularly women and the disabled, digital spaces have provided vital platforms that allow Kenyans to build new communities that transcend old ethnic and gender divisions. Covering attempts by political elites to prevent social movements from translating online visibility into meaningful offline gains, Digital Democracy, Analogue Politics explores the drastic efforts to contain online activism and new methods of feminist mobilization, as well as how “fake news,” Cambridge Analytica, and allegations of hacking contributed to tensions around the 2017 elections. Reframing digital democracy for the first time from the African perspective, Nanjala Nyabola’s groundbreaking work opens up new ways of understanding our current global online era.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow at the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Digital Rights Law 91 mins – “After two decades of little direct legislation of the internet, national laws and related court decisions meant to govern cyberspace are rapidly proliferating worldwide. They are becoming building blocks in new legal frameworks that will shape the evolution of Internet governance and policymaking for years to come. In the Global South and particularly under repressive regimes, these frameworks can be imposed with little regard for human rights obligations and without a full understanding of the technologies and processes they regulate or their implications for the preservation of the core values of the internet: interoperability, universality, and free expression and the free flow of information. This panel brings together practitioners from five international organizations monitoring the development of legislation and case law related to cyberspace to discuss the implications for the future of human rights online.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Dinosaur Tracks 27 mins – “In a dry creek bed in the middle of the Australian outback is a palaeontological prize like no other: 95-million-year-old footprints stamped in a sandstone slab by three species of dinosaur. One of the beasts was a massive, lumbering sauropod that measured 18 metres from nose to tail. But the precious trackway is in danger of being damaged by the next floods, so must be moved. In the final episode of the four-part series The Chase, science journalist Belinda Smith from the ABC in Australia discovers what footprints can tell us about the ancient beasts that once roamed this land, and follows a team racing against time and the elements to save this once-in-a-lifetime find. Because even though these tracks have lasted the best part of 100 million years, they may not survive another one.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Lower quality” from the pop-up menu.
Disasters 50 mins – “The anniversary of a disaster gives us a moment to reflect on whether we have learned the right lessons — or any at all. This week, we examine the narratives that have solidified ten years after the financial crisis, and one year after Hurricane Maria. 1. Political anthropologist Yarimar Bonilla [@yarimarbonilla] on how we can focus our attention on Puerto Rico’s structural challenges even as the president spouts falsities about the “unsung success” of the federal response to Hurricane Maria. Listen. 2. Dean Starkman [@deanstarkman], author of The Watchdog That Didn’t Bark: The Financial Crisis and the Disappearance of Investigative Journalism, on how the signs of the financial crisis had been visible leading up to it but many journalists were looking elsewhere. Listen. 3. Brown University professor Mark Blyth [@MkBlyth] takes on the most popular narratives of the financial crash. Listen. 4. Copenhagen Business School business historian Per Hansen on Hollywood’s depiction of the board room and Wall Street from 1928 to 2015. Listen.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Earthquake Protection in California 27 mins – “Los Angeles is a city of Angels, and of earthquakes. Deadly earthquakes in 1933, 1971 and 1994 have also made it a pioneer in earthquake protection – for example with tough engineering standards to save buildings. Since 2013, with the help of scientists at the US Geological Survey, the city has been developing a resilience plan which culminated in the release of an app that should give residents precious seconds of warning when an earthquake starts. Roland Pease meets the scientists, the Mayor and the officials making the system work.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Lower quality” from the pop-up menu.
Ebola in Sierre Leone 31 mins – “In 2014, Oliver Johnson was a 28 year old British doctor, working on health policy in Sierre Leone after finishing medical school. Also working in Freetown was Sinead Walsh, then the Irish Ambassador to the country. Then the biggest outbreak of Ebola on record happened in West Africa, starting in Guinea and quickly spreading to Liberia, Sierre Leone and Nigeria. Oliver and Sinead have co-authored a book about the change that wrought on their lives, how they stepped into roles coordinating the international response to the disease and running a treatment centre. They join us today to talk about their experiences there. For more information about Ebola, including the current outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo visit www.bmj.com/ebola. For Sinead and Oliver’s book – Getting to Zero: A Doctor and a Diplomat on the Ebola Frontline is available now.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Elizabeth Warren 43 mins – “Senator Elizabeth Warren sits down with Tommy to talk about Medicare for All, climate change, Venezuela, Israel, and more.” At the link right-click “Download” at the sound bar and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Emotional Education 13 mins – “To get young kids to thrive in school, we need to do more than teach them how to read and write — we need to teach them how to manage their emotions, says educator Olympia Della Flora. In this practical talk, she shares creative tactics she used to help struggling, sometimes disruptive students — things like stopping for brain breaks, singing songs and even doing yoga poses — all with her existing budget and resources. “Small changes make huge differences, and it’s possible to start right now … You simply need smarter ways to think about using what you have, where you have it,” she says.” At th link left-click “Share,” right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Eric Holder 54 mins – “In this second episode of the special Culper Partners Rule of Law Series, David Kris and Nates Jones, the founders of the Culper Partners consulting firm, speak with Eric Holder, who served as the 82nd Attorney General of the United States from 2009 to 2015. Holder shares his perspective on the proper functioning of the Department of Justice, the balance between independence and political accountability, and a distinction between the role of the Attorney General as the chief prosecutor on the one hand and as legal advisor to the president, and sometimes to the National Security Council, on the other. He also remembers his own experience with congressional oversight and gives a frank assessment of how oversight is functioning today. He also critiques the two OLC opinions against indicting a sitting president, and he offers predictions about the Mueller report and his own upcoming decision on whether he will run for president.” At the link right-click “Direct download: Episode_395.mp3” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
European Inventor 27 mins – “European Inventor of the Year, Chris Toumazou, reveals how his personal life and early research lie at the heart of his inventions. As chief scientist at the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Imperial College London, Chris inspires engineers, doctors and other scientists to create medical devices for the 21st Century. Applying silicon chip technology, more commonly found inside mobile phones, he tackles seemingly insurmountable problems in medicine to create devices that bridge the electronic and biological worlds – from a digital plaster that monitors a patient’s vital signs to an artificial pancreas to treat diabetes. His latest creation, coined a ‘lab on a chip’, analyses a person’s DNA within minutes outside the laboratory. The hand-held device can identify genetic differences which dictate a person’s susceptibility to hereditary diseases and how they will react to a drug like warfarin, used to treat blood clots.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Faster Than Light Drives 28 mins – “High Frequency Gravitational Wave generator by Ian Woolf, Alcubierre warp drive, EM inertia-less drive and anti-gravity with Professor Geraint Lewis, The strange case of the disappearing anti-gravity researchers by Dr Tim Baynes,” At the link right-click “MP3 Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Faster Than Light Drives 28 mins – “Navy FTL space drive patent by Ian Woolf,” At the link right-click “MP3 Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Fat Viruses 29 mins – “The virus that makes you fat but healthy – by Ian Woolf, Alex Kelly talks about a new model for the Biofoundry, and CRISPR kits in development.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Fructose Impact 30 mins – “If you believe the headlines fructose is “addictive as cocaine,” a “toxic additive” or a “metabolic danger”. So how has a simple sugar in fruit got such a bad name and is there any evidence behind the accusations that it has caused the obesity epidemic? Meanwhile, a new health claim approved by the European Union promoting the benefits of fructose containing foods or drinks, comes into force in the New Year. So where does the truth lie? Dr Mark Porter talks to leading world experts to sift through the evidence.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Gravity Wave Generators 28mins – “High Frequency Gravitational Wave generator by Ian Woolf, Alcubierre warp drive, EM inertia-less drive and anti-gravity with Professor Geraint Lewis, The strange case of the disappearing anti-gravity researchers by Dr Tim Baynes,” At the link right-click “MP3 download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
House of Representatives Oversight 37 mins – “With the Democrats taking control of the House of Representatives, the 116th Congress is expected to be one of vigorous oversight of the executive branch, complete with requests for documents and for testimony from executive branch officials. But how does this actually work, and what happens when the executive branch refuses to comply? To hash it all out, Brookings Senior Fellow Molly Reynolds spoke with Stan Brand, who served as the general counsel to the U.S. House of Representatives from 1976 to 1983. They talked about the institutional role of the House general counsel, the ins and outs of congressional contempt and subpoena enforcement, and the various challenges that the House will have to confront over the next two years.” At the link right-click “Direct download: Episode_387.mp3” and select Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Internet Defamation 26 mins – “What do lawyers need to look out for when handling a defamation case? In this edition of Digital Detectives, hosts John Simek and Sharon Nelson welcome Joe Meadows for a discussion about internet defamation. They outline what constitutes online defamation and talk about the key issues lawyers need to consider in this highly nuanced practice area. Joe discusses current trending cases and gives his take on the future of defamation case development. Joe Meadows is a former DOJ attorney and current partner with Bean, Kinney & Korman in Arlington, Virginia. He focuses on internet defamation, cyber-attacks, and business dispute litigation.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Internet Regulation 29 mins – “What, if anything, should be banned from online media? And who should review violent and explicit content, in order to decide if it’s okay for the public? Thousands of people around the world are working long, difficult hours as content moderators in support of sites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. They are guided by complex and shifting guidelines, and their work can sometimes lead to psychological trauma. But the practice of content moderation also raises questions about censorship and free expression online. In this IRL episode, host Manoush Zomorodi talks with a forensic investigator who compares the work she does solving disturbing crimes with the work done by content moderators. We hear the stories of content moderators working in the Philippines, as told by the directors of a new documentary called The Cleaners. Ellen Silver from Facebook joins us to outline Facebook’s content moderation policies. Kalev Leetaru flags the risks that come from relying on artificial intelligence to clean the web. And Kat Lo explains why this work is impossible to get exactly right.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Internet Regulation 67 mins – “Welcome to episode 130 of the EdTech Situation Room from April 10, 2019, where technology news meets educational analysis. This week Jason Neiffer (@techsavvyteach) and Wesley Fryer (@wfryer) discussed YouTube’s challenges moderating objectionable content, the human costs of that content moderation, and the incredibly hostile digital infrastructure which is now online amplifying that content for apparently malicious purposes. HUD’s new lawsuit against Facebook for illegally targeted housing advertisements, and privacy and security challenges posted by pre-installed apps on Android were also discussed. Exciting recent Google announcements were highlighted including native editing of MS Office documents via Google Docs, forthcoming 3rd party add-ons to GSuite, and improvements to Hangouts Chat now integrated with Gmail were also discussed. From Chromebook land, the exciting announcement of a new #MadeByGoogle Chromebook, and Apple’s expected “reinvention” of MagSafe power adapters for USB-C devices were explored. Microsoft’s announced closure of its eBook store, the futuristic and arguably dystopian U.S. Army version of Microsoft’s Hololens platform, an intriguing SxSW musical performance utilizing sensorware, and the “Share No Evil” Chrome extension created in response to the mass shooting in Christchurch, New Zealand were topics rounding out the show. Geeks of the week included resources for Wes’ upcoming ATLIS workshop “Filtering the ExoFlood,” the free eBook “Web Literacy for Student Fact-Checkers,” Gobo.social, and the 2019 Webby’s.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Journalist Watch List 50 mins – “Mexican officials and U.S. Customs and Border Protection are using a secret database to target journalists and advocates at the southern border. This week, On the Media speaks with a reporter on the list who was detained for questioning by Mexican authorities. Plus, what the Obama Library’s unique arrangement with the National Archives means for the future of presidential history. And, the grotesque origins of segregation. 1. Mari Payton [@MariNBCSD], reporter at NBC 7 in San Diego, and Kitra Cahana, freelance photojournalist, on the secret government database of immigration reporters and advocates. Listen. 2. Tim Naftali [@TimNaftali], historian at New York University and former director of the Nixon Presidential Library and Museum, and Louise Bernard, director of the museum at the Obama Presidential Center, on the Obama Foundation’s decision to curate its own presidential museum. Listen. 3. Steve Luxenberg [@SLuxenberg], author of Separate, on the history of Plessy v. Ferguson. Listen.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Lasers Research 27 mins – “Donna Strickland tells Jim Al-Khalili why she wanted to work with lasers and what it feels like to be the first woman to win a Nobel Prize for Physics in 55 years. When the first laser was built in 1960, it was an invention looking for an application. Science fiction found uses for these phenomenally powerful beams of light long before real world applications were developed. Think Star Wars light sabres and people being sliced in half. Today lasers are used for everything from hair removal to state of the art weapons. Working with her supervisor Gerard Mourou in the 1980s, the Canadian physicist, Donna Strickland found a way to make laser pulses that were thousands of times more powerful than anything that had been made before. These rapid bursts of intense light energy have revolutionised laser eye surgery and, it’s hoped, could open the doors to an exciting range of new applications from pushing old satellites out of earth’s orbit to treatments for deep brain tumours.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Lower quality” from the pop-up menu.
Lincoln Memorial Sculptor 60 mins – “The dedication of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., took place in 1922, almost 60 years after Abraham Lincoln’s death. Harold Holzer talked about his book, Monument Man: The Life and Art of Daniel Chester French, which examines the life of the sculptor best known for the statue of Lincoln that serves as the memorial’s centerpiece. This talk took place at the annual Lincoln Forum symposium.” At the link you can listen, but must purchase a download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Maya Angelou 34 mins – “The late poet, author, icon and activist Dr. Maya Angelou speaks about her creative process, the power of words and how she overcame a traumatic childhood. Dr. Angelou says that in order to be the best human being you can be, you must follow one simple directive: “Just do right.” She also discusses what it felt like to stand side-by-side with leaders of the civil rights movement. Dr. Angelou’s most notable work, “I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings,” in on TIME magazine’s list of the “100 Best Non-Fiction Books of All Time.” At the link right-click “MP3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
MEMs Electronics 27 mins – “Jim Al-Khalili talks to Ken Gabriel, the engineer responsible for popularising many of the micro devices found in smartphones and computers. Ken explains how he was inspired by what he could do with a stick and a piece of string. This led to an engineering adventure taking in spacecraft, military guidance systems and the micro-mechanical devices we use every day in our computers and smartphones. Ken Gabriel now heads up a large non-profit engineering company, Draper, which cut its teeth building the guidance systems for the Apollo space missions, and is now involved in developing both driverless cars and drug production systems for personalised medicine. Ken himself has a career in what he terms ‘disruptive engineering’. His research married digital electronics with acoustics – and produced the microphones in our phones and computers. He has also worked for Google, taking some of the military research methods into a civilian start up. This led to the development of a new type of modular mobile phone which has yet to go into production.
Military Balance Report 44 mins – “Each year, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) in London publishes The Military Balance, an annual assessment of the military capabilities and defense economics of 171 countries around the world. Last week, Benjamin Wittes sat down with Bastian Giegerich, director of defense and military analysis for IISS, who leads the research and publication of The Military Balance, which has just come out for 2019. They discussed Chinese military modernization, global defense spending and how it’s changing around the world, Russia’s violations of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Agreement, NATO, and cyber.” At the link right-click “Direct download: Episode_394.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Money versus BitCoin 49 mins – “Ten autumns ago came two watershed moments in the history of money. In September 2008, the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers triggered a financial meltdown from which the world has yet to fully recover. The following month, someone using the name Satoshi Nakamoto introduced BitCoin, the first cryptocurrency. Before our eyes, the very architecture of money was evolving — potentially changing the world in the process. In this hour, On the Media looks at the story of money, from its uncertain origins to its digital reinvention in the form of cryptocurrency.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
National Security in Congress 44 mins – “It’s hard to open a newspaper or turn on the television without hearing about the dysfunction and partisan polarization affecting members of Congress. But what about their staffs, and what does that mean for national security? This week, Margaret Taylor sat down with seemingly unlikely partners: Luke Murry, National Security Advisor to Republican House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Daniel Silverberg, National Security Advisor to Democratic House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer. They spoke about security issues facing this Congress, what staffers do on a day-to-day basis, and how the two of them actually work together.” At the link right-click “Direct download: Episode_396.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Nationalist Revival 45 mins – “Political trends in recent years have seen a rise of right-leaning nationalism and populism around the globe, including in the United States. What are the sources of nationalism, and what are its effects on modern politics? On this episode, Lawfare founding editor and Harvard law professor Jack Goldsmith sits down with John Judis, editor-at-large at Talking Points Memo and author of “The Nationalist Revival.” They discussed Judis’s book, including the necessity of nationalism in developed democracies, why right-wing nationalist and populist movements seem to be winning out over those on the left, and how Donald Trump successfully raised the profile of nationalist politics in the United States.” At the link right-click “Direct download: Episode_397.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Ocean Health 28 mins – “Oceans cover about 70% of our planet, and represent over 95% of all of the earth’s water. The human impact on the ocean includes temperature rise, coral bleaching, ocean acidification, and changing chemical composition of the water – all of these things, of course, have an effect on the organisms that live in these vast ecosystems. This week on Sea Change Radio, we take a look back into the archives. First, we revisit our discussion with Jeff Boehm, the Executive Director of the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito, CA as he talks about the work his organization does to protect seals up and down the Pacific coast. Then, we speak with Boston Globe reporter David Abel about the surprising resurgence of Atlantic cod.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Offensive Cyber Operations 36 mins – “Last week, as part of the Hoover Institution’s “Security by the Book” series, Jack Goldsmith spoke with Herb Lin and Amy Zegart, co-directors of the Stanford Cyber Policy Program. Lin and Zegart edited a recently-published volume on offensive cyber operations entitled: “Bytes, Bombs, and Spies: The Strategic Dimensions of Offensive Cyber Operations.” In the book, leading cybersecurity scholars and practitioners dissect the technical, political, psychological, and legal ramifications of offensive cyber operations. Goldsmith, Lin, and Zegart discussed the book’s inception, its contents, and what role offensive cyber operations have played and continue to play in U.S. strategy.” At the link right-click “Direct download: Episode_388.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Pain Anatomy 27 mins- “Scientists reveal why we feel pain and the consequences of life without pain. One way to understand the experience of pain is to look at unusual situations which give clues to our everyday agony. Phantom limb pain was described in ancient times but only after WWI did it gain acceptance in modern medicine. For those living with it, it can be a painful reminder of a lost limb. New studies are now unravelling why the brain generates this often unpleasant experience and how the messages can be used positively. Its only since the 1980s that doctors agreed that babies are able to feel pain but we still don’t know how the developing brain processes information and how premature babies can be protected from the many invasive tests they have to go through. New research aims to provide appropriate pain relief that could have long term consequences.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Lower quality” from the pop-up menu.
Patient Led Research 28 mins – “Patient power is on the rise. But is it rising too far? Frustrated by the time it takes to develop new drugs, the ethical barriers to obtaining clinical data or the indifference of the medical profession to obscure diseases, patients are setting up their own clinical trials and overturning the norms of clinical research. A DIY clinical trial sounds like a joke – and a dangerous one at that. But as Vivienne Parry discovers, it’s real and on the rise as greater access to medical data allows more patients to play research scientists and medics at their own game. Patients lie at the very heart of clinical research – without them there is none. Yet they come way down the food chain when it comes to transparency about their own health, blinded as they usually are to what pills they’re taking and whether they are actually doing them any good. Even after the trial is published they’re left with little understanding of whether the treatment could work for them and licensing is usually years away. So it’s perhaps hardly surprising that patient networks have sprung up to redress the balance. Much of this current patient led research now takes place through online communities, with activists and the articulate ill demanding more say in their treatment. Vivienne Parry looks at some examples of patient led research which have challenged the medical establishment. She also asks how far can this go: should patients be prevented from experimenting with procedures or drugs that might kill them?” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy is included in the blog archive.
Presidential Investigation 44 mins – “As the nation braces for the forthcoming end of special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into President Trump and his associates, The Lawfare Podcast decided to take a look back at the complete history of special prosecutors. Benjamin Wittes sat down with Andrew Coan, a professor of law at the James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. Coan recently published “Prosecuting the President,” which traces the history of how special prosecutors and counsels work to keep the executive branch accountable for its actions. Ben and Andrew discussed the book, the Teapot Dome Scandal, the Whiskey Ring, and what all of that might mean for the future of special counsels.” At the link right-click “Direct download: Episode_399.mp3” and select “Save link As” from the pop-up menu.
Privacy Rights 66 mins – “In this talk, Professor Woodrow Hartzog argues that the law should require software and hardware makers to respect privacy in the design of their products. Against the often self-serving optimism of Silicon Valley and the inertia of tech evangelism, privacy gains will come from better rules for products, not users. The current model of regulating use fosters exploitation. Hartzog speaks on the need to develop the theoretical underpinnings of a new kind of privacy law that is responsive to the way people actually perceive and use digital technologies. The law can demand encryption. It can prohibit malicious interfaces that deceive users and leave them vulnerable. It can require safeguards against abuses of biometric surveillance. It can, in short, make the technology itself worthy of our trust” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Public Toilets 54 mins – Public bathrooms are an amenity we all need. Yet few of us talk about them openly, and cities often get them wrong. So how should governments and businesses provide for this most basic bodily need – and what does it mean for citizens when they have no place to go? Contributor Lezlie Lowe flushes out the answers on a road trip, with many bathroom breaks, across North America.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Rat Eradication 27 mins – “The atoll of Tetiaro is a string of tiny islands in French Polynesia, about 60km away from Tahiti. The islands – known as ‘motus’ to local Polynesians – are unique ecosystems that are crucial nesting sites for native seabirds. But invasive species threaten to disrupt these fragile environments – a fate seen across many islands in the Pacific. Rats arrived with early human settlers and have driven bird species off some of the islands. Meanwhile introduced mosquitoes have thrived in the warm conditions, and now act as vectors for diseases such as the Zika virus. Rat eradication experts have travelled to one of the uninhabited islands in the atoll, called Reiono, to attempt an experimental eradication of thousands of rats with one mammoth poison bait drop. They’re also using this as an opportunity to better understand why eradication attempts have been less effective on tropical islands. At the same time, on another island in the chain called Onetahi, researchers are releasing swarms of sterilised male mosquitoes to try to rid this motu of the disease-carrying pest. Join Carl Smith from ABC Australia for the third episode of The Chase: a special four-part series about science on the run.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Lower quality” from the pop-up menu.
South African Cyclone Deaths 47 mins – “Cyclone Idai is one of the worst weather-related catastrophes in the history of Africa. We look at the forecast for a region under the threat of climate change.” At the link right-click the down-pointing arrow and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Statistics Uses 24 min – “Prof Sir David Spiegelhalter has a love of statistics and has done ever since he was inspired by a teacher at university. Today, though, some are arguing that this type of number crunching is losing its power and its ability to depict reality. This, they say, has in part led to increasing levels of distrust in statistics. Nicola Davis and Ian Sample investigate how significant statistics are in today’s world with the author and Cambridge academic David Spiegelhalter. They discuss the golden days of the field and its importance to medical science, as well as the future of statistics.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Synthetic Labs in Homes 29 mins – “Electric cars are the new NBN by Ian Woolf, JJ Hastings talks about creating art and science and her new authorised synthetic biology home lab” At the link right-click “MP3 Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Taste Sense Discussion 23 mins – “Coffee is a drink adored the world over. But have you ever wondered why a fresh brew smells better than it tastes? This is one of the many questions Prof Barry Smith from the University of London has been trying to answer by studying the senses. It turns out there are a lot to choose from; we could have anywhere between 22 and 33 different senses. With a strong interest in wine, though, Smith has focused on how touch, taste and smell all work in tandem to produce flavour perception. Graihagh Jackson invited Smith into the studio to talk about taste, coffee and chocolate and how we can manipulate our brains into thinking something tastes sweeter than it is.” At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Terrorism Analysis 27 mins – “Dr Hannah Fry investigates the hidden patterns behind terrorism and asks whether mathematics could be used to predict the next 9/11. When computer scientists decided to study the severity and frequency of 30,000 terrorist attacks worldwide, they found an distinctive pattern hiding in the data. Even though the events spanned 5,000 cities in 187 countries over 40 years, every single attack fitted neatly onto a curve, described by an equation known as a ‘power law’. Now this pattern is helping mathematicians and social scientists understand the mechanisms underlying global terrorism. Could these modelling techniques be used to predict if, and when, another attack the size of 9/11 will occur?”At the link right-click “Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Therapeutic Writing 36 mins – “New York Times best-selling author Cynthia Bond discusses her first novel, “Ruby,” which is an Oprah’s Book Club choice. Cynthia says that as an adult she was flooded with painful memories of sexual abuse from her childhood. She found healing in a writing class and her work there eventually led to the idea for the novel that would take her 10 years to complete. “Ruby” was finally published in 2014. Cynthia says the message she wants to share in her book is about survival. “The lesson is that it is possible to not just survive anything, but it is possible to be a victor,” she says. “It is possible to be victorious over any obstacle. And that’s something I know in my marrow. I know in my bones.” Cynthia also talks about her years of teaching writing classes to the homeless and at-risk youth throughout the Los Angeles area.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
Time Use Trends 63 mins – “Economist and author Daniel Hamermesh of Barnard College and the Institute for the Study of Labor talks about his latest book, Spending Time, with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Hamermesh explores how we treat time relative to money, how much we work and how that has changed over time, and the ways economists look at time, work, and leisure.” At the link right-click “Download and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Transcranial Brain Stimulation 27 mins – “The God helmet by Ian Woolf, Peter Simson-Young talks about personalising transcranial direct current stimulation using 3D printing.” At the link right-click “MP3 Download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Trump Tactics 68 mins – “Trump botches the human act of calling grieving families and rejects a bipartisan deal to improve the Affordable Care Act. Then Jon and Dan talk to Virginia Democratic Party Chairwoman Susan Swecker about the race between Ralph Northam and Ed Gillespie, and Ana Marie Cox joins to talk about #MeToo and the Trump Administration’s legal push to force an undocumented immigrant to give birth.” At the link find the title, ““The strategic sense of a rabid raccoon.” 19 Oct 2017, right-click “MEDIA ENCLOSURE: https://traffic.megaphone.fm/DGT3095986984.mp3” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Trust Discussion 25 mins – “In a live appearance at UCLA’s Royce Hall, research professor, social scientist, New York Times best-selling author and TED Talk sensation Dr. Brené Brown discusses the fundamentals of trust. Brené explains how she was moved to focus on the topic after watching her daughter struggle with a betrayal of trust. Brené says she eventually found a way to teach her daughter to build trust and identify the people in her life who deserve it. She also explains why gossip harms relationships more than we realize and creates an intimacy that isn’t real.” At the link you can listen, but not download; however, a copy of the podcast is included in the blog archive.
War Powers 62 mins – “For the past year, Matt Waxman has been writing Lawfare vignettes about interesting—and usually overlooked—historical episodes of American constitutional war powers in action, and relating them to modern debates. These include the stories of St. Claire’s Defeat and the Whiskey Rebellion during the Washington administration, congressional war powers and the surprisingly late termination of World War I, the proposed Ludlow Amendment during the interwar years, and Eisenhower’s Taiwan force authorization. Ben Wittes invited Matt on the podcast to talk about them and how they fit together into a book broader project he’s embarking on. If you’re tired of hearing the usual war powers debates, listen in. And even if you think you know a lot about constitutional war powers, you’ll learn a lot.” At the link right-click “Direct download: Episode_398.mp3” and select “Save link As” from the popup menu.
Work Future Trends P1 29 mins – “Alex Kelly talks about economics, automation, investment, and how to change things for a better society. Excerpt from “Machine: Master or Slave” At the link right-click “MP3 download” and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
Work Future Trends P2 28 mins – “Will the Sun cool the Earth? by Ian Woolf, Nathan Waters looks to the future of work and housing needs- part 2,” At the link right-click MP3 download: and select “Save Link As” from the pop-up menu.
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Media Mining Digest 