A new Hillerman mystery
Anne Hillerman’s new book The Tale Teller is the fifth book in the Leaphorn, Chee & Manuelito series. We talk about the story, the craft of mystery writing, and the cultural/historical background.
What do the Hebrew prophets have to say about our times?
Rabbi Nahum Ward-Lev is author of the new book, The Liberating Path of the Hebrew Prophets: Then and Now. We talk about the relevance of the teachings of the Torah to our lives today, and the continuities between ancient and modern social and political problems.
What is the internet doing to your brain?
Are you distracted, unable to read deeply or for more than a few minutes? Are you continually checking your devices? If so, you’re one of millions whose brains have changed because of our technologies. Nicholas Carr is one of the world’s leading experts on how this works–and what we can do.
Zombie Agriculture
Industrial agriculture looks like it’s alive, but often the soil is dead, animals are living in excruciating conditions, and the food looks good but is not as nutritious as food grown from living soils in humane circumstances. Is it eating our brains?
Joe Neal: Civil rights pioneer
Neal came from sharecroppers in Louisiana, and made his way to the air force and then Las Vegas, NV, where he became the first and longest-serving African American state senators in the state’s history–always fighting for justice and equality.
Systems thinking in education
We talk about what’s wrong with education, but what does it take to look at the whole system–including the local economy, health care, substance abuse, and so many other factors that affect our kids? Educator Terry Holliday talks about innovations in our schools–and our thinking–that can improve schools and communities.
All about dogs
Dog owners are wild about their dogs. It’s hard to overstate the power and poignancy of this human-canine bond.
Life and death on the Gila River
Three mothers paddle down the Gila River after the deaths of their teenage children, following the path the kids had chosen as environmental advocates for the river and surrounding wilderness.
Saved by the dog!
Assistance dogs have changed the lives of innumerable people with disabilities. We talk to filmmakerHeddy Honigmann about her film Buddy, and to Jill Felice of Assistance Dogs of the West.
Farming While Black
That’s the name of Leah Penniman‘s new book, and it’s a profound and wide-ranging exploration of everything from the practical details of how to start a farm, to the rich history of African-heritage farming.