From Monk to Money Manager
Is money the root of all evil? A former monk says no–at least not if you use it in a way that is respectful of life. Doug Lynam talks about his new book and about walking the middle path between greed and self-denial.
In Memoriam: Murray Gell-Mann
Murray Gell-Mann was one of the brightest lights not only in physics but in all of science. A modern-day Renaissance man he had, according to current Santa Fe Institute president David Krakauer said Gell Mann, “a mind both cavernous and extensive — animated by the most intense fire of roguish curiosity that I have ever beheld.”
Killers, bouncers, and covert agents: Your immune system at work
Our immune system has evolved over millions of years into extraordinarily effective forces for fighting off illness. But they’re not perfect. New York Times reporter Matt Richtel tell us how they work, what can go wrong, and what we can do to stay as healthy as possible.
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Alice Guy-Blaché: the first woman filmmaker
She was born in France where she started her film career in the late 1800s, then moved to the US. She made hundreds of films, earned the respect of audiences and colleagues alike — and then was written out of film history. We talk to Pamela Green about her new documentary on Guy-Blaché.
Incentivizing healthy soils through sensible policy
Healthy soil is a win-win for everyone, but converting from conventional to regenerative agriculture is a process that needs to be incentivized. Land Core is an organization that’s doing just that. We talk to founders Aria McLauchlan and Harley Cross.
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.