Episodes

  • 'We smile about it, but we're serious': Searching for elves in Iceland

    'We smile about it, but we're serious': Searching for elves in Iceland
    Dec 25 2024
    Robin Young and Karyn Miller-Medzon revisit their 2019 trip to Iceland when they explored the enduring presence of elves, or "hidden folk" in Icelandic culture. Also, on the first night of Hanukkah, Leah Koenig offers some recipes for the Jewish Festival of Lights. She's the author of "The Jewish Cookbook." And for dessert, Peter DiMario reflects on the new cookbook he co-wrote with Judith Choate. "Jiggle!" expands the repertoire of gelatin far beyond the Jell-O mold.

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    34 mins
  • Hark! The podcast angels sing: Christmas music from 'Messiah' to the Muppets

    Hark! The podcast angels sing: Christmas music from 'Messiah' to the Muppets
    Dec 24 2024
    Charles King's new book "Every Valley" tells the backstory of "Messiah," a staple of the Christmas season widely considered George Frideric Handel's masterpiece. Then, musicologist Martin Clarke discusses the moment of musical ecstasy that accompanies a particular arrangement on "O come, all ye faithful." Find out why the "word of the father" chord has been called "the best chord of Christmas." Also WBUR editor Sara Shukla shares an appreciation of "The Muppet Christmas Carol," and reflects on why it's especially significant to her this year.

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    27 mins
  • Natural disasters and political setbacks: The year in climate change

    Natural disasters and political setbacks: The year in climate change
    Dec 23 2024
    David Wallace Wells, author of "The Uninhabitable Earth," reviews the year in climate. The head of the United Nations has described 2024 as a "master class in climate destruction." Then, author Tana French leaves the Dublin police squad where she's set her previous books and sets out for the country in a series of novels where small town politics conceal deadly secrets. "The Hunter" is out in paperback. Also, NPR's James Mastromarino recommends some of the best new board games to play with friends and family this holiday season.

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    32 mins
  • Musk, Trump and a divided House send government toward shutdown

    Musk, Trump and a divided House send government toward shutdown
    Dec 20 2024
    The House voted down a second try at reaching a deal to avert a government shutdown at midnight on Friday. ABC's Rick Klein discussed what's to come. And, striking Amazon workers — members of the Teamsters Union — are seeking recognition of their union, better working conditions and higher pay. Randy Korgan — the Teamster's National Director for Amazon shares more about the ongoing strike. Then, data centers are driving a huge surge in electricity demand as artificial intelligence and cloud computing grow. Brian Singer, an analyst at Goldman Sachs, looks to the future of data and electricity usage.

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    20 mins
  • What we know about the first severe case of bird flu in humans

    What we know about the first severe case of bird flu in humans
    Dec 19 2024
    A person in Louisiana has been hospitalized with the first severe case of H5N1 bird flu in the U.S. This comes as California Governor Gavin Newsom declares a state of emergency to deal with an outbreak spreading among dairy cows in California. Dr. Abdul El-Sayed of the Wayne County Department of Health, Human and Veterans Services in Michigan joins us to discuss. And, two experts on human rights violations recently visited suspected mass graves in Syria. Stephen Rapp, former U.S. ambassador at large for war crimes, and Mouaz Moustafa of the Syrian Emergency Task Force share what they saw. Then, terminally ill children got to take a magical plane ride to Santa's Workshop. We speak with Captain Bob Zimmerman, who piloted the trip.

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    23 mins
  • House Republicans push criminal probe of Liz Cheney over Jan. 6 panel

    House Republicans push criminal probe of Liz Cheney over Jan. 6 panel
    Dec 18 2024
    A new report released by House Republicans backs President-elect Trump's push to criminally investigate former Republican Rep. Liz Cheney for her role in investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. And, Luigi Mangione, the man accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, has been indicted on terrorism charges. WNYC reporter Samantha Max shares what we know so far. And Wendell Potter — former Cigna executive-turned-whistleblower — explains how Wall Street has driven up health care costs. Then, is there a teacher on your holiday shopping list? The Washington Post's Michelle Singletary shares some gift ideas that teachers will love.

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    21 mins
  • Mar-a-Lago's revolving door: the billionaires influencing Trump

    Mar-a-Lago's revolving door: the billionaires influencing Trump
    Dec 17 2024
    President-elect Donald Trump is assembling a cabinet of wealthy business people and holding meetings with some of the nation's most powerful CEOs. Political science professor Stephen Nelson joins us to explain why it could be a sign of oligarchy in the United States. And, Trump's lie about Haitian immigrants in Springfield, Ohio helped define a fiery presidential campaign. Now, PolitiFact is calling it the "Lie of the Year." Editor-in-chief Katie Sanders joins us to discuss the impact the lie has had on Haitian immigrants. Then, four-time Grammy-winning musician Zakir Hussain died Saturday at the age of 73. We pay tribute to his legacy by revisiting Hussain's 2023 conversation with host Deepa Fernandes.

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    29 mins
  • As the Colorado River runs low on water, 7 states fight over how to share it

    As the Colorado River runs low on water, 7 states fight over how to share it
    Dec 16 2024
    Negotiations have stalled among seven states trying to reach a deal on how to use a dwindling supply of water from the Colorado River. Arizona State University's Kathryn Sorenson tells us what's at stake. And, we look into President Biden's wave of commutations and pardons with University of St. Thomas School of Law professor Mark Osler. Then, for an 18-year-old in Gaza, keeping up his workout routine is one of the ways he copes with war in his homeland. Mohammed Hatem joins us to share how exercise provides solace.

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    24 mins