WAMU-FM: WAMU: The Kojo Nnamdi Show Podcast

A CONVERSATION WITH KAYA HENDERSON: We speak with the District's Schools Chancellor about the results of this year's DC CAS standardized tests, as well as her plans for the future of the public school system, including the goal of more coordination between regular public schools and charter schools. She will also address this year's controversial school closures, the timeline of planned boundary changes, plans to address truancy and other issues facing D.C. public schools. (52 min.)

SUMMER OF THE GUN: BALTIMORE'S VIOLENCE IN BLACK AND WHITE: After a lull in violence, homicides in Baltimore have soared this summer, with 16 killed over a 10-day period in June alone. As weary Baltimore residents absorb the near-daily coverage of killings in their city, one photographer is going beyond the usual crime tape images to illustrate what happens to communities after the police go home. Kojo explores the stories behind a sobering new photo series in Baltimore's City Paper. (31 min.) BRADLEY MANNING VERDICT: The judge presiding over the court-martial of Pfc. Bradley Manning, accused of being behind the largest leak of classified information in U.S. history, is expected to hand down a decision today. If Manning is found guilty of aiding the enemy, after pleading guilty to numerous other charges, he could face a sentence of life in prison. We get the latest from the courtroom and analysis of the decision. (19 min.)

BOOK BUYING IN THE DIGITAL AGE: As the publishing industry migrates to e-books and the number of brick-and-mortar bookstores continues to shrink, many readers are turning to social networks and online retailers for reading recommendations. But can these digital tools ever really replicate the serendipity of stumbling across a new author in a book store? We explore how technology is changing the way we discover new authors. (52 min.)

THE FUTURE OF GEORGETOWN: Filled with historic buildings and retail shops, Georgetown is among D.C.'s most popular neighborhoods for tourists and locals alike. But as trendy new areas around the city sprout restaurants and luxury condos, Georgetown is pondering its future in a changing city. We look at the commercial, environmental and transportation challenges facing D.C.'s most venerable district. (52 min.)

THE POLITICS HOUR: A soccer stadium proposal kicks off a new political debate in the District. Virginia's governor issues a public apology after repaying a prominent businessman for loans made to his family and his business. And Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley rolls out new standards for greenhouse gases. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. (52 min.)

THE U.S., AFRICA AND THE GLOBAL ECONOMY: After the Cold War, most Washington policy-makers viewed sub-Saharan nations as charity cases. International oil and mineral companies extracted valuable raw materials, but most private corporations saw the continent as a shaky investment. But after a decade of record growth on the continent, the United States and other countries are beginning to look at Africa as a destination for investment and as a trading partner important for their own economic futures. We speak with the president of the African Development Bank and a top U.S. Treasury Department official about Africa's evolving role in the global economy. (52 min.)

CHIMAMANDA NGOZI ADICHIE: "AMERICANAH" : Nigerian-born novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie's latest novel touches on many things: race, love, immigration and the fraught topic of black women's hair. "Americanah" unfolds across three continents, raising questions about identity everywhere it goes. We talk with Adichie about her latest work, her popular TED talks and her place in the world of literature. (52 min.)

NEW AND OLD RESEARCH ON VITAMIN SUPPLEMENTS : Many people take a multivitamin daily, or specific vitamins for a particular reason, like Vitamin C to ward off a cold. But a growing body of research shows that, for many people, taking supplements may do nothing at all — and overdoing it by taking several times the recommended daily allowance can even be harmful. FDA oversight of vitamin supplements is limited, so it's up to consumers to watch what they take. We explore the risks and benefits of taking your vitamins. (21 min.) UNCONSCIOUS BIAS AND DEBATES ABOUT RACE : Few people would suggest there is no racism in this country, but few would describe themselves as racist. In the wake of the not guilty verdict in the Trayvon Martin case, social scientists are pointing to unconscious bias to explain the disconnect. They say such bias can affect our actions in everything from medicine to criminal justice. Kojo explores unconscious bias and how to counteract it. (28 min.)

MARIE ARANA: "BOLIVAR: AMERICAN LIBERATOR": Simon Bolivar is often called the "George Washington of South America." But his influence in the modern world can be seen in Latin American countries that are growing increasingly defiant of the United States. Bolivar is credited with leading several countries to independence two centuries ago, a legacy that continues to define the politics of places like Bolivia and Venezuela. Kojo and biographer Marie Arana discuss what we can learn about the modern world by becoming better acquainted with the history of Bolivar's time. (52 min.)

TECH TUESDAY: PRESERVING FAMILY HISTORY: Photo albums, home movies, handwritten letters, an unused old computer with important family documents still stored on it: as precious as these items may be, they'll last only as long as the paper, videotape or hard drive they're on. To make matters worse, they're often stored in attics and basements — the worst possible environments for preservation. We explore high and low tech ways to protect and store family memorabilia, and the smartest way to migrate different materials to digital formats.(52 min.)

REGULATING ABORTION CLINICS: Virginia's busiest abortion clinic closed its doors last week, unable to meet strict new rules imposed by the state. Sponsors say the new regulations will improve safety, but opponents insist the real motive is to shut down abortion clinics. Kojo explores how Virginia and Maryland — where doctors, not legislators, wrote the new rules — are handling the latest legislative skirmishes in the abortion battle. (22 min.) COUP OR REVOLT?: WHY DEFINING EGYPT'S TRANSITION MATTERS: When mass protests filled Tahrir Square earlier this summer, the Egyptian military gave then-President Mohamed Morsi an ultimatum to meet popular demands or face intervention. Morsi was removed from power, and the question of whether that move was the result of a coup or a popular revolt is one that will determine whether the United States can legally continue to provide aid to Egypt. Kojo explores what's at stake in this debate for both countries, and how it may affect conversations about American aid throughout the world. (28 min.)

THE POLITICS HOUR: A massive water outage is avoided narrowly in Maryland. A steady trickle of embarrassing reports hounds Virginia's governor. And D.C. lawmakers face a flood of proponents and critics of living wage legislation. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. (52 min.)

CAPITAL FRINGE FESTIVAL: Now in its eighth year, the Capital Fringe Festival is underway, with more than 130 shows in venues across D.C., featuring performers from around the block and around the world. The festival welcomes the experimental and the untested, with a smorgasbord of performances that includes everything from musical theater to spoken word poetry. We get highlights from the festival and speak with some of the performers. (52 min.)

THE "FIXERS" BEHIND INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM: Journalists on assignment in foreign countries often risk their lives to gather and report news. But they also depend on local hires who serve as correspondents, translators and guides. These "fixers" often do journalism of their own and put themselves in danger regularly. Kojo chats with American journalists who reported from the front lines in Iraq and from the rubble in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake — and with the fixers who helped them do their jobs. (52 min.)

UNDERSTANDING YOUR TASTE BUDS: Do you know any picky eaters who can't stand certain foods? Genetics help shape our sense of taste and explain why we prefer bitter or sweet, like why we like coffee black or with sugar. We look at the range of individual tastes and how chefs and sommeliers account for them in perfecting a meal. (52 min.)