WAMU-FM: WAMU: The Kojo Nnamdi Show Podcast

THE POLITICS HOUR: D.C.'s new ethics panel investigates a Council member. Maryland's same-sex marriage debate ignites a controversy at Gallaudet University. And local candidates in Virginia, including in Alexandria's race for mayor, barrel down the home stretch. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. (52 min.)

DINAW MENGESTU ON THE AFRICAN IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE: As a young Ethiopian immigrant to Peoria, Ill., Dinaw Mengestu immersed himself in life as an American in the heartland. But as he grew up, doubts and confusion about his identity drew Mengestu back to the culture and turbulent history his parents left behind. Now an acclaimed writer and 2012 recipient of the MacArthur "genius" grant, Mengestu has found his voice capturing the conflicting experiences of the African diaspora in America. He joins Kojo to discuss his work and writing. (52 min.)

SHAPING THE CITY: A NEW VISION FOR COLUMBIA, MD.: When James Rouse designed Columbia, Md., in the late 1960s, his groundbreaking plan envisioned an integrated community with open-plan schools, a central mall and interfaith worship centers. Nearly 50 years later, suburban-style planning is out of favor, and the growing city has a new vision: high-rise buildings and a walkable, urban center. We explore the hopes — and fears — of residents about what the changes will mean for Columbia's unique character. (52 min.)

AUTHOR LOIS LOWRY: Before "Harry Potter" and "The Hunger Games" there was "The Giver." Author Lois Lowry and her readers became so invested in the dystopian world she created in that novel that three more followed. The latest — and reportedly last — in the series, "Son," was recently published. Kojo talks with the award-winning children's and young adult author about her prolific career. (52 min.)

"SKIRT STEAK:" THE LANDSCAPE FOR FEMALE CHEFS: The number of women enrolled in the Culinary Institute of America increases every year, and the ranks of successful female chefs is also growing. But the gains haven't been without hardship, discrimination or room for improvement. Whether it's the impossibly long work days or gender discrimination, few women are at the helm of professional galleys. We speak with women in the industry about what it takes to make it in a predominantly male culinary world. (52 min.)

THE DARK ART OF DEBATE DODGES AND SPIN: At their best, presidential and vice presidential debates equip voters with a stark choice between competing policies and ideologies. Unfortunately, candidates and campaigns are often adept at avoiding tough questions. As President Barack Obama and Republican challenger Mitt Romney prepare for their second prime time debate, we examine the dark art of debate dodges and spins, and explore new approaches for keeping candidates on topic. (52 min.)

HEADPHONES, TECHNOLOGY AND CULTURE: For many Americans, music and podcasts serve as a constant soundtrack to their daily routines. In offices with open floor plans, workers don headphones to block out noise. Others couldn't get through a workout or their daily commute without music pumping through earbuds. Studies have come to differing conclusions about whether listening to music helps or hinders productivity. More troubling is the increase in permanent hearing loss associated with headphone use. We consider the technology, culture and safe use of this ubiquitous accessory. (52 min.)

WASHINGTON'S LESSER-KNOWN MEMORIALS: It's a mystery to some why there are memorials in Washington honoring victims of communism, a Czech patriot and women who died on the Titanic. But a statue or a monument built here on federal land is typically the result of a passionate interest group raising money and lobbying for a sponsor in Congress. Some feel the nation's capital would benefit from a more coherent approach, while others see a reflection of our nation's patchwork identity. We explore the lesser-known memorials in Washington. (52 min.)

MARYLAND BALLOT QUESTION 7: LAS VEGAS ON THE POTOMAC?: A measure to expand gambling in Maryland has prompted the most expensive campaign in state history, financed on both sides by competing casino operators. While both sides debate whether allowing blackjack and poker would create jobs and boost education funding, Kojo asks what a high-end casino at National Harbor would mean for Prince George's County and the region.(52 min.)

THE POLITICS HOUR: Playoff baseball returns to the D.C. region, but most local fans are blacked out from the telecast of a crucial game. A federal judge gives the former chairman of the D.C. Council a curfew. And the presidential candidates swing for the fences in Virginia. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. (52 min.)

KOJO IN YOUR COMMUNITY: CHANGING NEIGHBORHOODS AND CHANGING SCHOOLS: Few neighborhoods are as emblematic of D.C.'s evolution as Columbia Heights — a place that's greeted waves of new residents and a tectonic demographic shift in the past two decades. But the long term arc of these changes may well hinge on the future of the District's network of schools. We measure where schools fit into the future of D.C.'s rapidly changing neighborhoods. (52 min.)

KOJO IN YOUR COMMUNITY: PEOPLE AND PUBLIC SPACES IN COLUMBIA HEIGHTS: Two miles north of the White House, Columbia Heights boasts a diverse population, a growing business core and a blossoming restaurant scene. But it's also a neighborhood in transition. As housing prices rise, young professionals are moving in, while some long-time residents and businesses can't afford to stay. Kojo in Your Community explores the debates over public space, personal safety and mapping the future in changing neighborhoods like this one. (52 min.)

BROADCAST BLUES: WHY THE NATS' PLAYOFF GAME IS ON MLB NETWORK: Today, the Washington Nationals host the St. Louis Cardinals in the city's first home playoff game since the 1930s. But most area baseball fans won't be able to watch the game on television because it's airing exclusively on Major League Baseball's cable network. We find out why that is, and examine trends in sports broadcasting. (11 min.) THE MAN BEHIND "A PEOPLE'S HISTORY:" HOWARD ZINN: Historian Howard Zinn's work has become a pop culture touchstone for fans and critics alike. Some credit his book "A People's History of the United States" with changing the way students and scholars study history. Others accuse him of imposing his own agenda on the past. We talk with historian Martin Duberman about his new biography of Zinn, which paints an intimate portrait of a complex and private man. (39 min.)

THE TRADITION OF BAKERIES IN OUR REGION: Washington never had the kind of working-class immigrant communities that brought traditional Old World bakeries to many cities. But some see a unique local bakery culture developing here nonetheless. At area farmers' markets and retail shops you can find vegan cupcakes, artisan breads, and French pastries. Vietnamese, Ethiopian and Salvadoran bakeries offer other sweet and savory options. We explore the evolution bakeries in our region. (52 min.)

"THE RATIONAL SOUTHERNER": In 2008, Barack Obama became the first Democrat to win Virginia since 1964. The Commonwealth's evolution from red state to purple state was influenced by powerful historic forces: in-migration, economic growth, and shifting power dynamics within both parties. Kojo talks with political scientist Quentin Kidd about the evolution of partisanship in the South. (52 min.)