Prime Time Radio - AARP

The Letter from Birmingham Jail / Anthem for a Changing Nation

National Senior Games / Little Red : Three Passionate Lives through the Sixties and Beyond

Part A:Robert Reich, the U.S. secretary of labor from 1993 to 1997 gives warning about a potential disaster for America in his new documentary, Inequality for All. This looming disaster, the growing gap between America’s richest and poorest citizens, is among the worst in for first world countries and could carry serious consequences for the nation’s economy.Part B:Inspired by a chance encounter in Dubai with impoverished laborers, Bob Harris had an epiphany. He decided he would turn his own good fortune into an effort to make lives like theirs better. Harris found his way to Kiva.org, the leading portal through which individuals make microloans in developing countries. Harris has given many people around the world the opportunity to start small businesses and support themselves and their families, improving their livelihood dramatically.

Part A:Rita Moreno shares her remarkable journey from a young girl with simple beginnings in Puerto Rico to Hollywood legend. She made her Broadway debut by age thirteen and moved quickly on to Hollywood in its Golden Age just a few years later. Moreno reflects on her struggles to break through Hollywood’s racial and sexual barriers.Part B:Most patients with implanted cardiac devices such as pacemakers will need an MRI at one time or another. Each year many thousands of pacemaker patients are denied MRIs because the procedure can cause harmful interactions with their device. The FDA has now approved a new and improved pacemaker that is compatible with the MRI scans. Renowned actress Debbie Allen and Radiologist Dr. Lee Friedman are participating in the Join the Pace Makers campaign to help spread the word to patients about how important it is to have an open and informed conversation with their physicians about their treatment options.

Part A:Urban planner and explorer Moses Gates describes his trespasses in some of the most illustrious cities in the world, from Paris to Cairo to Moscow. Gates describes his immersion in the worldwide subculture of urban exploration; how he joined a world of people who create secret art galleries in subway tunnels, break into national monuments for fun, and travel the globe sleeping in centuries-old catacombs rather than hotels or bed-and-breakfasts.Part B:In 1836 in East Texas, nine-year-old Cynthia Ann Parker was kidnapped by Comanches. She was raised by the tribe and eventually became the wife of a warrior. Twenty-four years after her capture, she was reclaimed by the U.S. cavalry and Texas Rangers and restored to her white family, to die in misery and obscurity. Cynthia Ann's story has been told and re-told over generations to become a foundational American tale. Glenn Frankel explores the real history behind the story that became the legendary film by John Ford and John Wayne.

Part A:Over the course of our nation’s history, men and women have served in the military bravely confronting the many dangers that face our country to continually protect our freedoms and lives. Brian Castner is one those brave people, he served three tours of duty in the Middle East, two of them as the commander of an Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit, he and his unit dismantled IEDs wherever the threatened civilians or military personnel. It is one of the most dangerous and important jobs in the military. It is also one of the most emotionally and mentally demanding.When Castner returned to his wife and family after he finished his tours of duty, he began fighting another equally emotional and mental battle to readjust to a different life on the home front. The emotions that he struggles against and faces on a daily, which for lack of a better term, he dubs the “Crazy,” haunt him daily. In this interview with Mike Cuthbert, Castner reveals his story of heartbreak, sacrifice, and camaraderie of war, as well as, the unending support from family and the lonely struggle with survivor guilt, which many veterans carry with them always. Castner’s new memoir, “The Long Walk,” also details these and many other stories of war and the life that follows.Part B:Since the beginning of the last century, vampires have been a continual hit in pop culture. And there is one count from Transylvania in particular that has always stood out from the rest. Although every generation reinvents the character in countless books and movies, they also claim to know not only who the count really was but where he lived and died.One thing is for certain, however, Bram Stoker’s ruthless and bloodthirsty character of Dracula was an ingenious work of complete fiction. Historian Jim Steinmeyer explains to Mike Cuthbert of Prime Time Radio many different sources that Stoker used to create the infamous character, from Oscar Wilde to Jack the Ripper and Stoker’s one time boss, actor Henry Irving. Steinmeyer’s book, “Who was Dracula?” explores Stokers development as a novelist and playwright, his involvement in London’s theatrical scene, to the real life inspirations for Count Dracula.

Part A:Once a term used only in government and corporate settings, the word outsourcing has taken on many new meanings in the past few years. With the rise in popularity of social media, it now applies to our personal lives as well as our professional lives. Journalist and professor of sociology at University of California, Berkeley, Arlie Russell Hochschild, discusses the dangers and rewards of domestic outsourcing from personal life coaches to “wantologists” and wedding planners in her book, “The Outsourced Self.”. Hochschild also tells Mike Cuthbert of Prime Time Radio how the process of hiring out the handling of minute details in our lives is changing the very nature of human relations.Part B:Why does the emotion of fear so often control us our lives? Leading scientists, psychologists and extreme athletes all define and perceive the emotion differently, yet they all agree it developed to protect us and help us adapt to our environment: to survive.Journalist Jaimal Yogis wanted to completely master the fear that he felt ruled his life. In the process, he plunged into great white shark-infested waters to surf deadly giant waves, moved to Hawaii with nothing but the cloths on his back, and formed some of the best relationships he’s ever known. Yogis explains to Mike Cuthbert of Prime Time Radio what his adventures in overcoming fear taught him about life, survival, and love. He also tells some of the most harrowing stories of close encounters with great whites while surfing, and interesting interviews with the people that study the science of fear in his book, “The Fear Project.”

Part A:Cutting edge advances in the science of genetics are being made nearly every day. Whether in the field of cloning or curing diseases, these advances are continually allowing doctors to cure previously untreatable illnesses, especially cancer, and improve lives. Few may realize the quest to treat cancer began with an accidental discovery over fifty years ago. It was one of the first discoveries of a mutant gene, one that can cause leukemia that would lead to developing a groundbreaking medication to cure the chronic condition.Science writer and journalist, Jessica Wapner, vividly unfolds the history of this medical discovery and explains the science behind it all in this Prime Time Radio interview. Her new book, “The Philadelphia Chromosome,” also details how these discoveries have affected the future of fighting cancer and credits the scientists and doctors that made them.Part B:As a defense mechanism, human nature is hardwired to avoid uncertainty and risk. This phenomenon is especially apparent in an increasingly frenetic and competitive world. Every day brings along with it fresh experiences and new opportunities to learn and grow. These opportunities can often seem risky or dangerous.Finding the confidence to speak up concisely or the courage to trust in yourself fully while making new decisions can be daunting. In this Prime Time Radio interview, master life coach, inspirational speaker and author, Margie Warrell, shares many techniques for unlocking the power of courage to speak out, break the status quo and achieve amazing success in life. Her new book, “Stop Playing Safe,” also contains many powerful tools and tips for living bolder and conquering the fear of failure.

Part A: Being at loose ends with an empty nest and travelling husband, and sensing an excess of empathy and genius in her dog, Pransky, Sue Halpern decides to get certified as a therapy dog team. As it turns out, Pransky is not only a prolific therapist but a faithful, loving and snack loving friend. As she begins visiting the local nursing home every Tuesday with her new partner, they meet a wide range of friendly, and rather unfriendly, resident characters. In this Prime Time Radio interview, Halpern tells the story of how they plunged into a series of encounters with that revealed depths of warmth, humor, and insight Halpern hadn’t expected in people or animals. She also discusses how the experince taught her the true nature and value of the good life in her book, "A Dog Walks into a Nursing Home." Part B: For centuries, people have tinkered with the genetic make-up of our animal companions. We have bred dogs that herd and hunt, housecats with tiger stripes or are hairless, and countless exotic teacup species that fit snugly in our laps. However, modern technology introduces vast new options for toying with life. In this Prime Time Radio interview, journalist Emily Anthes discusses what could happen when the limits of animal alteration are stretched, whether it’s engineering a cat that glows green, cloning the beloved family Fido, or curing disease. In her new book, "Frankenstein’s Cat," she also explores how we are using this new biotechnology to shape the future of humans and animals.

Part A: She was a rising star in the early sixties. A young actress that always made a grand entrance and left a glamorous impression on everyone she met during her long career, including Marlon Brando, Ringo Starr, among many others. Prime Time Radio host, Mike Cuthbert recalls the impression Sally Kellerman left on him once when he saw her as a young man in New York City. He also discusses with her the most intriguing parts of her career, which is much more than her most iconic role, “Hot Lips” Houlihan in Robert Altman’s M*A*S*H. She also discusses her new autobiography titled, “Read My Lips,” and anything else that comes to her mind in this colorful interview. Part B: In a personal mission to live the most balanced and healthy life possible, actress and model, Mariel Hemmingway and life partner, Bobby Williams, have compiled a lifestyle guide to simple living, in their new book, “Running with Nature.” They discuss the fitness routines, eating plans, breathing exercises, and relationship advice that contribute to mental health and achieve an amazing life at any age in this interview with Prime Time Radio’s, Mike Cuthbert

Part A: Every year, about 450,000 Americans are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Each diagnosis creates a ripple effect, as millions of family members are thrown into a terribly sad, confusing and time-consuming situation. Filmmaker David Shenk believes the best resource, by far, is experienced Alzheimer’s families, caregivers who have already spent years learning to navigate this harrowing terrain. Shenk emphasizes that while no one is glossing over the difficulty of the disease, he did ask the filmmakers to focus on solutions, tools and strategies families employ to carve out a comfortable and meaningful life in a new series of short films. Part B: For 22 years, Katherine Bouton had a secret that grew harder to keep every day. Bouton, an editor at the New York Times, couldn't hear what her colleagues were saying at daily editorial meetings. She had gone profoundly deaf in her left ear; her right was getting worse. In her book Shouting Won't Help, Bouton explores "Why I — and 50 Million Other Americans — Can't Hear You." AARP Radio host Mike Cuthbert talks to the author, who describes herself as "the kind of person who might have used an ear trumpet in the 19th century.

Part A: At a time when Emmy winner and singer Amy Grant was emotionally struggling with her parent’s experience with dementia, she had temporarily stopped touring to take care of her ill father. Grant talks about why her newest album, How Mercy Looks from Here, is so dear to her heart and how her late mother inspired many of the lyrics. The album is a highly reflective and personal work that sums up recent events in her life from the death of her mother to care giving for her father. In this highly personal interview, Grant expresses her emotions tenderly and with amazing depth as an artist. Part B: In the 1930’s, baseball was already more than a national pastime, it had grown into a cultural phenomenon that pulled communities together and inspired a struggling country in the midst of a depression. When Hank Greenburg joined the Detroit Tigers in 1933, he was one of the most exciting sluggers in the game. As he rose to fame, he was usually cheered wherever he played. At the same time, he was also jeered and insulted, both on and off the field, suffering taunts and anti-Semitic threats. These hardships only drove him on to greater heights. Author John Rosengren reveals an intimate story of a life of integrity and triumph over adversity on and off the field

Part A: The notorious gangster James “Whitey” Bulger was the most wanted fugitive of his generation before his capture in June of 2011. In a probing new biography, award-winning reporters Kevin Cullen and Shelley Murphy follow Whitey’s extraordinary criminal career from childhood to capture. They tell a gripping story of teenage thuggery and murder and the building of an underworld empire. Part B: Average people across the country are profoundly improving the world unnoticed and without seeking recognition or praise. Bob Dotson tells the stories of extraordinary things people are doing to solve problems, help others in need, and create the true character of American culture

Part A: Dr. Julie Silver explains the psychological effects that cancer treatment can have on self-esteem and self-image. Although things like hair and make-up may seem superficial in regard fighting terminal illness, Marianne Kelly realized there was more to healing than medicine. She started the first image recovery salon at Johns Hopkins Cancer Center. They discuss cancer rehab on the inside and out. Part B: Al Capp was at one time a household name, known both for his work on the comic strip, Lil Abner, and for his outspoken political views. His notoriety reached astounding extremes highs and lows. Lil Abner ran for over forty years and at the height of its popularity, it reached ninety million viewers. However, behind the strip was a complicated man. Denis Kitchen, renowned comic artist writer in his own right, reveals the complete story of Al Capp in a new biography.

Part A: Rick Atkinson’s final volume of The Liberation Trilogy, “The Guns at Last Light,” is the epic story of D-Day and the 700 mile thrust to the heart of the Third Reich that led to the triumphant liberation of Europe. With the stirring final volume of this monumental trilogy, Atkinson’s accomplishment is manifest. He has produced the definitive chronicle of the war that unshackled a continent and preserved freedom in the West. Part B: 75 million baby boomers are coping with the challenges of aging relatives. They are facing some of the hardest decisions they will ever have to make. Some are reaching out to elder care advocates who provide relief and individual solutions that so many overwhelmed families and baby boomers desperately need