Radio Curious

Guiding Lights: The People Who Lead Us Toward Our Purpose in Life Every one of us, in every social role that we play, is a teacher and a mentor. Who has influenced us, and how we pass that influence along is a question that goes to the heart of both learning and mentoring. The concepts of mentoring are set out in the book “Guiding Lights: The People Who Lead Us Toward Our Purpose in Life,” by Eric Liu. In this interview, recorded n February 2005, Eric Liu discusses his experiences a mentor, a mentee, and an observer of both. For more information see www.ericliu.com. www.ericliu.com (http://www.radio4all.net/dl.php/1197-1-20050319-LIU__ERIC_2-15-05.mp3?file_id=21002&protocol=http&session=682548536615f08573f9c61885bedf00) Eric Liu recommends "All the King's Men," by Robert Penn Warren. Originally Broadcast: February 15, 2005 Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/download/11688/13867/21002/?url=http://emma2.radio4all.net/pub/archive/04.01.05/curious@pacific.net/1197-1-20050319-LIU__ERIC_2-15-05.mp3)

American Mania, When More is Not Enough Not so long ago before the common use of devices operated by electricity our lives were generally much more calm. And as humans we have a biological a heritage of being are curiosity driver, reward seeking and harm avoiding creatures. The conflict that has evolved between our biological heritage and the demand driven economy in the United States is the essence of a book entitled “American Mania, When More is Not Enough.” Dr. Peter C. Whybrow, author of “American Mania” is our guest on this edition of Radio Curious. He is a professor of psychiatry and bio-behavioral science, and director of the Semel Institute of Neuroscience and Human Behavior at the University of California at Los Angeles. In this interview, recorded mid-February 2005, Dr. Whybrow discusses this conflict, and its consequences. Peter C. Whybrow recommends “In Praise of Slowness,” by Carl Honore. Originally Broadcast: February 12, 2005 Click here to listen to the program or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=53939&version_id=60326&version=1) to download and subscribe to our podcast.

Yael Berda is a young Israeli lawyer, born in New York and raised in Jerusalem. At the age of 14, she became involved in a struggle to free her parents from debtors’ prison and the experience changed her life. She has since become a leader of a non-violent movement for reconciliation and understanding among the Israel and Palestinian populations. Yael Berda recommends "Fields of Protest," by Roca Ray. Originally Broadcast: November 30, 2004 Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/pub/archive/04.01.05/curious@pacific.net/1197-1-20050110-BERDA__YAEL__11-10-04.mp3)

The Vagina Monologues The Vagina Monologues, created and produced by Eve Ensler, tell the stories of women, their relationships, feelings, and, in some cases, abuse. In this edition of Radio Curious, we spoke with Eve Ensler about the origin of the the Vagina Monologues and the film, “Until the Violence Ends.” Eve Ensler recommends "Bush in Babylon," by Tariq Ali. Originally Broadcast: January 27, 2004 Click here to listen to the program or on the media player below. Click here to download the podcast.

Overcoming Dyslexia: A New and Complete Science-Based Program for Reading Problems at Any Level Approximately one child in five suffers from dyslexia, a condition that makes learning to read difficult and in some cases seemingly impossible. In this edition of Radio Curious, originally broadcast in August of 2003, we visit with Dr. Sally Shaywitz, a Professor of Pediatrics at Yale University and the co-director of the Yale justify for the Study of Learning and Attention. She discusses early diagnosis of dyslexia in young children, older children, and in adults, and what can be done to assist people who suffer from this disability. In her book, “Overcoming Dyslexia,” Dr. Shaywitz describes how current research, including new brain imaging studies, are uncovering the mechanics underlying this problem, and have led to effective treatments. Dr. Sally Shaywitz recommends "Emperor of Ocean Park," by Stephen Carter & "Samaritan," by Richard Price. Originally Broadcast: August 5, 2003 Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/pub/archive2/07.01.07/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-20060418-SHAYWITZ__Sally_5-14-03.mp3)

American Taboo, A Murder in Peace Corps In this edition of Radio Curious, we take a look at murder and getting away with murder. In the small island kingdom of Tonga, an American Peace Corps Volunteer murdered another American Peace Corps volunteer in October 1976. “American Taboo, A Murder in Peace Corps,” by Philip Weiss, is a detailed story about the murder, how and why it happened, the legend that developed, the subsequent cover-up, and an interview with the murderer. Philip Weiss recommends "McArthur and Southerland, The Good Years," & "McArthur and Southerland, The Bitter Years," both by Paul P. Rogers Originally Broadcast: June 29, 2003 Click here to begin listening.

Sweet Grass County: Historic Crossroad Montana, the Big Sky state, is a place of significant historical interest in the history of North America and the United States. Sweet Grass County, located in south central Montana, is an area that since pre-historic times has been a justify of trade and historic crossroads of travel. Jack Hines worked as an artist in New York for 30 years until 1972 when he moved to Sweet Grass County, Montana. There he began the ”Historic Crossroad” painting and writing project, as a declaration of his love for his adopted home in the exquisite Yellowstone Valley of Montana. His paintings depict the life in that area beginning in the ice-age, through the times of the Indians, Lewis and Clark, the Fur trade and homesteading and listened to Jack reading from his book, "Sweet Grass County, Historic Crossroad," in Big Timber, Montana. Jack Hines recommends "Glow Smile, A Biography" & "What Went Wrong," both by Bernard Louis. Originally Broadcast: June 2, 2003 Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/pub/archive/09.01.05/curious@pacific.net/1197-1-20050723-HINES__JACK_11-2-02.mp3)

A Potent Spell: Mother Love and the Power of Fear Is the concept of “mother blame” a method to control women? Is motherhood a really a fearsome job?  Will a mother’s mistake or inattention damage a child?  Is this different from the fear that fathers have about the safety of their children? “A Potent Spell:  Mother Love and the Power of Fear” is a recent book written by Janna Malamud Smith, a clinical psychotherapist and daughter of writer Bernard Malamud. Smith argues that the motherhood fear of losing a child is central to motherhood, and mostly overlooked as a historical force that has induced mothers throughout time to shape their own lives to better shelter their young,  the expense of their own future. I spoke with Dr. Janna Malamud Smith from her home in Massachusetts, and asked her to begin by discussing the different level of feat that fathers and mothers have toward their children. The book Janna Malamud Smith recommends is “Biography of Samuel Pepys” by Clair Tomilin. Originally Broadcast: February 18, 2003 Click here to listen or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=10889&version_id=72124&version=2) to download the podcast.

Fireweed: A Political Autobiography The history of women has existed as long as humans have, but it was not until the last half of the 20th Century that women’s history received academic attention. Our guest, Professor Gerda Lerner is a pioneer of the study of women’s history and a founder of the movement to study and record the history of women. Gerda Lerner led an extraordinary life from April 30, 1920 to January 2, 2013.  She was a historian, author and teacher, and ultimately a professor emeritus of history at the University of Wisconsin.  Her academic work was characterized by the attention she drew to the differences among women in class, race and sexual orientation. She grew up in Vienna, Austria, suffered in the Nazi persecution of the European Jews, came to the United States as a teenager, and married a writer who was subsequently blacklisted in the 1950s.  She later entered Columbia University in 1958, originally to take a few classes and by 1966 she had earned a doctorate in history. “Fireweed: A Political Autobiography,”  tells her life story up to the time she enrolled at Columbia University. Professor Lerner and I visited by phone in October 2002, began with her description why the distinctions among women of class, race and sexual orientation are important. The book Dr. Gerda Lerner recommends is "A Midwife's Tale: The Life of Martha Ballard, Based on Her Diary, 1785-1812" by Laurel Ulrich. Originally Broadcast: October 1, 2002 Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-LERNER_GERDA_2013_CA.mp3) to listen or on the media player below. Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/responder.php/podcast/podcast.xml?program_id=10861&version_id=12939&version=1) to download the podcast.

Zoya's Story, An Afghan Woman's Struggle for Freedom Zoya, a member of the RAWA, the Revolutionary Association of Women of Afghanistan, tells the story of her childhood, her parents and her parents’ disappearance. She describes the wrath that first the Russians, then the Taliban and then the Northern Alliance have brought to her country. Along with the suffering, she describes the hope and spirit carried in the hearts of the Afghan people. Zoya recommends the collected speeches of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. Originally Broadcast: June 18, 2002 Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/pub/archive/04.01.05/curious@pacific.net/1197-1-20050209-ZOYA__-_10__6-15-02.mp3)

Love is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends Tim Sanders, the author of a “Love is the Killer App: How to Win Business and Influence Friends,” is the Chief Solutions Officer at yahoo.com. Knowledge, network and compassion are the themes of his book and the basis for what he believes will bring most success in business. Tim Sanders recommends "The Third Wave," by Alvin Toffler. Originally Broadcast: April 9, 2002 Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/pub/archive/04.01.05/curious@pacific.net/1197-1-20050114-Sanders__Tim_3-4-02.mp3)

No Turning Back—The History of Feminism and the Future of Women The place of women in the world and in the American society has changed in many aspects in the recent past.  Many people say this is due to the politics of feminism, and some inquire where it will lead. I spoke with Professor Freedman by phone in April 2002 and asked her to talk about why feminism did not evolve as people evolved and civilization developed. The books Professor Freedman recommends are “The Blind Assassin” by Margaret Atwood, and “The Vagina Monologues” by Eve Ensler. Originally Broadcast: April 2, 2002 Click here to begin listening or on the media player below.

Nigger: The Strange Career of a Troublesome Word Few words in the English language have caused so much pain, hurt and emotion as the N-word. It is arguably the most consequential social insult in American history. The long history of the pejorative use of the N-word has given it an unusual power that extends to the judicial system, literature and social settings. Randall Kennedy, a professor of Law at Harvard University Law School, is the author of “Nigger-the Strange Career of a Troublesome Word.”  His book chronicles the history of this word, in an effort to diffuse and neutralize it. At the end of his book he writes, “There is much to be gained by allowing people all backgrounds to yank the N-word away from white supremacists to subvert its ugliest denotation, and to convert the N-work from a negative into a positive appellation.” I spoke with Professor Randall Kennedy in the winter of 2002 while he was in California and asked him to begin our conversation by explaining this conclusion. The book Randall Kennedy recommends in “The Negro in the American Revolution,” by Benjamin Quarles, written in 1961. Originally Broadcast: March 19, 2002 Click here (http://www.radio4all.net/files/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-KENNEDY_RANDALL_N-WORD_2013_CA.mp3) to listen or on the media player below.

Parents in Charge, Setting Healthy, Loving Boundaries for You and Your Child Children are too often seen and treated as small adults, too often dressed as adults, and too often have their lives planned out for them to be as busy as adults. Treating children as people older than they are overlooks the child’s cognitive abilities, and can lead to unsatisfying and sometimes traumatic relationships. “Parents in Charge, Setting Healthy, Loving Boundaries for You and Your Child” is a book by Dr. Dana Chidekel, a child psychologist near Los Angeles. She asserts that the developing brain of toddlers does not give them the capacity to respond to being placed on equal ground with their parents, and encourages parents to assume their rightful role of authority. Dr. Dana Chidekel recommends "Seabiscuit," by Laura Hillenbrand. Originally Broadcast: March 12, 2002 Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/pub/archive/04.01.05/curious@pacific.net/1197-1-20050110-Dr._Dana_Chidekel_2-15-02.mp3)

African American Writers: Portraits and Visions The voice of a writer can be heard in words, and sometimes seen in the writer’s face. It is unusual to find both in a book in which the creator is both the author and the photographer. Lynda Koolish, our guest on this archive edition of Radio Curious, is a professor of African American literature at San Diego State University and an accomplished photographer. She is the author of a book entitled “African American Writers: Portraits and Visions” in which she reveals the visage of 59 African American writers along with a thumbnail biography and summation of each writer’s vision. Lynda Koolish, Ph.D. recommends "Dien Cai Dau" and "Neon Vernacular" by Yusef Komunyakaa. Originally Broadcast: February 19, 2002 Click here to begin listening. (http://www.radio4all.net/pub/archive2/07.01.07/curious@radiocurious.org/1197-1-20060402-Koolish_Lynda_Broadcast_verson.mp3)