WAMU-FM: WAMU: The Kojo Nnamdi Show Podcast

SHOULD HIGH SCHOOLS START LATER? : Many high school students rise well before dawn to catch the bus for 7:25 a.m. first period classes. According to some parents, this means perpetually sleep-deprived students who aren't performing as well as they could. Whether high schools should start later is an ongoing debate, currently flaring in three local districts. Kojo and guests weigh sleep research and petitions from parents against bus schedules, after-school sports and the challenge of changing the status quo. (52 min.)

"THE WORLD UNTIL YESTERDAY": Modern advances and improvements have changed our society for better and worse. But as time marches forward, there are still many lessons we can learn from traditional cultures about universal issues like parenting, care of the elderly and conflict resolution. We talk with Pulitzer Prize winner and MacArthur Foundation Fellow Jared Diamond about what may be the ultimate culture war and what's at stake. (52 min.)

COMPUTER GUYS & GAL: A new year is underway, and it's time to take stock of which tech-related resolutions we're most likely to break. Is this the year that social media companies up their game on privacy issues? Is it the year you "cut the cord" from your cable company to consume all your video content over the Internet? The Computer Guys & Gal are back in the studio to ponder what's likely to change and what's likely to stay the same in 2013. (52 min.)

WELLNESS AND THE WORKPLACE: A healthier lifestyle is a New Year's resolution for many, and employers are increasingly partners in that goal. With an eye toward reducing health care costs, many workplaces offer wellness programs, including help quitting smoking and incentives for gym memberships. Alternative therapies like acupuncture are also increasingly covered, and some states even require they be included in healthcare plans. We explore how approaches to health in the workplace are changing. (52 min.)

WHISTLEBLOWERS & NATIONAL SECURITY: Today, President Barack Obama will announce his picks to lead the Defense Department and Central Intelligence Agency. If confirmed, Chuck Hagel and John Brennan will help steer a national security team that has expanded controversial counter-terrorism policies and prosecuted a record number of current and former officials accused of leaking information to the press. We consider the effect whistleblowers have in the field and implications of these nominations. (17 min.) NATIONAL ZOO DIRECTOR DENNIS KELLY: In 2012, the world watched while the National Zoo experienced the joy of new birth and crushing sudden loss just days apart. While the death of the zoo's 6-day-old panda cub captured international headlines in the fall, lesser-known residents have been making news of their own. Kojo talks to National Zoo Director Dennis Kelly about some of the institution's newest arrivals and what big changes visitors can expect this year. (33 min.)

THE POLITICS HOUR: Federal lawmakers walk Congress — and the region's local economy — to the edge of a "fiscal cliff." The District's homicide rate dips below a major landmark. And one of Virginia's most prominent Republicans publicly ponders an independent run for governor. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. (52 min.)

YOUR TURN: A D.C. police officer challenges a speed camera ticket in a potentially ground-moving case. A 6-year-old in Silver Spring, Md., is suspended for using finger guns. And five men are charged with the rape and murder of a woman in India that has sparked outrage within and outside of the country. It's "your turn" to weigh in on those headlines and whatever else is on your mind. (52 min.)

INTERNATIONAL ADOPTIONS: Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a controversial law prohibiting American families from adopting Russian children. The new law directly affects hundreds of families across the U.S., including 46 families in the final stages of the adoption process. Kojo explores the challenges for governments and families in navigating international adoption. (52 min.)

THE FALLOUT OF THE 'FISCAL CLIFF' VOTE: Lawmakers on Capitol Hill rushed through a package this week that averts tax increases for the majority of Americans. It also spares the Pentagon and other federal programs from severe spending cuts. We chat with local lawmakers about what the deal means for our region and what it means for future debates about federal spending and deficit reduction. (21 min.) THE SMALL, BUT MIGHTY MENHADEN: Menhaden, or pogy, is a fairly small fish that's been getting a lot of attention. Not typically eaten by people, it's a major food source for many fish we do eat — striped bass and bluefish — along with a number of marine mammals. It's also a hot commercial commodity, an ingredient in products ranging from animal feed to nutritional supplements, many worry is being over-fished. We talk about new catch quotas and the menhaden's place in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystem. (28 min.)

WHAT'S AHEAD FOR FEDERAL WORKERS: When times are tough, federal workers often find themselves in the political crosshairs. Amid fiscal cliff negotiations and looming cuts, many government employees are rightly nervous. And years of pay freezes and proposed benefit cuts are also taking a toll on morale. Kojo examines what's ahead as federal workers and agencies try to do more with less. (52 min.)

A LOCAL MUSIC HISTORY LESSON: THE FUGAZI LIVE SERIES (REBROADCAST): For years, the D.C.-based band Fugazi took their local sound to stages around the world. Unbeknownst to many of their fans, the band recorded the vast majority of those concerts - hundreds of which are now available online as part of an ambitious archiving project. Kojo talks with Ian MacKaye, a founding member of Fugazi, about the online archive and the window it provides into our musical history. (52 min.)

UNPLUGGING FROM THE WEB (REBROADCAST): The rapid expansion of wireless technology keeps the Internet at our fingertips everywhere we go. Even corners of Antarctica and the deep wilderness are now coming onto the grid. Kojo explores how the expanding reach of the Internet is affecting our experiences offline and whether it's still possible to completely unplug. (52 min.) 3-D PRINTING: REVOLUTIONIZING MANUFACTURING (REBROADCAST): Many technologists believe advances in 3-D printing will revolutionize manufacturing. With the right software, in-home printers can already produce unique homewares, machine parts and architectural models. In the future, these devices could re-wire and democratize the global manufacturing economy. We explore the future of 3-D printing and possible intellectual property battles looming on Capitol Hill. (52 min.)

REMEMBERING THOSE LOST IN 2012 (REBROADCAST): During the past year, we said goodbye to many people who changed the world forever in the time they were here. Whether it was by setting foot on the moon, capturing the imagination of generations of children with books, or inspiring people the world over to dance to infectious disco beats. We reflect on the lives and legacies of those we lost this year. (51 min.)

DINAW MENGESTU ON THE AFRICAN IMMIGRANT EXPERIENCE (REBROADCAST): 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. (31 min.) "IN THE SHADOW OF THE BANYAN" (REBROADCAST): When Vaddey Ratner was five years old, her entire world was shattered. Members of Cambodia's royalty, she and her family were targeted by the brutal Khmer Rouge regime. They, along with millions of other Cambodians, were sent to labor camps, where many died. She and her mother survived, eventually immigrating to the U.S. We talk with her about making peace with the past and moving forward with purpose. (20 min.)

THE POLITICS HOUR: This past year was an earthshaking one for our region's local politics: it was ground zero for battles over immigration and same-sex marriage and one of the focal points of the presidential election. But a high-profile gubernatorial election in Virginia, as well as major legislative fights in Maryland and the District, will keep the region in the spotlight in 2013. We'll take an early look at the political year ahead. (52 min.)