WAMU-FM: WAMU: The Kojo Nnamdi Show Podcast

COOKBOOKS: 2013 YEAR IN REVIEW: Novice and professional chefs alike appreciate cookbooks that inspire, instruct and offer up irresistible recipes. Washington Post recipe editor Bonnie Benwick has put many of them through their paces this past year. She joins us to review some of the standouts published in 2013. (20 min.) 2013 KIDS AND YOUNG ADULT WINTER READING : Looking for last minute inspiration for the good little kids and teens on your holiday gift list? We've got suggestions for the littlest readers and most mature young adults. Join us as we explore titles that would win over all young readers, voracious and reluctant alike. (30 min.)

REMEMBERING THOSE LOST IN 2013: The list of those who passed away in 2013 includes giants from the worlds of politics and popular culture. The world also said goodbye this year to many people who may have been less noticeable, but whose subtle influences affected our everyday lives — from the inventor of the computer mouse to a legendary "door man" at a prominent Washington music venue. We reflect on the stories of those lost in 2013. (52 min.)

TRAINING AND NORMS FOR SIGN LANGUAGE INTERPRETERS: Placing a sign language interpreter at center stage for Nelson Mandela's memorial service was a sign of respect for the deaf community in South Africa and around the world. But that act was overshadowed by the interpreter's failings. Kojo talks with the chair of Gallaudet University's Department of Interpretation about how interpreters are trained and certified and what the norms are in their profession. (13 min.) COPING WITH CURVEBALLS: LIFE'S "OFFICIAL RULES": They're the self-evident rules for living that help us cope with life's everyday curve balls. Sayings like, "If anything can go wrong, it will" or "A watched pot never boils." Across cultures and countries, these universal truths help explain the unexplainable. Author Paul Dickson has spent decades gathering these "official rules" for living, and he's come up with more than 5,000 to explain life, love and politics. He joins Kojo to discuss the principles that keep us sane amid bad days and bad luck. (29 min.)

ARE TEENAGERS TRENDSETTERS IN TECH?: Want to know what technologies will be hot in 2014? Perhaps you should ask a teenager. Silicon Valley tech giants have been making billion-dollar bids for tech products that are wildly popular among teenagers, such as the photo-sharing app Snapchat. Investors are also starting to pay close attention to how tech products engage a younger demographic. We discuss what draws teenagers to new technologies and whether their digital behavior can be used as a barometer for "the next big thing." (52 min.)

YOU, YOUR DOCTOR AND A COMPUTER: HOW TECHNOLOGY IMPACTS PERSONAL HEALTH CARE: As medical practices and health systems adopt new information technologies, the doctor-patient relationship is beginning to change. Some doctors say Electronic Health Records allow them to spend more time addressing patient concerns during visits. And a growing number of health systems are using email and custom apps to stay connected with patients between annual checkups. But new technologies can also create headaches for doctors and patients. Kojo talks with a panel of doctors about the ways technology is impacting personal health care. (52 min.)

THE POPE, POVERTY AND POLICY: Pope Benedict stunned the world when he stepped down earlier this year. His successor, Pope Francis, has been shaking things up ever since. The first Jesuit to head the Vatican, Francis is renewing the Church's focus on poverty and putting a new face forward. We find out more about the history of the Jesuits, the Holy See and consider the influence Francis is having on policy around the world, including the United States. (41 min.) REMEMBERING QUIZMASTER MAC MCGARRY: For five decades Mac McGarry was a fixture of Saturday morning television in Washington, hosting the teen quiz bowl "It's Academic." But McGarry's career also included gigs as radio announcer, disc jockey and talk-show host. McGarry died last week at age 87. Kojo revisits his 2005 interview with McGarry. (09 min.)

THE POLITICS HOUR - DEC. 13, 2013: A longtime D.C. Council member announces reelection plans. Delays to the Silver Line project prompt questions about when the Northern Virginia rail extension will finally open. And hiccups with Maryland's health exchange disrupt a leading candidate for governor. Join us for our weekly review of the politics, policies and personalities of the District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia. (52 min.)

2013 WINTER READING: The weather outside has turned frightful, which means it's time to hunker down with a good book. Whether you seek a novel to get lost in, nonfiction to learn from or short stories and poetry that will get you thinking, we've got suggestions to get you through the cold, dark days ahead. We round up favorites from 2013 and find out what you're reading now. (52 min.)

ROB KAPILOW: MUSIC TRADITIONS AND THE HOLIDAYS: In his acclaimed "What Makes It Great" series, conductor and composer Rob Kapilow urges us to listen with new ears to music we've heard before. But during the holidays, it can be difficult to appreciate endless loops of "Feliz Navidad" and "Jingle Bells." Rob and Kojo take the plunge into holiday songs and find out how tradition shapes both how composers write music and how we hear it. (52 min.)

AFGHAN VIEWS ON POLITICS AND SECURITY: 2014 promises to be a turning point in Afghanistan, with a presidential election and the drawdown of U.S. forces in the country. The Asia Foundation recently completed a survey of 9,000 Afghan citizens in 34 provinces across the country. We explore evolving Afghan attitudes towards politics and security. (13 min.) ALAN WEISMAN: "COUNTDOWN" : In "The World Without Us," journalist Alan Weisman explored what would happen to our planet if we were no longer living on it. His latest book focuses on the growing world population and its effect on nations around the globe. Weisman visited 21 countries to find out how they're managing increasing demands for resources and protecting those that are limited. Kojo talks to Weisman about his urgent and, ultimately, hopeful journey. (31 min.)

CONGRESS AVOIDS ANOTHER FISCAL CRISIS: Lawmakers this week reached an agreement to fund the federal government through the fall of 2015. The deal ends a cycle of high-stakes budget showdowns in recent years that threatened to destabilize the American economy and federal workforce. But it also puts in place permanent cuts and scales back pension plans for new federal workers. U.S. Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.) joins Kojo to explore what's at stake in the deal for both the Washington region and the entire country. (14 min.) TENSIONS OVER TIPPING RESTAURANT WORKERS: Deciding how much to tip your waiter can be a source of confusion and even anxiety. Is the tip meant to convey appreciation for good service, or are you helping pay the waiter a living wage? D.C. decided last week not to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers, but tensions remain between some restaurant workers and owners. We learn how the current system works and explore the debate over the role of tips in the restaurant world. (38 min.)

FAMILY FUN FOR WINTER BREAK: Whether you've got relatives in town for the holidays or need to entertain the kids over winter break, you're probably in the market for fun winter activities. Maybe you think you know all the local attractions, but you might be surprised to discover the range of hidden gems and unusual things to do in the Washington area — including a number of lesser-known spots within familiar institutions. We've got the scoop on what to do now that winter's here. (52 min.)

THE NEXT GENERATION OF ONLINE MAPS: The 7-year-old Google Maps is getting a bold re-design as online mapping becomes more personalized, interactive and mobile. We examine the different ways mapping data is generated and explore the move toward 3-D, real-time maps that track your location and push out information before you ask for it. (52 min.)

THE INTERNATIONAL DISABILITY TREATY: The Americans with Disabilities Act served as the model for an international treaty known as the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. It's a framework for legislation and policies around rights and accessibility for the billion people around the world living with disabilities. But while 138 countries have ratified the treaty, the United States has not. As the Senate debates the issue again, two State Department officials join us to discuss the leadership role they hope the United States can continue to play on the issue. (24 min.)

UNDERSTANDING NELSON MANDELA'S LEGACY: In the days following Nelson Mandela's passing, the world has been remembering his remarkable accomplishments and unique power as a political leader. His role in the struggle against apartheid in South Africa has had a lasting impact, extending well beyond his country's borders. We explore events, from protests in Washington to hunger strikes in South Africa's Robben Island, that made the end of apartheid one of the most powerful triumphs for human rights in the 20th century. (38 min.) WASHINGTON TEACHERS' UNION PRESIDENT ELIZABETH DAVIS: The District's school system remains a battleground for debates about where teachers fit into education reform. During the past several years, the Washington Teachers' Union clashed with administrators over how educators should be evaluated and compensated. The WTU's new president, Elizabeth Davis, joins Kojo in the studio to explore her union's current priorities as it negotiates a new contract with the city. (11 min.)