Speakers' Forum Podcast

Modern zoos have become an exercise in commercialism. Before looking at animals, you're funneled toward a gift shop filled with junk. Then you can buy hot dogs and pizza at the food court. Worst of all, not all exhibits are replicas of natural habits, and elephants especially are living in poorly structured environments. This is the argument of David Hancocks, a former director of Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo. Hancocks is an architect who has worked with zoos and zoo design for more than 30 years. He spoke at Town Hall on May 23, 2012.

You sang it in elementary school, summer camp or church, and you probably still remember the lyrics. Woody Guthrie's "This Land Is Your Land" is arguably the most iconic American folk song, and at one point, there was even a movement to make it the alternative national anthem — before people started realizing the political messages hidden in some of the seldom–sung verses. Robert Santelli unravels the song and the life of Woody Guthrie in this talk recorded at the Elliott Bay Book Company on May 23, 2012.