Prime Time Radio - AARP

Part A:He is a multiple time All-Star as a small forward for the Atlanta Hawks, and also a victim of Type II Diabetes. Dominique Wilkins is working to recruit a new team that in fighting the disease. Wilkins discusses aspects of his career, his retirement and why so many pro athletes get diabetes after they retire.Part B:Summer is the season for outdoor activities of all sorts. And there may be no outdoor activity more popular in beating the heat than the summer cook-out. Kellie Clements, HGTV’s most popular presenter and owner of her own design firm, gives many tips on decorating for your next outdoor soirée that will make it visually unforgettable, practical and comfortable.   

Part A:Jack Devine is one of the legendary spymasters of our time. He was in Chile when Allende fell; he ran Charlie Wilson’s war in Afghanistan; he had too much to do with Iran-Contra for his own taste, though he tried to stop it; he pushed the CIA’s effort to run down Pablo Escobar in Colombia; he tried to warn George Tenet that there was a bullet coming from Iraq with his name on it. Devine served America’s interests for more than thirty years in a wide range of covert operations, ultimately overseeing the Directorate of Operations, a CIA division that watches over thousands of American covert operatives worldwide.Part B:Blending witty travelogue with action on the field—and shady dealings in back rooms—George Vecsey offers an eye-opening, globe-trotting account of the last eight World Cups. He immerses himself in the great national leagues, historic clubs, and devoted fans and provides his up-close impressions of charismatic stars like Sócrates, Maradona, Baggio, and Zidane, while also chronicling the rise of the U.S. men’s and women’s teams.

Part A:From rough-housing and sports watching to those difficult “coming of age” conversations, father son relationships can be unique. Journalist Willie Geist has had an especially unique relationship with his father, Bill Geist. They discuss conversations they never had, failed camping trips and many more cherished memories in their memoir, “Good Talk, Dad.”Part B:The always sweet and sometimes unpredictable La Toya Jackson is facing big life changes. She is taking charge of her life as she faces marriage, self-examination and newfound confidence while she starts new business ventures and a new docu-series on the OWN network. She tells all and gives an inside look into her life in her series, “Life with La Toya.”

Part A:Although he was nicknamed Mr. Show Business, Sammy Davis Jr. was a performer who sang, danced, and acted on film, television, radio, and the stage for over six decades. His daughter, Tracey Davis, tells the entertainment legend’s personal story.Part B:After thirty-five years as a lawyer defending some shady characters in Vegas, he ran for mayor, now he is married to the mayor. Oscar Goodman and his wife Carilyn tell how America’s greatest Mob lawyer became the mayor of its sexiest city.

Part A:Shin Dong-hyuk was born in North Korea in a brutal prison camp called, Camp 14. He grew up in the camp, where he witnessed too many inhumane horrors to list. Shin knew nothing of the outside world, had never heard of Kim Jong, or realized that food was cooked and enjoyed in other parts of the world. He was raised without love, and he regarded his mother as merely competition for food. In fact, he reported his mother to guards for talking of plans to escape. In return, the guards made Shin watch as they shot her, and then tortured him for four days. He never considered escaping until he heard stories that food was plentiful and cooked in the outside world. Eventually, he did escape, at least physically; emotionally he is dealing with extreme guilt and post-traumatic stress syndrome for the first time in his life.  Journalist Blaine Harden tells the unbelievable story of the life of Shin in his book, “Escape from Camp 14”.Part B:Some may remember her for her dramatic roles in film and theater. We now know her for her poem, On the Pulse of the Morning, which she delivered at the inauguration of President Clinton and her masterpiece of literature, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. Always evolving toward her ultimate art form, Dr. Maya Angelou now most profoundly influences the world with her writing. Yet, throughout her career, she was always involved in civil rights. Dr. Maya Angelou became friends with a young Malcolm X and worked for Dr. Martin Luther King. Even James Baldwin influenced her to turn to writing as a career. Stemming from her involvement in civil rights and fueled by her love for all humanity, she has always worked tirelessly to span the gaps of race and gender.  Now Dr. Maya Angelou is working on another project, the Maya Angelou Center for Women’s Health and Wellness, located in her hometown of Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The goals of the center are educating women on healthy living and achieving equality in women’s health care

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:In Tiger, Meet My Sister, Reilly compiles the best of his columns from his last five years with ESPN, columns that will make you laugh, cry and quite a few that may make you want to throw this book across the room. Rick Reilly tends to get under people’s skin like that.Part B:Legendary cartoonist and New Yorker editor, Bob Mankoff, explains that because he is also a cartoonist at the magazine he actually has two of the best jobs in the world. With the help of myriad images and his funniest, most beloved cartoons, he traces his love of the craft all the way back to his childhood, when he started doing funny drawings at the age of eight. 

Part A:Anyone who has ever tried to make a change in life knows it can be complicated and scary. It can be especially stressful when it comes to completely reinventing one’s life. In her new book, It Ain’t Over… Till It’s Over, Marlo Thomas not only tells the stories of sixty women who found the courage to reinvent themselves but explores the circumstances beneath the change.Part B:Then, music journalist Lisa Robinson explores the history of rock and roll in her book, There Goes Gravity. Although the title of the book is inspired by a hip-hop song lyric, Robinson gives an insider’s perspective on rock and tells the first-hand stories of the Beatles, U2 and many more. The Rolling Stones were her usual assignment and she spent years on the road with them and others. 

Part A:Covering topics from her unique name to finding roles in Hollywood and people she admires, Swoosie Kurtz charmingly shares a slew of personal and professional stories. Kurtz candidly reflects on her namesake and how on the right choices have empowered her, the mistakes that enlightened her, and the trials of caring for an aging parent.Part B:She has been an activist, a wildly popular playwright, a novelist, and a spouse during her long career. They are all experiences that gave her much wisdom and insight into life’s meaning. Pearl Cleage shares some of her wisdom and gives advice for younger women on self-fulfillment.  

Prime Time Radio is a one-hour weekly interview program that focuses on the wide-ranging interests and concerns of Americans 40 and older. The program is heard on radio stations across the country.

Part A:Half the Sky Foundation is a non-profit organization that helps Chinese orphans overcome the pain of loneliness and abandonment by placing them with caring foster families all over the world. Founder and AARP Purpose Prize winner Jenny Bowen started Half the Sky when she noticed the completed transformation of her adopted daughter from frightened little girl to a happy thriving child. Bowen wanted to provide the opportunity for this same transformation to the many thousands of children in the Chinese orphanage system. She was not only successful, but she also revolutionized the Chinese system of foster care. Bowen tells her story in her book, “Wishing You Happy Forever.”Part B:Ballet may be one of the most demanding physical and mental arts, requiring completely control over one’s self. Elite dancers face tremendous pressure to maintain a certain weight and perform injured. Jenifer Ringer, after watching a friend’s dance class as a teen, fell in love with ballet, was accepted into the elite Washington School of Ballet and soon moved on to the School of American Ballet. She was a professional dancer with the New York City Ballet while still a teen. Ringer gives a rare inside look at the highs and lows of an elite dancer’s career and discusses how she met her husband, best floors in the business and her struggles with weight and self-image.  

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:Strength training sculpts the body by building lean body mass, strengthens bones and increases metabolism. As a result, energy levels increase making you mentally sharper, feel more youthful and healthy. Joan Pagano explains simple ways to add strength training to your exercise regimen and achieve that flatter belly, toned arms or firmer thighs, so you’ll look great in a little black dress or shorts you haven't even considered wearing in years. Pagano adds that the benefits go far beyond all of that, lower stress levels and increased mobility mean you can be more independent and self-reliant.Part B:The tax season always brings with it many questions and lots of stress for most people. Joe Buckheit, president of Agingcare.com has many tips for caregivers that will help them find many breaks that they may not be aware of, such as, the ins and outs of claiming a live-in parent as a dependent. He also explains what medical expenses can be claimed and takes on many other frequently asked questions. Bonnie Speedy, overseer of the AARP Tax-Aide Program explains how to get free personal help with you taxes at your local AARP office.

Part A:It can easily be said that Hollywood’s golden age was the 40’s and 50’s. Legendary actors lived in almost unimaginable glamour during this time that very different to the paparazzi and agent driven modern Hollywood. Robert Wagner fondly admires the parties, estates and architecture of some of the most famous stars in his book, You Must Remember This. Wagner also reminisces about this bygone era when the rich and famous lived in incomparable style that is very different from today.Part B:A new app called iDoc can give more than medical healthcare advice. It’s full application, along with some physical implants can actually give medicinal injections too and may be able to cure cancer in Robin Cook’s new thriller, Cell. Cook discusses how close real technology may be to actually creating a program like iDoc in reality. He also explains the potential dangers, raises questions about privacy and discusses the advantages as well of completely personalized care.  

Part A:Although secrets are a fact of life, they can have tremendous impact on people’s lives. Lies on the other hand, can completely destroy lives and families. Jane Isay explores the impact of keeping secrets and the liberating power of truth. Secrets and lies can damage our sense of self and relationships. Even so, people have survived learning the most disturbing facts that have been hidden from them.Part B:There was a pop culture revolution in the years between 1968 and 1973. Movies, literature and television challenged more sexual taboos than ever before and possibly ever since. Film and theater especially broke down barriers, starting what is considered to be the height of sexual expression in our pop culture. These works include Myra Breckinridge, Hair, Boys in the Band, Midnight Cowboy, and Deep Throat. In his book, Sexplosion, Robert Hofler weaves a lively narrative linking many of the writers, producers, and actors responsible for creating these works and places them in their historical context.