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All Songs Considered from NPR
New Music From Iggy Pop, Tricky, The National And More (Tuesday, April 30, 2013) — He’s 66 years old, has beaten his body beyond belief and Iggy Pop will still out-rock you. We kick this week’s All Songs Considered off with a cut from his new record with The Stooges, Ready To Die. Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton chat about Iggy and the rest of this week’s mix from different cities. Sitting in NPR Music’s New York studios, Bob previews a cinematic and seductive new record from The National, along with a new album from trip-hop veteran Tricky. Meanwhile, Robin, based at NPR Music’s mother ship in Washington, D.C., shares a killer new track from riff-rock revivalists The Black Angels and another from one of his favorite pop artists, Jim Guthrie.
Book Reviews from The New York Times
Book Review Podcast (Friday, April 26, 2013) — This week, Tom Perrotta talks about the letters of Willa Cather; Julie Bosman has notes from the field; Alexandra Starr discusses T. D. Allman’s Finding Florida; and Gregory Cowles has best-seller news. John Williams is the host, filling in for Pamela Paul.
Books Podcast from NPR
NPR: 05-02-2013 Books (Thursday, May 02, 2013) — Stories: 1) ‘Wonderful Words’ In Willa Cather’s No-Longer-Secret Letters 2) A Grieving Brother Finds Solace In His Sister’s ‘Small Town’ 3) New York: A Concrete Jungle And ‘City Of Trees,’ Too 4) What’s In A Category? ‘Women Novelists’ Sparks Wiki-Controversy 5) Vibrant ‘Club’ Links Two Countries In Award-Winning Book
Brain Stuff from HowStuffWorks.com
What’s the best way to back up a computer’s hard disk? (Friday, May 03, 2013) — Your computer’s hard disk stores all your information, but what happens if it gets damaged or dies? In this episode, Marshall Brain explains why it’s important to back up your hard disk and weighs the advantages and disadvantages of three backup methods.
How does bulletproof glass work? (Wednesday, May 01, 2013) — Bullet-resistant glass, commonly referred to as “”bulletproof,”” is a special type of glass designed to resist bullets. Tune in to this episode to learn how different types of bullet-resistant glass work.
What does tear gas do? (Monday, April 29, 2013) — You’ve probably heard of tear gas before, but did you know that Mace is a form of it? Learn more about the three commonly used types of tear gas — how they work and what they’re used for — in this podcast from HowStuffWorks.com.
The Coolest Stuff on the Planet
Romantic Road Trips: The Mansions of Newport (Friday, May 03, 2013) — Back in the Gilded Age, Newport was the hub of the summer social season for the rich and famous. People like the Vanderbilts and the Astors built some magnificent mansions which are now open to the public. Join us as we take a tour.
Culturetopia from NPR
The Retail And Science Edition (Friday, May 03, 2013) — This week on Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR Monkey See’s Linda Holmes, Stephen Thompson, Trey Graham and Glen Weldon talk about brick and mortar retail in the age of online consumption. Whither the record store, whither the record store jerk? Leading into Free Comic Book Day, they’ll discuss how the role of the brick and mortar store has changed in the face of online competition and what we may lose, culturally, without physical spaces to purchase pop culture products. Next, they’ll discuss pop culture depictions of science — what shows get it right and what shows get it very wrong. All that, plus What’s Making Us Happy This Week.
Film Junk
Episode 415: Pain & Gain (Monday, April 29, 2013) — We do some heavy lifting with Michael Bay’s Pain & Gain and discuss the first trailer for Thor: The Dark World and Zach Braff’s Kickstarter campaign, plus Graceland, Mama, In the Company of Men, Easy A, Here Comes the Boom and Miss Bala.
Freakonomics Radio
It’s Crowded at the Top (Wednesday, May 01, 2013) — Why is unemployment still so high? It may be because of something that happened well before the Great Recession.
Ink & Quill
InQ Episode 70: “A Discovery of Witches” (Tuesday, April 16, 2013) — All her life, Diana has stuck her fingers way deep into her ears, refusing to accept that she is a witch, and a powerful one of those. But the situation has changed. The discovery of a thought to be lost book is raising interest. On the one hand, there is Peter Knox, a powerful wizard that belongs to one of the oldest group of “peace-keepers” across species, who would love nothing more than to put his hands on the book. And on the other hand, Matthew de Clairmont, the vampire, whose charms Diana can’t resist… But what is it exactly that Matthew wants? As the plot thickens and mystery unveils more mysteries, Diana may be forced to start using her powers if she wishes not only to find out what happened to her parents and what secrets Ashmore 782 holds, but also and simply, to stay alive.
PopStuff from HowStuffWorks.com
Greatest Hits: Why is this PopStuff stuck in my head? (Wednesday, May 01, 2013) — Have you ever had a song stuck in your head? That’s an earworm, and it’s an extremely common phenomenon. Holly and Tracy wonder why our brains latch onto small pieces of information, how you get rid of them, and why it’s important to study this field.
Greatest Hits: PopStuff Isn’t Cool Enough to Be a Hipster (Monday, April 29, 2013) — Hipster. The very word makes people sneer. Why are hipsters viewed with such disdain? And what makes a person a hipster, anyway? Tracy and Holly examine the history of the word “hipster,” as well as the various definitions of what a hipster is.
Science Talk
Is There a Doctor in the Spaceship? (Tuesday, April 30, 2013) — NASA astronaut and medical doctor Michael Barratt spoke to schoolkids at the Family Science Days event at this year’s meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Boston.
Sound Opinions
Sound Opinions on Nick Drake (Sunday, April 28, 2013) — Decades after his death, UK songwriter Nick Drake gets his due. Jim and Greg talk legacy and tribute albums with Drake producer Joe Boyd. And later, they review the new album from Canadian shoegazers The Besnard Lakes.
Stuff To Blow Your Mind from HowStuffWorks.com
Nude Space Walk (Thursday, May 02, 2013) — In order to travel in space, humans have to bring a fragment of their native environment with them. But what would happen if you took off your helmet or launched out the airlock in the buff? In this episode, Robert and Julie look for the answers.
Emotions in Outer Space (Tuesday, April 30, 2013) — Space madness. Freezing tears. Delirious astronauts tranquilized, duct taped to the wall and forced to listen to Phillip Glass. Yes, in this episode, Robert and Julie examine the mental strains of life and space and how to address them.
Stuff You Missed in History Class from HowStuffWorks.com
Stede Bonnet, the Gentleman Pirate (Wednesday, May 01, 2013) — In 1717, Stede Bonnet left his family and became a pirate. Despite having no seafaring experience, Bonnet’s brief career as a pirate was eventful, including a stint aboard Blackbeard’s ship and raids along the Atlantic coast of North America.
Sarah Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy (Monday, April 29, 2013) — Though she was Canadian, Sarah Emma Edmonds fought for the Union during the Civil War. She adopted the name Franklin Thompson while traveling. Disguised as a man, she enlisted and began a career as a nurse, courier and spy (if you believe her memoir).
Stuff You Should Know from HowStuffWorks.com
How Dungeons and Dragons Works (Thursday, May 02, 2013) — Despite what you’ve heard, Dungeons and Dragons isn’t just for geeks, it isn’t satanic and it’s actually a great way to exercise your imagination. Learn about the basics of D&D, its place in pop culture and the controversy the game has stirred.
Is there such a thing as a truth serum? (Tuesday, April 30, 2013) — Ever since people have had secrets, other people have been looking for ways to get it out of them. Law enforcement and chemistry alike have searched for a drug that can remove the ability to lie. Join Josh and Chuck as they check in to see how it’s going.
WNYC’s Radiolab
23 Weeks 6 Days (Tuesday, April 30, 2013) — When Kelley Benham and her husband Tom French finally got pregnant, after many attempts and a good deal of technological help, everything was perfect. Until it wasn’t. Their story raises questions that, until recently, no parent had to face… and that are still nearly impossible to answer.