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The New Yorker called Dar Williams "one of America's best singer-songwriters.”
Williams is also passionate about urban planning and revitalization. Her new book, "What I Found in a Thousand Towns: A Traveling Musician's Guide to Rebuilding America's Communities" is both a well researched and beautifully written account of the death and rebirth of American towns and cities. The book is full of practical solutions and unique insight.
Read moreWe discuss the American Revolution and the meaning of freedom with acclaimed historian and journalist, Russell Shorto, author of the 2018 book, "Revolution Song: A Story of American Freedom."
Russell Shorto is also the writer of a fine new podcast series, "American History Tellers."
"Wherever there's a problem, I'm pretty sure you can find a use to overcome that problem utilizing drones," says our guest, Mehdi Salehi of the Parsons School of Design. His company, Drone Labs, specializes in drone design, R&D, data collection and analysis.
Read more“Blockchaine is truly novel. It is something the world had never seen before, because it strengthens itself over time," says our guest, Dan Patterson, a senior reporter for TechRepublic and CBS News.
Read moreIn part two of our conversation with James we look at the ways many local business owners, city planners, educators and citizens have worked in pragmatic and inventive ways to improve life in their communities.
James and Deborah Fallows are the authors of "Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey Into the Heart of America."
Read more"This still can be the country people would like to think it is," says well-known journalist James Fallows of The Atlantic magazine and co-author of "Our Towns: A 100,000-Mile Journey Into the Heart of America." He says that most people don't realize how fast the country is moving toward becoming a better version of itself.
Read more"The debt will be as large as our entire economy by the end of the decade", says Maya MacGuineas, President of the bipartisan Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget. "Every indicator that you could look for in terms of the numbers is on flashing red alert."
Read moreOur guest, journalist, Charles C. Mann, author of new book, "The Wizard and The Prophet", is a correspondent for The Atlantic, Science and Wired. Two of his previous books, 1491 and 1493, were widely-acclaimed best sellers.
Read moreOur guest, Jonathan Green, is the author of the new book, "Sex Money Murder: A Story of Crack, Blood and Betrayal." He tells the hair-raising story of how SMM dealt with rivals, as well the role the gang leaders played in the crack epidemic.
Read moreWe speak with Israeli public opinion analyst, strategic consultant and peace researcher, Dahlia Scheindlin, who is hopeful that a new peace agreement will emerge. In addition to her work with Israelis and Palestinian, she has expertise in conflict resolution in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Dahlia is co-host of the podcast, The Tel Aviv Review.
Read moreWe revisit our interview with New York Times journalist Claire Cain Miller, who writes for The Upshot. Miller explains the challenges ahead in the fight for equality and respect for women in the workplace.
Read moreMark Penn is a pollster and political consultant. He worked for Bill and Hillary Clinton, as well as for Microsoft. In the ‘90s he identified the rise of the “Soccer Moms” who helped elect Bill Clinton. In 2007, he wrote the book Microtrends, detailing many similar trends.
Read moreOur guests in this episode, John Gable and Joan Blades, are leaders of a growing project to bring Americans together to talk it out, mending the bitter partisan divide "one conversation at a time."
Read moreOur guest, finance professor, Luigi Zingales of the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, makes a crucial distinction between free markets and big business. Luigi is the author of two widely reviewed books: "Saving Capitalism from Capitalists (co-authored with Raghuram Rajan) and "A Capitalism for the People: Recapturing the Lost Genius of American Prosperity." He is also the co-host of the popular podcast, "Capitalisnt."
Read moreOur guest, journalist Gregg Easterbrook is author of the new book, "It's Better Than It Looks: Reasons for Optimism in an Age of Fear."
Read moreOur guest is the highly respected crisis communications and leadership strategist, Davia Temin. We learn about the do’s and don’ts of crisis communications as well as the benefits of coaching and training.
Read more"When people get out of jail, their internet profiles can stay with them forever," says business executive, Brian Hamilton, founder of "Inmates to Entrepreneurs," an outreach group that helps ex-offenders start their own businesses. "There is systematic discrimination against these people by employers who always Google people."
Read moreIn this episode with award-winning author, editor and journalist, Janice Kaplan, we learn about the exciting ways you can grab opportunities and improve your life.
There is a clear difference between random chance and luck. The case is made in the new book that she wrote with risk-taking expert Barnaby Marsh, "How Luck Happens: Using the Science of Luck to Transform Work, Love and Life ."
Read moreOur guest in James Burnett, Editorial Director of The Trace, an independent, nonpartisan newsroom that shines a light on America's gun violence crisis.
Read more"This generation has become more in tune and in touch with the avenues of political power," says Professor Elizabeth Matto, Director of the Center for Youth Political Participation at the Eagleton Institute, Rutgers University, and the author of "Citizen Now: Engaging in Politics and Democracy."
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