Marie Arana, literary director of the National Book Festival, joins us to talk about how exploitation, violence and religion have combined to make the region the place it is today.
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When Lincoln Died, The Drama Began
The co-creators of a dramatic podcast about the days following Lincoln’s assassination join us to talk about crafting a compelling modern drama from the annals of history.
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How President Bush Made The Call On The 2007 Iraq Surge
Jeffrey A. Engel, director of the Center for Presidential History at Southern Methodist University, and Will Inboden, executive director of the Clements Center for National Security at the University of Texas at Austin, join us to talk about the behind-the-scenes White House strategy that led to the Iraq troop surge.
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Why We Should Bring Back The Draft
Elliot Ackerman served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan as a Marine, and he joins us to discuss why, he says, we’re writing blank checks for protracted conflicts with an all-volunteer military.
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Why You Should Fear Volcanoes More Than Ebola
Journalist Bryan Walsh joins us to talk about the many probabilities of world-ending catastrophic events, reported with humor and backed up by hard science.
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They Made One Of The Greatest Archaeological Discoveries Of All Time
Paleoanthropologist professor Lee Berger and Director of the Center for the Exploration of the Human Journey Becca Peixotto join us to discuss the new Perot Museum of Nature and Science exhibition.
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How We Evolved The Need To Believe
Agustín Fuentes, Chair of the Department of Anthropology at the University of Notre Dame, joins us to talk about the evolution of religion.
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How Saudi Arabia Won Donald Trump Over
Journalist Martin Smith joins us to talk about Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia’s influence on the Middle East.
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Why Trump Is THE T.V. President
James Poniewozik, chief television critic for The New York Times, joins us to argue that Donald Trump represents the melding of politics and pop culture.
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Gimme Shelter: Staying Alive In Extreme Places
Dan Richards joins us to talk about surviving in remote places – and what makes isolated sites worth the journey.
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There’s A Lot You Don’t Know About Country Music
This hour we talk with a pair of producers of the upcoming eight-part series “Country Music” ahead of its Sept. 15 debut on PBS stations.
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A History Of Fat Phobia
University of Kansas professor Christopher E. Forth joins us to talk about the persistent, centuries-long stereotypes about a much-maligned body type.
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