The Freedom Manifesto: How to Free Yourself

What are your plans for 2008? If you’re like Tom Hodgkinson, founder of “The Idler”, you’re planning to throw off the shackles of authority and embrace a freer, happier, and more fulfilled you. We’ll find out how he plans to do it this hour as we discuss his new book “The Freedom Manifesto: How to Free Yourself from Anxiety, Fear, Mortgages, Money, Guilt, Debt, Government, Boredom, Supermarkets, Bills, Melancholy, Pain, Depression, Work, and Waste” (Harper Perennial, 2007).

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Holiday Ethics

At a time when we’re all likely giving and receiving gifts, it might be worthwhile to discuss the ethical implications of the holiday season. To that end, we’ll spend this hour with Dr. Bruce Weinstein, The Ethics Guy.

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Kids and the Holidays

How much do commercials influence children and what are some strategies for helping kids learn to give and not just receive? Our first guest this hour is Dr. Susan Linn, director of the Campaign For A Commercial-Free Childhood at Harvard’s Judge Baker Children’s Center. In the second half of the hour we’ll talk with Colleen O’Donnell, co-author of “Generous Kids: Helping Your Child Experience the Joy of Giving” (Brown Books, 2007).

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Top Stories of 2007

What political and news events shaped 2007 more than others? We’ll talk this evening with William McKenzie of the Dallas Morning News and Bob Ray Sanders of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. Our Scene segment will feature a piece by KERA Executive Producer Rob Tranchin. As you’ll see, “Million Dollar Monarch” is a profile of not just a tree, but of the history that tree has witnessed.

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Food and Wine for the Holidays

Are you wondering what foods and wines to serve this holiday season? We’ll talk this hour with sommelier and wine expert Darryl Beeson and El Centro Food and Hospitality program coordinator and chef instructor Chef Chris LaLonde. We’ll also take your calls and answer your food and wine-related questions.

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The Life and Legends of Ethel Merman

How did a stenographer from Queens, New York become a premiere star of golden-age Broadway? We’ll spend this hour with Caryl Flinn, professor of Women’s Studies and Media Arts at the University of Arizona, and author of the new biography “Brass Diva: The Life and Legends of Ethel Merman” (University of California Press, 2007).

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