American Variety Radio Shows
Airing This Week
Past Shows
562. We’ll talk with a canine cognition researcher about his studies of how “button dogs” communicate. Tune in to find out what he’s learning.
561. The woman who basically invented codebreaking before and during WWI worked in the shadows and is little
560. Where do dreams come from and what do they mean? We’ll talk with the director of the new DREAM Lab at Johns Hopkins University about this activity that we all spend a fair percentage of our lives doing but that is little understood by science
559. An archaeologist has discovered artifacts on the shore of Chesapeake Bay in Maryland that push the arrival of the first Indians into North America to at least 22,000 years ago–several thousand years earlier than was thought.
558. What’s a megalith? There are thousands of them across France. We’ll talk with the leading discoverer and expert on them.
557. Compared to its big sisters, the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, the only attention the Gulf of Mexico gets is when hurricanes and oil spills bring bad news. But it has a fascinating history and identity of its own. We’ll learn about that.
556. Long before the Panama Canal existed, merchants and navies were desperate to find a northern route to sail from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In the 1850s, a British sea captain succeeded; but it was a long and harrowing ordeal.
555. The world’s most prolific treasure hunter/finder, now passed, was on American Variety many years ago talking about his 1962 reenactment of Columbus’ “voyage of discovery” in a replica ship he built himself. It was quite an adventure. We’ll replay the show.
554. Grandfather Mountain is an icon of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and like most grandfathers it has some stories to tell.
553. Many of the most intrepid spies in American history have been women. We’ll hear about some of them.
552. The movie character Indiana Jones was modeled after a real-life swashbuckling American archaeologist of the 1950s who was famous at the time but has since been all but forgotten.
551. A little-known aspect of Florida history is how before and during the Civil War the Seminole Indians of Florida, themselves a mixture of breakaway groups of other tribes, lived side by side with runaway slaves in a tenuous alliance
550. The first Saturday in May is “Derby Day.” We’ll look into how the Sport of Kings is holding up these days
549. So you thought bottled water was clean and pure? Better think again.
548. In the 1930s “The Crime of the Century” was the kidnapping and murder of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh’s 20-month-old son. The crime was eventually solved–but was the actual perpetrator the one executed for it? A startling new theory is being put forward.
547. How we nearly lost Arkansas to a nuclear missile accident in the ’60s. We’ll hear from someone who was there.
546. Why do some people fall prey to cults? We’ll look into it.
545. Pigs need love, too! We’ll talk about miniature pigs with a veterinarian and a pig rescue organizer.
544. Storytelling is an ancient art form that has been making a comeback in recent years. We’ll talk with one who’ll tell us one.
543. The Pack Horse Library was a Depression-era project in which women on horseback brought books to families in remote corners of the Appalachian Mountains
542. In 2029 an asteroid named “The God of Darkness” will make the closest approach to Earth that any asteroid has made in recorded history. NASA is sending spacecraft to take a close look at it.
541. We’ll talk with Ron Rash, who’s generally regarded as the Dean of Appalachian novelists
540. We’ll look at water in novel ways with a British naturalist and “natural navigator”
539. Have you been hearing about the breakthroughs in the long-sought goal of achieving nuclear fusion (as opposed to the fission that now powers nuclear power plants)? We’ll talk with one of the research leaders.
538. The Spanish Civil War was a dress rehearsal for WWII. Some idealistic young Americans joined up to fight the Fascist side. A young economics professor was their commander. It turned out like you might expect.
537. Cindy Littlejohn’s “creative nonfiction” book, Palmetto Pioneers, about her ancestors’ arrival in North Florida in the late 1820s is fascinating and full of interesting facts about life in Old Florida.
536. Did Stone Age tribes living in Amazonia hundreds of years ago have such a big impact on the forest landscape that it amounts to what archaeologists are calling a “manufactured ecosystem”? We’ll try to find out.
535. With an author and musician from South Louisiana we’ll explore Cajun, zydeco, and Swamp Pop music along with the culture of this colorful region
534. Just before WWII, top-level scientists from around the world assembled in secret at an obscure mansion outside New York City to develop technologies such as radar that would be key to winning the war.
533. We’ve probably all heard of Near Death Experiences (NDEs) and the “light at the end of tunnel” where departed loves ones await. But NDEs come in a surprising variety of forms and circumstances. We’ll talk with a medical doctor who’s been researching NDEs for many years and will broaden our horizons on this interesting topic.
532. The bonobo, a small African primate, shares almost our entire DNA. They never fight, but instead make love, not war. Why are we different? We’ll talk with someone who’s trying to find out.
531. Everyone who lives with dogs know that they think. But what do they think, how, and why? We’ll ask a cognitive animal scientist.
530. Whatever happened to famed aviator Amelia Earhart nearly 90 years ago? We probably know–but aren’t certain. We’ll look into it.
529. Storytelling might be the world’s oldest profession. We’ll talk with a professional storyteller who’s made it an art form.
528. Many Navy pilots have now seen and filmed “Unidentified Aerial Phenomena” (aka UFOs) over the ocean off both coasts and are concerned about the lack of ways to officially report such encounters, and what it means for aviation safety. We’ll talk with one of them.
527. Several thousand years ago a huge area of uninhabited jungle in northern Guatemala and southern Mexico called the Mirador Basin held a complex Mayan civilization consisting of over a million people and hundreds of cities towns, and villages. Recent research lets us see the full scope of this amazing place.
526. Boys and even men often seem to be struggling today to figure out how to be who and what they are. Is maleness in decline in our society? If so, what are the implications and what can be done about it?
525. Part 2 of the story of William Morgan, the Americano Comandante in Cuba
524. Part 1 – William Morgan was a classic American adventurer who became a Comandante in Castro’s army in Cuba and was executed when he turned against Fidel
523. The Harvard-based Galileo Project is part of the gradual opening-up of government focus on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAPs), or what used to be called UFOs
522. Is TikTok on the way to being banned because of its national security risks? We’ll try to find out what the risks are if and that’s warranted.
521. The excitement–and worry–surrounding the rapid developments in artificial intelligence is building. We’ll look into the pros and cons of this powerful technology
520. A young woman rancher from Texas rode in the grueling 10-day Mongol Derby in the Mongolian outback and lived to tell about it
519. Archaeologists and developers seldom see eye-to-eye. A major new archaeological discovery in Miami puts the City of Miami in the middle with residents and preservationists pushing for information and influence on the outcome
518. “I Mean You No Harm” is a novel about the last “wild” Indian in Florida–a Miccosukee holdout from modern civilization in the late 1920s and after
517. We’ll learn about the life of a pioneering Florida folklorist and courageous Klan-buster named Stetson Kennedy
516. It turns out that France has more Stonehenge-like “megaliths” than England does. We’ll talk with the world’s foremost expert on these ancient and mysterious constructions in France.
515. Peter Coyote is with us again as we continue to explore the Sixties (Part 2 of 2)
514. Peter Coyote, one of the founders of the Baby Boom counterculture, explores the pivotal years of the Sixties with us (Part 1 of 2)
513. One of the “inventors” of the ’60s counterculture was Peter Coyote, who survived the Sixties to become a successful actor and one of the most prolific narrators in the history of documentary film. He’ll talk with us about his life’s journey.
512. Zora Neale Hurston was an anthropologist and author of best-selling books like “Their Eyes Were Watching God.” Her story is a novel in itself. We’ll talk with the director of a new documentary film about her life.
511. Is TikTok a bigger risk to personal privacy and even national security than any other social app? We’ll talk with an attorney who specializes in this about it.
510. The bonobo is a little-known African primate that makes love, not war. What can we learn from them? We’ll ask a scientist who studies them.
509. “Tradwives” is a growing discussion topic on social media for young women who espouse a return to the traditional housewife-and-mother role. Back to the Future? We’ll talk with a sociologist about it.
508. The Congressional Gold Medal has finally been awarded to a unit of brave pranksters, the “Ghost Army,” who fooled WWII German forces into thinking they were a real army
507. Why are cults so alluring to some? We’ll talk with an expert.
506. Harriet Tubman was a “conductor” on the Underground Railroad and a true freedom fighter in other ways as well
505. The Spanish Civil War was a dress rehearsal for WWII and a few thousand idealistic Americans participated in it–with disastrous consequences. We’ll tell the story of their leader.
504. Part 2 of the same three guys from three generations discussing other topics
503. Three generations talk about differences in their attitudes about many things and life in general – Part 1 of 2
502. The Deputy Project Manager of NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope will tell us all about the mission and the amazing things they’re discovering
501. We’ll replay a 2004 show with the late, great treasure hunter and underwater archaeologist Bob Marx describing his perilous 1962 reenactment of Christopher Columbus’ voyage in an exact replica ship
500. The book A Dream of Democracy tells the harrowing story of a ten-year-old boy’s escape from the Russian invasion of Prussia at the end of WWII. That boy is our guest.
499.“Deepfakes” are an emerging media technology that uses artificial intelligence to create or manipulate videos that distort reality in potentially very dangerous ways
498. What happened in Kecksburg, Pennysylvania, back in 1965? It’s a mystery–we’ll explore it.
497. The Gulf of Mexico gets more hurricanes and less attention than the larger Atlantic. We’ll try to bridge that gulf.
496. How have zoos evolved since the days of medieval menageries? We’ll ask a zoo director
495. It’s Women’s History Month and the subject of this week’s show is a woman who, like so many early female professionals, should be visible in US history but isn’t: pioneering cryptologist/codebreaker Elizebeth Friedman
494. How vulnerable is our electric power grid to cyberattack? It’s a question many people are asking now–my guest has answers.
493. Do dogs think? If so, what do they think? We’ll think (and talk) about it.
492. We’ll discuss the evolution of American masculinity and the changing landscape of gender with a professor and author of books on gender
491. Robert Hale Merriman was a young American economist who became the commanding officer of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in the Spanish Civil War. Hemingway’s hero in “For Whom the Bell Tolls” was based on him. We’ll tell his story.
490. Has remote education during the pandemic produced a “lost generation” of students? We’ll speculate on this important issue that many people talk about but policy-makers don’t.
489. My guest’s book, “Surviving Death,” presents compelling evidence for an afterlife (Pt. 2 of 2)
488. Is there life after death? My guest is an investigative journalist who takes a deep dive into this question (Pt. 1 of 2)
487. We’ll revisit a second show we did in 2009 on the societal impact of the internet with two young online tech wizards, and whether the impact was more good or bad at that point
486. We’ll take a look back at a show we did in 2009 on the then-new online social and business networking platforms like Twitter
485. The author of the Kissimmee Valley Trilogy of novels covering a century of a Florida ranching family’s history will talk with us about the last book in the trilogy
484. The longtime head Wildlife Biologist in Everglades National Park will tell us about the strange and wonderful things, as well as the changes in the Glades, he’s seen in his career
483. William Randolph Hearst was the Rupert Murdoch and Ted Turner of his time rolled into one–and then some. We’ll talk with the director of an upcoming biographical film about him.
482. On the 20th anniversary of 9/11 we’ll talk with the wife of one of the four brave passengers who prevented the hijackers of Flight 93 from crashing into the White House
481. The little-known person who basically invented modern codebreaking, before and during WWI, was a woman
480. Before and after the Civil War, a decades-long committed relationship between wealthy white planter Alfred Dula and his slave, Harriett Harshaw, defied the standards of the time and produced the large and thriving Dula clan of Western North Carolina
479. The famous Lipizzaner horses of Vienna were being held on a remote farm in Germany and were rescued from certain destruction in a daring raid by a young American cavalry officer
478. For about a century the Seminole Indians of Florida had a complex relationship with runaway slaves who lived among them. We’ll explore it with a historian who studies this little-known interaction
477. Chuck Berry was and is the Father of Rock and Roll. We’ll talk with the man who wrote the book about his life and times
476. Thousands of Afghans and Iraqis who worked with US forces as interpreters face certain death after we pull out. An Army Colonel is trying to save them.
475. Wendell Phillips was a famous archaeologist in the 1950s, reportedly the model for Indiana Jones, but now he’s unknown. We’ll see what we can do.
474. The new film “Children of the Inquisition” interviews people who didn’t know they were descended from Spanish Jews who converted to Catholicism to avoid torture and execution
473. A maritime historian will tell the story of one of history’s most harrowing but little-known explorations
472. The state of the mental health system in the U.S. today–if it even deserves the description “system”
471. With the Kentucky Derby back on track for the first Saturday in May, we’ll take a look at how the “Sport of Kings” is faring
470. We’ll take a look back at a show we did in early 2009 on social media with two young “social networking” aficionados and whether it was more a force for social good or social evil
469. Brooke Wharton is a young Texas rancher who participated in the grueling 10-day Mongol Derby in Mongolia and survived
468. Alexandra Horowitz studies dog cognition–how dogs think–and especially how they see the world through their nose
467. The same three people–a Baby Boomer, a Gen X, and a Gen Y–explore differences in attitudes toward work and career and their general views of the future (Part 2 of 2)
466. Representatives of three generations–Baby Boomer, Gen X, and Gen Y–explore differences in gender relations and communication in their age groups (Part 1 of 2)
465. Spanish Florida was the birthplace of the American cattle industry, and the cows and “cow hunters” that evolved out of it shaped the Cracker culture of early Florida
464. Cajun Country is one of the most colorful regions in America. We’ll talk with two musicians and writers about Cajun, Zydeco, and “Swamp Music”
463. The story of the establishment of Rocky Fork State Park in Tennessee is an interesting one, and kind of a model for how it can be done
462. Many podcasts are morphing into TV-like series, with all the production aspects of a TV show–multiple actors, scripts, sound effects, continuing plots, etc. We’ll talk with a podcaster who’s doing that.
461. COVID-19 has changed the way we work. What will post-pandemic office work be like, and how will it affect cities?
460. Researchers are discovering that Stone-Age Amazonian tribes had a much greater impact on the Amazonian rain forest than we realized
459. Pioneering codebreaker Elizebeth Friedman helped the Allies win both World Wars
458. An African primate called the bonobo never fights but, instead, has a lot of sex. My guest studies their social behavior for clues to our own.
457. Porky pets are the alternative to dogs for some people. We’ll talk with a veterinarian and an educator who run a miniature potbellied pig rescue organization.
456. Musician and producer Christian Tamburr was achieving real success in the entertainment industry when Covid-19 hit like a bomb. We’ll talk with him about how he and other entertainers are coping
455. The Dulas of Western North Carolina are a large clan descended from the many children of a wealthy white planter and his slave, who had a committed relationship that lasted 40 years
454. Herd all about it: Turns out that training dogs is easier than training their owners!
453. Ryan Terry is helping to pioneer a new genre of TV-show-like podcasting with his sitcom, “Four’s a Crowd”
452. A New Yorker Magazine staff writer on his “beat” as a war correspondent covering dangerous situations around the globe
451. William Finnegan is a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who spend most of his 20s exploring the world looking for the perfect wave in unknown surfing spots. He has some stories to tell.
450. An emerging scientific field that presents both great promise and great danger is synthetic biology. We’ll talk with one of its leaders.
449. Anthropologists are interested in the relationship between brain size and evolution. So are we–so we’ll talk with one.
448. The curator of the International Spy Museum describes how, throughout history, many of the most daring American spies have been women
447. During the Civil War, a woman disguised as a man became a successful spy for the Union Army
446. A pioneering zoo director will talk with us about “the evolution of zoos.”
445. In the 1930s and 40s, Stetson Kennedy was a Renaissance Man who, among other things, helped bring down the KKK
444. A researcher on dog intelligence operates a “citizen science” website called “Dognition” (Part 2 of 2)
443. How did wolves evolve into domesticated dogs relatively quickly? The anthropologist who discovered how will tell us. (Part 1 of 2)
442. A mansion in Tuxedo Park, New York, and the brilliant tycoon and inventor who turned it into a lab that attracted the world’s greatest scientific minds
441. AI will be smarter than us–will it take advantage? (Part 2 of 2)
440. The brave new world of artificial intelligence (Part 1 of 2)
439. “Drain the Swamp” was a rallying cry a hundred years ago in Florida. We’ll explore the story of the long-suffering Everglades.
438. A big fossil find in Africa is telling us more than we ever knew before about the evolution of elephants and their relatives
437. The author of a book about North Carolina’s Grandfather Mountain takes us on a tour of the history and geology of this Blue Ridge icon
436. Teddy Roosevelt’s great-grandson tells the story of TR’s expedition down the Amazon basin’s RIver of Doubt, where he nearly died
435. We’ll look into cults and why they attract some people like moths to a flame
434. Part 2 of the story of the American Comandante in Castro’s revolution in Cuba
433. The story of an American misfit, adventurer, soldier of fortune, and idealist who joined Castro’s revolution in Cuba, then turned against him and was executed for it. Part 1 of 2.
432. Pipe organs are probably the most complex of all musical instruments. How are they made? We’ll find out from a builder.
431. In the spirit of death-defying test pilots like Chuck Yeager, in 1960 USAF Col. Joe Kittinger jumped out of a helium balloon at the edge of space and skydived into history
430. Florida horse breeder catches us up on the state of “The Sport of Kings” today
429. Tristan Gooley is a British “natural navigator” and author who’s fascinated by water in all its forms
428. My guest, an investigative journalist, reports even more startling direct experiences with evidence of the afterlife. (Part 2 of 2)
427. Is there an afterlife? Faith aside, we’d all like to have direct evidence of it. My guest reports some startling examples of that evidence. (Part 1 of 2)
426. The mental health system in America is broken. Can it be fixed?
425. The dean of Appalachian novelists on his cultural sources and his craft
424. Professional storyteller Victoria Burnett on the past, present, and future of her craft
423. Multi-talented musician and producer Christian Tamburr on his long and winding road to success in this challenging industry
422. Author John Steinbeck and iconoclastic marine biologist Ed Ricketts made an unusual specimen-collecting expedition into the Sea of Cortez in 1940 and wrote a book about it; my guest is rebuilding the boat they sailed in
421. The interesting and largely untold story of the Gulf of Mexico, as told by a Pulitzer-Prize-winning historian
420. Actor and counterculture icon Peter Coyote explores the pivotal years of the Sixties with us (Part 2 of 2)
419. Actor and counterculture icon Peter Coyote explores the pivotal years of the Sixties with us (Part 1 of 2)
418. An accident in a nuclear missile silo in 1980 was as close as we’ve come to a nuclear catastrophe
417. It’s Old Florida Day as we talk with an author about his two novels following a Florida ranching family’s life and times
416. The Fire/Aviation operations manager for the US Forest Service will talk with us about the impact of changing climate on forest fire operations and dangers
415. Boston University communications professor Michael Serazio explores the impact of sports in our culture in his new book “The Power of Sports”
414. Author William Culyer Hall’s two novels chronicle a century of a Florida cattle ranching family’s trials and travails
413. A forensic anthropologist presents strong evidence that bones discovered on a small Pacific island in 1940 were those of Amelia Earhart
412. An upcoming 3-part PBS series explores parts of N. Carolina and Southwest Florida using family photo albums to unlock the stories of the past and make surprising connections between people in the present. We’ll talk with the producer about what he learned.
411. What was the strange object that fell from the sky near Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, in 1965? It remains a mystery to this day
410. A paleontologist who’s an expert on elephant evolution describes a big fossil find in Africa that displays the evolutionary timeline of many of today’s most spectacular animals
409. The search for oil usually doesn’t run like a well-oiled machine–a petroleum geologist recounts his life and times as a wildcatter
408. Do we now know what happened to famed aviator Amelia Earhart? The producer of a film on her life will talk about the life of this pioneering woman.
407. Sherry Hamby is a psychology professor who observes a more selective use of social media among Appalachia’s independent-minded people
406. Peter Coyote was a ’60s icon turned successful actor who eventually became one of the most prolific background narrators in the history of documentary film. He’ll take us through the amazing times of his life.
405. Artificial Intelligence: (Wo)Man vs. Machine? (Part 2 of 2)
404. Artificial Intelligence: Should We Be Worried? (Part 1 of 2)
403. A daring raid into German-held territory at the end of WWII saved the world-famous Lipizzaner horses from destruction by the Soviet Army
402. Winning conservation status for the 10,000-acre Rocky Fork mountain wilderness area in East Tennessee was a long, uphill battle that serves as a blueprint for similar efforts nationwide
401. A young woman paleontologist is making the connection between feathered dinosaurs being unearthed in China and modern-day bird
400. “The Swamp” tells the story of the Everglades leading up to its founding as a national park
399. The threat of cyberterrorism and even cyberwarfare is increasing rapidly. My guest is a cybersecurity expert who’ll bring us up to date.
398. My guest takes an in-depth investigative journalistic approach to a topic in which we’re all interested: Is there life after death? (Pt.2 of 2)
397. Two of humankind’s perennially big questions are “Are we alone in the universe?” and “Is there life after death?” The book “Surviving Death” presents compelling evidence for an afterlife (Pt. 1 of 2)
396. Petroleum geologist and wildcat well driller Tom Cochrane has written a memoir about his life and times in search of black gold
395. Part 2 of the story of William Morgan, the Americano Comandante in Cuba
394. Part 1 – William Morgan was an American misfit who became a top Comandante in Castro’s Cuban revolution, only to turn against him and be executed for it
393. Laura Vorreyer has written an amusing and insightful book about her career as a pet-sitter for the rich and famous
392. Randy Johnson takes us on a wide-ranging journey with his book Grandfather Mountain: The History and Guide to an Appalachian Icon
391. Historian Jack Davis has written a Pulitzer Prize-winning book about the Gulf of Mexico that reads like a James Michener tour de force
390. Author Ron Rash on his award-winning novels and short stories set in Appalachia: How he does what he does
389. Moderates: Is there any chance they could be the political wave of the future that could save us from extreme divisiveness?
388. We’ll explore “the evolution of zoos” with Palm Beach Zoo director Margo McKnight
387. In 1980 a nuclear missile in its silo melted down in Arkansas and we came close to an unimaginable calamity
386. A psychology professor looks at whether social media and other online technologies are used more selectively in Appalachia–and if that might actually be a good thing
385. It’s Kentucky Derby week. W e’ll talk with a racehorse owner/breeder about where the Sport of Kings stands today–Is it in a race for survival?
384. Historian Wayne Winkler fills us in on research into t he mystery of the Melungeon people of Appalachia
383. The New Yorkermagazine staff writer William Finnegan on his life as a war correspondent and “social justice” journalist in hot spots around the world
382. The author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning memoir, Barbarian Days: A Surfing Life, regales us with tales of a young adulthood spent chasing the perfect wave all over the world
381. A psychologist explores with us how changing emotions and attitudes abput people actually change the way they look to us
380. We’ll talk with one of the top pipe-organ manufacturers in the world about what it takes to create these amazing instruments
379. All about autism and the growing awareness of it through TV shows like “The Good Doctor” and “Parenthood”
378. The little-known Wall Street tycoon with a secret life as a scientist who helped the Allies win World War II
377. An expert on cults explores this netherworld with us
376. The great-grandson of Teddy Roosevelt will be with us to talk about TR’s epic 1914 exploration of the Amazon River basin, where he nearly died
375.“I’ll see it when I believe it”–how do emotion and attitude affect perception? We’ll talk with a psychologist about it
374. We’ll take a deep dive into water in all its forms with a British naturalist and expert “natural navigator”
373. With his jungle themes, Brazilian storyteller Antonio Rocha has invented a unique style of performance art
372. The latest installment in our occasional Good News Week series
371. The Herd Mentality : At Asher-Dell Farms they train dogs to herd sheep (and ducks)
370. Two recent novels by a North Carolina author follow the trials and tribulations of several generations of a mountain family
369. Prof. Robert Walker is a “human geographer” at the University of Florida who treks into the heart of the Amazon forest to assess the impact of logging on Amazonia and its native peoples, encountering hostile loggers suspicious of his motives
368. Leslie Kean’s new book “Surviving Death” takes an in-depth journalistic approach to a topic in which we’re all interested: Is there an afterlife? (Pt.2 of 2)
367. Leslie Kean’s recently published book “Surviving Death” takes a very level-headed look at evidence for an afterlife (Pt. 1 of 2)
366. All about urban (and even suburban) gardening with an expert in horticulture
365. All you ever wanted to know about cults
364. Mark Powell’s latest novel “Small Treasons” explores the impact that the War on Terror has on an American family, even at a distance
363. The documentary film, “Weekend in Havana” will soon be aired on PBS. Filmmaker Geoffrey Baer talks with us about Cuba today and the outlook for more open relations.
362. The relationship between brain sizes and evolution is currently a topic of interest to anthropologists. We’ll talk with one about it.
361. Some of the bravest and best spies in American history have been women. The curator of the International Spy Museum will fill us in.
360. Dr. Brian Hare discusses “Dognition” — an online “citizen science” research tool that he operates out of Duke University
359. Brian Hare is a Duke University anthropologist who discovered how dogs became domesticated from wolves and explains it in his book, “The Genius of Dogs”
358. Now that we’re in horse racing’s Triple Crown season, we’ll talk with a racehorse owner/breeder about where the Sport of Kings stands today–Is it alive and kicking?
357. A rare condition sometimes called “Benjamin Button Disease” causes the aging process to slow so that, at least on the outside, children don’t age–my guest studies it
356. Good News Week (it’s Easter, so why not?)
355. Janie DeVos’ two back-to-back novels follow several generations of a North Carolina mountain family through the first half of the 20th century
354. Sarah Emma Edmonds disguised herself as a man and fooled both the Union and Confederate armies to become a Civil War soldier and spy
353. When pigs fly into your home: We’ll talk about miniature pigs with a veterinarian and a pig rescue organizer
352. Wendy the Welder in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, helped win WWII just as Rosie the Riveter did–but she’d been ignored. Richard Cook hopes to change that.
351. “Synthetic biology” opens up the possibility of manufacturing any living thing from “interchangeable parts” of other living things. We’ll talk with one of the leaders of the field.
350. An evolutionary biologist and geographer explores with us why and how human societies collapse. Are we next?
349. A former Air Force nuclear missile silo technician will relate the hair-raising tale of the day we almost lost Arkansas!
348. Odd News from around the world
347. We’ll hear about the life and times of Stetson Kennedy, one of the greatest nearly-unsung Floridians of the 20th century
346. Good News Week
345. British naturalist Tristan Gooley’s new book, “How to Read Water” is a tour de force description of the many forms that water takes and what it can tell us about the world around us
344. How much do we see of what we’re looking at? A cognitive scientist talks with us about her book, “On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes”
343. What’s a guy gotta do? Super-talented and charismatic Italian crooner Patrizio Buanne is a star around the world but can’t seem to break the Italian ice n America
342. A scientific study found that the old saying, ” Happy Wife, Happy Life” is true. A sociologist will fill us in on the details.
341. Mark Powell’s award-winning new novel, “The Sheltering,” explores the impact of war, the Great Recession, and other calamities on two families
340. The mysterious object that fell near Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, in December 1965 remains a mystery today
339. Recreating the woolly mammoth from frozen DNA: We’ll explore the brave new world of Synthetic Biology with one of its inventors
338. Are we reliving the Fall of Rome? An evolutionary biologist and geographer explores with us why and how human societies collapse
337. The leader of NASA’a Juno mission talks with us about the spacecraft’s successful entry into orbit around Jupiter on July 4th
336. We’ll talk with eminent neurobiologist James McGaugh about how our emotions affect memory
335. We’ll talk with Dr. Doo, a paleontology professor who curates the world’s largest collection of dung from rare and extinct animals–there’s a lot to learn from fossilized mastodon poop
334. Anthropology Professor Mark Flinn on brain sizes in humans and apes, and what it suggests regarding the evolution of human intelligence
333. “The Ghost Army of WWII” tells the story of a secret Army unit of artists who practiced mass deception against the German forces using multimedia battlefield displays
332. Todd Mouton’s new book, “Way Down in Louisiana” explores Cajun, zydeco, and Swamp Pop music along with the culture of this colorful region
331. The Zika virus: All you need to know about something you wish you didn’t have to know about
330. In the mid-to-late 1800s, Cracker cattle descended from Spanish explorers’ livestock and Cracker pioneers were the foundation of Florida’s early economy
329. In 1960, Air Force Col. Joseph Kittinger leaped from a helium balloon nearly 20 miles up, at the edge of space, and skydived into aerospace history
328. An ancient skull discovered in an underwater cave in Mexico proves that modern-day Native Americans are directly descended from Asians who migrated across the Bering Straits Land Bridge
327. The Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal is the subject of this year’s Oscar for Best Picture, “Spotlight.” The lawyer who first uncovered the scandal in 1984 wrote a novel, “in God’s House” based on that intense legal and personal saga
326. Up-and-coming young country singer/songwriter Austin Moody tells us what it’s like to try to break into the music industry–and succeed
325. Astrophysicists have proved the last remaining part of Einstein’s Theory of Relativity by detecting gravitational waves formed by the merging of two black holes 1.3 billion light-years away (that’s a LOT of miles!)”
324. Will smart phones eventually be smarter than we are–and dominate not only our time but our ability to resist them? We’ll discuss what I call “phoneophilia”
323. A clinical psychologist helps us explore “Genderology,” through the topic “Who’s Happier: Men or Women?”
322. Duke University anthropologist Brian Hare discovered how dogs became domesticated from wolves and explains it in his book, “The Genius of Dogs”
321. The book, “Go Outside and Play: Why Kids Don’t and Why They Should” explores a topic that’s important not only for the future of our kids but also for our society as a whole
320. An international team of researchers investigated how much impact indigenous people had on the Amazon forest–the answer will affect how much logging is allowed there
319. Maritime historian Glenn Stein’s new book “Discovering the North-West Passage” tells the story of one of history’s most harrowing explorations
318. The Trail Boss of the 6-day, 70-mile Great Florida Cattle Drive of 2016 regales us with stories of the past two drives, involving hundreds of ride-along enthusiasts
317. This law professor is an expert on social networks and internet privacy–if there is any of that left!
316. “Urban gardening” is taking off as a way to enjoy some of the benefits of country living (and eating) in cities and suburbs
315. Dr. Richard Walker studies a rare condition in which children appear to age very slowly, in hopes of finding how to control the aging process
314. Good News Week (an experiment)
315. J.M. Berger, an expert on Islamic terrorist organizations, will explore with us how ISIS uses social media to spread propaganda and recruit worldwide
314. Who says dogs don’t smile!? Veterinary medicine researcher Dr. Nicholas Dodman on what we’re learning about animal emotions
313. Therese Borchard knows all about depression and explores it in her book, “Beyond Blue”
312. A biologist studies a species of spider that has two sub-groups–one sociable and other aggressive. She looks for the chemical differences that make their behavior different and applies this knowledge to our own behavior
311. A little-known African primate, the bonobo, never fights but, instead, has a lot of sex. Duke University scientist Vanessa Woods studies their social behavior for clues to our own, and is also trying to save them from extinction
310. Veterinarian Siobhan Ellison founded a small biomedical research company, discovered the cause of a mysterious disease in horses, and has been struggling to change entrenched views
309. Antonio Rocha combines mime and storytelling to produce a unique style of performance art
308. College Student Styles from the Counterculture to the Me Generation — We talk with the longtime owner of The Subterranean Circus in Gainesville, Florida
307.Florida racehorse owner/breeder Bill Killeen gives us an inside look at the Sport of Kings–Is it alive and kicking?
306. A group of young Texans recently rode a string of nearly wild Mustang horses from the Mexican border to the Canadian border and produced a book and movie about it, called “Unbranded”
305. Sam Henegar discusses his newly released documentary, “The Appalachian Trail: An American Legacy”
304. Author/naturalist Bill Belleville explores water in all its forms throughout Florida and the Caribbean basin in his book “The Peace of Blue”
303. RFD-TV founder Patrick Gottsch on his long uphill (but successful) battle to bring rural-themed TV to Middle America
302. Author Fred Setterberg recalls growing up in 1950s/60s suburban California in “Lunch Bucket Paradise”
301. David Milarch is cloning “Champion Trees” from the biggest trees on earth and replanting them in disappearing old-growth forests
300. The mental health system seems to be broken. Can it be fixed?
299. The Obesity Epidemic: It’s growing–what can we do about it?
298. NASA experiment on the slopes of a volcano in Hawaii is examining how people will hold up psychologically on a mission to Mars
297. Happy Wife, Happy Life — Sociologist Dr. Deborah Carr studied marital relationships and attitudes and found this old axiom to be true
296. We’ll talk with an astrophysicist who studies Earth-like planets and compares their features to those of our own evolving planet
295. We’ll take a look at a controversial project called Truthy, which tracks and analyzes Twitter flows to study how information is spread
294. Brigham Young University linguistics professor Dallin Oaks on his discoveries about the structure of language as it relates to puns and humor
293. Are we becoming so attached to our smartphones that it’s an addiction? We’ll discuss what I call “phoneophilia”
292. Porky Pets: All about miniature pigs, with a veterinarian and a North Carolina pig rescue organizer
291. That’s Amore! Italian crooner Patrizio Buanne is a big star in many parts of the world but can’t seem to break the Italian ice in America
290. Two scientists delve into the threats facing Florida’s Indian River Lagoon and what to do to help it survive
289. The discovery of an ancient skull in an underwater cave in Mexico proves that Native Americans came from Asia across the Bering Straits Land Bridge
288. My guests talk about their kayak expedition from one tip of Florida to the other and the continuous “wildlife corridor” they’re trying to establish
287. Patty Goffinet’s book, “Go Outside and Play: Why Kids Don’t and Why They Should,” explores a topic that everyone talks about but no one does much about
286. Paleontology professor Dr. Jim Mead is best known for his world-class collection of dung from rare and extinct animals–it’s amazing what we can learn from ancient poop!
285. Brave New world? Attorney Lori Andrews is an expert on social networks and internet privacy
284. We’ll talk with two experts on gender roles in the media about a trend in the portrayal of males that I call “The Shrinking Man.”
283. Yahoo sportscaster Angela Sun has made a film about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to increase awareness of the plastic that’s filling up the world’s oceans
282. Rich Rosendale is the host of a new cooking show on CBS, called “Recipe Rehab.” We’ll talk about his shift from five-star chef to middle-class meal mentor.
281. Part 2 of 2: Dog cognition researcher Dr. Brian Hare discusses “Dognition” — an online “citizen science” research tool that he and research scientist Vanessa Woods operate
280. Part 1 of 2: Evolutionary anthropologist Brian Hare discovered how dogs became domesticated from wolves and explains it in his book, “The Genius of Dogs”
279. Part 2 of 2: Victoria Burnett on the craft of storytelling, past, present, and future
278. Part 1 of 2: Victoria Burnett works in the world’s oldest profession: storytelling — she’s one of the best
277. Going to Bat for Bats: We’ll talk with a leading bat researcher and a field biologist who’s building caves to try to keep bats from dying off from an epidemic disease
276. Cognitive scientist and psychologist Alexandra Horowitz talks about her new book, “On Looking: Eleven Walks with Expert Eyes”
275. Had enough rain? We’ll talk about climate change with Dr. David Easterling, from the National Climatic Data Center
274. A look at the present and future of the nation’s electric power grid: Promises and perils
273. We All Live in a Yellow Submarine: The Atlantica Undersea Colony Project
272. Professional tornado chaser and novelist Chris Kridler talks with us about this extreme pursuit and whether it has become TOO popular in Tornado Alley
271. Something highly unusual happened in Kecksburg, Pennsylvania, in December 1965–Stan Gordon and Leslie Kean are investigating it
270. Part 2 of 2: The lawyer who first uncovered the Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal and wrote “in God’s House” talks about the still-unfolding scandal and its ramifications for the Church
269. Part 1 of 2: The lawyer who uncovered the Catholic clergy sex abuse scandal in 1984 has written a novel, “in God’s House” based on that intense legal and personal saga
268. NASA’s Tom Rivellini is responsible for those amazingly inventive systems that put rovers safely on the surface of Mars
267. Master Chef Richard Rosendale, of West Virginia’s famed Greenbrier resort, represented the USA in the recent Bocuse D’Or cooking competition in France
266. As part of our exploration of “Genderology,” psychologist Dr. Kim Deffebach engages with Court on the topic “Who’s Happier: Men or Women?”
265. “Hotshot” crews are the Seal Team 6 of firefighters–trained to handle the most extreme wildfires anytime, anywhere
264. California “psychic detective” Annette Martin on what she does and what it’s like to do it
263. We’ll learn about the Slow Food and Farm-to-Table movements from star chef Tyler Brown and well-known dietician/food expert Melinda Himmelgarn
262. David Milarch is cloning “Champion Trees” from the biggest trees on earth and replanting them in disappearing old-growth forests
261. Southwest Florida singer-songwriter-performer Cindy Hackney has invented a whole musical genre she calls “sawgrass music,” rooted in the Everglades
260. Pioneer South Florida family descendant Harvey Oyer talks with us about his new book, “The Adventures of Charlie Pierce: The Last Calusa.”
259. Using larynx models based on fossil evidence, anthropology professor Robert McCarthy replicates the sounds that Neanderthals might have made
258. Cybersecurity expert Dr. Richard Ford talks with us about the new threat of “cyberwarfare” and what it could mean for governments, industries, and individuals
257. Underwater photographer Wes Skiles makes PBS films on Florida’s waters, above and below ground
256. Super-talented Italian crooner Patrizio Buanne on being a star in many parts of the world and trying to make it big in America
255. Hip Culture: The Sixties and After — We talk with Bill Killeen, longtime owner of The Subterranean Circus in Gainesville, Florida
254. Poet Joanna O’Keefe on her work, her inspirations, and the experiences they’ve brought her
253. Terence Witt on his concept of “null physics” and how it could revolutionize our view of how the universe works
252. Physicist Marcus Hohlmann on the apparent discovery of the long-sought Higgs Boson “God Particle”–what it is and what it means
251. Stacey Grenrock Woods gives birth once a month to a column in Esquire Magazine called, simply, “Sex.” As a writer, she’s as funny as they come—or I should say …as they get.
250. The mystery of the Melungeon people of Appalachia has been solved—or has it? Historian Wayne Winkler will fill us in
249. Yahoo sportscaster Angela Sun has made a film about the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to increase awareness of the plastic that’s filling up the world’s oceans
248. With the Kentucky Derby coming up, Florida racehorse owner/breeder Bill Killeen gives us an inside look at the Sport of Kings
247. Florida’s State Chef, the only full-time state chef in the nation, talks about his work as a globe-trotting ambassador for local food and healthy eating
246. Porky Pets: All about miniature pigs, with a veterinarian and a North Carolina pig rescue organizer
245. We’ll talk with storm chaser Chris Kridler about her adventures in Tornado Alley and her new novel, “Funnel Vision”
244. Author Fred Setterberg recalls growing up in 1950s/60s suburban California in “Lunch Bucket Paradise”
243. Grits &grins: Culinarians John T Edge and Rathead Riley on Southern cooking and the Southern Foodways Alliance
242. “We Were an Island” tells the story of a couple who lived together on a lonely island off the coast of Maine from 1949 to 1985
241. A new book, “Monsters in America,” explores our fascination with scary things
240. Do dogs really smile? Leading veterinary medicine researcher Dr. Nicholas Dodman on what we’re learning about animal emotions
239. Aging for Men and Women–How’s It Different? (Genderology series)
238. An attorney discusses the need–particularly for women–to advocate for your own rights and interests when dealing with the medical system and other power structures
237. Antonio Rocha combines mime and storytelling to produce a unique style of performance art
236. Ken Nedimyer is replanting endangered coral on dying reefs across the Caribbean
235. Ric Gillespie thinks his organization, TIGHAR, is close to solving the enduring mystery of what happened to pioneering pilot Amelia Earhart
234. In this episode of our Genderology series, family counselor Mary O’Keeffe helps us tackle the knotty question, “Is marriage obsolete?”
233. Wayne Winkler’s book, “Walking Toward the Sunset,” documents the history of the little-known Melungeon people of Appalachia
232. We All Live in a Yellow Submarine: The Atlantica Undersea Colony Project
231. Author Michael Everett explores the psychology of boom-and-bust cycles and what individuals can do to escape the Great Recession
230. Author/naturalist Bill Belleville explores hidden pockets of Old Florida in his book, Salvaging the Real Florida: Lost and Found in the State of Dreams.
229. David Milarch has a mission: Restore the world’s ancient forests by cloning many of Earth’s oldest, biggest, and healthiest “super-trees”
228. Paleontology professor Dr. Jim Mead is best known for his world-class collection of dung from rare and extinct animals–it’s amazing what we can learn from ancient poop!
227. Cold enough for you? We’ll talk about climate change with Dr. David Easterling, from the National Climatic Data Center
226. Author Therese Borchard explores depression in her book, “Beyond Blue”
225. Eminent neurobiologist Prof. James McGaugh on how our emotions affect memory
224. Telling Taller Tales. Joseph Sobol directs one of the only graduate programs in Storytelling in the U.S.
223. Bringing out the best in the beast: At Asher-Dell Farms they train dogs to herd sheep (and ducks)
222. Novelist Tim Dorsey is back with more tales of almost-lovable Florida serial killer Serge Storms in his new book, Electric Barracuda
221. University of Florida entomologist Jamie Ellis explores with us possible reasons for the mysterious worldwide disappearance of honey bees
220. Florida pop-punk band TeraBrite won first prize ($25K) in Sprint’s Epic Mini-Movie contest for their short music video, Epic Guitar Girl
219. The University of Arizona’s Dr. Nasser Peyghambarian on a major breakthrough in 3-D holographic video technology at the Engineering Research Center he leads
218. Pine Castle, a Florida Cracker settlement, and the story of Jane Green, a reputed Lady of the Night who was the area’s most famous (or notorious) resident
217. Tennessee’s state archaeologist on the discovery of a 12,000-year-old Native American mastodon hunt site in a suburban Nashville back yard
216. Brooke Deratany Goldfarb, a lawyer who facilitates “peaceful divorces,” will talk with us about the state of marriage and divorce in 21st-century America
215. “Florida in WWII: Floating Fortress,” Nick Wynne and Richard Moorhead’s latest book, describes a pivotal time in the state’s colorful history
214. Leslie Kean urges the U.S. government to take unidentified aerial phenomena seriously in her new book, “UFOs: Generals, Pilots, and Government Officials Go On the Record.”
213. National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Spratt discusses the current hurricane season and the push for better forecasting of where these storms will go
212. Jamaican-born Elaine Myrie-Richards, M.D., tells funny stories from the practice of medicine in her new book, What’s New, Doc?
211. Author Jonathon King has written a novel, The Styx, based on a real but mysterious event, the burning of an Afro-American workers’ town in turn-of-the-century Palm Beach
210. Marine biologist Dr. Jon Gorham of Inwater Research Group studies endangered sea turtles around Florida’s coasts
209. We follow MIA Hunters chief Bryan Moon on their latest and biggest mission to recover downed WWII aircrews
208. Derreck Kayongo started the Global Soap Project to recycle barely-used throwaway soap from hotels nationwide into new soap for displaced people in the Third World
207. In author John Dufresne’s novel Requiem, Mass., a mother believes her children have been abducted by aliens and replaced with identical imposters (suggestion: look up Capgras Syndrome)
206. South Florida pioneer family descendant Harvey Oyer III talks about his new children’s book based on the “plume trade” that decimated Florida bird populations in the late 1800s and early 1900s.
205. Nick Wynne and Richard Moorhead’s new book, Paradise for Sale: Florida’s Booms and Busts, couldn’t be more timely
204. Physics professor Marcus Hohlmann on his work with the Large Hadron Collider atom-smasher in Switzerland
203. Roxanne St. Claire is a star in the surprisingly diverse and expanding universe of romance novels
202. Prof. John Schultz deploys ground-penetrating radar as a tool for both archaeology and forensics
201. Dr. Cheryl Ward built an exact replica of a 3500-year-old Egyptian ship of the Pharaohs and took it sailing on the Red Sea
200. Poet Joanna O’Keefe on her work, her inspirations, and the experiences they’ve brought her
199. The Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) of World War II finally get the recognition they deserve
198. Eminent neurobiologist Prof. James McGaugh on how our emotions affect memory
197. Underwater photographer Wes Skiles makes PBS films on Florida’s waters, above and below ground
196. Brigham Young University linguistics professor Dallin Oaks on his discoveries about the structure of language as it relates to puns and humor
195. Professor Michael Hyde on the quest for “Perfection”–how it brings out both the best and the worst in us
194. Cybersecurity expert Dr. Richard Ford on the growing threat of cyber-attacks from the individual to the national level
193. NASA’s new Kepler space telescope is finding dozens of “exoplanets” orbiting distant stars
192. Jamie MacVicar’s new book recounts his (mis)adventures as an “advance man” for the circus
191. Project Manager John Callas on the amazing life and times of NASA’s Mars rovers
190. California “psychic detective” Annette Martin on what she does and what it’s like to do it
189. Tornado researcher Brenda Phillips on advanced new detection and warning technologies
188. Legendary treasure finder Bob Marx reenacted Columbus’ Voyage of Discovery in every detail
187. Transportation security expert Dr. Cliff Bragdon on counterterrorism and disaster preparedness
186. National Weather Service meteorologist Scott Spratt briefs us on a possibly severe tornado threat in Florida this winter and what’s causing it
185. In his book, The Universe: Order Without Design, NASA physicist Carlos Calle examines what we know–or think we know–about the origins and evolution of the universe
184. The Thinking (Wo)Man’s Evangelical: Author Donald Miller’s Voyage of Discovery
183. South Florida’s Barefoot Mailman – The Legend Lives On
182. Autism: The Alienation Disease–Is it Spreading?
181. Water Works: Reshaping Florida’s Water Flows for a More Sustainable Future
180. National Weather Service tropical weather specialist Scott Spratt talks with us about the 2009 hurricane season
179. “Sunshine Expedition” adventurers Matt Keene and Jodi Eller recount their 7-month, 2900-mile kayaking and hiking journey throughout Florida
178. Anthropologist Tom Funk explores with us the surprising scientific and technological sophistication of the Mayans and Incas.
177. Author Michael Tougias on his book “The Finest Hours: The True Story of the U.S. Coast Guard’s Most Daring Sea Rescue”
176. Psychic Cheryl DuBois takes us on a tour of the spirit world, talks about her new book and her TV series in production on this ephemeral topic
175. Author Richard Moorhead tees up to talk about his new history of Golf in Florida: 1886-1950
174. Palm Bay Homicide Detective Mark Mynheir on his latest mystery suspense novel (and life in homicide)
173. Journalist Chris Kridler leaves the Hurricane Coast to chase tornadoes in Tornado Alley every spring
172. The Florida Solar Energy Center’s Energy Whiz Olympics brings out the inventor in young students around the state
171. Capt. Julie Clark is an aviation pioneer — one of the first female commercial airline pilots
170. The Dean of Engineering at Florida International University talks about new technology to improve the hurricane-resistance of homes
169. MIA Hunters Bryan Moon and Vernon Clobes locate WWII aircraft crash sites and airmen missing in action in far-flung corners of the world
168. Artist and writer Theodore Morris chronicles the many Native American “lost tribes” who populated Florida before the Europeans arrived
167. Diana Gessler is both a painter and a prolific author of successful travel books that she writes and illustrates with her art
166. “Old Florida” meets Disney World — Forever Florida in Holopaw has upped the ante on its ecotouring venues with a world-class, 2-hour Zipline Safari through the ecological preserve
165. You’re all a-Twitter! A look at the new generation of online social and business networking
164. A Colorado woman just won a million-dollar home in Maryland in an online raffle. Now she has to decide what to do with it.
163. Southwest Florida singer-songwriter-performer Cindy Hackney has invented a whole musical genre she calls “sawgrass music,” rooted in the Everglades
162. The Executive Director of the Florida Historical Society, Dr. Ben Brotemarkle, talks about the work of the Society and his own statewide radio show, Florida Frontiers
161. Hayley Downs is a New York City-based documentary filmmaker from Deland, who’s making a film on Florida Cracker culture called “Swamp Cabbage”
160. Central Florida’s Christian Tamburr on highlights of his globe-trotting musical career so far and future plans
159. Sports promoter extraordinaire Mitch Varnes on the upcoming Sebastian Inlet Pro surf contest and Melbourne & Beaches Musical Marathon
158. With archaeologist Dr. Rachael Wentz, we’ll explore the 7500-year old Native American cemetery found at Windover Farms
157. A team of investigators is trying to solve the enduring mystery of what happened to famed aviator Amelia Earhart
156. Entrepreneur Joe Hurston delivers his high-tech water purification systems for free to disaster-ravaged areas around the world
155. Palm Bay’s Deanna Bell is a mechanical engineer and the female star of the Discovery Channel’s “Smash Lab”
154. Terence Witt on his concept of “null physics” and how it could revolutionize our view of how the universe works
153. John Brandon is one of the most prolific “treasure finders” of all those who have searched for the riches of the Spanish 1715 fleet
152. Alto “Bud” Adams, Jr., has run the Adams Ranch since 1948. We’ll talk about how ranching has changed, as well as his renowned cattle breeding innovations
151. “What’s Cookin’?”: Melbourne restaurateur Matt Nugnes fills us in on culinary trends nationwide
150. Psychic detective Annette Martin on what she does and what it’s like to do it
149. Author Shawn Bean on his new book about early 20th-century Jacksonville as “The First Hollywood
148. Artist Julie Lara Kahn on her large-scale multimedia projects including an exploration of Florida Cracker culture and food in her “Swamp Cabbage” exhibit
147. The Wall Street Journal’s Lee Hotz on the possible rediscovery of Leonardo Da Vinci’s greatest masterpiece, “The Battle of Anghiari,” using advanced technology
146. National Weather Service meteorologist Dennis Decker on the mid-season outlook for hurricanes
145. Robert Reedy, of the Florida Solar Energy Center, on the rapidly improving outlook for solar cells to produce a substantial share of our electric power
144. Using larynx models based on fossil evidence, Florida Atlantic University anthropologist Robert McCarthy replicates the sounds that Neanderthals might have made
143. Two Florida men prepare to drive a flats boat–a 21-ft FLATS boat–from Boston to London, unaccompanied
142. Next episode of Genderology, on “What Do Women Want in Men (and vice versa)?” with Brenda McKee
141. Dutch master painter (as distinct from “Dutch Master”) Frits Van Eeden is one of Central Florida’s preeminent artists
140. 20-year-old Nancy Rios is the only woman windsurfer on the U.S. Olympic Team and is heading to Beijing
139. The outlook for the 2008 hurricane season, with a National Weather Service meteorologist
138. Attorney Pamela Bress on the need–particularly for women–to advocate for your own rights and interests when dealing with the medical system and other power structures
137. Steve Wagner, owner of Exotic Encounters near St. Cloud, talks about Florida wildlife and our relation to what’s left of it
136. Hollywood writer/producer Cheryl Dubois gives us the lowdown on the gritty business of making films and TV shows
135. At 27, Christian Tamburr is an accomplished and much-acclaimed percussionist, currently touring with Julio Iglesias
134. FIRST Robotics Teams in Brevard are winning top national awards and going for #1 in the World
133. Next episode of Genderology #4, on “Changing Roles in Parenting” with Dr. Vicki Panaccione
132. British yachtsman Keith White has just sailed across the Atlantic single-handedly — that is, alone and without the use of his left arm — to raise money for charities
131. Genderology #3: Aging for Men and Women–How’s It Different? (with Dr. Kim Zipper)
130. Old Florida Day: DeLand’s unofficial historian Bill Dreggors on Ghost Towns of the St. Johns River
129. Genderology #2: Communication Between the Sexes (“I Said What?!”)
128. Author Anna Flowers debuts her new book, “Wanton Woman,” about S. Carolina’s Strom Thurmond and an affair that led to his lover’s execution
127. “Genderology” — the first in a new series on that age-old topic, male-female differences. Vive la difference!
126. Birdwatcher Susan Bird advocates making habitats for wild birds in your own backyard
125. French Baron John de Bry talks about his grandfather’s participation in both the 1907 Peking-to-Paris auto race and the 1908 “Great Race” from New York to Paris.
124. The Wall Street Journal’s Jennifer Saranow explores with us “Seven Missing Wonders of the World”
123. Author/naturalist Bill Belleville on the natural and human history of the St. Johns River, and other “Old Florida” topics
122. Good News Week with Court Lewis
121. Surfing event promoter extraordinaire Mitch Varnes created the Sebastian Inlet Pro contest four years ago; it is now one of the 3 top-ranked surfing events in North America
120. Two intrepid underwater cave explorers on their record-breaking descent into Weeki Wachee Springs, the deepest spring in the U.S.
119. Margaret Broussard owns and operates Forever Florida, a unique ecotourism venture and wonderful piece of Old Florida near St. Cloud
118. Bob Marx, the most successful finder of ancient sunken ships and treasure in modern history, also once managed to reenact Columbus’ Voyage of Discovery in every detail–and somehow survived!
117. Amazing Brevardian: Col. Henry Mucci, leader of the Great Raid to rescue the Bataan Death March survivors, lived almost unknown in Melbourne Beach for 20 years
116. Old Florida Day: Melbourne opthalmologist Dr. William Broussard on his recent sale of a conservation easement to the State for his Crescent J Ranch in Holopaw, and what it means for wilderness lands
115. Sebastian Inlet District Administrator Martin Smithson talks about the history of the Inlet and big changes underway there
114. FIT’s Prof. Jean-Paul Pinelli is developing a State-funded hurricane “loss model” for more accurate insurance risk assessment
113. Titusville entrepreneur Joe Hurston flies his water-purification units to disaster areas around the globe
112. Teacher Dennis Phillips has realized his lifelong dream of circumnavigating the 5000-mile “America’s Great Loop” in a small boat
111. Dog Day–Miami-based author Mark Derr on our growing national fascination (or obsession?) with our pets–dogs in particular.
110. Treasure-finder Rob Westrick on the search for the missing ship of the 1715 treasure fleet
109. Author Blair Witherington on “Florida’s Living Beaches: A Guide for the Curious Beachcomber”
108. An astronaut describes how she became an astronaut and what it’s like to be one
107. Old Florida Day: The Sanford-based author of several books about Florida’s natural landscape–what’s left and what isn’t.
106. A young local woman who was a finalist on “So You Think You Can Dance”
105. Our meteorologist from the Melbourne National Weather Service Office, on the outlook for the 2007 hurricane season
104. The Auburn University ornithologist who is leading the search for the ivory-billed woodpecker in North Florida
103. Old Florida Day: The Palm Beach County archaeologist on the drought that has exposed miles of Lake Okeechobee shoreline and hundreds of formerly submerged archaeological sites
102. A Palm Bay homicide detective who writes crime novels
101. The “Julia Child” of the Space Coast—a multimedia food artist on her global adventures
100. Old Florida Day with the owner of the oldest African-American cemetery in the area
99. The Operations Director of “Friends of Bats,” a company that does bat removal and exclusion
98. A woman astronaut, commander of NASA’s NEEMO mission to an undersea research facility
97. “Mango Man,” on a tropical fruit orchard on S. Merritt Island owned by his family since 1925
96. The writer-in-residence at Oxford University on his latest action-adventure novel and surfing
95. The director of FAU’s Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology on various schemes for generating energy from the ocean
94. A boy who escaped Vietnam by boat and became Executive Chef at a series of major international hotels, and has now opened a restaurant in Melbourne, reflecting on his experiences
93. A young painter who has written a book on how to market one’s artwork
92. The founder of Operation NOW (Not on Our Watch!), an innovative teen safe driving program
91. Florida’s Statewide Crisis Response Coordinator, on what she does and how it works
90. Another episode of “Good News Week”
89. A FIT biologist on stem cells—what it’s all about and what the controversy is based on
88. The author of a book on the highest-ranking American military office ever convicted of treason, who lived in Viera
87. An ocean catamaran racer back from the worlds championships in Brazil
86. A Melbourne ophthalmologist who owns a Florida cattle ranch and breeds Cracker cattle
85. The co-founder of Space Coast Ballet on their emigration from Russia and experiences establishing the SCB and a new performing arts center 84. A Florida Tech electrical engineering professor who writes mystery thriller novels
83. A Tampa painter on his 1960s painting “The Barefoot Mailman,” which hung in the old Melbourne Beach P.O. and was recently rediscovered and donated to a major Miami museum
82. The director of Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s operations in Florida with an update on progress with their ocean research center
81. A young woman painter who is not only highly talented but also an innovative entrepreneur
80. Another episode of “Old Florida Day” with a professional “cracker storyteller”
79. A Florida Tech space science professor on the controversy over the definition of “planet” 7
8. Another episode of “Good News Week”
77. A Florida Tech biology professor on the evidence for climate change and what it means
76. A professional medium and spiritualist talking about what he does and what’s “out there”
75. A former Air Force meteorologist who administers a Central Florida-based website devoted to tracking and forecasting hurricanes
74. The former owner of a charter-industry licensing school who now writes and publishes mystery novels based along the Treasure Coast
73. A Titusville businessman/entrepreneur and former missionary pilot who flies self-contained water purification units to disaster sites around the world and gives them away to save lives
72. The Brevard County Historian, an author and journalist, telling stories of colorful characters in the area’s past
71. A meteorologist from the Melbourne National Weather Service Office, on the outlook for the 2006 hurricane season
70. A guy who just finished a 500-mile ocean catamaran race and is about to do a 1000-mile race
69. The second female licensed charter captain in the U.S., who wrote a book based on her adventures running a sailing charter business in the islands
68. Mother’s Day show — inspirational stories about Moms
67. The Chief Scientist on the Mars Rover project, talking about the discoveries the long-lived little robots have made
66. A local realtor who had a near-death experience following a car crash, and a program she and others have developed to promote teen safe driving, which they hope to take nationwide
65. A prominent local attorney who spent 18 months in Bosnia with a UN agency helping to rebuild a government there after the civil war, and wrote a book about it
64. A history professor from Florida Tech on his recently published book on Florida history
63. The two-time women’s world kayak champion (again) on her most recent exploits
62. The executive director of the Florida Historical Society on life along the Indian River in the old days
61. A local historian on new research that proves Ponce de Leon landed on Melbourne Beach
60. A U.S. Navy intelligence analyst and naval historian on his book about legendary Navy Capt. Charles Stewart
59. The retired News Director of the oldest and biggest radio station in Atlanta
58. 2005 Year in Review
57. A local songwriter who has a CD of his original songs climbing the British charts
56. Recap of the record-breaking 2005 hurricane season with an NWS meteorologist 55. A researcher/historian on an archeological salvage team working a Melbourne Beach wreck
54. An officer from the U.S. Coast Guard cutter Confidence on their recent patrol doing Hurricane Katrina recovery & support
53. A local motorcycle designer/builder (different from #45) who will star in an upcoming reality show on the BBC in England
52. Revisiting the WWII operation of Col. Henry Mucci to rescue Bataan Death March survivors, in light of a new movie about it, “The Great Raid”
51. A local official on his earlier life as an adventurer on treks such as the search for mokele mbembe, a dinosaur-like aquatic creature in the Congo 50. A woman who runs Project Backyard Brevard, with a website and a book on making wildlife habitats in your yard
49. Two NWS meteorologists discussing the outlook for the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season
48. Two young guys who do jet-ski exhibitions and stunts in movies and who are trying to establish an “extreme sports” version of jet-skiing
47. The director of the Florida Puerto Rican/Hispanic Chamber of Commerce on the status of Hispanics in Florida today
46. A theologian and mythologist on who/what human beings are
45. A leading designer/builder of motorcycle choppers who is a celebrity in the chopper world
44. IndianHarbour Beach is first “Tsunami-ready Community” on East Coast–w/ NWS meteorologist
43. A discussion of Cryptozoology with a local adventurer and writer
42. Dog Day #2 with a Miami-based author of books about dogs and the dog-human relationship
41. The retired high school principal who coached the first black football team in Florida to break the color barrier and win the state championship 40. Odd News #1 39. “Old Florida Day #3”—with the Viera land use manager who’s a good ol’ boy
38. A Canadian two-time world record holder in kayak racing 37. NASA’s Cassini Mission Manager on the mission to Saturn and its findings so far 36. The writer-in-residence at Oxford University on his latest action-adventure novel
35. The owner of “Forever Florida”, a nature preserve and working cattle ranch
34. An archaeologist on his search for the trail of Jesus’ family in Egypt and a resulting TV documentary
33. Boom-Boom Benny Koske—a professional daredevil nearing retirement
32. Billy Cox—Extreme Stories
31. Good News Week #3
30. A Brevard-based woman author of books about notorious murderers and serial killers
29. Hurricane Heroes–stories about people who went out of their way to help others during the storms
28. “Old Florida Day #2”–with Patrick Smith, noted author of books about old-time Florida
27. UFO Day–discussing UFOs and media attitudes toward them with a newspaper columnist 26. Good News Week #2
25. Discussing the medical-related proposed amendments to the Florida Constitution with a proponent and opponent
24. A Florida Institute of Technology meteorology professor talking about hurricanes
23. Florida Today newspaper’s hurricane expert, talking about hurricanes
22. A meteorologist from the Melbourne National Weather Service Office, talking about hurricanes
21. Old Florida Day” –talking about the old days with a fifth-generation Floridian who owns a landmark restaurant in the area
20. The head of the Hubbs-SeaWorld Research Institute’s operations in Florida who’s building an ocean research center
19. An up-and-coming young author who teaches writing at the University of Miami
18. Arguably the best painter in the area, a woman from Australia
17. The legendary Shuttle Launch Director, whose career spanned from Mercury to Space Station
16. Alocal author of science fiction novels
15. The nation’s foremost bridge “detailer”–who also loves to fly his private jets
14. Good News Week–all about the uplifting and positive things that have happened recently and that don’t make the news
13. A former Nashville songwriter who is now a Titusville-based humorist and writer of books about a zany character called Thurmond
12. The young, super-dynamic director of the Brevard Zoo who is leaving to go fulfill her real dream to be a wildlife painter
11. The same guy again talking about his earlier reenactment of famous “voyages of discovery” such as Columbus’
10. A treasure and pirate ship finder/explorer who’s a pirate himself–the most successful one ever (more than Mel Fisher)
9. Developer Extraordinaire–a local resort developer who first made millions in software and now is funding international projects to build up the economies of Third World countries
8. The NASA scientist in charge of the Mars Greenhouse–a simulator for growing plants in Mars-like conditions
7. Boomer–a local musician (a “crossover classical percussionist”) who has 5 CDs out under the Sony label
6. Florist To the Stars (local flower-shop owner who does the floral designs for the Academy Awards)
5. Culinary Trends: What’s Cooking?
4. Dog Day–all about dogs with the head of the Space Coast Kennel Club
3. The impact of the Internet on our lives so far
2. On Col. Henry Mucci, who led the raid to rescue the Bataan Death March survivors and who spent the last 20 years of his life in Melbourne Beach
1. A treasure and pirate ship finder/explorer who’s an underwater archaeologist