Shows
AuthbitionA016 - Joe Guay - More Than ‘The Poor Man’s David Sedaris’Joe Guay joins me for a conversation that kicks off with The Whole Mind Game, exploring the tension between a Real Job and being Self-Employed. We talk about the security and benefits that come with working for someone else, the control and purpose you can find when you work for yourself, and the trade-offs that make this such a personal decision.From there, Joe reads his essay Realizing I Could Be More Than the Poor Man’s David Sedaris and we dive into the ways comparison can both inspire and limit a writer. We cover his path in...
2025-08-171h 42
the memory palaceEpisode 234: Looking for Parking, Late Winter, 1996Order The Memory Palace book now, dear listener. On Bookshop.org, on Amazon.com, on Barnes & Noble, or directly from Random House. Or order the audiobook at places like Libro.fm.The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate. Notes
Go to adoptastation.org and pitch in.
Listen to the incredible documentaries by Ll...
2025-07-2613 min
Everything Intellectual PropertyFrom Bear Coats to Business Success on Shark TankIn this interview, Giancarlo DiMeo , founder of Wild Coat, talks about turning fun animal-themed ski coats into business success. From the invention of bear coats to Shark Tank negotiations, Carlo shares insights on entrepreneurship, product design, and creating a standout brand. He discusses the coats' unique functionality, sustainability, and how customer feedback shaped the brand. Learn how this innovative idea became a multimillion-dollar opportunity. #BearCoats #SharkTank #BusinessSuccess #Invention #Money #Investing #Patent #Entrepreneurship #China #Victory #Million#trademarkregistration #trademarkattorney #brandprotection #protectingyourwork #trademarksandcopyrights#robertherjavec #sharktank #wintercoats #mensfashion #sharktankusaCHAPTERS:00:00 - Intro01:05 - Giancarlo DiMeo W...
2025-03-1446 min
Leaders In TechHow Tech Leaders are Steering the Construction Industry ForwardHow are tech leaders steering the construction industry forward in an era where technology permeates every facet of modern life? At the forefront of this evolution stands Ray Martin, Chief Technology Officer at Dimeo Construction Company, a visionary reshaping the landscape of construction through innovative technological solutions. With a keen understanding of both traditional construction practices and cutting-edge technological advancements, Martin exemplifies the leadership driving industry progress. Through strategic implementation of digital tools, data analytics, and emerging technologies, Martin and others like him are enhancing efficiency, safety standards, and project outcomes. Their leadership underscores the transformative power of technology...
2024-05-2543 min
the memory palaceEpisode 215: An Eighth WonderThe Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX.Music
Momento Ritmico and Papete aru by Piero Umiliani
Opus 13 from Sven Libaek's score to The Set
French Doll by Larry Ashmore and David Francis
The wonderful Sewentuwa by Hailu Meriga
Wave I by Elor Saxl
Green by Hiroshi Yoshimura
NotesI originally learned about the Elephantine Colossus years ago in David McCullough's Brooklyn... and How it Got That Way, which still holds up.
Learn about your ad choices: dovetail.prx.org/ad-choices
2024-04-0413 min
Nonprofit Investment StewardsEpisode 60 – How Nonprofit Leaders Can Think Long-Term To Better Manage Your Money And Your Organization With David NierenbergEffective leadership and good governance can help maximize your mission but requires strategic, long-term thinking in a world increasingly focused on the short term. In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with David Nierenberg, director of The National World War II Museum, where he also chairs the investment committee. They explore ways to … Read More Read More
2023-05-0334 min
The Golden Age of Islam68 - (6.2) Muslim-Christian Encounters IIThe Caliph al-Mahdi and Patriarch Timothy I had a famous debate at the height of the Abbasid Caliphate about the differences between Christianity and Islam, over a thousand years ago. It stands as one of the greatest examples of mutual understanding and respect between the two faiths.
2022-09-2159 min
The Golden Age of Islam67 - (6.1) Christian-Muslim Encounters IOne of the first Christian writers to write about Islam was the Orthodox monk, St. John of Damascus. Writing from the center of the Umayyad Caliphate, he offered harsh warnings about Islam in his book of heresies. It was the first of many attempts of Christian Europe to deal with the coming of Islam, but John is still quoted today as an authority.
2022-08-211h 09
The Golden Age of Islam66 (0.3) - The early life of The ProphetIn this episode, we look at the early biographies of The Prophet Muhammad from his origins to the beginning of his prophetic ministry.
2022-08-051h 06
The Golden Age of Islam65 - (0.2) The Religions of Pre-Islamic ArabiaOn the eve of Islam, Arabia was a mixture of hundreds of competing tribal gods, monotheism, Christianity and Judaism. Sorting the history from the legends of this pre-Islamic past remains a challenging task.
2022-07-2153 min
The Golden Age of Islam64 - (0.1) The Bedouin Culture of ArabiaLike any religion, Islam was shaped by the culture in which it emerged. The rules and values of the Bedouin - from the treatment of women to concepts of honor and leadership - would impact the Islamic society that grew out of Arabia. In this episode, we take a look at that culture to understand what Islam preserved and what it changed.
2022-07-061h 07
Vet Med Wellness + Leadership#012: VET MED - Dealing with Stressors in the Veterinary Field with Dr. David DiMeoDr. David DiMeo is a veteran Veterinarian in his 40th year in the field. His journey has brought him from growing up on the shores of Rhode Island to his practice, Mountain Parks Veterinary Hospital, in Colorado. Having been a part of the industry for decades, Dr. DiMeo has seen the changes overtime, experienced highs and lows, and has some wisdom when it comes to dealing with common stressors. There is one common stressor when I’ve talked to guests in the past and that is Compassion Fatigue. Dr. DiMeo brings up two unique facets of this tha...
2022-06-2835 minNonprofit Investment StewardsEpisode 38 – How Nonprofits Should Manage Large Cash Inflows with David PiccerelliThere may come a time when your nonprofit experiences a large inflow of cash. For some organizations, this happens when they’re not expecting it at all! In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis speak with David Piccerelli, president at WSBE Rhode Island PBS and a client of Fiducient Advisors, who has experience in managing … Read More Read More
2022-02-2325 minNonprofit Investment StewardsEpisode 33 – Future Outlook on Equity Markets (2021 Year-end Updates) with David BiancoAs the calendar flips to a new year, are you curious about what to expect from equity markets — both in the USA and globally? In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis are joined by David Bianco, CFA, chief investment officer for the Americas at the DWS Group. As one of Wall Street’s best … Read More Read More
2021-12-1532 min
The Golden Age of Islam63-Ottoman Origins IIIIn this episode, we look at the third of the founding sultans of the Ottoman empire, Murad I, whose victory over the Serbs at Kosovo would be invoked 600 years later as a cause for war.
2021-08-0259 min
The Golden Age of Islam62 - Ottoman Origins IIAs a divided Europe fights among itself, the Ottoman state continues to establish itself as the new power of the age. In this episode, we discuss Orkhan I, second of the three founding sultans of the Ottoman Empire.
2021-07-0751 min
The Golden Age of Islam61 - The Ottoman Empire - The BeginningThe great empire that would rule from North Africa to Arabia and threaten the gates of Vienna started from the most humble origins. The leader of a small Turkish tribe escaping the Mongol advance, Osman the First would lay the foundations of the last great empire of the Golden Age of Islam.
2021-06-251h 00
the memory palaceEpisode 182: The SurfmenThe Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia from PRX. Radiotopia is a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts that’s a part of PRX, a not-for-profit public media company. If you’d like to directly support this show and independent media, you can make a donation at Radiotopia.fm/donate.
A note on notes: We’d much rather you just went into each episode of The Memory Palace cold. And just let the story take you where it well. So, we don’t suggest looking into the show notes first.
Music:
Flower...
2021-06-0518 minNonprofit Investment StewardsEpisode 19 – Senior Living Communities and Their Unique Financial Considerations – with David BordonaroIt is projected that by the year 2025, more than 50% of the population will be aged 65 and older. Leadership at senior living communities must keep up and adapt to changes in the industry to be financially prepared for the future of senior living. In this episode, Bob DiMeo and Devon Francis sit down … Read More Read More
2021-05-1926 min
The Golden Age of Islam60 - Khadija, Wife of The ProphetThe richest merchant of Mecca and the first person to convert to Islam, Khadija was one of the most important people in the early history of Islam.
2021-04-091h 00
David Tort presents HoTL RadioDavid Tort presents HoTL Radio 236 (David Tort Mix)I’m ready to be back on the road after 14 months stuck in Barcelona, next one USA Tour at the end of April, here’s a little warm up for you guys, see you on the dance floor!!
Alberto Dimeo, Rafael Drager - Los Kilimanjaros (Original Mix) [Armonika Records]
Joeski - Palo Mayombe (Original Mix) [Aztec Tribalism]
Kenny Brian - Chuleria (Tech House Mix) [Launch Entertainment]
Agent Greg - Shake Your Body (Extended Mix0 [Klaphouse Records]
Pete Tha Zouk, Bruno Marciano - The First Tribal Feeling (Saeed Younan Remix) [Magna Recordings]
Jesse Garcia - Me Duele el Alma (Original Mix) [Vend...
2021-04-0100 min
The Golden Age of Islam59 - The Fall of GranadaIn 1492, seven centuries of Muslim rule in Spain come to an end and History takes a very sharp turn. Today we discuss the reasons for the fall of Granada and its implications on all sides.
2021-03-041h 05
The Golden Age of Islam58 - The Emirate of GranadaDespite the constant threat of the Christian Reconquista from the north, the last Muslim foothold in Spain, the Emirate of Granada, managed not only to survive, but to flourish for over two centuries, leaving some of the greatest symbols of Muslim culture in Europe. Hear how skillful leadership managed to defy the odds and sustain a mini-Golden Age.
2021-02-011h 12
The Golden Age of Islam57-The Reconquista, The Battle for Spain IIThe fighting in Spain and Portugal turns into a bona fide Crusade, with both sides seeing themselves appointed by God to save the true religion. In this episode, we look at the lesser known, but at times, higher priority crusade against Islam: the battle for Iberia.
2021-01-171h 15
The Golden Age of Islam56 - The Reconquista - the Battle for Spain IAlmost immediately after the Muslims conquered Iberia, the long fight for control began. What would be called by Europeans a "Reconquest" would take nearly eight centuries and leave lasting marks on both sides. In this episode, we look at the beginnings of this long battle.
2020-12-0158 minThe Golden Age of Islam55 - The Case of the Animals against ManA thousand years ago, the mysterious philosophical group Ikhwan al-Safa' imagined humankind put on trial for its treatment of the animals. Far ahead of their time in thinking about rights and compassion, the Ikhwan remain controversial and inspiring.
2020-11-1155 minThe Golden Age of Islam54 -An Encyclopedia of EverythingThe Brethren of Purity, or Ikhwan al-Safa' were one of the most mysterious, yet influential groups of philosophers. A secret society of eclectic thinkers, they attempted to reconcile all the world's knowledge--from Greek, Hindu, Persian, pagan, Christian and Muslim sources--into a single system that explained everything. How did they do? We will see in this episode.
2020-10-211h 00
The Golden Age of Islam53 - Journey to Heaven and HellBefore Dante and long before Bill and Ted, the great Arab writer Abu 'Alaa' al-Ma'arri described a mythical journey into Heaven and Hell that challenged the views of religious officials of his day. He remains as popular and controversial today as ever.
2020-10-021h 04
the memory palaceEpisode 169: BeauticianThe Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, a collective of independent podcasts from PRX.
A note on notes: We’d much rather you just went into each episode of The Memory Palace cold. And just let the story take you where it well. So, we don’t suggest looking into the show notes first.
Music
Them by Nils Frahm
Feathers by Poppy Ackroyd
Notes
You can read Myles Horton’s book.
I found The Birth of Citizen Schools: Entwining the Struggles for Literacy and Fr...
2020-09-0712 min
The Golden Age of Islam52 - Good Behavior in the Golden AgeProper values and behavior of the elite in the Golden Age capitals of Baghdad and Cordoba was not just a matter of trial and error. Detailed manuals of adab taught what was expected in respectable society. Today we look at one of the greatest of these, The Unique Necklace of Ibn Abd Rabbih
2020-09-0359 minThe Golden Age of Islam51 - Religion vs. Philosophy IIIn the conflict between philosophers and religious writers of the Golden Age, no question was more divisive than the eternity of the world. Although it may seem abstract today, this was the ultimate litmus test back then. In this episode, we look at how both sides lined up on this issue and why they considered the others infidels.
2020-08-141h 13the memory palaceEpisode 167: A Brief Eulogy for a Minor League Baseball TeamThe Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts.
A note on shownotes. In a perfect world, you go into each episode of the Memory Palace knowing nothing about what's coming. It's pretentious, sure, but that's the intention. So, if you don't want any spoilers or anything, you can click play without reading ahead.
Music
Adrift by Yameneko
Lagrimas Negras by Antonio Maria Romeau
Rainfall by Michael Jones and David Darling
The Big Ocean by Ben Sollee
Learn a...
2020-07-2212 minThe Golden Age of Islam50 - Philosophy vs. ReligionIn this episode, we look at the conflict between religious traditionalists and rationalist philosophers for the upper hand in Islamic society. What was at stake in the heated debates about the role of religion vs. science, revelation vs. logic and the philosophers against the traditionalists? How would the outcome of that conflict shape the direction of society in the future?
2020-07-161h 06The Golden Age of Islam49 - Ibn Rushd: Defender of RationalismThe battle between Philosophy and Religion; Reason and Revelation; it has been at the heart of debate within Muslim circles throughout the Golden Age. This episode looks at one of the last, and most influential voices on this subject: the Andalusian intellectual Ibn Rushd. He is one of the few Muslim thinkers to be as famous in the West as in the Muslim world. Known as Averroes in Latin, he was a major influence on European philosophy, but managed to get himself declared a heretic by the Pope.
2020-06-271h 08the memory palaceA White HorseThe Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX, a curated network of extraordinary, story-driven shows. Learn more at radiotopia.fm
Notes and Reading:
* Most of the specific history of the White Horse was learned from “Sanctuary: the Inside Story of the Nation’s Second Oldest Gay Bar” by David Olson, reprinted in its entirety on the White Horse’s website.
* “Gayola: Police Professionalization and the Politics of San Francisco’s Gay Bars, 1950-1968,” by Christopher Agee.
* June Thomas’ series on the past, present, and future of the gay bar from Slate a few yea...
2020-06-1212 minthe memory palaceEpisode 165: A ParkThe Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts.
A note on shownotes. In a perfect world, you go into each episode of the Memory Palace knowing nothing about what's coming. It's pretentious, sure, but that's the intention. So, if you don't want any spoilers or anything, you can click play without reading ahead.
Music
We hear Armellodie by Chilly Gonzales
And All Now Vibe by Tara Jane O'Neil
Notes
The Lavender Scare by David K. Johnson
T...
2020-06-0508 min
It's the Pictures that Got SmallEpisode 8: DuneOn this episode of It’s the Pictures That Got Small, Karina Longworth and Nate DiMeo are by one of their favorite actors, Natasha Lyonne! Join them as their consciousnesses are expanded by the spice melange of the desert planet, Arakis, and evolve over the course of 4,000 years into weird, floating blobs that can bend space-time in David Lynch’s Dune!
To follow Karina on Twitter, click here. To follow Nate, click here. And definitely follow Natasha, who’s kind of a Twitter genius.
Subscribe to You Must Remember This and The Memory Palace, while you’re...
2020-05-2142 min
The Golden Age of Islam48 - The AlmohadsThe mighty Almoravid dynasty lasted only a century before it was overthrown by another another great Berber dynasty- the Almohads. In this episode, we look at the fearless and determined founder of the dynasty, the controversial Ibn Tumart, who would change the face of North Africa and Spain for centuries.
2020-05-181h 02
It's the Pictures that Got SmallEpisode 7: AmadeusOn this episode of It’s the Pictures That Got Small, Karina Longworth and Nate DiMeo are joined by producer, Stacey Sher! Join them as tease up our hair like Howard Jones on our way to buy some Aquanet at the Galleria but take the wrong exit off the 405 and wind up in 18th Century Vienna with Wolfie and the gang in the director’s cut of Amadeus!
To follow Karina on Twitter, click here. To follow Nate, click here.
Subscribe to You Must Remember This and The Memory Palace, while you’re at it.
...
2020-05-1429 min
The Golden Age of Islam47 - The AlmoravidsThe Amoravid Berber dynasty established an empire that stretched from Ghana to the north of Spain. For centuries they would fight against the Christian conquest from the North and leave a lasting impression on Spain and the Western Muslim World.
2020-04-291h 08The Golden Age of Islam46 - Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan IIThe continuation of the influential philosophical work Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan, in which the hero discovers the deepest truths of the universe while on a desert island, without the aid of teachers or language.
2020-04-101h 13The Golden Age of Islam45 - Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan IOne of the most influential Arabic works of the Middle Ages, Ibn Tufayl's "philosophical novel" Hayy Ibn Yaqdhan has influenced Western literature from Rousseau to Tarzan. An allegory for Classical Muslim Rationalist ideas about education, freedom, religion and philosophy, the classic work finds echoes in Robinson Crusoe and the Jungle Book.
2020-03-251h 06
The Golden Age of Islam44 - The Accounts of China and IndiaIn the 800s, Baghdad sat at the center of an international trading empire stretching from Europe to China. In this episode, we look at how travelers saw the countries of the Indian Ocean and Far East and how they viewed their own culture in relation to those. From exotic animals, strange rituals, the universal acknowledgment of the superiority of Islam and, of course, the opportunity to make vast fortunes.
2020-03-141h 01The Golden Age of Islam43 - The Excellence of the ArabsIn the continuing disagreements over the role of ethnicity in the Muslim Empire, the 9th Century classic "The Excellence of the Arabs" was seen as a definitive word. This book, by a renown Baghdad scholar lays out the case for what makes Arabs special, traits that have continued to be admired until this day.
2020-03-021h 03
The Golden Age of Islam42 - Ethnic Pride in the Islamic EmpiresWhile Arab pride was growing in the Abbasid empire, similar movements of ethnic and cultural pride among Persians and other groups were also emerging. This episode looks at the reaction to expressions of Arab superiority and the competition to determine the cultural direction of the empire.
2020-02-1353 min
The Golden Age of Islam41 - Ethnicity in Islam: Arabness and IslamArab culture and Islam are often associated in our minds, but has this always been so? In this episode we look at the emergence of the "Arab" identity in early Islam and the reaction of other peoples in the empire.
2020-01-311h 30the memory palaceEpisode 156: That's How it Goes Whenever it SnowsThe Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts.
A note on shownotes. In a perfect world, you go into each episode of the Memory Palace knowing nothing about what's coming. It's pretentious, sure, but that's the intention. So, if you don't want any spoilers or anything, you can click play without reading ahead.
Anyway...
**Music **
Artifices from Chapelier Fou.
A smidge of [Equality Under the Law](http://: https://geo.music.apple.com/us/album/equality-under-the-law/569934319?i=569934714&mt=1&app=music) from Jo...
2020-01-1910 min
The Golden Age of Islam40 - The Boundaries of SufismA popular Sufi teacher was executed in eighth century Baghdad for publicly declaring "I am the Truth!" Yet today, many consider him a visionary with knowledge beyond normal understanding. Mansour al-Hallaj was but one of the early Sufi masters who challenged established systems of knowledge, power and social order. In this episode, we look at those who pushed, and came to define, the boundaries of spiritual experience.
2020-01-161h 06The Golden Age of Islam39 - Rumi, The Sufi MasterThe best-selling poet in the United States is the 13th century Islamic mystic, Jalal al-Din al-Rumi, who taught a path of devotion to God leading to merging of one's self with God. Centuries later, he has become an inspiration to seekers from all religions, from Zen Buddhists to New Age spiritualists. But do the modern interpretations of his verses that adorn bumper sticker and coffee mugs reflect the true nature of his teachings?
2019-12-2758 min
The Golden Age of Islam38 - The Father of HistoryIbn Khaldun is one of the rare Muslim intellectuals who is famous in the West, cited by everyone from Arnold Toynbee to Ronald Reagan. He has been called the father of the modern discipline of History, as well as the Social Sciences in general. All these claims have been disputed. Nonetheless, Ibn Khaldun gave the world a theory about the rise and fall of empires that did not depend on mystical or religious explanations, and has become a part of our understanding of History today.
2019-11-2953 min
The Golden Age of Islam37 (Fixed!) - The Great Traveler (Complete)UPDATE: This episode is now complete! It was partially cut off when it was originally published. Sorry for the inconvenience.
Moroccan born Ibn Battuta traveled over 75,000 miles, to 44 countries in the 14th century, greatly exceeding the record of any European traveler. Yet he was not an explorer by profession; he was an Islamic jurist who traveled the length and breadth of the Muslim world on business, serving as a soldier in Spain, judge in India and ambassador to China. Ibn Battuta was a man of his times and his life reflects what was possible in the Muslim wor...
2019-11-2058 min
The Golden Age of Islam36 - Ibn Taymiyya and the Philosophy of JihadAmong the most controversial of Muslim thinkers, Ibn Taymiyya has been lumped with al-Ghazali as responsible for "what went wrong." In this episode, we look at the reality of a man whose quotes and misquotes have been at the heart of controversy for centuries.
2019-08-291h 07
The Golden Age of Islam35 - Baybars, Defender of IslamAmong the great Muslim warriors of history, few could match Baybars al-Bunduqari. A slave in the empire of Salah al-Din, born neither Arab nor Muslim, he would defeat the Crusaders, stop the Mongols and establish the new state that would lead the Muslim world for centuries. Seen as the true founder of the Mamluk empire, he helped changed the nature of the Muslim world up to the modern era, for better and worse.
2019-08-101h 01
The Golden Age of Islam34 - the Mongol InvasionAs the Mongols devastated the great capital of Baghdad, killing thousands and throwing the contents of its great libraries into the river, the Muslim civilization received a blow from which it would never fully recover. This civilization would be permanently altered by the trauma of this destruction, from which a new center of power would emerge.
2019-07-261h 01The Golden Age of Islam33 - Rise of the MamluksFor nearly six centuries, an empire of slave soldiers dominated the Muslim world and stopped all conquerors. The era of the Mamluks was one of contradictions - a time of constant instability but of great economic, scientific and artistic achievement. Leaders who struggled to hold onto their own positions struck fear in the nations around them. In this episode we look at the system that, for better and worse, would shape the Muslim world for centuries.
2019-07-191h 08The Golden Age of Islam32 - Salah al-DinThe great hero of the Crusades, and the exemplar of the Muslim warrior for generations to come was Salah al-Din, known as Saladin in the West. Today's episode looks at how he ends a century of Crusader occupation, liberates Jerusalem and wins the respect of his European adversaries.
2019-07-021h 02The Golden Age of Islam31 - The Crusades, Part 2After the disaster of the First Crusade, Muslim resistance develops very slowly. Only after two generations will Muslim leaders become more interested in fighting the Crusaders than each other. In this chaotic environment, the first effective leaders against the Crusades: Zengi, Nur al-Din and Salah al-Din emerge.
2019-06-221h 03The Golden Age of Islam30 - The CrusadesCertainly the darkest period of Muslim-Christian interaction, the two centuries of religious wars known as the Crusades continues to color attitudes toward the West today. While these campaigns are usually studied from a perspective of European politics, they changed the Muslim world in ways so profound that we continue to feel them today. Yet Muslim images of the Crusades are little studied in the West.
2019-05-2255 minThe Golden Age of Islam29 - The Demise of Islamic Science?Abu Hamid al-Ghazali has been blamed for closing the door on Islamic science and starting an era of conservatism that continues to hold back the Muslim world. Is this harsh reputation warranted? In this episode, we look at the reality and the legend of al-Ghazali and his effects on the intellectual climate in Islam.
2019-05-021h 12The Golden Age of Islam28 - A New OrderThe mighty Abbasid Caliphate had disintegrated into a collection of warring city states, while Shi'ite authorities had come to dominate the Muslim world. A new power was rising in the East, however, which would bring about a Sunni revival and stretch to the gates of the Byzantine Empire. The rising Seljuk Turkish state would come to dominate the Caliphate, institute a new era of Sunni conservatism and frighten Europe enough to spark the Crusades.
2019-04-2051 minthe memory palaceEpisode 140: Jackie MitchellThe Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, a collective of independently owned and operated podcasts.
Music
We start off with Chez Thomas, by Charles Delarue
Go to The Graceful Ghost, one of William Bolcom's 3 Ghost Rags.
Then Krzysztof Komeda's Ballet Edude II
A touch of Ellington playing A Single Petal on a Rose.
Then Concerto no. 5 en la minuer: Allegro ma non molto, as performed by Wilhelm Friedeman Bach and Brigitte Haudbebourg frames...
Philharmonics - Piano Sessions found on the Deluxe Edition of A...
2019-04-0916 minThe Golden Age of Islam27 - The Glory of CordobaThis episode looks at how the Umayyads forged Muslim Spain into a great emirate, separate from the Caliphate in Baghdad, and which would be the cultural rival to the great Abbasid Empire. Their capital, Cordoba, was the largest city in Europe, surpassing Constantinople, and a center for transmission of knowledge into Europe. It was a time when the greatest world powers were rival Muslim states.
2019-04-0544 minThe Golden Age of Islam26 - Muslim SpainThe place where Christian Europe and the Muslim world had the most interaction was the Iberian Peninsula during the nearly 800 year reign of Islam there. When the Muslim forces landed in 711, Spanish did not exist. Over the next eight centuries, al-Andalus, as it was known, was one of the great centers of learning and culture, rivaling Baghdad and Cairo to the East, and was the point of the greatest transfer of knowledge from the Muslim world into Europe. This episode looks at the conquest and establishment of the Muslim province of al-Andalus.
2019-03-0952 minThe Golden Age of Islam25 - The Mad CaliphThe Fatimid Caliphate reached its height under the rule of al-Hakim, known in Western history as "The Mad Caliph." Jews, Christians and Sunnis felt the harsh nature of his oppression, while a new religion developed with him as a god. But the sciences and arts also reached a peak during his reign. Al-Hakim remains a controversial, but important figure.
2019-02-1052 minThe Golden Age of Islam24 - The Fatimid CaliphateA fugitive Imam in a remote prison in the Sahara was an unlikely candidate to establish the most powerful state in the Muslim world. With the Abbasid Caliphate in decline, the Isma'ili Shi'a established a rival Caliphate whose capital, Cairo, would grow to be the largest city in the world and the center of the Arab/Islamic world for centuries. Although we associate Shi'a with Iran and Persia today, this Arab Shi'ite empire would be the foundation of the modern Arab world as we know it.
2019-01-1750 minThe Golden Age of Islam23 - The Shi'ite Opposition - the Isma'ilisBy the eleventh century, the great Abbasid empire was beginning to crumble. The Caliphs had been weakened, the Turkish military dominant. On the periphery of the empire, rebellious groups were forming new states. Among these, the Isma'ili Shi'a would become the most powerful, establishing a rival caliphate that overshadowed the Abbasids. The line of Isma'ili Imams continues to this day. In this episode, we look at the Isma'ili Shi'a: where they came from, what they believe and why they posed a threat to the Abbasid Caliphate.
2018-12-2652 min
The Golden Age of Islam22-Reconciling Rationalism and Tradition - Al-Ash'ariIn the Golden Age of Islam, Rationalist Mu'tazilites and Traditionalist Hanbalis debated the proper direction of Islamic thought, theology and exploration. The man who tried to bridge the gap, and whose name today is synonymous with Orthodox Sunni theology was Al-Ash'ari. His answers to the tough questions of the nature of the universe, of the Qur'an and free will would come to be the definitive positions of Sunni Islamic doctrine until today. In this episode, we look at the man, his task and his theology.
2018-12-051h 00The Golden Age of Islam21 - Ibn Sina, The Renaissance ManIbn Sina (known as Avicenna in the West) represents the ideal of Classical Muslim intellectual. His Qanun of Medicine would be the primary medical textbook in Europe for 500 years. And though he wrote on a huge range of subjects, it is for philosophy he is best known. Before him, philosophers commented on Aristotle; after him, they commented on Ibn Sina.
2018-11-2152 min
The Golden Age of Islam20 - Writing the History of IslamThe Islamic empire not only made history, but was deeply involved in the study of history. In this episode we look at the early chroniclers of Islamic history and how they viewed their place in history, names like Ibn Ishaq, Ibn al-Nadim and al-Tabari, who are frequently quoted today.
2018-11-1036 minThe Golden Age of Islam19-Classical Islamic Civilization - Writing for the EliteMembers of elite society in the Islamic empire were expected to follow a highly developed code of behaviors. The current word for "Literature" - al-adab - refers to the values and behaviors of the elite. A huge body of Literature was produced in Arabic in the Abbasid period that gives us a window into those values, and the master of Arabic prose was the great al-Jahiz. In this episode we look at the rags-to-riches story of this great writer and the values he exalted.
2018-10-2547 minThe Golden Age of Islam17 - The Sword, The Poet and the PhilosopherWith the central authority of the Caliphate in decline, Emirs of regional and city states prospered. One of the most successful of these was Aleppo in Syria, where warrior prince Sayf al-Dawla (Sword of the State) sponsored the greatest Arabic poet, al-Mutanabbi and the second great Arabic philosopher, al-Farabi. In this episode we look at the flourishing artistic and intellectual climate in a time of constant military conflict.
2018-10-0651 min
The Golden Age of Islam16 - The Anarchy at Samarra: Decline of the CaliphateFrom the hieght of its power, the Abbasid Caliphate was to begin a slow decline, with caliphs reduced to virtual figureheads. Yet during this time, some of the greatest achievements of Islamic civilization would come. In this episode, we look at what happened to a caliphate that seemed to be riding high, and how this long period of decline began.
2018-09-2646 minthe memory palaceEpisode 132 (Ida Lewis)The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia.
Music
We hear Waltz from the score to Angels & Insects.
Movements IV and II from David Liptak’s Serenade for Alto Sax and Strings.
A bit of Violin Solo no. 1 from Peter Broderick.
Some of Zucht 2 from Machienfabrik.
A bit of Origami Tulips from Lullatone.
Unseen Forces from Justin Walter.
Midnight Moon from Annalisa Tornfelt and Gideon Freudman
Ida Lupino from Paul Bley’s Changes album from 1965.
And Lost Fur (Reprise) from the...
2018-09-2617 min
The Golden Age of Islam15 - The Muslim EconomyThe Muslim empire not only dominated the world politically, militarily and scientifically, it was also the economic powerhouse that tied together Europe, Asia and Africa. This abundance of wealth spurred the growth of Architecture, Science, Commerce and the spread of Arab-Muslim culture. In fact, the largest Muslim populations in the world today were converted through trade, rather than conquest. In this episode, we look at what made this economic system special.
2018-09-0155 minThe Golden Age of Islam14 - Sufism, the Inner Dimenson of IslamIslam is known in the West for its laws and community rituals, with thousands praying in neat rows. Yet the picture is not complete without the emotional or personal dimension of Islam. Arising in the first centuries of Islam, the practices of Sufism, seeking a personal, intimate relationship with God, have also shaped Muslim society. In this episode, we look at the beginnings of Sufism, its distinctive teachings and its relationships with Islamic law, philosophy and theology.
2018-08-2048 minthe memory palaceSummer Re-run: Episode 68 (White Heat, White Light)Music
* Under the credits is Harlaamstrat 74 off of John Dankworth’s Modesty Blaise score. * The opening loop is from Mr. Knight from Coltrane Plays the Blues, which you should own. * The violin piece is Occam II for Violin, a piece by Silvia Tarozzi, played by Pauline Oliveros. * Next up is Mikuro’s Blues from the mighty David S. Ware’ mighty Go See the World. * The amazing orchestral pieces is Triumph by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Carlos Nino from Fill the Heart- Shaped Cup * Finally, there’s 13 Ghosts II by Nine Inch Nails from Ghosts I-IV
White Heat, White Lights
2018-08-0809 minThe Golden Age of Islam13-The Great CaliphThe peak of Golden Age power and achievement came in the reign of the seventh Abbasid caliph, al-Ma'mun, who sponsored the arts and sciences, debated the great intellectuals of the day, considered himself the ultimate religious authority and the defender of the faith, while he also aimed to reunite the Sunni and Shi'a. Although al-Ma'mun would only achieve some of his dreams, his rule set the pattern for Sunni Islam for centuries, but also carried the seeds of decline and eventual collapse. In this episode, we examine one of the greatest, and most controversial caliphs.
2018-08-0447 min
The Golden Age of Islam12 - Defending the Faith: Islamic TheologyAt the height of the Islamic Golden Age, Muslim scholars debated some of the greatest Christian and Jewish theological minds on the very principles of their faith. These experts in rationalism argued that the very principles of logic and reason dictated that their faith must be true and that rational inquiry of the natural world would prove this so. Questions about the nature of God, of free will, and eternity were being examined by thinkers from many religions who developed arguably the most sophisticated answers to these issues. At a time when Europe was filled with superstition and persecution, this...
2018-07-2347 min
The Golden Age of Islam11 - The Shar'ia: Islamic LawIn this episode, we take a realistic look at the development of one of the most comprehensive and detailed legal codes in history, the Shar'ia of Islamic Law. Although the subject of alarmist warnings on the internet today, the Shar'ia grew as a sophisticate legal system that worked in balance with science, philosophy, and traditions in a multi-ethnic, multi-religious empire.
2018-07-0549 minThe Golden Age of Islam10 - The Arabic Scientific RevolutionDid the Muslims invent the modern sciences that fueled the European Renaissance, or were they merely translators and transmitters of knowledge from the ancient Greeks? In this episode, we consider the Islamic contributions to science in the early period of the Abbasid Caliphate and examine the claim that the Muslims developed the scientific method as we know it.
2018-06-2448 minThe Golden Age of Islam9 - "The Prophet Says...", The Hadith of the ProphetWhy was the Muslim community beset by divisions even though the Qur'an had been preserved exactly as revealed? This episode examines the emergence of the second, and most controversial source of Islamic law: the Hadith, or sayings of the Prophet Muhammad. In the early centuries of Islam, over half a million reported sayings circulated, with most experts accepting no more than 2% as accurate. Competing the hadith would become the basis of controversies over law and practice, and the science of Hadith analysis became one of the most important intellectual and legal disciplines of the Muslim empire, and remains so tod...
2018-06-1250 min
The Golden Age of Islam8 - Beginnings of the Islamic Intellectual RevolutionThe Islamic intellectual movement that rescued the works of Classical Greece and Rome and sparked the European renaissance took off with the founding of Baghdad in 750 AD. The Abbasid caliphs poured vast wealth into the creation of centers of research and analysis unparalleled in the world. The beginning phase of this effort is known, rather inaccurately, as 'The Translation Movement," and is credited with saving much of the knowledge of Greece and Rome from the barbarian invasions. Yet at the center of this movement, in the famed "House of Wisdom" in Baghdad, a merging of Classical wisdom with Islam was...
2018-05-2351 minThe Golden Age of Islam7 - The Abbasid RevolutionThe true Golden Age of Islam is considered the Abbasid Caliphate, which lasted from 750 to 1258 AD and whose capital, Baghdad was the grandest city on earth - the center of intellectual, scientific and cultural achievement. The reality was more complicated and often didn't match the legend. In this episode, we look at how this great caliphate came to power and what made it unique.
2018-05-1645 min
The Golden Age of Islam1 - The Foundations of IslamWhen Europe was in the depths of the Dark Ages, a civilization emerged from the Arabian desert that would change History forever. The greatest military, political and economic power the world had seen, it would also establish one of the most brilliant intellectual, scientific and cultural traditions in History. When a humble merchant in a desert town emerged from a cave with a vision, few thought he would survive the wrath of the pagan leaders of his hometown, much less go on to reshape History. The foundations of this change are what we'll discuss today.
2018-05-0340 minThe Golden Age of Islam2 - The First Muslim CommunityThe Islamic calendar begins when the first Muslim community is established in Medina. From that day forward, Islam will be not only a religion, but an independent state, with its own military and political leadership. That state will grow to rule much of the world and at its core will be this idea of a united political, military, cultural and religious community. This would shape a dramatically different world view than that of Christianity. In this episode, we explore the emergence and development of that state.
2018-05-0343 min
The Golden Age of Islam3 - The First CaliphsThe first Caliphs after the Prophet Muhammad established a Muslim state that would grow to cover much of the world. These critical leaders--the Rashidun--set the precedent for what Islamic leadership and a Muslim state would be.
2018-05-0338 min
The Golden Age of Islam4 - The Sunni/Shi'a Split
Few concepts in Islam are as misunderstood today as the split between Sunni and Shi'a. Yet this division plays a very important role in the politics and social dynamics of the Muslim world. In this episode, we examine the reasons for this split, and more importantly, its impact on the subsequent generations of Islamic history and the world today
2018-05-0353 minThe Golden Age of Islam5 - The Muslim ConquestsFrom a small community in the desert city of Medina, the Muslim state established an empire larger than the world had yet seen. This amazing conquest--from Spain to the edge of China--was made possible by the nature of Muslim rule and set the stage for one of the greatest civilizations in history. How did this happen? Why did Islam succeed and persist when others failed or faded quickly?
2018-05-0352 min
The Golden Age of Islam6 - The Umayyad CaliphateWhile Europe lay in the Dark Ages, the Umayyad Caliphate established the largest empire the world had yet seen, the political, military, economic and cultural superpower of its day. It also set the standards for what a great Muslim empire would be and set in motion trends that would dominate the world for the next 500 years and continue to influence the world today. Yet its division of the world into a realm of peace and a realm of war continues to worry some oberservers. In this episode, we look at the transformation of the growing Muslim community into a great...
2018-05-0345 minthe memory palaceEpisode 125: Snakes!The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia.
Music
We hear Ferris Wheel by Gabor Szabo from one of his better late sixties records.
Herman's Malt from Jeff Russo's score to Fargo Season 2.
David Goes Hunting from Larry Groupe's score to Straw Dogs.
Double Portrait by Double Edge from the album, U.S. Choice.
A snippet of Idea of Order at Kyson Point from an album Brian Eno did with Tom Rogerson.
Bicycles and Flasks by Dan Romer.
A bit of Il Tamoure dei Bambini from Piero Umiliani's score to Le Isole Dell'amore
A Naga Swaram-Snake...
2018-04-2515 minthe memory palaceEpisode 124 (Junk Room)The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX.
Music
We start off with Theme de Simon from Georges Delerue.
Go to Alpine Sketch from Christian Loffler's Young Alaska.
Hear some of Three Dances: II Pavane arranged for the Chromos Tuba Quartet.
The Plum Blossom from Yusuf Lateef's great Eastern Sounds record.
Juve & Fandor by amiina.
The Unquestioned Answer by Laura Spiegel.
Etude by Joep Beving.
Rainfall by David Darling and Michael Jones.
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2018-04-0615 min
Faded OutRevisiting Johnny's Visit / The Full StoryConversations with Della Williams and Tracy Pampena of the Missing Persons Support Center, director of 'Who Took Johnny' David Beilinson, and Mary Bell of The Doe Network on if it was really Johnny who visited Noreen in March 1997. Could it have been a scam artist? A dream? We also hear the most detailed account of the night in question.
2018-03-2533 min
Faded Out42nd and Marcourt / ProtocolsThis week we have an exclusive talk with David Beilinson, the director of "Who Took Johnny." We also walk through the timeline of events up until the moment that Johnny vanished. We delve deeper into police protocols at the time and talk with Mary Bell, match panel coordinator for The Doe Network.
2018-02-1225 minthe memory palaceEpisode 120 (The Prairie Chicken in Wisconsin: Highlights of a Study of Counts, Behavior, Turnover, Movement, and HabitaThe Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX, a curated network of extraordinary, story-driven shows.
Music
We move between three different pieces from Camille Saint-Saens': Suite, Op. 90: II Menuet, and two from Carnival of the Animals: Aviary and the Cuckoo in the Heart of the Woods.
We hit Juneau from Danny Bensi and Sander Jurriaans' score to Wildlike.
And The Waltz from their score to 5 to 7.
And there's a total gem from George Mukabi called Dila Ni Dila in there too.
Notes
Do yourself a favor and read France Hamerstrom's autobiography, My Double...
2018-01-1314 minthe memory palaceEpisode 102 (The Presidency of William Henry Harrison, or Back in the Saddle)The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX, a curated network of extraordinary, story-driven shows.
Music
We start with (and later return to) And Grace by David Darling.
Robert Farnon and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra play Captain Horatio Hornblower R.N. Suite II: The Wind which turns into Niggun for Solo Bassoon by Philippe Hersant.
Then we hit Neon Lights by Kraftwerk from The Man Machine.
And The Gentle Softness, the love theme to Enter The Dragon from Lalo Schifrin’s score.
And hit up our friends Lullatone at the end with Origami Tul...
2017-01-2009 minthe memory palaceEpisode 96 (Canali)The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX, a curated network of extraordinary, story-driven shows. Learn more at radiotopia.fm.
Notes * I’ve read a bunch about the canals over the years, but the most fun I’ve had was going through the New York Times’ archive and just searching for Canals and Mars and reading article by article through the years, watching the debates, seeing conjecture reported as news, and then watching it all unravel. * For more on Lowell, I recommend Percival Lowell: the Culture and Science of Boston Brahmin, by David Strauss.
...
2016-10-0113 minthe memory palaceEpisode 90 (A White Horse)The Memory Palace is a proud member of Radiotopia, from PRX, a curated network of extraordinary, story-driven shows. Learn more at radiotopia.fm
Notes and Reading: * Most of the specific history of the White Horse was learned from "Sanctuary: the Inside Story of the Nation's Second Oldest Gay Bar" by David Olson, reprinted in its entirety on the White Horse's website. * "Gayola: Police Professionalization and the Politics of San Francisco's Gay Bars, 1950-1968," by Christopher Agee. * June Thomas' series on the past, present, and future of the gay bar from Slate a few years back. * Various articles...
2016-06-1611 minthe memory palaceEpisode 81 (Below, from Above)Music
* We start off with Wien, by Labradford. * The guys head out to the work site to Piano 3, from Jon Brion's score to Synecdoche, New York. * Then we hear a bit of Metamorphosis by Vladamir Ussachevsky before being bombarded with bits of Fast Pasture by Todd Reynolds. * There's a long stretch of Fog Tropes by Ingram Marshall * Followed by Fragment I by Library Tapes * Before ending on Berceuse, by Alexandra Sileski.
Notes * This is a story I've been wanting to do forever. In fact, falling in love with the story of the Brooklyn Bridge was...
2016-01-2717 minthe memory palaceEpisode 76 (Mary Walker Would Wear What She Wanted)It's fundraiser time! Do you enjoy the Memory Palace? Do you want to support independent media? Then support the home of the Memory Palace, Radiotopia. Click here and become a sustaining supporter and help keep us going for a long time to come!
Music*Under the credits is Harlaamstrat 74 off of John Dankworth's Modesty Blaise score.*The piece opens with Rainfall, by David Darling and Michael Jones. *Her brief love story is scored by Nathan Johnson's Penelope's Theme from his score to The Brothers Bloom.*When she lands her first gig, we start Garde a Vue, and...
2015-10-1911 minthe memory palaceEpisode 68 (White Heat, White Lights)Episode 3 of the Summer Season.
Music
* Under the credits is Harlaamstrat 74 off of John Dankworth's Modesty Blaise score.
* The opening loop is from Mr. Knight from Coltrane Plays the Blues, which you should own.
* The violin piece is Occam II for Violin, a piece by Silvia Tarozzi, played by Pauline Oliveros.
* Next up is Mikuro's Blues from the mighty David S. Ware' mighty Go See the World.
* The amazing orchestral pieces is Triumph by Miguel Atwood-Ferguson and Carlos Nino from Fill the Heart- Shap...
2015-07-0609 min