Shows
Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsDavid LeBrun and His Memoir, Delirium VitaeAvailable today! Meet Canadian author, David LeBrun, whose first book, a travel memoir, is being published today by Tortoise Books. Delirium Vitae is a recounting of David's adventures in Central America when he fled the cold Canadian winter to party with an old friend, promptly ran out of money, and began the slow journey of discovering what he was running from while returning home. In this episode, David talks about the jobs-related book he was working on during the trip and how it was scuttled when this one emerged. Delirium Vitae weaves David's adventures with colorful if sketchy characters...2025-06-0351 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsSouth of the Yangtze with Flora QianWelcome Flora Qian with her first novel "South of the Yangtze," a coming-of-age story of a thoughtful and curious Chinese girl, born and raised in Shanghai during the one-child years.* Flora discusses the origins of the novel which maps some of her own experiences as a young woman educated in China who then moved to Hong Kong. The intriguing novel, written in English, explores the themes of language, relationships, loneliness, and community, against a backdrop of post-Cultural Revolution China. Flora discusses her interest in Chinese characters, how Mandarin and English entered her life, how Chinese sayings and folk tales...2024-12-2351 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsMelinda Blau and Her Wisdom WhisperersRelationship expert Melinda Blau is back with her new book, "The Wisdom Whisperers: Golden Guides to a Long Life of Grit, Grace, and Laughter." Melinda began collecting her "old ladies," as she calls them, in mid-life and shares here the tremendous wisdom and benefit she has received over the past twenty years or so from these relationships with women much older than she is. Not so much a book on aging as a continuation of Melinda's astute career-long observations about the magic and wonder of relationships, The Wisdom Whisperers will make you laugh, reflect, learn, and may inspire you...2024-12-1658 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsOilfield Mysteries with Malvina LermaJoin petroleum engineer Malvina Lerma as she talks about her cozy mystery series, Oilfield Mysteries, and her amateur sleuth, Charlie, a woman working in a man's world. Malvina and Jennifer talk about the oil industry, Bakersfield, the BP catastrophe, well drilling, as well as a bunch of writing-related topics: how to convey technical expertise in a novel, what makes a cozy, Malvina's influences (especially Agathie Christie), and how to get better as a writer. An upbeat conversation great for writers and mystery lovers.Malvina's website:https://oilfieldmysteries.com/Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show...2024-12-0153 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsTalking Music with The Tattletale SaintsThe two parts of the Americana duo Tattletale Saints, Simon Stanley and Vanessa McGowen, join us today to talk about tons of music stuff: their formation and evolution, Simon's foray into kids music, Vanessa's bass playing, their move to Nashville, what makes a good cover, and why music from New Zealand might be especially innovative. Simon also talks about songwriting, and Vanessa gives advice to early musicians about making success out of passion. We also include D.I.N.K., one of The Tattletale Saints songs. You just might be a D.I.N.K.! A lovely episode for...2024-11-1759 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsTwo Novels with Christina HoagJoin us to talk about "Law of the Jungle" and "Skin of Tattoos," two of Christina's novels, both replete with interesting characters and quite absorbing . One is about a biochemist deep in the Amazonian jungle who falls in love with the perfect guy only to discover—well, you can imagine. What you might not imagine is what she does next. Drawn from Christina's experience working with LA gangs, "Skin of Tattoos" is a sympathetic story about a gang member released from jail who finds himself inexorably drawn back into his old life, only worse. Christina is a journalist with a...2024-11-0451 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsSarah Langan and her Novel "A Better World"Sarah Langan, author of "A Better World" and "Good Neighbors," talks about her new dystopian novel and its frightening similarities to our current real life. In Sarah's novel, our hero, Linda, doctor and mom, is initially thrilled to be accepted into Plymouth Valley, a safe refuge for her family from an outside crazy world, but too soon she discovers that there are disturbing dark elements to this so-called utopia. In this episode, Sarah and Jennifer discuss the novel and its plot and characters, Orson Welles' 1984, the horror genre, and writing in general. A great episode for readers and writers.2024-08-2652 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsCampus Protests and Free SpeechJoining us to talk about the recent campus protests and their ramifications for free speech is Kristen Shahverdian of PEN America. Kristen discusses the various balls that campuses must keep in the air, considering the participants' right to free speech, safety on campus, and viewpoint-neutral policy decisions. She discusses the advice that PEN America offers to campus administrators about how to reasonably respond to protesters and what would constitute a disproportionate reaction. We dig into the history of campus protests, from the Free Speech movement to Kent State, as well as recent specific incidents at Columbia University and Indiana...2024-06-241h 02Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsSam Hinton, Folk Singer, Scientist, and Amazing PersonThe Sam Hinton Folk Heritage Festival at Old Poway Park in San Diego will be held June 1! We're delighted in this episode to share Sam's history through the eyes of his granddaughter Katrina Hinton-Cooper. In this wide-ranging conversation, we discuss Sam's music, his tremendous work for the Aquarium Museum of the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, and his outlook on the world, as shown through his songs, humor, drawings, and observations. We also manage to talk about science fiction, hypnosis through storytelling, circular breathing, and the joys and foibles of our peculiar species. An uplifting episode with something for everyone.2024-05-2755 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsHow To Write Better About DrugsJoin us as pharmacist Miffie Seideman talks about her new book from Indiana University Press, "The Grim Reader: A Pharmacist's Guide to Putting Your Characters in Peril," a great resource for fiction writers who would like to bring a bit more accuracy to their drug-related scenes. Jennifer and Miffie talk about the most egregious errors that show up in books and movies (provoking eye rolls from experts) and how more accurate scenes would result in better and less clichéd writing. We also discuss some notable oddities, such as psychedelic parenting, body packing, belladonna, and the real dangers of a...2024-05-201h 08Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsAn Appraisal of "Splinters"Okay, so the new memoir "Splinters" wasn't our favorite book ever, and sometimes it downright irritated us, but our investigation into what worked (and what didn't!) makes for a fascinating conversation about the nature of memoir and new trends in the genre, from "woe is me" themes to shameless self-exposure which apparently appeals to voyeuristic readers. John Julius Reel and Jennifer discuss the author, Leslie Jamison, the buzz surrounding this book, and their critiques and suggestions for what would have made this book better. Opinionated, passionate, and willing to be harsh, John and Jennifer defend their positions but acknowledge...2024-05-131h 00Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Use of AI in ScreenwritingJoin Craig Erpelding, Director of the BFA in Cinematic Arts at Indiana University, to discuss the ways AI can be used effectively and ethically in the development of screenplays and the teaching of screenwriting. Craig bravely jumps into this fraught topic and clearly and logically explains his own research with the tool and what limitations and concerns he has uncovered. Knowing that students are going to use AI in the development of their work, he advises students and teachers alike about how AI can assist in creative work. He argues that AI often produces C-level work, but that in i...2024-04-291h 01Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsApril 27 Is Indie Bookstore Day!Join us as we talk with Teri Den Herder, longtime bookseller at the UCSD Bookstore, about Independent Bookstore Day, the annual celebration of indie bookstores, and the San Diego Book Crawl, the weekend when booklovers swarm the 13 participating bookstores in search of books, passport stamps, prizes, and surprises. We discuss the national day, how it got started, what's new this year (shuttle busses!), how the event has grown, what to expect, and how to have the most fun. We also discuss Teri's long career, the legacy she is creating with young booksellers, and the art of matching people and b...2024-04-2257 min
Second in Command: A Veep RewatchJennifer Crittenden & Gabrielle Allan | "Chicklet" (S6E5) Veep Rewatch with Matt & TimVeep writers Jennifer Crittenden and Gabrielle Allan join Matt and Tim to discuss episode 5 of season 6 of Veep, which they wrote. Summary: Selina settles on a location for her presidential library; Dan lands in a gossip column; Mike and Selina work on her book and go on a cathartic fact-finding mission; Jonah tries to solidify a big donation; Gary manages a mini-crisis at Madame Tussauds. Matt Walsh https://www.instagram.com/mrmattwalsh Timothy Simons https://www.instagram.com/timothycsimons Jennifer Crittenden https://instagram.com/jencrittenden Gabrielle Allan https://instagram.com/gaballgreen Second In Command...2024-04-021h 32Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Magic of Debi DerryberryJoin the charming Debi Derryberry as we explore her long career as a voice-over artist, including voicing Jimmy Neutron, as well as her various projects, such as the recent release of her fourth CD of children's music, Gotta Go Green. Here she generously shares her experiences, growing up with a "little voice," her foray to Nashville, and returning to California to settle into a successful acting and voice career in Hollywood which has resulted in over 400 IMDb credits (so far!). Debi also works as a voice-over teacher and coach, and she provides advice here about different types of voice-over...2024-04-011h 01Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsPlea Bargains with Prof. DrippsUniversity of San Diego law professor Donald Dripps joins us to educate us on the plea bargain system which has essentially replaced what we think of as our criminal justice system. Prof. Dripps explains why defendants waive their right to a jury trial by pleading guilty, why defense attorneys recommend taking a plea, why prosecutors offer up "deals" for alleged criminals, and the ramifications of "self-conviction." He discusses which cases tend to get pled out, in what jurisdictions, and if folks who have pled guilty are ever exonerated. He explains how mandatory sentencing minimums increase the pressure to take...2024-03-1858 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsBilly Galewood FKA BushwallaSan Diego's own wild & crazy guy, Billy Galewood, recounts his quest for fun from Cleveland to Bushwalla and beyond. An original showman from the Java Joe days, he entertains through improv, song, rap, storytelling, and making people laugh. Here he tells the tales of musical theatre, the Cleveland Opera, early days with Jason Mraz, how meditation led to the demise of Bushwalla, his LA/SD split personality, and his reincarnation as a comic and celebrity host. He also shares the SECRET TO LIFE. Don't miss this utterly charming episode with Jennifer and Bill.The movie about Jack...2024-03-1155 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsTalking Trash with Rafi KohanRafi Kohan's new book, "Trash Talk: The Only Book About Destroying Your Rivals That Isn't Total Garbage," covers sh*t talking and its relatives: bench jockeying, the dozens, and sledging; as well as its variants from ancient times (think Odysseus and hubris). Rafi discusses the complexity of trash talk in its levels of teasing, threat, trust, and going "too far," but delves further into its effectiveness in competition, or lack thereof. He goes on to explore the research about these psychological tactics, their use in coaching, and the training used to build up mental toughness in the Special Forces...2024-03-041h 01Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsHaving a Ball with HullabalooJoin Steve Denyes, of Hullabaloo, the best kids' music band in these parts (and maybe the universe!), as he chats about songwriting, kids and parents, and what has changed in the twenty years that Hullabaloo has been performing. Hullabaloo's first live album, their 15th album overall, came out this month. It was recorded live in Sun Studio, and Steve talks about what it was like to be in Memphis, learning about its history and living some of it too. We also get to talk about word play, folk songs, Feeding San Diego, and the community that has grown up...2024-02-2659 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Story of Botox with Dr. Eugene HelvestonDr. Helveston's new book tells the history of the Clostridium botulinum, a bacterium that was discovered and researched as a poison and how it came to be Botox, with multiple medical applications and a household word in the beauty industry. As an ophthalmologist, Dr. Helveston worked with Alan Scott who is credited with developing and manufacturing Botox although, as you'll hear in the episode, his rewards were more advancing science and having fun rather than making money. It's a fascinating tale of a remarkable person and his dedication to a useful toxin.Eugene Helveson's website:https...2024-02-1953 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Guest Book with Sarah BlakePlease join us for a wonderful conversation with author Sarah Blake about her latest novel, The Guest Book, a book described by the Washington Post as "monumental," a sweeping family drama of secrets and silence that crosses three generations but is anchored by a private island off the coast of Maine. With periods set in the thirties, just before World War II; in the late fifties, just before the Civil Rights Movement; and in present day, it is very much of our time as it dares to approach the issues of racism and anti-Semitism and asks us to consider...2024-02-1254 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsBook Bans and the PEN America LawsuitNearly 6,000 instances of book banning have been recorded since 2021, and the book censorship movement is growing, accelerated by new laws in some states. PEN America has joined Penguin Random House, authors, and students in a lawsuit against Escambia County school district, challenging unlawful censorship. PEN America program director, Kasey Meehan, joins us to talk about the numbers, what is being banned, who is driving the movement, and what actions, both legal and grassroots, are underway to push back against this fundamental challenge to freedom of expression and our democracy. Kasey explains in layman's terms what topics are being censored, h...2024-02-0556 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsSiskel and Ebert: Opposable ThumbsMatt Singer, author of Opposable Thumbs: How Siskel and Ebert Changed Movies Forever, joins us to discuss two TV guys who argued passionately about movies for over twenty years, during a period when American Cinema was in its heyday, and film criticism rose to the challenge. Matt's book covers the history of S&E's successful collaboration, somewhat surprising since they were first longform movie critics from competing Chicago newspapers, before they joined thumbs and their Two Thumbs Up! became a household movie endorsement. Matt describes the relationship, respect, and competition between the two, as well as his own relationship...2024-01-291h 01Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsOur Deadly Streets with Jeff SpeckAmerican streets killed more than 7500 pedestrians in 2023, a 40-year high and climbing every year. Why? City planner and walkable cities advocate Jeff Speck joins us to explain that street design is largely to blame and how modest changes could be made to increase safety, as has been done in European cities with dramatic results. Jeff uses traffic studies to show how urban planning can affect driver speed, traffic congestion, safety, and walkability—all of which can improve and restore our sense of community in the places we live. With wonderful examples of the many cities where Jeff has completed pr...2024-01-2249 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsJennifer Jenkins Takes Us Into the Public DomainDuke copyright law professor Jennifer Jenkins joins us to celebrate and explain Public Domain Day. After a twenty-year hiatus, copyrighted works began moving into the public domain in 2019. Now each year, we can re-discover works that are available to be re-purposed by creators without the legal burden of obtaining permission from the former copyright holders. This year, for example, includes works such as The House at Pooh Corner, Millions of Cats, The ThreePenny Opera, and the 800-pound mouse, as Jennifer calls him, Mickey Mouse (as well as Minnie) as seen in Steamboat Willie. Interestingly, in the context of our r...2024-01-1558 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsCensorship and Obscenities with Michael AdamsIndiana University English professor Michael Adams returns to talk about taboo language and historical attempts to document it and suppress it. He bravely takes on the fraught issues around the f-word, bathroom graffiti, obscene literature, Shakespeare, and even hate speech. Along the way, he enlightens us about the Comstock Act, Tijuana bibles, smuggling contraband books, and daring scholars who persisted in studying forbidden language, particularly those supported by Madeleine Kripke, whose remarkable book collection continues to be literally unpacked by the Lilly Library. We also discuss the protection of free expression by the Constitution and the important role of...2024-01-081h 19Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsNews of Tom Lehrer with Jeff MorrisThe great Tom Lehrer has a new album! Put out by Needlejuice records and mixed by our guest, Jeff Morris, from the original reel-to-reel tapes, it's a compilation of all of Tom's songs recorded with an orchestra, now available in stereo for the first time. This gives us a wonderful excuse to revisit Tom's unusual career, his transition from touring artist to UC-Santa Cruz math instructor, and some of our favorite songs, like Silent E, which we include in the podcast. Jeff tells the story of how he met Tom when Jeff was writing a paper on satire in h...2023-12-2258 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsSaturday Night at the Lakeside Supper ClubJoin bestselling author J. Ryan Stradal to discuss his third novel, Saturday Night at the Lakeside Supper Club, a celebration of food and drink across four generations in Minnesota. J. Ryan contrasts four female voices, four decades, and two restaurants, one a traditional supper club, and the second a chain restaurant, similar to a Denny's. The result is an exploration of our times and our evolving relationship with food and drink, health, and community. J. Ryan also discusses his writing during the pandemic and thoughts about characters and editorial choices. We also manage to talk about culture, deer, smoking...2023-12-1648 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Mean Reds with Dale BridgesAuthor Dale Bridges joins us to discuss his first novel, The Mean Reds, a fun mystery novel featuring Sam, the self-deluded, weed-addled, but utterly relatable film buff protagonist, who encounters a hilarious cast of characters as he attempts to investigate the death of a stripper. Dale talks about the setting of the novel in Mountainview, a liberal college town, how he developed his characters, and how the novel was ultimately published by a university press. Dale also discusses his own development as a writer and offers advice for how others can persist and improve. The Mean Reds is a...2023-12-0850 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsShipwrecks! with Charles BeekerJoin Charles Beeker, Indiana University professor and director of the IU Center for Underwater Science, to talk about shipwrecks, underwater treasures and resources, and the surrounding web of related ethical and legal issues. From Indiana shipwrecks (yes! Indiana has shipwrecks and an interesting maritime history) to the Titanic, the Monitor, and Columbia's San José, each historical object is unique, but all serve to lure us into the deep, to learn their stories or investigate what lies beneath. Charlie discusses the controversy over the San José's cargo, estimated at $1.7 billion, currently the subject of a number of lawsuits (no su...2023-12-0200 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsBrendan Ballou and "Plunder," His Book about Private EquityDOJ Attorney Brendan Ballou discusses his new book, "Plunder: Private Equity's Plan to Pillage America." Ever wonder why we seem to have fewer airlines, fewer retail stores, fewer drugstores, and the same names keep showing up on businesses from rental agencies to nursing homes to mobile home parks? Why did all those long-lasting businesses fail in the past 15 years? (Hint: it's not all Amazon.'s fault.) Doesn't it seem as though fewer people own their own homes? Who got all that Covid money? And why do there seem to be some astonishingly rich folks around? Join us for a...2023-11-2351 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad Acts"Carefully Taught" by Cary GinellMusicologist Cary Ginell joins us to talk about his new book, "Carefully Taught: American History through Broadway Musicals." Cary is a wealth of information about music in general (and lots of other topics too!), but especially about musicals. Here he talks about musicals that were fairly accurate from a historical standpoint, or why they strayed, and others that stomped all over history with wild abandon. He also couches their creation or production in the time period they covered or during which they were produced with thoughtful consideration of the dark parts of our country's history. A lively discussion ranging...2023-11-1159 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsJohn Julius Reel with My Half OrangeJohn Julius Reel's new memoir, My Half Orange, is a sweet story of John moving to Seville, Spain and meeting his better half and starting a family. Join us for this intimate conversation about John's maturation into a family man, to his surprise and joy, along with his revelations about learning Spanish and Sevillian ways. The son of Bill Reel, the well known New York Daily News columnist, as well as the creator of the popular YouTube channel Book Rants, John also shares his insights about writing and how he became a better writer himself. A thoughtful conversation about m...2023-11-0458 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsScary SongsBill and Jennifer cover over 40 songs in this fun fast-moving discussion of scary songs, ranging from creepy-sounding songs to songs that are especially horrifying because they don't sound scary at all. From old murder ballads to kicky pop tunes, lyrics about serial killers, theme songs, earworm songs, mysterious odes, nursery rhymes, songs designed to scare your parents, ghoulish tales we love, and those we never (ever) want to hear again, we cover the gamut! Write in and tell us what we forgot. A just-in-time-for-Halloween episode. Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:https://w...2023-10-2744 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Mix Tape with Ben VaughnJoin us for a fun episode as we chat with Ben Vaughn about the art and pitfalls of the Mix Tape, a passion of Bill's and mine. We talk about why we do it, the selection process, transitions, the dreaded fadeout, and the outrage of some devices jumbling the song order thereby ruining—ruining, I tell you—our genius segues. We also discuss old radio DJs, song dedications, teenagers, and nostalgia. Ben talks about how he selects music for his radio show, The Many Moods of Ben Vaughn, his latest project with Relay Shack Records, and a special show he d...2023-10-201h 03Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsFamily Circus and Jeff KeaneJoin us as we welcome Jeff Keane, the current cartoonist of Family Circus, the incredibly successful one-panel cartoon, now over 60 years old and featured in 1500 newspapers worldwide. Jeff talks about the real-life family behind the cartoon; his dad, Bil, the originator of the cartoon; the National Cartoonists Society; humor; creativity; and all kinds of fun things. A wonderful episode with Bill Aho co-hosting.Where to see the Family Circus cartoons:https://comicskingdom.com/family-circus/archiveThoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/...2023-10-081h 05Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsAnimation Resources with Stephen WorthAnimation Resources is a non-profit with a terrific website where a wealth of creative material awaits you! Members also receive a monthly packet of interesting surprises, both old and new. Director Stephen Worth joins us today to talk about what animation is (very intriguing answers), his background, the origins of Animation Resources, what AI could do for the field, how animation could go so far beyond Disney, and creativity in general. It's a wonderful, thought-provoking episode. With Bill Aho.Animation Resources website:https://animationresources.org/Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:...2023-09-151h 07Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsBooks Shows Tunes & Mad Acts with Steve Boyle & Webb Wilder, Last of the Full Grown MenSteve Boyle and Webb Wilder join us to present a project that has been in the works for decades and will emerge this year, we hope, on a radio near you! In the 1980s, Steve and Webb began working on a neo-noir detective series, riffing on the anti-commercial commercials that they produced for Hard Rock Cafe back in the day. It came from Nashville, first in the form of a proposed TV series, then a script, then a book, then an audiobook, and now a full-fledged radio show. You'll also get to hear the teaser for the show in...2023-06-1752 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsGoing Analog with David SaxJoin us as author David Sax returns to talk about two books, "The Revenge of Analog" and "The Future Is Analog," one written in 2016 and the recent one written during the pandemic. Jennifer and David talk about the analog / digital aspects of education, work, and housing, as well as delving into teaching, books, humans, and virtual headsets. David's observations are astute, thoughtful, and often funny. Don't miss this fun episode with a lively guest.This episode is sponsored by: mypostglow.comDavid's website: https://saxdavid.com/Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:2023-06-1057 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsEducation in Prison with Peter FulksJoin Peter Fulks, a Cerro Coso Community College professor and a leading faculty in the development of the College's Incarcerated Students Education Program, a national leader in face-to-face higher education in prison. Here he takes us through the goals and results of the program, including the remarkable data regarding recidivism, reduction in violence inside the prisons, closing of prisons, and public safety. He talks about the administrative, bureaucratic, and economic challenges that the program has faced, and how this intrepid group of faculty members has managed to expand the program and win over its skeptics. If you're looking for a...2023-04-241h 00Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsRockin' with Jerry Williams, Jr., aka Swamp DoggJoin us for a rollicking conversation with Swamp Dogg, hard-working soul and R&B singer, who has been performing since the 50s and is still going strong. We chat about his long career, his friendship with John Prine, ambitious projects in the works, including yet another album (!) and an associated movie, along with some wacky tangents into parties with coffins, writing songs while drinking, cremation promo calls, and his intimidating keyboard player. Those who know Swamp Dogg, love him, and you'll see why in this episode. We also get to share Good Better Best, his song about women. With B...2023-04-0157 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsGetting Educated with IU Dean Van KootenJoin Indiana University College of Arts & Sciences Executive Dean Rick Van Kooten for a terrific conversation, ranging from capitalism to fruit flies. In between we talk about what's included in the College and why, Rick's history at the school (being Canadian and all), experimental physics, research funding, and the first uses of the World Wide Web (probably a lot more fun than what you think). We dig deep into the value and cost of a liberal arts education and mull over alternatives in apprenticeships and technical training. We also talk about how real science and "science" has been used d...2023-02-0357 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsLauren Leigh Martin, San Diego SongbirdJoin San Diego native Lauren Leigh Martin, as she talks about her singing career and upcoming second album. She talks about her musical influences: her aunt, Eve Selis; her dad, Claudio Martin; her album co-producer, Jeff Berkeley; and her musical partner, Sam Hunt. The past few years have been a challenge, with breakups, the pandemic, motherhood, and mental health, but Lauren has channeled that into her work and pushed herself to expand musically. Lauren discusses the life of a professional musician, including starting with a fall-back plan, financial considerations, touring, and drugs and alcohol. She also reveals the behind-the-scenes...2023-01-0458 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThinking Together with Alex ChambersPodcaster, poet, and educator Alex Chambers and Jennifer talk about—well, a lot of stuff. We start with "Inner States," Alex's radio show on WFIU from Bloomington, Indiana and chat about people's misconceptions about the Midwest and the Fly-Over states. We talk about how people and sounds form our impressions about a place, sometimes correctly and sometimes incorrectly. Jennifer whines about bad training programs, and Alex offers some advice about good teaching. He contrasts poetry and podcasting and what he likes about each medium. He also reads a great poem about Buffy the Vampire Slayer! A wonderful episode about le...2022-12-2457 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsOn the Trail of the Jackalope with Michael BranchAuthor and humorist Michael Branch joins us to talk about his new book, "On the Trail of the Jackalope: How a Legend Captured the World's Imagination and Helped Us Cure Cancer." He delves into the storied history of the mythological creature, often memorialized as a tongue-in-cheek hunting trophy, as well as its association with the American West, tall tales, and Wall Drug. He explains the phenomenon of the very real horned rabbits and how scientists, building on the work of virologist Richard Shope, used those cancerous growths on rabbits to develop the HPV vaccine. Mike also reports on his...2022-12-1653 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsHow Exercise Helps Your Brain with Dr. Christiane WrannDr. Christiane Wrann, researcher at MGH and associate professor at Harvard, has published some exciting new discoveries about the effect of exercise on the brain, potentially slowing cognitive decline and in some cases even reversing brain deterioration. She takes us through her work in mouse models, how her lab selects and "exercises" the mice, how cognitive decline is measured in mice, and the role of irisin, a hormone that appears to be linked to exercise and brain health. In everyday language, she explains this scientific research, what its limitations are, and what its potential might be for Alzheimer patients...2022-12-0253 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsTrina Robbins, Cartoonist, Fashion Designer, and AuthorTrina Robbins was memorialized as the first of Joni Mitchell's Ladies of the Canyon with her sketches and second-hand clothes, but, don't be fooled, Trina is a serious archivist of feminist art history. She drew for underground newspapers during the Women's Lib movement of the sixties and has published multiple anthologies of early women in comics. In this episode, we discuss many of her books, including her memoir, Last Girl Standing, and the documentary she is featured in, They're Beautiful When They're Angry. And she still loves clothes! So we talk about her favorite era, vintage clothes, and where...2022-11-2251 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Walking Dead with Oleg LivitsJoin The Walking Dead co-producer and entrepreneur Oleg Livits to talk about this phenomenal show whose eleventh and final season is airing now. The Walking Dead poses as a zombie show, but it is about so much more: survival, lawlessness, community, morality and death. Based on a comic book series, this record-setting and acclaimed AMC+ series has generated 177 episodes and multiple spinoffs; it also boasts an enormous and engaged fan base. Oleg takes us through the show's history, the commitment of its contributors and stakeholders, and the challenges that arose during the pandemic. We also talk about a new...2022-10-1901 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsPeople from Bloomington with Tiffany TsaoTranslator Tiffany Tsao joins us to discuss her recent project, the first publication in English of Indonesian writer Budi Darma's collection of short stories, "People from Bloomington." So much to talk about with this book! Darma's usual absurdist but very human eye crosses over here into more realistic fiction although readers familiar with Bloomington, Indiana may find the town rather transformed. The collection was originally published only in Indonesian, so Tiffany takes us through her process of capturing his voice in English with the kind of earthy and often very funny tone he used to present the odd Midwesterners...2022-09-0356 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsJeff Berkley Is Back!Jeff Berkley, musician, producer, and go-to guy for all things music in San Diego, talks about the current climate for musicians, as well as the old days at Java Joe's in Poway and Ocean Beach. With many projects in the works, he brings us up to speed on who is doing what in town and his new band "Jeff Berkley and the Banned" (we also feature one of their new songs!). Jennifer, Bill, and Jeff mull over some ideas to promote and enhance the music scene in San Diego, and Jeff brings his customary good humor and pragmatic approach...2022-08-061h 05Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsSarah Blake and Her Novel, Clean AirPoet and novelist Sarah Blake joins us to talk about her new genre-bending novel, Clean Air, a post-apocalyptic narrative centered on one small family and town that (as if they don't have enough to worry about) must cope with a serial killer. It's a fascinating original book about survival, anxiety, and motherhood, but also funny and hopeful. Sarah talks about world-building, her own health experiences, the models for her characters, biology, and writing in general. I loved this interview, and I think you will too. Sarah's website:https://sarahblakeauthor.com/Follow Sarah on Twitter:2022-07-291h 03Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsVampr with Josh SimonsCEO and co-founder, Josh Simons, joins us to talk about Vampr, the world's premier social network for musicians. Founded by two sympathetic Australian musicians, Josh (of Buchanan) and Baz Palmer (of Hunters & Collectors), Vampr has grown to over one million users and has facilitated over seven million connections. Josh takes us inside the algorithms to explain how like-minded musicians find each other and how the platform matches musicians with those of similar skill levels, in part with a philosophy of quality through quantity. Josh and Jennifer also discuss the challenges of networking (why people hate it), best attitudes for...2022-07-2249 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsFree Speech with Suzanne NosselSomething that makes the United States special is our constitutional protection of free speech. CEO of Pen America, Suzanne Nossel, joins us to talk about her new (really great) book, Dare to Speak: Defending Free Speech for All, and important aspects of open discourse in today's political and social context. Suzanne addresses the tension between free speech and equity/inclusion considerations, how to talk about free speech without antagonizing people, and that we shouldn't confuse speech with violence. Her straightforward and well-written book outlines appropriate behavior for speakers, listeners, citizens, and policy makers to preserve our essential protection from...2022-07-0251 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsLevi Vonk and "Border Hacker"Author and anthropologist Levi Vonk joins us to discuss his book Border Hacker, co-narrated with Axel Kirschner, a fascinating character caught between countries. Guatemalan by birth but raised in Queens, Axel was deported from the US and met up with Levi when they both joined a migrant caravan traveling through Mexico. Border Hacker is the story of their friendship, their adventures in navigating corrupt systems and entanglements, and the cruelty of American immigration policies. The book is fascinating, and Levi offers an unprecedented window into immigration issues, on an individual and global basis. A heartbreaking and heartwarming episode.2022-06-2455 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsDanny Nielsen and his New Book, Straight Flossin' and Other Stories of the American WestOn the occasion of the publication of his new book, join scientist and author, Danny Nielsen, to talk about writing, reading, and other matters. The new book, Straight Flossin' and Other Stories of the American West, is an exploration of desert landscapes and the flora, fauna, and human characters who inhabit them. Danny talks about what motivates him to write and offers advice for how to keep at it and enjoy it, as well as his background growing up in Alabama surrounded by brothers. Danny has an unusual perspective on the world, and we think you will like this...2022-06-1843 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsHow To Publish Your Book (If You're Not Famous)An irreverent, saying-the-quiet-part-out-loud look at the publishing industry from the Big Five of traditional publishers to self-publishing—particularly the financial aspects of your options. We focus on the likelihood of landing a Big Five contract, whether you even want that, and what you can expect from that experience. We talk in depth about the pros and cons of using an Author Services company, including those masquerading as publishers, and predatory practices to watch out for. Jennifer discusses some of the horror stories she's heard over the years and talks about the financial model she uses for her boutique publishing co...2022-05-081h 02Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Opus of William StoutJoin William Stout, artist and illustrator, with a specialization in paleontological art, to talk about his long career and getting famous slowly. The span of his work is enormous, both in terms of time, from the sixties to now, and across media: murals, posters, record covers, comics, trading cards—and over 70 movies. He is known for bootleg album covers, such as Who's Zoo, and his cover of Firesign Theatre's In the Next World You're On Your Own. His movie work includes the poster for Wizards and design work for the Conan films and Masters of the Universe. His dinosaurs are...2022-04-291h 02Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsRaising the Roof with The Wild Honey FoundationJoin Paul Rock and David Jenkins of The Wild Honey Foundation, a non-profit that raises money for charitable causes through cultural events, passing on the passion, creativity, and idealism found in music to future generations. Paul and David reminisce about some of their greatest shows going back decades honoring The Lovin' Spoonful, The Kinks, Brian Wilson, Buffalo Springfield, as well as their live renderings of whole albums, such as the Beatles' White Album and the Band's Music from Big Pink. One of their notable causes is autism, and Paul shares some news about the progress of his son who...2022-04-231h 09Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsEnlightened with Dan Stalcup - Part 2Writer and podcaster, Dan Stalcup, is back to talk more about Enlightened, the HBO show about Amy Jellicoe, who returns from rehab determined to change the world. In this second of two episodes, we discuss the larger themes the show wrestles with: capitalism, meaning, and work, while never missing a chance at a funny line. Written by the great Mike White, the show was before its time and did not find a large audience, but we are sure many viewers would enjoy this nuanced, funny, and endearing show. Highly recommended. Dan's podcast about movies:https://podcasts.a...2022-04-1558 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsEnlightened with Dan Stalcup - Part IReturning guest, writer and podcaster, Dan Stalcup, is back to talk about the HBO show Enlightened, written and produced by the great Mike White and starring Laura Dern, Luke Wilson, Diane Ladd, Sarah Burns, Timm Sharp and Mike White himself. Laura Dern as Amy returns from rehab to her corporate job, fired up to share her newly-discovered spiritual enlightenment with the world only to discover the world is not quite ready for her. This endearing comedy drama explores the complexity of humans, especially those who are seeking meaning in their small-ish lives, and how their explorations backfire, self-destruct, and...2022-04-0947 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsNerding Out with Michael Adams about DictionariesJoin Indiana University English Department Chairman and word nerd Michael Adams to talk about a recent acquisition of an enormous collection of dictionaries and associated material by the Lilly Library. The Kripke Collection is a lexicographer's dream, full of books on slang, pirate terms, erotic language, obscenities, regional terms, as well as ephemera, pamphlets, archival material about making and selling dictionaries, and much more! Michael talks about the history of early dictionaries and the behind-the-scenes drama that arose as passionate experts tangled over words and attribution. We also discuss the politics of dictionaries, how decisions about what is included...2022-04-011h 14Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsCatching Up with Lisa SandersToday we sit down with Lisa Sanders, longtime San Diego musician and recent Hall of Fame inductee, and hear about her many projects, from new songs to furniture making, as well as her long association with other musicians and local venues. She reflects on her long career and the various rabbit holes that have brought her to now. She also provides valuable advice for musicians who are just starting out and shares a beautiful song about love. A quintessential San Diego episode. With co-host Bill Aho.Lisa's website:https://lisasanders.com/Upcoming events:...2022-03-261h 02Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsHow To Not Be MadLife coach and author Corrinn Davis joins us in the midst of the current crisis when so many of us seem to be on edge or full-blown mad, as reflected in road rage and homicide statistics. We talk about how anger can displace other painful emotions, for better or worse, and how it can be redirected in positive ways. We speculate about what we're seeking when we feed on other people's anger. She provides some questions to monitor yourself before you lose control—and for when you've gone off the deep end, like, who benefits when you're angry? Stories, ad...2022-03-1851 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsReacher: The Book and the SeriesEnglish writer, classics teacher, and former police officer, Mark Knowles, joins us to talk about Reacher, the Amazon series; Killing Floor, the book it's based on; and its British author Lee Child. We analyze what's the same or different between the show and the book, what we like about Reacher, and how he resembles a classic Homeric hero. We also talk about stuff that got changed in the show and whether or not we approve (like the thing with the dog and some woke additions), plus some challenges inherent to transferring a monosyllabic loner to the screen. Spoilers! A...2022-03-121h 03Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsGetting Creative with Curio and CoWelcome to the world of Curio and Co where founders, Cesare Asaro and Kirstie Shepherd use their flair for nostalgic design to create souvenirs from a past you wish had existed. They join us from Vienna to talk about the sense of playfulness their creations spark, as well as the research, analysis, and plain old work required to make design elements that hit the mark. They talk about being development partners, as well as work they find inspirational like that of James Gunn, or Oceans 11, or Peanuts. A joyful episode. With co-host Bill Aho.Curio and Co's...2022-03-0559 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsUnderstanding Cast Iron with Ned AdamsThe Dutch Oven Daddy, Ned Adams, joins us to talk about all things cast iron: what it's good for, how to evaluate it, how to maintain it (especially the secrets of proper seasoning), and how to bring it back from a rusted state, using science! Ned also talks about his personal journey with cast iron, what got him started with it and its meaning to him today, as well as where to find the cast iron community of cooks and collectors. A lovely wide-ranging conversation about tradition, families, food, and chemistry.The Dutch Oven Daddy website (don't...2022-02-2547 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsEleni Austin, Music Reviewer and Walking EncyclopediaAfter working in record stores for over 30 years, Eleni has heard it all—and knows a lot! She shares her approach to providing information to those in need and to writing music reviews that can help a searcher find music they love. Raised in a large Greek family and exposed to a wide variety of music, Eleni moved to the desert as a teenager and began her career in music retail. Here she regales us with stories of bands, Elvis Costello, producers, and customers, as well as providing many recommendations. We throw in a rant or two. With co-host Bi...2022-02-191h 00Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsRay Bradbury and The Center for Ray Bradbury StudiesJoin Professor Jason Aukerman, Director of the Center for Ray Bradbury Studies, to learn about Bradbury's life and work, the creation of the center, and surprising discoveries in the archives. We discuss Fahrenheit 451 in which Bradbury cautioned us about the danger of mass media and censorship, topics even more relevant today. Jason discusses his approach to teaching writing and Bradbury's literary strengths, as well as the role of an archivist in protecting and evaluating a lifetime of work. We conclude with a bio of Bradbury and a reminder about the McCarthy era. A great episode for writers and readers.2022-02-121h 05Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsReflections with Amy RigbySinger/songwriter, blogger, and memoirist Amy Rigby joins us today for a wise and fun conversation about her 30-year career, including her CBGB days, having Ronnie Spector feature one of her songs, meeting Wreckless Eric, writing her memoir, and work during the pandemic. Known for her clever, funny, and sometimes vengeful lyrics, Amy is beloved by her fans (including Jennifer's mom!) for her insights into everyday living and surviving. This conversation is no exception with Amy reflecting on legacy, mortality, murder and tea towels. An unforgettable episode. With co-host Bill Aho.Amy's website: https://www.amyrigby.c...2022-02-0556 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsPaddington Bear and Michael BondJoin author Rosanne Tolin to discuss her book More Than Marmalade, the only biography of Michael Bond, the author of the beloved Paddington stories. Did you know Paddington was inspired by the Kindertransport refugees fleeing Germany and arriving in London with just a suitcase and a name tag? Bond, a dropout, worked for the BBC and as a struggling writer for many years before finally finding success with Paddington, a story concept suggested by his literary agent. Rosanne talks about her research, Bond's life and work, and offers advice about writing for the middle grades. A great episode for...2022-01-2953 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsHanging Out with Ben VaughnJoin singer/songwriter, musician, producer, composer and radio host Ben Vaughn talking about his many hats, how he got started in music and his gypsy career. In a wide-ranging, informal, and fun discussion, he describes doing a sound check in two different Ramblers (yes, the car) to pick the right one, getting a gun pulled on him in the producer's booth, his love for Mickey Lee Lane's Shaggy Dog, growing up listening to The Geator with the Heater, and the importance of always learning. We also share a fabulous version of Too Sensitive for this World. With co-host Bill...2022-01-211h 08Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsBelle Gunness: Getting Away with MurderA Norwegian pig farmer may not sound like a femme fatale, but Belle Gunness lured dozens of men to their death and became Indiana's most notorious serial killer. Author and researcher Jane Simon Ammeson joins us to discuss her new book about Belle, including the latest discoveries about her gruesome deeds and mysterious disappearance. A creepy but fascinating episode.Jane's websites:https://janeammeson.com/https://shelflife.blog/jane-simon-ammeson/Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:https://www.discreetguide.com/podcast-books-shows-tunes-mad-acts/Follow or like us on podomatic.c...2022-01-1451 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsRogue Dogs and their Wildlife Detection WorkJoin Jennifer Hartman, director of Rogue Detection Teams, to talk about using rescue dogs in scientific work to locate and analyze threatened animal species. We cover dog selection and training (though the dog bounders are often learning as much from the dogs), the physical requirements of the work, what can be learned now through DNA analysis of animal scat, the benefits of using dogs in a non-invasive way, and the challenges posed by long solo trips into rugged wilderness. Specifically, we talk about the project in the Eastern Sierra to learn about the elusive Sierra Nevada red fox, and...2022-01-071h 01Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsConsequential Strangers with Melinda BlauJoin relationship expert Melinda Blau while she discusses her book about the importance of acquaintances and weak ties in building networks, expanding our boundaries, and just making us feel better. With specific examples and tactical advice about how to initiate a conversation, nurture a relationship, and let it go, she gives us food for thought for the new year. She also presents the science of casual connections and explains their surprising impact, as well as what we are learning about internet relationships. A wonderful uplifting episode.Melinda's book co-written with psychologist Karen Fingerman:https://melindablau.com...2022-01-0155 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsChristmas Music: The Good, the Bad and the UglyChristmas music seems to be unstoppable with new songs and albums coming out every year, so Bill and Jennifer have a lot to talk about from traditional, classic tunes, whether they're overplayed and fall out of fashion; to innovative covers; to novelty and funny songs, new and old; to caroling and kids' TV shows; to artists who unexpectedly turn in an awesome song; and those we'd rather forget, especially if they included their kids on the recording. Whether Christmas is a happy or sad time for you, we've got recommendations. With co-host Bill Aho.Thoughts? Comments? Potshots...2021-12-241h 00Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsMichael Nesmith: We'll Remember YouMichael Nesmith, the cap-wearing Monkee, passed away last week. Jennifer and Bill talk about Michael's life and legacy in depth, from fleeing Texas to landing in the concoction that was the Monkees, and then moving on to myriad projects in music, video, and prose, often with instincts before his time. Productive, thoughtful, with a playful side, he has left us a big legacy of gifts that keep on giving. An episode for music and music video fans. With co-host Bill Aho.Michael's website that we mention:https://www.videoranch3d.com/Thoughts? Comments? Potshots...2021-12-181h 02Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsVinyl!Jon Teichman and Geoff Walker join Bill and Jennifer to talk about the allure and resilience of vinyl LP records. Jon and Geoff are experts about vinyl and organize the multi-day and multi-city Ore Dock Record Show which features 10,000 LPs and thousands of visitors from around the world. Here they talk about sound quality, equipment, bootlegs, what people are buying, music communities, and more. They tell wonderful stories of found treasures and how music works like a time machine. You don't want to miss this heart-warming episode. With co-host Bill Aho.Follow Geoff on Instagram: @MichiganRecords...2021-12-1158 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsLuLaRoe with LolaGeekJoin LolaGeek, a former sales consultant for LuLaRoe, for the lowdown on that business and other multi-level marketing schemes. Get the insider's view on how LuLaRoe, a billion-dollar direct sales clothing company, recruited, targeted stay-at-home moms, manipulated its messaging, enriched its founders and impoverished its workers, and ultimately became the subject of multiple lawsuits. An eye-opening tale about a pyramid scheme in lamb's clothing.Follow LolaGeek on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/c/LolaGeek/featuredLuLaRich, the documentary we discuss:https://www.amazon.com/LuLaRich-Season-1/dp/B09CFXPNSXThoughts? Comments? Potshots...2021-12-0450 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Wild World of Music Promotion with Elliot KendallA galloping mile-a-minute ride through the career of Elliot Kendall, from his early days as a struggling musician in the Bay Area to waiter days in LA, his dream job as the Catalog Guy at Universal for 13 years, and now his constant reinvention. What fuels him? What's happening today with music promotion? How do we find good music? Does radio matter? Elliot answers these questions and many more. A lively and entertaining episode. With co-host Bill Aho.Find Elliot on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/elliot-kendall-a3476563/Podcast episode Elliot refers to with Howard...2021-11-271h 03Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsMyths about Poverty with Mark RankJoin social scientist and poverty expert Mark Rank to discuss his recent book, "Poorly Understood: What America Gets Wrong about Poverty," and common misconceptions about being poor in the US. He explains that not only do many millions find themselves in poverty today, the risk of YOU finding yourself in poverty at some point during your life is surprisingly high. We consider poverty statistics, policies, the economic cost of poverty, and why it—and the myths around it—persists. An accessible and eye-opening episode.The website Mark refers to:https://confrontingpoverty.org/Mark's book:h...2021-11-2056 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsPrankster Alan AbelJoin Jenny and Jeanne Abel as they discuss the life work of hoaxer Alan Abel, the genius behind such pranks as The Society for Indecency to Nude Animals, the fainting incident on Phil Donahue, presidential candidate Yetta Bronstein, Omar's School for Beggars, and mockumentaries, such as Is There Sex After Death. Daughter Jenny and wife Jeanne describe Alan's early career and progression into comedy, as well as the documentary Abel Raises Cain, which Jenny created with Jeff Hockett and which won many film festival awards.Link to the documentary:https://abelraisescain.com/abel_raises_cain_movie...2021-11-1359 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsMusic with the Michiganders Music with the MichigandersJennifer, Bill, and Doug discuss their first memories of music and early influences that turned them into giant life-long music fans, starting with bubblegum music and novelty songs. They talk about the importance of friends, a band’s covers, and passion versus production. They also celebrate the breakdown of musical genres and the many ways to access and discover music now, even if we have to work a little harder to discover and share music now. They also make some recommendations you don’t want to miss.Follo...2021-11-0756 min
Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsAnnouncement of Name Change for the ShowHappy New Year, everybody. Ta-da! The new show will be called "Books, Shows, Tunes & Mad Acts." It will be classified on Podomatic under Art: Books, but if you have trouble finding it, write me at jennifer@discreetguide.com or catch me on Twitter @DiscreetGuide, and we'll hook you up. See you on the other side!2021-01-0103 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsHow to Make IT—and Work in General—BetterNick Brown is back! Former IT guy and now psychologist, Nick talks about some counter-intuitive policy changes for improving the efficiency and lowering costs of IT, by actually making users happier. It's a recognition of the importance of treating co-workers as humans instead of enemies, and an argument for a new way of thinking. This is a great episode to end our run with, as we have been moving toward these ideas over our last 200 episodes. We will have a new show in 2021, with a new format and focus. Tune in on New Year's Eve for more information and the...2020-12-3042 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsA Wolf at the Schoolhouse DoorUpon the launch of their new book, Jack Schneider and Jennifer Berkshire, join us to talk about what forces have been at work undermining public education in the US. We talk about public funding of religious schools, edupreneurs intent on pocketing tax monies, and edu-marketing, especially of online schools--all ways of diverting money away from traditional public schools--and the growing gap between privileged and disadvantaged students. We also discuss curriculum decisions and why parents might not be the best at recognizing education as a public good, but how our common desire for an excellent education for our children could be...2020-11-171h 01Books Shows Tunes & Mad ActsWas Robert Ludlum Consumed by his Own Brand?The Hades Factor, a bad-guys-with-a-virus story, was written by Gayle Lynds based on a treatment by Ludlum and published in 2000 shortly before his death. Ludlum wrote 21 books on his own, but his brand marches on, having produced another 26 books after his death, including 13 of the Bourne series. His decline after heart surgery and the death of his beloved longtime first wife was accelerated by an unhappy second marriage and a terrifying and mysterious house fire from which he never recovered. His literary legacy is preserved by his devoted fans, but his brand has become a larger-than-life cash cow, spawning books...2020-11-1534 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsTeacher Pay for PerformanceUniversity of Virginia professor and director of EdPolicyWorks Jim Wycoff joins us to discuss efforts to tie teacher pay to performance. Following on research about teacher effectiveness, especially in low-performing schools, Jim reviews programs in New York and Washington DC that emphasized teacher evaluation and rewarded high performance with significant financial compensation. He explains how some of those lessons learned, including discussions with teacher unions, can be transported to other districts and reviews what factors contributed to their success (some may surprise you!). Some valuable takeaways here for policy makers and parents in this accessible and uplifting episode....2020-11-1057 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsAll About Charter SchoolsEducation researcher and Indiana University professor Chris Lubienski joins us to talk about what charter schools are, how they were and are created, what their promise was, how they are marketed in the US and abroad, and what the research shows about their effectiveness, especially in Indiana where the state has encouraged their formation in the name of school choice. Chris discusses Horace Mann's ideas about a Common School and how that has played out in the modern era, as well as data regarding segregation and the achievement gap. An accessible and clear-eyed episode about a controversial topic....2020-11-0355 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Great Believers: A Great BookRebecca Makkai's 2018 book The Great Believers was a finalist for the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize in fiction, for good reasons. It is two stories, one about the AIDS epidemic moving through a gay community in Chicago in the 80s and another of a mother searching for her daughter in Paris in 2015. The book is about death and grief, but that means it's also about love and life, and so invigorating and a reminder of how to live, now, when we are lucky enough to be here at the same time and in the same place as our...2020-11-0139 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsSamuel Paty: A Teacher Killed for Doing his JobOn October 16, 2020, a French history teacher was beheaded by an Islamic terrorist while walking home from school. Controversy had arisen around the teacher when he used several satirical cartoons depicting Muhammad earlier in the month in a section on free speech. Demonstrations and tributes have followed, as well as aggressive action by French authorities to identify all those involved and shut down radical Islamic organizations. That, and strong words by Macron, have been decried as Islamophobia, along with calls for a boycott of French goods. We unravel this tragic story and pay homage to the legacy of this dedicated teacher...2020-10-2714 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Red Lotus and the Joy of EditingWe review a virus-related thriller published in March 2020 and written by Chris Bohjalian. A beautiful cover and an intriguing beginning set in Vietnam sadly lose their momentum in this thriller which suffers from minimal character development, a weak climax, and sloppy writing, perhaps because of hurried writing. We check in on reviews from the NYT Review of Books (loved it!) and the Amazon crowd (some, not so much). We engage in an editing exercise to see how to strengthen, clarify, and tighten a paragraph, and we also tell a story about trying to trap a rat. A good episode for...2020-10-2546 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsSchool Assessments: A Rigorous LookIndiana University education professor David Rutkowski joins us to talk about school assessment tools and outcomes inside the state of Indiana, across US states, and internationally, with lots of surprises. Going beyond the headlines and politics, results may not be what you think. David explains why schools are more than their assessments and why it's important for us to be smart about these measurements. We also touch on school finance and racial deviations, and Jennifer talks about her experience going to a Parisian lycée in the eighth grade. An accessible episode about an essential national topic.To f...2020-10-2054 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe End of October by Lawrence WrightPublished in April 2020, the book has been acclaimed for its ability to predict what would happen during a pandemic. Well, kinda, Wright got some things right, but Covid-19 is not nearly the apocalypse that he predicted. More problematic is the organization and editing of the book; the raw material for an interesting product is there, but it doesn't hang together as a novel: long educational sections about viruses, epidemics, laboratories are roughly spliced into personal drama. We speculate here about how that happened, along with other reviewers, including Roxane Gay. A timely book and review as part of our Literary...2020-10-1845 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsTeacher Supply, Qualifications, Impact and PayLabor economist Dan Goldhaber joins us to talk about research findings regarding teacher scarcity and the correlations between teacher qualifications and their measurable impact on student learning. He explains how typical pay schedules reward or ignore teacher characteristics that seem to be related to student gains. He also discusses some research about non-credentialed teachers who come from programs like Teach for America. Another in our series about education and teaching, this is an eye-opening episode about a misunderstood topic.The research centers about education that Dan mentions:http://cedr.us/index.htmlhttps://caldercenter.org/2020-10-1359 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsMy First JobIn a personal episode, Jennifer recounts her early days of going to the local library as a young girl to check out giant stacks of books, beginning to volunteer there, looking for work, and then eventually getting a job as a page. She talks about commuting by bicycle or by parent, learning about policies and conflict, and her brushes with nascent technologies, such as the infamous randtriever. She also talks about how those experiences shaped her view of and interest in work. A nostalgic look back in time to a different era.A photo of the old library:2020-05-1324 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsA Scientist's Perspective on Face MasksMicrobiologist, research scientist, and co-chair of the Cambridge City COVID–19 Expert Advisory Panel (and my sister!), Jill Crittenden, joins us to talk about what face masks can do for you and people around you, what masks work best, how to make your own, and how to use masks safely. She provides science-backed information about how the coronavirus is transmitted and the best safety measures for a community. She also discusses several initiatives to provide protective gear to cashiers and to frontline healthcare workers. A crucial episode.JILL WOULD LIKE TO UPDATE THIS INFORMATION BY RECOMMENDING THAT DIY MASK MA...2020-04-0604 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsPublishing Versus Podcasting: Either, Neither, or BothIn our 100th episode, we change things up a bit to talk about creative projects people might be contemplating during the pandemic and what to consider in choosing between publishing books or other written materials and podcasting. We look at potential reach and difficulty for each option with some observations about costs and eventual impact. A good starter episode for people thinking of putting their voices out into the world.Jennifer's publishing company:https://www.whistlingrabbitpress.com/Thoughts? Comments? Potshots? Contact the show at:https://www.discreetguide.com/Follow the host on...2020-03-2926 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsHow the Coronavirus is Affecting San Diego EmployersJennifer Jacobus of the San Diego Employers Association joins us to provide updates about the latest legislation regarding sick leave and what problems employers are facing during this public health crisis. She discusses strategies companies are using to mitigate the economic impact and take care of their employees, increasing flexibility and remote work. She also looks into her crystal ball and tells us what she thinks is on the horizon. A practical and positive episode.About San Diego Employers Association:https://sdeahr.org/Connect with the guest on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in...2020-03-2735 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsA Guide to Workplace HumorHumor researcher Barbara Plester joins us to talk about the four types of humor, why jokes sometimes offend, how managers can embrace humor and reduce its risk, and an effective response to an offensive comment. We also go deep on why some people think a fake used condom, a poster about punching a woman, and a Catholic-eating alligator are funny–and others don't. An insightful and practical episode.Barbara's book "Laugh Out Loud: A User's Guide to Workplace Humor"https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-981-13-0283-1Contact the guest:Barbara Plester 2020-03-1800 minBooks Shows Tunes & Mad ActsThe Genius of Office SpaceStuart Gaston and Jennifer, both fans of the movie, Office Space, chat about the evolution of the film into cult status, why it's been called a "brutal portrayal of workplace misery," its iconic moments and related memes, its continued relevance, as well as Mike Judge's subsequent projects. Lots of laughs, along with some diversions into Buddhism and the importance of absurdity. An episode to lighten the mood on Friday the 13th.Scene from the move: [don't watch the trailer; it wrecks the film]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iiOEQOtBlQStuart's website that we talk...2020-03-1353 min