Is the press finally up to the climate emergency? MARK HERTSGAARD-COVERING CLIMATE NOW
Written on September 14th, 2022Recent headlines: Temperatures in Europe Smash Historic Records. Lake Mead Plummets to New Low. Only ‘Rapid Action’ Can Prevent Worst Marine Extinction in 250M Years. UN’s Leading Climate Scientists Call Latest Climate Report Nothing Less Than “Code Red for Humanity.” Here’s my conversation with MARK HERTSGAARD, co-founder/Executive Director of Covering Climate Now. a global journalism initiative to help “news media cover the defining story of our time with the rigor and urgency it deserves.” Mark’s also the environment correspondent for The Nation and author of several books including HOT: Living Through the Next Fifty Years on Earth. We’ll get an update on the crisis as well as efforts to report it well enough to turn things around.
(1) BARBARA EHRENREICH (2005), Nickel & Dimed; Bait & Switch; (2) EDUARDO GALEANO (2009), The Open Veins of Latin America; Mirrors: Stories of Almost Everyone.
Written on September 7th, 2022BARBARA EHRENREICH, journalist, activist, and author of more than 20 books, died September 1st at 81. In her bestseller NICKEL AND DIMED, she explored the lives of low wage workers. Here’s my 2005 conversation with Barbara, in which we talk about her followup BAIT AND SWITCH, in which she examined the lives of white-collar unemployed. Learn more at barbaraehrenreich.com. In the second half you’ll hear my 2009 conversation with one of Latin America’s most beloved literary figures, EDUARDO GALEANO, who passed away in 2015. His many books include THE OPEN VEINS OF LATIN AMERICA and MIRRORS: STORIES OF ALMOST EVERYONE.
Is the nightmare finally over? GARY GERSTLE, THE RISE & FALL OF THE NEOLIBERAL ORDER
Written on September 1st, 2022The self-regulated market cannot respond effectively to the most critical challenges we face – inequality, climate change, an unhealthy relationship with rest of nature, pandemics and public health, social and racial division and tribalism, crippled government, and endangered democracy. So how did this notion dominate for 35+ years? And why is it crashing now? I talk with GARY GERSTLE, Professor of American History Emeritus at University of Cambridge, England, about his book, THE RISE AND FALL OF THE NEOLIBERAL ORDER: America and the World in the Free Market Era. You can learn more at garygerstle.com
Back to School-RAFE ESQUITH (2013) REAL TALK FOR REAL TEACHERS
Written on August 26th, 2022As schools open around the country, here’s my 2013 converation with RAFE ESQUITH, who for 30 years taught 5th grade at LA’s Hobart Elementary public school. In 2005, PBS aired the documentary, THE HOBART SHAKESPEARIANS, about the full folio Shakespeare productions that his students perform each year. “I don’t want my students to be ordinary; I want them to be extraordinary because I know that they are. If a 10-year-old, who doesn’t speak English at home, can step in front of you and do a scene from Shakespeare,” says Esquith, “then there is nothing that he cannot accomplish.” We talk about REAL TALK FOR REAL TEACHERS: Advice for Teachers, From Rookies to Veterans: No Retreat, No Surrender! You can learn more at hobartshakespeareans.org
American Heroes-1) HOWARD ZINN (2005), 2) GEORGE McGOVERN (2005) – both born 100 years ago this summer
Written on August 26th, 2022Both born 100 years ago this summer, HOWARD ZINN (08/24/1922) and GEORGE McGOVERN (07/19/1922) were men of wisdom and principle who fought for their beliefs and the common good in the public square. Zinn taught at historically Black Spelman College from 1956-63 and Boston University 1964-88. An anti-Vietnam War leader, he wrote 20 books including A PEOPLE’S HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES. McGovern was Director of Food for Peace under President Kennedy, South Dakota Senator from 1963-1981, and Democratic presidential candidate in 1972.
