Mariachi 101 - Airdate - 2/2 - 3 p.m. (CT)

Update - 2/2/09: This show has aired. You can download the MP3 from our archive. Let us know what you think!

Joe Hardtke

We're kicking off February with Veronica Rueckert filling in for Jean and a party on the radio in the form of mariachi music.



We have two guests lined up for you with two unique angles on the genre.

Gil Sperry is the author of Mariachi for Gringos. Sperry originally played classical piano and jazz, but was turned on to mariachi after traveling Mexico in the mid 70s. Gil describes his book as "Mariachi 101," covering the foundation of the music and providing a nice list of the top 50 mariachi songs you must hear.

Ramino Burr is a music journalist based in San Antonio and he's followed the Latino music scene for years. His writing has been featured in Billboard, Cashbox and a host of other publications. He has an excellent blog, www.raminoburr.com, that covers everything from boleros to Tex-Mex and he's working on an exhaustive history of mariachi as I write this.

It's my hope that these two gentlemen will represent and delight both new listeners to the music and long-time collectors. What's more, we'll discuss the essential mariachi artists recordings that everyone should hear before they die.

Do you listen to mariachi? Who are your favorite artists? What first turned you on to the music? Share your stories through our Here on Earth Hotline - 1-877-GLOBE-07 - and we'll play them back on the show.

Revisiting Inside Islam

Joe Hardtke

So we're in the middle of an encore presentation of our Inside Islam series, playing back all four shows we've done thus far. And thanks to our new Here on Earth hotline, we're still hearing your comments. Listeners are calling in to 1-877-GLOBE-07 and offering their thoughts on the rebroadcasts.

We heard from Josh who wanted to talk about censorship after our show on Islamic Metal. And Katham, who called for a more balanced approach from Barack Obama when talking to the Muslim world. And your input is welcome as well. Call 1-877-GLOBE-07 anytime, leave your name, where you're from and your comments. We'll play back the messages when we return with new shows next week. Of course, you can also join the dialog with Kaitlin, our blogger, at the Inside Islam site.

Dan, Patrick and I are all working on new shows this week. Some really interesting topics: Homosexuality in Islam, eco-adventures with David DeRothschild and (finally!) a long-delayed talk with high-wire artist Philippe Petit. You might know Mr. Petit from his amazing walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center in 1974 as told in the book and Oscar-nominated documentary Man on Wire.



It's going to be a great February! As always, we want your feedback! We'll post a few more tid-bits on upcoming shows very soon.

SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE

Update - 1/14/09: This show has aired. You can download the MP3 from our archive. Let us know what you think!
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After a lot of back and forth with all the publicity and production companies associated with Slumdog Millionaire, we're very excited to announce that the director, Danny Boyle, will be joining us on tomorrow's program! Slumdog Milionaire, which just won four Golden Globes, including Best Drama and Best Director, is a visually stunning film, certainly in part to Danny's insistance on shooting on location in India as opposed to building a set.

What's inspired an Irish Catholic director more famous for zombies and heroin addicts to focus his attention on India?

Boyle's taken a love story and put it against the backdrop of India, highlighting its social problems, its crowds, and the wide variety of people to be found there. I liked the range of classes and cultures highlighted in the movie -- India's poverty is certainly a focus, but he doesn't make it out to be all that India's about, either.

Later on in the show, we'll have Vassar English Professor Amitava Kumar on to talk about the Bollywood roots and inspirations for Slumdog Millionare, which he wrote about for Vanity Fair.

Have you seen Slumdog Millionaire? Are you a Bollywood aficionado? Have you been to India? We'll want your comments on tomorrow's show.

Widow Clicquot: the Woman behind a Champagne Empire

Update - 1/16/09: This show has aired. You can download the MP3 from our archive. Let us know what you think!
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Lisa Bu

The history of champagne is filled with folklores. Some are bogus, such as the happy cry of Dom Pierre Perignon in his cellar: "Come quickly! I am drinking the stars!" Early winemakers were anything but delighted by the bubbles, according to Tilar Mazzeo, the guest of our food show this coming Friday Jan. 16 at 3 p.m. Central time. Some other folklores are true but little known in the United States such as the legacy of Madame Clicquot who elevated the status of champagne from defective to celebrity wine.

In the wake of the French Revolution, Madame Clicquot became a widow and single mother at age 27. But widowhood also gave her social permission to run her own business. And she started a champagne empire and built a legacy. Author of "The Widow Clicquot: The Story of a Champagne Empire and the Woman Who Ruled It," Tilar will recount the story of a legendary entrepreneur and answer your questions during our show. To make sure to have your questions answered, please call our hotline at 1-877-GLOBE-07 or pose them as comments to this blog entry.

The Mechanics of Peace In Gaza - Airdate - 1/13 - 4 p.m. (ET)

Update - 1/13/09: This show has aired. You can download the MP3 from our archive. Let us know what you think!

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Patrick Peczerski

News reporting on the Gaza conflict coming from major media outlets appears to concentrate on the violence and the commentary from politicians in the region. Less rarely do we hear the voices of citizens affected. This Tuesday we will talk to moderates: an Israeli, American Jew and two Palestinians and explore the frustrations and hopes on each side and what the guests believe should be done on to reduce the excuses for violent acts.

Before the show airs, I want to know what your views on the conflict are. We'll read them back on the show.

Ideas Worth Spreading - Airdate - 1/8 - 4 p.m. (ET)

Update - 1/8/09: This show has aired. You can download the MP3 from our archive. Let us know what you think!
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Joe Hardtke

Fans of deep thinking, Stephen Hawking and YouTube might be familiar with the TED Conference. Short for Technology, Entertainment, Design, the annual conference brings together the world's most fascinating thinkers (Richard Branson, Jane Goodall, Al Gore, Bono, E.O. Wilson and the aforementioned Mr. Hawking) and challenges them to give the talk of their lives... ...in under 18 minutes.



This mandate has resulted in a flurry of ideas since TED's inception in 1984. World-changing ideas that come from inspired, entertaining speakers who reach for your brain-stem and give it a good shake, if not a tickle. Where else would geeky rock wordsmiths They Might Be Giants bump shoulders with microbiology prodigy Eva Vertes?

So this Thursday, we're inviting TED Curator Chris Anderson on to the show to preview the next TED Conference taking place next month in Long Beach, California. We want to know what world-changing ideas TED is currently exploring and, even more importantly, how can we make those good ideas viral. Everyone has passed along a goofy YouTube video to a friend, but what does a good idea need to have to capture that same area of our collective imagination. Chris may have more than a few thoughts about this.

Please respond with your questions for Chris right here or at the Here on Earth Hotline - 1-877-GLOBE-07. We'll read or play them back on the show. And in the meantime, check out global health professor and TED speaker Hans Rosling, using his statistics to systematically rock our outdated views on "The Third World."