Iranian Women: Raising the Roof 6/29

Carly Yuenger

On today's show we discuss the political experience of women in the 1979 Revolution in Iran as well as the political roles they're playing today.

Our guest, Iranian-born author Nahid Rachlin, offers us multiple female perspectives on life in Iran and on what it's like to be living far away from one's homeland when political upheaval happens.

What insights and questions have the recent events raised for you about women's lives in Iran and their role in politics? What experiences have you had that help you understand what it's like for women in Iran today and for ex-patrioted Iranians? Have you watched the violent and tragic video of a woman named Neda? Do you refuse to? Let us know what perspectives and knowledge you're lacking that you'd like us to bring onto the show. Add a comment below, or leave us a voicemail at 1-877-GLOBE-07.

You can check out Nahid Rachlin's memoir, Persian Girls, here, and an article by Soheila Vahdati at Women's eNews, here, about changes in women's rights activism in Iran in just the last decade.

Community as Hope in Hard Times 6/25

Carly Yuenger

It's easy to look around at the problems we face as a world, as a nation, and as a community and get a sinking feeling in one's stomach. Our guest today, though, would like to teach us how to feel a sense of opportunity instead.

Richard Harwood is the Founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation and in places like Tehran and Detroit, he sees what he calls a "Compelling Moment." Can we address nationwide, and even worldwide, problems through getting active in our communities? How have you worked to build community? What opportunities and innovative ideas are sparked for you when you look at the crises of today? Add your comments here or leave us a voicemail at 1-877-GLOBE-07.

The Science of Compassion 6/23

Carly Yuenger

Today's show features two perspectives on the nature of compassion--religion and science. Professor James Doty is the founder and director of The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education and Thubten Chodron is a Buddhist nun and founder of Sravasti Abby in Eastern Washington State.

It is promising to think that we might be able to find through science what makes us good and giving individuals. At the same time, would such a discovery take away from the idea that compassion and altruism are traits that we must work to acquire, such as through the Buddhist practice of meditation? What are your thoughts on the relationship between the religious and scientific perspectives on benevolence? Share your thoughts below by adding a comment or leave us a voicemail at 1-877-GLOBE-07

And be sure to check out today's show if you missed it. As always, you can link to the work of our guests at the webpage for today's show. There you'll also find more information about the Interfaith Retreat that Thubten Chodron is hosting in July.

Reporting from the Energy Fair

Joe Hardtke

I'm reporting from the Energy Fair in Custer, Wisconsin where the show is scheduled to air a live remote later today.

Yesterday, my co-engineer Britny DeAnda and I spent most the day here setting up and testing our equipment. It's a crazy place, a virtual tent city set up in the middle of a field about five miles outside of Stevens Point, Wisconsin. It's like a eco-business Woodstock, with hippies replaced by green entrepreneurs and ideas flowing everywhere. We're broadcasting from the Fair's "Maroon" tent if you want to drop by and say hello.

Forecast for today? 84, humid and a 50 percent of rain, maybe thunderstorms. This could get very interesting. If a storm does go through, it could disrupt things a bit. I'm prepared for the very real possibility that we may have to stop broadcasting for a while if lightning strikes too close to home.

Will your loyal Technical Director be electrocuted? Will the show go off without a hitch? Will eco-geniuses on site figure out a way to power the show with massive lightning rods made out of paper clips!? :) Tune in later today, faithful listeners!

Poverty Without Borders 6/15, 6/16

Carly Yuenger

Our show on Bead for Life last week started a conversation about global poverty and it's one we're continuing this week with Monday's and Tuesday's shows.

Like any global issue, global poverty stands at the nexus of a complex set of issues. At the same time, food, water, shelter, and basic health and sanitation are fundamental needs for everyone and so it stands to reason that something about the experience of poverty is the same, or similar, no matter who or where you are.

Monday's show with Mort Rosenblum of Dispatches addresses the larger issue of looking at poverty in a global context. Tuesday's show with Jacqueline Novogratz of Acumen Fund highlights the efforts of one person to combat poverty by appropriating the mechanisms of a capitalist economy.

Can the experience of poverty give us insight into how to address it? Is there a politics of poverty that has gotten in the way of the ability of an abundant world to provide for the basic needs of its inhabitants? What has gone wrong in the ecology of humans that there can be great riches existing side by side with extreme poverty? Please add your thoughts below, or leave us a voicemail at 1-877-GLOBE-07

Food and Romance 6/12

Carly Yuenger

On today's show we discuss the tempting but sometimes disastrous relationship between food and romance with Giulia Melucci, author of I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti, her new book that's part cookbook, part dating memoir.

To share your stories of how food figures into your relationships, or to tell us what your food memoir would be about post a comment below or leave us a voicemail at 1-877-GLOBE-07.

Can Travel Change the World? 6/11

Carly Yuenger

..or at least ourselves?

Travel writer Rick Steves joins us today to talk about his new book, Travel as a Political Act. Most of us know how to travel for pleasure and relaxation, but what might it mean to travel to make ourselves better people? Better citizens?

The world is a complicated place and it might be hard to imagine how traveling can make it any clearer. Many of us have had an experience of traveling and happening upon something that is difficult for us to relate to. But does even this experience have some value to it?

Has traveling ever brought a profound political experience for you? What does culture shock feel like and what can it tell us about ourselves? What have you learned from becoming a foreigner?

Leave a comment here or leave a voicemail at 1-877-GLOBE-07

"Can You Make This Sound Like An Italian Romantic-Comedy?"

Joe Hardtke

I'm a very lucky fella with a wildly creative job. As Technical Director, part of my gig is to find sound and music that supports and compliments Jean's conversation. But this often leads to some pretty odd discussion all by itself.

Carly and I were talking just this afternoon about how we could enhance Friday's show with author Guilia Melucci on her book I Loved, I Lost, I Made Spaghetti. I'm paraphrasing, but it went a little something like this...

(For added fun... Links are included to give you an idea of how my mental jukebox might have reacted to Carly's suggestions.)

Carly: "We need sound and music that feels like cooking."
Me: "What kind of cooking?"
Carly: "Like you're making a classy dinner for a boyfriend..."
Me: "OK."
Carly: "...but no matter what you cook, things seem to go horribly wrong."
Me: "Horribly?"
Carly: "Yeah, horribly. But comically at the same time."
Me: "So is this like a romantic comedy."
Carly: "Yes, but based around spaghetti."
Me: "Got it, so it's an Italian romantic comedy."
Carly: "Kind of. But not too Italian. We should avoid cliches."
Me: "OK."
Carly: "You know, it could sound a little like the music in Amelie."
Me: "...but not French. Italian."
Carly: "Yeah. Italian. It should just feel like Amelie."
Me: "Like Amelie. Got it. So maybe the music should feel a little befuddled, too. Like no matter what the protagonist does, things always go wrong. Somewhat like a Woody Allen film."
Carly: "Sure."
Me: "So let's sum things up... Music for an Italian romantic comedy based around spaghetti that sounds a little like Audrey Tautou on a horrible date with Woody Allen."

So what exactly does that sound like to you? I actually think I might have an idea. Mid-70's Italian pop/M.O.R. music. Somewhere along the lines of Paolo Conte. He's witty and comical, but dry. He's Italian, but his roots don't show as much. He's romantic, but melancholic and sarcastic sounding. He's classic, but has a down-on-his-luck kind of feel.



I might try to find instrumental versions of his songs, though. His lyrics might distract from the conversation and instrumentals are always easier to talk over.

It's always a fun challenge to set the mood for listeners. I feel I'm pretty good at this, but I'm always open to suggestions and I'm still not sure about this one. Any ideas?

Feminine Handicraft Series - Starting 6/10 - 4pm ET

Carly Yuenger

Hello Here on Earth listening world. Recently, in my daily web-surfing duties, I came across something that inspired an idea for a series. It was this TED talk by Margaret Wertheim.



Not only did I immediately want Margaret on the show, but her talk made me think of all the ways to think about, experience, and use all those dusty, passed down female handicrafts. So I started looking around and found non-profit groups organized around female craftiness, “craftivists” using craft as a means of protest, artists elegantly skirting the thin line between craft and art, and communities and families all over the world who have been passing down unique designs for generations.

So I’ve been putting together some shows on the common spark of female handicraft. I don’t mean to be exclusive here—I know plenty of guys who love to knit. I’m interested in how crafts—in the true sense of the word—that have been passed down from women to women are finding new outlets, expanding old ones, and are continuing to be transformed by those who care to pick them up again, and again.

The series starts off next Wednesday when Torkin Wakefield of Bead for Life shares with us how the craft of beading among women in Uganda has not only become a sustainable and meaningful form of income but a grassroots connection with people all over the world who love to make things by hand. You can check out the work Bead for Life does here. And Margaret Wertheim joins us the Wednesday after.

What do you think? Where does craftiness appear in your world? Which crafts do you enjoy? Why? Which seems more important—the tradition of craft or its radical interpretations? Please let me know if there is someone you think should be in the series! Leave a comment below or leave your voice on our voice mail: 1-877-GLOBE-07

Back and Blogging...

Joe Hardtke

It's been quiet at the Blog Without Borders lately. And for good reason. Most of our staff has been enjoying some time off. It all started with me on vacation in the desert southwest, roaming the dusty highways of New Mexico, Arizona, Utah and Colorado with my wife. (Maybe I should share some pics...)










I returned last week and Jean jetted off. (I'm not quite sure where, to be honest.) She'll be back next week. Carly even took some time off, spending a few lovely days in Portland, she tells me. But we're back and planning some big shows for Jean's return.

We'll kick off next Monday with a full recap on Obama's trip this week to the Middle East. While we're on that notion, we're also planning a show Thursday on the intriguing notion of travel as a political act. There's more, of course, but I'll fill you in once I know more from Carly and Dan. In the meantime, leave your questions and comments about the above topics here at the Blog Without Borders. Or you can call and leave your messages at the Here on Earth Hotline - 1-877-GLOBE-07. We'll play them back on the air.

OK then... Back to alien fortune telling... Talk to you soon!