It's Body Music 10/29

Carly Yuenger

We're very excited to have body musician Keith Terry on the show today for some live performance and talk about what body music is, where it's coming from, and where it's headed.

Here's a taste of Keith Terry and his SLAMMIN All-Body Band in October of 2007:

International journalism at its best! 10/28

Carly Yuenger

On today's show we think about why the best journalism is often the longest journalism, the densest journalism, and the most personal journalism. What does it take for a news story to convey more than "just the facts" in a way that helps us change the way we see the world?

The October issue of Words Without Borders is dedicated to the best international reporting of this sort. Here's a list of some of the pieces in the issue with links that will take you right to them. Happy reading and please leave your thoughts about what you read and what you think makes for journalism that sticks with us by adding a comment at the end of this post!

You can access the entire issue here until the end of October, and here after November 1.

Peter Froberg Idling, "Pol Pot's Smile"

Erwin Koch, "Dear Torturer"

Wojciech Jagielski, from Towers of Stone

Abdourahman A. Waberi, "Rwanda: The Flame of Hope"

Karl-Markus Gauss, "When Chaos Came to Salzburg"

Elham Gheytanchi, "A Revolutionary Tradition: Shoars in Iranian Street Politics"

Gébé, "The Front"

François Vallejo, from The Burning of the Chiado

Nanni Balestrini, from Sandokan

Gourmet Today with Ruth Reichl - 10/30 - 4 p.m. (ET)

Joe Hardtke

Lori Skelton is filling in for Jean this Friday, October 30th and she'll be joined by Ruth Reichl, author of the Gourmet Today cookbook and host of PBS's Gourmet's Adventures with Ruth. Lori gives you a sneak preview right here.



You can stream our show live on the 30th (starting at 4 p.m. EST) at www.hereonearth.org. But you don't have to wait until then to leave a question for Ruth Reichl. Call the Here on Earth hotline at 1-877-GLOBE-07 and leave a message for us to air during the program, or leave a comment right at the Blog Without Borders.

Either way, don't forget to join us this Friday, Here on Earth.

Here on Earth - "Off The Mic" - Rev. Jim Wallis

Joe Hardtke

The Reverend Jim Wallis joined us on the show today to talk about interfaith dialog between Islam and Evangelical Christianity. It was an insightful conversation and you can download it from the Here on Earth archive.

But he didn't stop there! In this bonus video shot after the show, Rev. Wallis talks "off the mic" about American exceptionalism and how it could be explained by President Obama's recent Nobel Peace Prize.



Want more Here on Earth for your eyes? You can watch more videos at our YouTube channel.

Israel: Looking to the past 10/20

Carly Yuenger

On today's show author and journalist Rich Cohen discusses his new book, Israel is Real: An Obsessive Quest to Understand the Jewish Nation and its History, which has gotten much praise, and also much criticism, since it was released earlier this year.

In Israel is Real, Rich Cohen, himself Jewish, treks back through ancient history to understand the Jewish people, especially the notion of Zionism and its relation to the state of Israel. Through a long, and sometimes quirky, view of this history, Cohen expresses his own qualms about the value of the Jewish state to the Jewish people. In the story he lays out, he asks some provocative questions about the long-standing assumptions about what it takes for the Jewish faith to thrive in safety.

As hopes are raised again for productive peace talks, what are the deeply ingrained positions at the center of this conflict you think need to change for peace to be reached? What about the history of the Jewish people and of Jerusalem can offer insight into a peaceful future? Israel is real, but does it need to be re-imagined? If so how? Leave a comment below with your thoughts.

Jean's Pick of the Week for October 19th (and Thank You!)

Joe Hardtke

Jean shares her thoughts on Ken Burns's latest documentary in her pick this week. She also shares a well-earned "thank you" to Here on Earth listeners, web-streamers and podcast fans worldwide. You guys are the best!



Also, one more note while I'm at it. Today's guest, Jonathan Ritter, mentioned he hadn't yet heard Mercedes Sosa's 1983 performance in Nicaragua. For his enjoyment (and yours as well) here's the video of that concert. Sosa with a passionate and commanding performance of "Cuando Tenga La Tierra."



Leaves little doubt as to why this woman was so loved in her native Argentina. You are welcome to download our show on Mercedes Sosa and Jean's pick, right here.

Here on Earth - "Off The Mic" - Richard Davidson

Joe Hardtke

Psychology and Psychiatry Professor Richard Davidson was our guest on the show today. In this bonus Here on Earth video, Richard talks "off the mic" about his upcoming conference with the Dalai Lama.



If you want to hear Jean's full interview with Richard, you can download the show from the Here on Earth archive.

Meeting Helen Thomas

Thanks to my dear friend Emy, I had a chance to meet Helen Thomas, the legendary White House correspondent, at Madison Civic Club's luncheon yesterday.

Called "the dean of the White House press corps", she has asked questions to 10 presidents. The audience applauded when we were told that her front row seat in the White House press room has been restored by President Obama.

At age 89, she's still quick-minded, straightforward, and down-to-earth, pretty much like this profile of her in last Friday's Washington Post. Somehow she reminds me of the little kid who shouts "but the emperor has no cloths on!" For example, when asked which press secretary of the President was most effective, she answered in one word, 'none." Another question asked of her if there should be a term limit for Senators and Congress Representatives to get rid of incompetent ones, she said no and offered an alternative solution -- "fire them."

I admire women who are not afraid of speaking their mind. We need more female (and male) journalists like her.

Jean's Pick of the Week for October 2nd

Joe Hardtke

Our clever host breaks the rules this week, picking not one, but TWO favorite shows from the past five days. I guess you can do that when you're Jean Feraca. :)



Subscribe to the Here on Earth YouTube channel for your weekly dose of Jean and other behind-the-scenes goodies. Tell us about your favorite show right here at the Blog Without Borders or, better yet, call the Here on Earth Hotline, 1-877-GLOBE-07, and we'll play your comments back on the air.

Want to hear Jean's picks? Listen here (and here!)