| 10/21/2009 : America Abroad: From NAFTA to Narcotics: The Cross-Border Economy |
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| When the US sneezes, Mexico catches a cold. With the American economy in surgery, Mexico’s is on life support. In this edition of America Abroad, we travel from New York to Puebla, to examine the economic ties that bind the two nations, from trade to trafficking, and how what happens on the other side of the border doesn’t stay there. |
| 9/16/2009 : America Abroad: The First Freedom: Promoting International Religious Liberty |
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Freedom of religion is gospel in the US, and it’s canonized in international law. There’s growing evidence it is a seed that sprouts stable societies, and that religious repression in the world is a national security threat. Despite a US law that commands the government to promote international religious freedom, the secular State Department hasn’t quite found its calling.
America Abroad visits Vietnam where US pressure has led to moderate religious reforms, and Pakistan where promoting religious freedom takes a back pew to US strategic interests. |
| 9/7/2009 : Labor Day Specials |
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9am and 8pm: "Action Speaks! What Now? 1937: The Flint, Michigan United Auto Workers Sit-In"
Action Speaks! is a series of contemporary topic-driven panel discussions framed by the theme "Underappreciated Dates that Changed America." Each panel draws three or four experts, academics, creatives, and other relevant guests into an open-ended discussion with the larger community.
12pm and 9pm: "Radio Netherlands: The Right to a Good Boss"
A good boss is something all employees hope for, but they can be surprisingly hard to find. We travel to Italy to meet a truly "enlightened" boss. And we meet the only woman labour leader in Iraq to talk about her job, and workers rights in the country. |
| 9/3/2009 : NPR News Special: Health Care, 1pm |
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This news special will recap recent political developments in the health care debate and explore the roles various parties -- patients, physicians, hospitals, insurance companies, the government, business -- play in the current health care system, and in the debate over the future of health care in America.
Presented by NPR and Hosted by Robert Siegel, of All Things Considered, with analysis from NPR health policy correspondent Julie Rovner, editor Joe Neel, the leader of NPR's coverage of the health care debate; David Kestenbaum of NPR's Planet Money; and National Political Correspondent Mara Liasson. |
| 8/29/2009 : The Moth Radio Hour |
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For five weeks beginning Saturday, August 29th, WBEZ Chicago Public Radio will air a series of pilot episodes of an exciting new program that’s rooted in the best traditions of first-person narrative oral storytelling.
The Moth is a highly acclaimed New York-based storytelling series in which people from all walks of life share real, first person stories on stage before a live audience.
Saturdays @ 7pm and Sundays @5pm August 29th through Sunday September 27th. |
| 8/19/2009 : America Abroad: Integrating Islam, 11pm |
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In recent years European countries have been rocked by violence from Muslim extremists within. The staunchly secular nations have struggled to integrate growing Muslim populations, while immigrants have chafed against a patchwork of religious policies. Meanwhile, foreign-born Muslims are settling in well in the nation of immigrants.
America Abroad explores Muslim integration in Holland and America to see why homegrown radicalism has been a problem in Europe and why so far it hasn’t in the US. |
| 7/15/2009 : America Abroad: Diplomacy Under Fire |
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The cocktail parties and communiqués of traditional diplomacy are giving way to counterinsurgency and crisis management missions in places like Iraq and Colombia. American diplomats are now required to serve in both embassies and embeds. But the Foreign Service is short on folks with the language and technical skills to fill these modern posts. Add to that a bureaucratic State Department short on funds and slow to adapt and you end up with the 82nd Airborne as the face of American foreign policy to the world. This month on America Abroad.
With Professor Gordon Adams, a Distinguished Fellow at the Stimson Center and a U.S. Foreign Policy professor at American University and Marc Grossman, former Ambassador to Turkey, Director General of the Foreign Service, and US Undersecretary for Political Affairs from 2001 to 2005. |
| 7/3/2009 : The Capitol Steps, 9am |
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| The Cap Steps gang is back with a half-hour of July 4th seasonal satire. |
| 7/3/2009 : Hearing Voices: The USA Plan, 9:30am |
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| An all-American half-hour of audio and stories from around the country reflecting on who we are as a nation. |
| 7/3/2009 : Five Farms: Stories From American Farm Families, 12pm |
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During mid-summer visits to a Massachusetts milking barn, an Iowa soybean field, an apricot orchard in California, a hog farm in North Carolina and a desert corn field in Arizona, five families describe and demonstrate what sustainability means on their farms.
Most Americans know little about where their food comes from and even less about the lives of farming families who plant, water, feed, herd, harvest and deliver that food to market. "Five Farms: Stories From American Farm Families" confronts that information gap head on. |
| 5/25/2009 : State of the Re:UNION : Motor City Rebound, 9am & 8pm |
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| If you listen to the news, you've heard a lot about Detroit lately, none of it very good. Host Al Letson travels to Detroit to move beyond the headlines and explore the Motor City. What makes Community? Who are the people that help bring it together? What issues do they face..? |
| 5/25/2009 : Independent Minds: Into the Storm 12pm & 9pm |
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| Winston Churchill -- known for powerful prose, undaunted persistence, and uncompromising ideals -- led Britain against all odds, to overcome the Nazi's mighty military and its stranglehold on Europe. This program follows Churchill into World War II -- from his appointment as Prime Minister through the victory of the Allies to his defeat at the hands of a grateful nation. |
| 5/20/2009 : America Abroad: The Long Road Out of Iraq, 11pm |
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America Abroad: The Long Road Out of Baghdad (Previously aired 5/15 12pm & 9pm)Where the US used to be in Iraq wasn’t pretty. Sectarian violence had exploded into what was essentially a civil war. Yet, through perseverance, policy changes, and plain old good luck, the situation today is dramatically different.
Violence is down, and attitudes are perking up. But, in April, insurgents detonated a series of deadly reminders that they are still in business. And politically and economically Iraq is still pedaling with US training wheels. So, American forces can expect more than a few speed bumps on the long road out of Baghdad.
America Abroad is presented at 11pm on the third Wednesday of every month. |
| 4/22/2009 : Sustainability, 10pm |
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Sustainability looks at what is being done to address our energy needs and environmental challenges -- on a large scale and a small scale -- to actually address some of the biggest problems we have.
Learn about people working on sidewalks that will suck CO2 out of the air. A professor at MIT has invented a solar cell that works at night and when it's raining. There's a company in California that captures CO2 coming out of power plants before it ever hits the air. |
| 4/15/2009 : America Abroad:Judging the International Criminal Court: Bringing War Criminals to Justice: , 11pm |
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| In 1998, 121 countries reached a historic verdict and established the ICC. But the jury is still out on whether the ICC can bring war criminals to justice and heal the wounds of conflict. In this program we hear the arguments for and against creating the court and the trials of handing down international justice from The Hague, Uganda and the former Yugoslavia. |
| 4/6/2009 : Against the Odds |
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Monday through Thursday, April 6th-9th 10pm
Against the Odds is a multimedia documentary series that profiles people who have overcome significant obstacles in life. They are stories of uplift but also stories with a serious message; and they have a particular focus on people from marginalized groups who don’t typically get a lot of media play.
Hope on a Pile of Bones: Introduces listeners to a range of people who are building the new Rwanda.
Nerds in the Hood: Looks at kids from some of the toughest streets on both coasts who have managed, despite their harsh backgrounds, to become exemplary achievers.
Breaking the Bonds of Tradition: Focuses on several remarkable people in India who have said “no” to prejudice and low expectations.
Trauma, Turmoil and Recovery: Surviving Foster Care: Profiles survivors of foster care, including two sisters who last year graduated from Smith College and Virginia Polytechnic, respectively. |
| 1/21/2009 : America Abroad: Power Shift? America’s Role in a Changing World, 11pm |
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| China, Russia, India, and many other nations have been on the rise, but does that mean America is in decline? As Barack Obama takes the keys to the White House we explore the state and role of American power today. America Abroad explores the political power shifts of the 20th century, and touches down in South America to see the consequences of China's growing investments in America's back yard. |
| 1/19/2009 : The Promised Land: Different Takes on the Legacy of MLK, 12pm |
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| During this special, The Promised Land: Different Takes on the Legacy of Martin Luther King, activist, environmentalist, humanitarian Majora Carter gauged the reach of King’s influence. How far have we come? What has been the impact on our kids? On our communities? And what’s in a name? What if yours is Martin Luther King? Majora found out by calling people from the Atlanta phone book. |
| 1/19/2009 : American Routes: A Change is Gonna Come: Words and Music in the Spirit of Martin Luther King, 8pm |
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As historic events take place in Washington, DC American Routes reflects on the legacy of Martin Luther King in both words and music. We’ll talk music with Civil Rights activist and college professor Julian Bond. Jazz trumpet legend Freddie Hubbard stops by to share stories of his life in the jazz world during those tumultuous times. All this plus songs and voices to commemorate our past and look to our future.
Originally broadcast 1/17/09 |
| 1/1/2009 : Dick Buckley Special, 8pm |
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| After more than 50 years in radio, the last 31 of them at WBEZ, our beloved jazz radio host Dick Buckley has retired from the airwaves. For jazz lovers and casual fans alike, listening to Buckley’s Sunday afternoon show has been a treasured tradition. He’ll fill the airwaves with swing and happiness one last time. Buckley will spin some of his all time favorite records, and he’ll talk with Dan Bindert and Richard Steele about his legendary career in radio. The program will also include some rare Buckley air checks from the past, as well as a few salutes from special friends. Originally broadcast 7/27/08. |
| 1/1/2009 : Studio 312, 9am |
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It’s Jimmy Carrane’s Studio 312 New Years Day Spectacular! Jimmy takes his best shot at interviewing some of the brightest stars of stage, screen, television, and even the catwalk. This ain’t no Barbara Walters. It’s celebrity one-on-ones done "The Carrane Way"-disjointed, discombobulated, and hilarious.
Listen to individual segments from the show. |
| 1/1/2009 : Studio 312: New Year's Day Spectacular! |
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It’s Jimmy Carrane’s Studio 312 New Years Day Spectacular! Jimmy takes his best shot at interviewing some of the brightest stars of stage, screen, television, and even the catwalk. This ain’t no Barbara Walters. It’s celebrity one-on-ones done "The Carrane Way"-disjointed, discombobulated, and hilarious.
Listen to individual segments from the show. |
| 12/31/2008 : The Capitol Steps: Politics Takes a Holiday, 7pm |
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Should old acquaintance be forgot? Not if the Capitol Steps have a say. Say yes we can to listening to the Capitol Steps annual year's end award ceremony. New categories this year: Worst Use of a Plumber by a Politician (since Nixon), Best Shade of Lipstick for a Pig and Most Creative Excuse to Buy $150,000 Worth of Clothes.
And, in a stunning announcement it's official Alaska has overtaken long-time winner Florida as the funniest state, by winning in both the best home renovation by a politician and fastest time field-dressing a moose category. Join Barack Obama, John McCain, Sarah Palin, Oprah Winfrey, FEMA, everyone who owns a sub prime mortgage, Hillary Clinton, and many, many more as the Capitol Steps bring you their hour long year in review. You have every reason to look forward to 2009- but not before we make fun of 2008 first.
Repeats 1/1 at noon. |
| 12/31/2008 : Toast of the Nation, 8pm |
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| Count down to 2009 this New Year's Eve with live jazz on Toast of the Nation. Party with live music from coast to coast, from a Sonicbloom in Boston to a Pink Martini in Los Angeles, from ribs and Mingus in New York to black-eyed peas and a licorice stick in New Orleans, Toast of the Nation presents live music with multiple midnights! |
| 12/26/2008 : Through the Lens, 9am |
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| An hour-long special that examines current affairs though the prism of religion. This hour examines how different faith communities in Chicago are responding to youth violence. |