April 24, 2021
Witness History: The Environment
A special hour-long edition of Witness History from the BBC World Service. Remarkable stories of the history of the environmental movement, told by the people who were there. Selected from the BBC’s Witness History program, we hear about the major moments that changed our understanding of the planet we live on.
April 17, 2021
The Universal Title
There may be no other actor on the world’s stage whose life has been as heavily documented as Muhammad Ali's. Yet for all the ways the legendary athlete and humanitarian’s life has been scrutinized and celebrated, few have attempted to tell the story of what he valued most: his spiritual evolution.
From his Black Baptist roots to his braggadocious banter, Cassius Clay joined the Nation of Islam and became Muhammad Ali. He was more than a silver-tongued boxer; he was a champion for Black empowerment, and when he resisted the Vietnam draft - an historic defender of religious freedom. Until the end of his life, Ali fought his own sacred struggle as he negotiated the release of hostages, journeyed with Parkinson’s disease, and worked across religious traditions to advance the dignity of all humanity. Ali shook up the world. And this means as much for us today as it did in the past.
April 10, 2021
Intelligence Squared U.S.
Agree to Disagree: Should COVID-19 Vaccines Keep Their Patent Protections?
India and South Africa have petitioned the World Trade Organization to suspend intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines. These nations – along with a coalition of scholars, activists, and nonprofit organizations – argue that developing nations are at risk of waiting years to get full access to the vaccines unless these protections are lifted. But their opponents say suspending patent protections will do little to speed up the manufacturing process. Instead, undermining these protections will ensure that the next time the world needs an emergency vaccine, governments and pharmaceuticals will be unable to act as swiftly. It’s a debate emblematic of the uneven vaccine rollout, and strikes at the core of society’s ability to act quickly.
April 3, 2021
In Deep: The Hidden Story of America’s Troubled Water Infrastructure
When water comes rushing out of the tap, seemingly clear and perfect, it’s easy to think we’ve got it figured out. But in reality, the underground world of pipes and sewers is in trouble. For the past year, our reporters have been doing a deep dive into America’s water infrastructure. What we’ve found is disturbing. When it rains, water floods many Chicago homes and human excrement might surge into the river. Small towns in rural Kentucky lack adequate wastewater treatment. Lush Florida is one of the many surprising places in the country grappling with freshwater scarcity and sustainable ways to access it. And four years after Flint, lead pipes still carry drinking water into millions of American homes. But there are some cities who are figuring out solutions to the kinds of problems our show highlights, and we dive into them, too.
Hosted by Jed Kim
Jed Kim is a public radio journalist and former staff reporter for Marketplace and Southern California Public Radio. He is the host of the podcasts In Deep and Million Bazillion, and a contributor to Smash Boom Best. He lives in Los Angeles..
