Said.fm is Listening

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Whilst some manage to walk away with a handsome package of cash after being made redundant, many of us are not in such a position.  Today, I listened to a recent On Point programme featuring stories of people who are layed off, and how they've managed to reinvent themselves amidst this recession. 

Documentary film 'Lemonade' and the recent George Clooney film 'Up in the Air' get heavily mentioned; I've not watched Lemonade as yet, but having just watched 'Up in the Air' can't recommend it enough.

Link to Podcast:

Life After Layoffs

Related Links:

On Point

Lemonade

Up in the Air

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Michael Pollen - a man after my own heart.

Today I've been listening to Pollen chat to Tom Ashbrook about simple rules to help us all eat better.  A great podcast to listen to ahead of the weekends shopping and dinner party prep.  Pollen shares simple yet effective advice on how to shop, eat and enjoy food which is good for us, the planet and tastes amazing!

On Point have a great range of audio programmes on very diverse topics, and at around 45 - 60 minutes long they're a good length to make your commute more interesting.  

Link to Podcast:

Michael Pollen's 'Food Rules'

Related Links:

On Point

Michael Pollen 

Food Rules

The Omnivore's Dilemma 

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Today I've been listening to Tom Ashbrook talking to several scientists asking 'What Will Change Everything?'.   Based on a book by John Brockman, who is also a featured guest on the show, our greatest minds are asked to leap into the future and explain why certain predictions may have a large impact on our world.

A fascinating programme which makes us envisage living forever, the growing impact of micro-electronics through to neurological discoveries.  Although I suspect that just as many of us couldn't have predicted the power of the internet not so many years ago, we never really know what breakthrough is round the corner that will truly change everything.   However, listening to this programme certainly fuels your imagination with all the potential futuristic ideas that may take off.

Link to Podcast:

What Will Change Everything?

Related Links:

On Point

Tom Ashbrook

This Will Change Everything

John Brockman

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This evening I've been listening to 'The New Frontiers of Jazz' by NPR's On Point.  

Tom Ashbrook's provocation begins with him talking to John Comerford, producer of a documentary entitled 'Icons Amongst Us: Jazz in the Present Tense'.  The programme includes genius tracks and contributions from the musicians behind them, all giving their take on where and what Jazz is now... even if it's still called Jazz at all.

Music is often difficult to define and this On Point episode expands on the confusion. It also opens up an interesting conversation: a great musical movement started in America called 'Jazz'... are we still in that movement?... is it evolving?... has Jazz come to mean something else to the masses?... 

Swing, european jazz, bebop, cool jazz, hard bop, modal jazz, free jazz, latin jazz, post bop, soul jazz, jazz fusion, smooth jazz, acid jazz, nu jazz, jazz rap, punk jazz... Does it matter?... Listen and see what you think.

Link to Podcast:

The New Frontiers of Jazz

Related Links:

NPR On Point

Icons Amongst Us: Jazz in the Present Tense

Jazz

Charlie Parker

Soulive

Skerik

The Roots

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Today I've been listening to a rather fascinating talk from NPR's On Point program discussing if the act of cooking has made us human.  

Primatologist and Anthropologist Richard Wrangham examines the role of cooking and argues that it is at the heart of human evolution. Wrangham's theory is both unique and intriguing, making for a good listen and his ability to answer the caller questions with clarity and on topic really help in understanding his point of view.   

On Point is a series which covers a diverse range of topics and the host, Tom Ashbrook, is good at cohersing lively conversation around each episode's topic.  As a two hour podcast, I think it would entertainingly and informatively fill the time whilst driving or travelling.

Link to Podcast:

On Point: How Cooking made us Human

Related Links:

On Point

NPR

Tom Ashbrook

Richard Wrangham

Catching Fire: How Cooking made us Human by Richard Wrangham

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