IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices

Series produced by Guy Rathbun

Series image

This weekly show is devoted to political, social, economic, ecological, philosophical and religious ideas.

This series has been broadcast on public radio, and podcast on National Public Radio for the past 10 years, and has included such luminaries as Robert Reich, Chris Hedges, Michael K. Hudson, Vincent Buligosi, Richard Heinberg, and many more.


561 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Peter T. Coleman
Once a segment of the population becomes miserable, stabilization begins. That shouldn’t be a goal in American politics, but it certainly seems lik...

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  • Added: Jun 22, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Anita Diamant
When the book, Period: End of Sentence was brought to my attention, my first response was that this is a discussion between women. I have no busine...

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  • Added: Jun 15, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Gabrielle Bluestone
Satirist Andy Borowitz had an article in a recent New Yorker titled, Earth Endangered by New Strain of Fact-Resistant Humans. He nailed it. Today, ...

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  • Added: May 25, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Fern Johnson & Marlene Fine
It’s curiously indisputable. One of the most difficult conversations for whites and blacks to have is the subject of race. Especially for whites. I...

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  • Added: May 19, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Michelle Miller-Adams
Quite a number of voices are heard lately calling for tuition free college. After all, European countries offer free tuition at their institutions ...

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  • Added: May 11, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Chuck Collins
It’s a secret army that’s been around for decades. But. They don’t carry guns. They wield pens. They write a lot of rules and regulation that you’l...

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  • Added: May 04, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: William Easterly
Around the world populist leaders or on the rise. The higher the poverty rate, the more likely a “benevolent autocrat” holds power. The problem is ...

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  • Added: Apr 27, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Karen Cox
Polarizing debates over the meaning behind Confederate monuments have intensified lately. There are legal battles to remove them. Legislative maneu...

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  • Added: Apr 20, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Richard Pender
It comes in at just over 650 pages, and weighs-in at just under three-and-a-half pounds. It’s also worth every word. Why? Because, if there’s anyth...

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  • Added: Apr 13, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Nathanial Popkin
The concept of climate disruption is abstract, and in many ways, distant. Inaction creates paralysis. Much like the five stages of grief coined by ...

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  • Added: Apr 06, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Harriet Tubman
If you are going to write a history, a basic premise is that it must be believable. But, as you know, there are several true stories that actually ...

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  • Added: Mar 30, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Surmountable, Credit: jacket cover
The American colonists sought a way of throwing off British rule so they protested. The struggle resulted in freedom for the people, the Bill of Ri...

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  • Added: Mar 23, 2021
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Dr. Steven Pearlman
Problem solving skills. Most of Americas students have serious challenges in that area. In fact, they rank among the lowest in the world. Research ...

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  • Added: Mar 16, 2021
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 3
Caption: Gloria Shur Bilchik
The American election system took a hit in 2016 when there were accusations that Russia had interfered. As if that weren’t enough, 2020 suspicions ...

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  • Added: Mar 09, 2021
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Katie Martin
There is a vast network of hundreds food banks across. Along with those are more than 60-thousand hunger-relief organizations: food pantries and me...

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  • Added: Mar 02, 2021
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Joshua Mitchell
As we examine the last four years of America’s political scene, there is a striking shift. To say that changes have occurred is an understatement. ...

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  • Added: Feb 23, 2021
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Aron Solomon
Regardless of the Senate vote to acquit, what has irrevocably changed over the last four years are the boundaries of political discourse in the US.

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  • Added: Feb 16, 2021
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Broke in Aemerica, Credit: jacket design by Pete Garceau
Approximately twelve percent of America’s population living in poverty. That’s not including those who barely make it month to month. Some see pove...

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  • Added: Feb 09, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
Critical Thinking is a set of skills that most students learn at a relatively early age. Even students who don’t do well in school are familiar wit...

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  • Added: Feb 02, 2021
  • Length: 29:01
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Ken Rait podcast
January 12, 2021 marked the 20th anniversary of the Forest Service’s Roadless Rule Policy. It is designed to protect millions of acres of America’s...

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  • Added: Jan 25, 2021
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1