Whole Wide World: news-compatible hour While radio tends to look at big questions through little windows, Christopher Lydon has always thrived on issues every bit as big as the whole wide world. In The Future of the Planet, he explores the questions of how we can continue to feed the planet while still trying to keep the air and water at least somewhat clean.

As his various guests -- historians and biologists, food writers, ethicists, and more -- tell us, we are just scraping by, and any one of 100,000 different things can wreak havoc in the world of Rube Goldberg globalism.

This is Lydon at his provocative best. Terrific selection of guests -- articulate and engaged -- terrific writing and wonderful elements linking the different segments of the program together.

For long-time listeners of Lydon’s old call-in show, there are moments that feel like he’s about to solicit calls and turn to the phones.

One other point: Lydon still writes a killer 60-second billboard for a news-compatible show.