Global Guru Radio

Series produced by Rachel Louise Snyder

Series image
Image by: Genna Duberstein 

The Global Guru uncovers the world one small mystery at a time. We offer cultural views of places in the world that often only get a single story line in the American media, or no story line at all. Places like Rwanda, Afghanistan, Cambodia, East Timor, even England or Malta or France. Each week, our mandate is to surprise listeners. Episodes run a uniform 3:00.

The Global Guru is a weekly public radio spot that celebrates the oddities, the curiosities, the unknowns of global culture, particularly in countries where Americans have either single narrative story lines, like Afghanistan (war), Thailand (sex tourism), Rwanda, (genocide), or perhaps no story lines at all, like East Timor, Moldova, Malta, Lesotho, etc. Engaging and rich in sound, the 3:00 interstitial helps us connect to the vastness of human experience. Presenting station is WAMU in Washington, DC and sponsored by American University in DC. Some of our favorite past shows include: How do Cambodians predict the harvest each year? What messages do cigarettes send in Chinese business dealings? How did Tanzania become the capitol of barbershops? How and why does Thailand categorize food? What is Iceland’s most feared culinary delight? How do you track a Tasmanian devil? What are the hidden messages in Zulu beadwork? Hide full description

The Global Guru is a weekly public radio spot that celebrates the oddities, the curiosities, the unknowns of global culture, particularly in countries where Americans have either single narrative story lines, like Afghanistan (war), Thailand (sex tourism), Rwanda, (genocide), or perhaps no story lines at all, like East Timor, Moldova, Malta, Lesotho, etc. Engaging and rich in sound, the 3:00 interstitial helps us connect to the vastness of human experience. Presenting station is WAMU in Washington, DC and sponsored by American University in DC. Some of our favorite past shows include: How do Cambodians predict the harvest each year? What messages do cigarettes send in Chinese business dealings? How did Tanzania become the capitol of barbershops? How and why does Thailand categorize... Show full description


28 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Umalulik in Timor Leste
This week the Global Guru learns how to negotiate land deals, family disputes, wedding arrangements, cattle sales and other deals in Timor Leste.

Bought by PRX Remix


  • Added: Oct 05, 2010
  • Length: 02:59
  • Purchases: 1
Piece image
The writer Peter Hessler decodes the hidden messages of Chinese cigarettes in business deals.

Bought by HCC Radio The Dragon, WBEZ, and WTIP


  • Added: Dec 16, 2010
  • Length: 03:02
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
This week's Global Guru visits a temple in India where an unlikely rodent reigns supreme

Bought by HCC Radio The Dragon and WTIP


  • Added: Dec 16, 2010
  • Length: 02:59
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Papa Susso
This week the Global Guru goes to Mali to learn the art of a griot, where storyteller, historian, political advisor, detective and genealogist are ...

Bought by WABE, WTIP, and PRX Remix


  • Added: Dec 16, 2010
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 3
Piece image
This week the Global Guru explores the rural Sicilian cure for spider bites. Put on your dancing shoes!

Bought by WTIP, HCC Radio The Dragon, PRX Remix, and KUT


  • Added: Dec 16, 2010
  • Length: 03:00
  • Purchases: 4
Caption: Rice Flour Cookies
This week the Global Guru stays up all night for the winter solstice in Iran, where acclaimed cookbook author, Najmieh Batmanglij, leads us into th...

Bought by KZYX and PRX Remix


  • Added: Dec 20, 2010
  • Length: 02:57
  • Purchases: 2
Piece image
This week, the Global Guru ventures waaaaaayyyy up into the bell towers of an English church to learn just how mathematical -- and dangerous -- bel...

Bought by WABE, HCC Radio The Dragon, New Hampshire Public Radio, PRX Remix, and WTIP


  • Added: Jan 09, 2011
  • Length: 02:59
  • Purchases: 5
Piece image
A girl. A boy. A horse. A chase. Listen as this week's Global Guru takes you inside the world of courtship in Kazakhstan...

Bought by WAMC Northeast Public Radio, KAWC / Border Radio - KOFA, PRX Remix, KZYX, Prairie Public and more


  • Added: Jan 26, 2011
  • Length: 02:56
  • Purchases: 7