IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices

Series produced by Guy Rathbun

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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.


542 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Lacking Public Discourse
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
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Public discourse is at an all time low. Even without considering the political polarization of today, civility in public discourse is challenging.

Bought by KRZA and KCBX


  • Added: Jul 09, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 2
Generation Left
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Keir Milburn
When it comes to politics, age appears to be a prominent dividing line. And, a closer look at youth today shows that the young around the world are...

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  • Added: Jul 02, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 2
The Persuasion Wars
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Dean Hartley
We have entered a brand new era of persuasion. This is completely untested water’s. In a world of everything computer, a world where our household ...

Bought by KCBX


  • Added: Jun 24, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
Life Finds a Way
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Andreas Wagner
Diversity is the product of nature’s creativity. It also turns out that creativity in nature and culture follow very similar fundamental principles.

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  • Added: Jun 18, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 2
Why Cities Lose
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Jonathan A. Rodden
The path to political victory should be simple: accrue more points that your opponent, and you will win. Not so fast. U.S. elections aren’t nearly ...

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  • Added: Jun 11, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 2
Against Our Will: Sexual Truama in American Art Since 1970
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Vivian Green Fryd
In October 2017, the “Me Too” movement went viral. Since then more than 70 high profile men have been accused of sexual misconduct or inappropriate...

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  • Added: Jun 03, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 3
Work, Love and Learning in Utopia
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Martin Schoenhals
Hierarchies are deeply embedded in human societies. They are so much a part of our being they’re hardly given a second thought. Status is sought af...

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  • Added: May 27, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 2
Morality and the Environmental Crisis
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Roger S. Gottlieb
Here’s the conundrum: a good person doesn’t knowingly create devastation and suffering. Yet, that is exactly what we’re doing with our environment....

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  • Added: May 19, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 2
Vote for Us
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Joshua A. Douglas
Imagine an election in the future that boasted turnout at record levels. Better access to voter registration and polling places. District lines and...

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  • Added: May 12, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 2
The Scientific Attitude
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Lee McIntyre
Science deniers and attacks on science are more prevalent today. Interestingly, America leads the world in the sheer number of people who have cont...

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  • Added: May 03, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 3
The New Conspiracy
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Professor Russell Muirhead
References to conspiracy theories are more prevalent today. To have a theory, however, implies there is evidence to substantiate the claim. Today’s...

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  • Added: Apr 26, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
A Technology Tsunami
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Professor Ed Hess
America is set to lose tens of millions of job in the next 15 years. Some of the best research today estimates that one half of all U.S. jobs will ...

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  • Added: Apr 22, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 3
Lockdown on RIkers
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Mary E. Buser
The island became a workhouse in the 1880s. Converted to a jail 50-years later, Rikers Island is not a prison.

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  • Added: Apr 12, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
Killing America’s Heartland
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Dr. Jonathan M. Metzl
Over the past decade many low and middle income white American’s have thrown their support to conservative politicians. The claim is to make Americ...

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  • Added: Apr 05, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
Race and Social Change
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Dr. Max Klau
Recent events in America have once again turned the spotlight on the issues of race. Just when we think we are overcoming our racial divide, anothe...

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  • Added: Mar 28, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 3
Dying to Work: Death and Injury in the American Workplace
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Jonathan D. Karmel
America’s workers are experiencing another setback in workplace safety. The Trump Administration is blocking a rule that requires most employers to...

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  • Added: Mar 22, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
The Twitter Presidency
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Dr. Brian Ott
No president has used social media quite like President Trump. Twitter is his instrument of choice, and more often than not, he uses the popular pl...

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  • Added: Mar 15, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
Other's Milk: The Potential for Exceptional Breastfeeding
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Dr. Kristin J. Wilson
Just two generations ago, breastfeeding was considered second best to infant formula. Today, however, it’s regarded as a newborn’s birthright.

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  • Added: Mar 07, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 2
Raising White Kids
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Dr. Jennifer Harvey
America is one of the most racially diverse nations in the world. We’re also a country full of racial tension. These conflicting truths make it esp...

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  • Added: Mar 01, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 1
City of a Million Dreams
From: Guy Rathbun
Series: IdeaSphere: A Platform for Today's Voices
Caption: Jason Berry
In 2018, New Orleans celebrated its 300th year. The colorful tapestry that make up its history is like no other in America. Likewise, the dichotomy...

Bought by KVSC and KCBX


  • Added: Feb 22, 2019
  • Length: 29:00
  • Purchases: 2

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