RadioWest
488 episodes - English - Latest episode: 18 days ago - ★★★★★ - 711 ratingsKUER’s award-winning interview show explores the world through deep thinkers who host Doug Fabrizio asks to think even deeper. Join writers, filmmakers, scientists and others on RadioWest: A show for the wildly curious.
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Episodes
Dr. Bruce Greyson on Near Death Experiences
October 15, 2021 01:05 - 51 minutes - 3 KBStories of near-death experiences are not uncommon, but science generally dismisses them as tricks of the brain. But is dying really the end of consciousness?
McKay Coppins On The Vultures Ravaging America's Newspapers
October 14, 2021 23:02 - 50 minutes - 2.98 KBNewspapers across America have been struggling for years. Some of that can be chalked up to failing to adjust to the digital age. But then there’s the case of Alden Global Capital. It’s a hedge fund, run by two men who, a new article by The Atlantic says, gutted newsrooms across the country in their pursuit of profit.
The State And Fate Of The Great Salt Lake, Part II
October 08, 2021 17:00 - 51 minutes - 3.01 KBAccording to scientists who study it, the Great Salt Lake — the largest saltwater lake in the western hemisphere — is drying up.The lake has already reached the lowest water level in history, and its receding waters and growing shorelines could bring massive changes to its complex ecosystem.
Brad Ricca On The Real Raiders Of The Lost Ark
October 08, 2021 02:18 - 51 minutes - 3 KBThe 1981 film Raiders of the Lost Ark is a cultural icon. Less known is the true story of the 1909 expedition lead by British nobleman Montagu Parker to find the Ark of the Covenant.
More Than Green Jell-O: Utah's Food Traditions
September 30, 2021 22:49 - 48 minutes - 2.82 KBWe’re talking about Utah foodways this week. Plenty of places have distinctive culinary traditions, but what are Utah’s?
Eric Garcia on Autism: 'We’re Not Broken'
September 23, 2021 23:10 - 51 minutes - 3.01 KBThe title of journalist Eric Garcia’s book, We’re Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation , says it all: People with autism don’t need to be fixed.
‘Sagebrush Empire’ And The Battle Over Public Land
September 23, 2021 23:05 - 51 minutes - 3 KBA war over public lands in the Western U.S. has been raging for decades. And the epicenter of that battle? According to journalist Jonathan Thompson, it’s in southeastern Utah’s San Juan County.
How Do We Talk About The Painful Legacy Of Native American Boarding Schools?
September 17, 2021 02:51 - 51 minutes - 3.01 KBIn August, The Salt Lake Tribune reported that the bodies of Paiute children are likely buried on the property of a former Indigenous boarding school in Panguitch, Utah. It's a difficult and painful subject to talk about, and some members of the Paiute tribe wish the story had never been told by the media in the first place.
Kathryn Bond Stockton on Gender(s)
September 10, 2021 06:10 - 48 minutes - 2.83 KBHow many genders are there? Nonbinary.wiki lists 32 common genders — and that’s just the beginning. It can get confusing … and queer.
When Nature Breaks The Law With Mary Roach
September 09, 2021 22:11 - 50 minutes - 2.96 KBHumans mostly keep a clear line between our world and the animal kingdom. But animals have a habit of crossing that line — to funny and sometimes dangerous effect.
What It Means To Be Alive with Carl Zimmer
August 19, 2021 21:58 - 51 minutes - 3 KBIt seems an obvious question: What is life? But science writer Carl Zimmer says the answer to it is far more complicated than it appears at first glance.
Rebecca Wragg Sykes On Our Neanderthal Ancestors
August 19, 2021 21:57 - 51 minutes - 3 KBThe pop-culture stereotype of a Neanderthal – even the word itself – conjures the image of a stumbling buffoon, dressed in a loincloth, banging some rocks together. But who actually were our ancient relatives?
The State And Fate Of The Great Salt Lake
August 12, 2021 23:13 - 49 minutes - 2.91 KBThere’s no sugarcoating it: The Great Salt Lake is dying. In fact, the obituary has already been written , and according to the people studying the problem, we may only have a matter of months before the fate of the lake and all that it supports is sealed for good.
Niall Ferguson On The Politics Of Catastrophe
August 12, 2021 23:04 - 50 minutes - 2.97 KBThe historian and author Niall Ferguson says that, on some level, every disaster is man-made—that so-called “natural” disasters are usually made worse by our bungling.
The Science Behind Why We Avoid Exercise
August 05, 2021 19:12 - 50 minutes - 2.94 KBIf it feels like a slog to get to the gym and hit the weights, the reason may be much deeper than laziness — it could be evolution asking you to stay home.
Heather McGhee And The Hidden Cost Of Racism
August 05, 2021 19:11 - 49 minutes - 2.91 KBWe know that racism is dangerous to a healthy society — physically dangerous, morally dangerous and also, Heather McGhee argues, economically dangerous for everyone in the country.
Web Extra: On the History of LDS Temple Garments
July 30, 2021 19:13 - 15 minutes - 909 BytesRecently we talked about about LDS temple garments and the Mormon women who aren’t comfortable wearing them. We’re also interested the history of these garments.
LDS Women Speak Out About Temple Garments
July 29, 2021 23:45 - 51 minutes - 3.01 KBLast week, the New York Times published an article about the LDS Church’s sacred temple garments and the physical distress many women in the faith say they experience because of them.
George Packer On America’s 'Last Best Hope'
July 29, 2021 21:47 - 51 minutes - 3 KBJournalist and author George Packer is one of the country’s most astute observers of American society – with all of its flaws. But after years of reporting on our decline, Packer experienced a new feeling while writing his latest book: hope.
Megadroughts, Pt. 2: The Present
July 23, 2021 18:00 - 51 minutes - 3.01 KBEarlier this spring, Oakley joined the nearby town of Henefer in banning some new construction out of concerns about available water. It’s an usual step for our growing state, but as historic drought continues to grip the West, these are the kinds of hard decisions our region is facing.
The Miracle Of The Gulls And Other Utah Legends
July 22, 2021 23:08 - 51 minutes - 3 KBOne of Utah’s many oddities is its state bird: the California Gull. But did you know that the humble gull is the hero in its own miracle tale?
Do Conspiracy Theories Thrive In Religious Groups?
July 15, 2021 22:21 - 51 minutes - 3.01 KBIn May, a Public Religion Research Institute survey found that nearly one in five members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes in QAnon — placing them just about in the middle of the Christian denominations polled.
Amanda Montell On 'The Language Of Fanaticism'
July 15, 2021 22:20 - 51 minutes - 3 KBWe can probably all picture the stereotype of cult members: glassy-eyed, dressed alike, fixated on their leader. And then we might feel smug, because we’re nothing like them. Right?
Johnny Flynn And Robert Macfarlane Get ‘Lost In The Cedar Wood’
July 08, 2021 22:45 - 51 minutes - 3 KBFor years, folk singer Johnny Flynn and nature writer Robert Macfarlane admired each other’s work from afar. When they became friends, the two creators combined their talents to make an album together.
Johnny Flynn and Robert Macfarlane Get ‘Lost In The Cedar Wood’
July 08, 2021 22:45 - 51 minutes - 3 KBFor years, folk singer Johnny Flynn and nature writer Robert Macfarlane admired each other’s work from afar. When they became friends, the two creators combined their talents to make an album together.
The Crazy, Unprecedented, Downright Insane Housing Market
July 08, 2021 22:35 - 51 minutes - 3.01 KBReal estate across the country has never been a hotter commodity. A couple years ago, there were already more potential homebuyers than there were available homes. But then the COVID pandemic hit, causing a greater housing demand coupled with a shortage of lumber and construction labor.
Through the Lens - World Debut: From Outsiders to the Olympics
July 01, 2021 19:07 - 51 minutes - 3.01 KBFor almost as long as they’ve been around, skateboarding, sport climbing and surfing have been mostly thought of as action sports — and not the sports that come to mind when thinking about the Olympics. But, then again, times change.
John Colapinto: 'This is the Voice'
July 01, 2021 19:07 - 51 minutes - 3 KBHow much can you know about someone just from hearing their voice? According to journalist John Colapinto, more than you might think.
Through The Lens: 'Scenes From The Glittering World'
June 25, 2021 14:07 - 51 minutes - 3 KBFilmed at the most remote high school in the continental U.S., the new documentary Scenes from the Glittering World follows three young people as they come of age in the Navajo Nation.
Megadroughts Pt. 1: Ancient Societal Collapse
June 25, 2021 00:53 - 51 minutes - 3.01 KBThe American West is parched right now by extreme and persistent drought. That has a lot of people wondering what will happen if the rains don’t come and the water dries up. But if history has anything to teach us about megadroughts, it’s that they can pose a very serious threat to civilization.
The History Of Juneteenth
June 18, 2021 05:01 - 51 minutes - 3 KBEnslaved African-Americans in Texas didn’t learn they’d been freed until weeks after the Civil War officially ended — when Union General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston to break the news.
Suzanne Simard On The Wisdom Of The Forest
June 18, 2021 04:59 - 51 minutes - 3 KBIf you look at a forest, what do you see? It’s just trees, right? Well, when Suzanne Simard looks at a forest, she sees a community of social, cooperative, communicative creatures with lives very much like our own.
RadioWest Book Club: 'One Hundred Years Of Solitude''
June 12, 2021 22:22 - 41 minutes - 2.41 KBOn Monday, June 7, 2021, the RadioWest Book Club met via Zoom with Dr. Alejandro Quin to discuss One Hundred Years of Solitude , by Gabriel García Márquez. GUEST Dr. Alejandro Quin is an Associate Professor of Spanish and Latin American Studies at the University of Utah. RadioWest excutive producer Cristy Meiners led this disucssion.
Can Hikers And Bikers Share The SLC Foothill Trails?
June 11, 2021 01:55 - 51 minutes - 3.02 KBAfter several years of planning, a new system of hiking and mountain biking trails is being built in the foothills above Salt Lake City. But not everyone is pleased with the changes.
How The Laws Of Fashion Made History
June 11, 2021 01:47 - 51 minutes - 3 KBIn his new book, author Richard Thompson Ford examines the history of how we dress and how clothing affects individuals and society — for the good and the bad.
The Benefits Of Discomfort
June 04, 2021 01:36 - 1 hour - 3.59 KBMore human beings are more comfortable today than at any time in the history of our species. And sure, comfort is nice, but what if we actually have too much of it?
Michael Lewis On The People Who Predicted The Pandemic
June 04, 2021 01:34 - 51 minutes - 3 KBThere was no way to know the COVID-19 pandemic was going to get as bad as it got in the U.S. … or was there? In his latest book The Premonition , Michael Lewis looks at what went wrong, and who saw it coming.
Web Extra: How Trauma Lives In Our Bodies
June 01, 2021 20:46 - 46 minutes - 2.75 KBPsychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk is an expert on treating trauma. He says that the body and brain are literally reshaped after a traumatic experience. And in the past year, Americans have collectively experienced quite a bit of trauma.
Katharine Coles On 'The Stranger I Become'
May 28, 2021 00:23 - 51 minutes - 3 KBUtah’s former poet laureate Katharine Coles says she walks seven or more miles a day, but she doesn’t do it for fitness. For her, walking — moving her body — is a way of freeing her mind, nudging it away from obsessions.
2021 Summer Books Show
May 27, 2021 23:13 - 51 minutes - 3.03 KBWe’ve rounded up our usual cast of local booksellers to load up your reading list for a summer that might feel a little … different.
Through The Lens: Frederick Wiseman's 'City Hall'
May 21, 2021 18:00 - 50 minutes - 2.98 KBFew filmmakers are as prolific as Frederick Wiseman. With 47 documentaries to his credit, the director has spent his life exploring institutions that shape — and are shaped by — American culture.
What Do Lawmakers Really Understand About Critical Race Theory?
May 21, 2021 02:14 - 49 minutes - 2.9 KBDuring a special legislative session May 19, Utah Republicans passed two controversial resolutions that banned critical race theory in Utah schools and designated Utah as a “Second Amendment sanctuary” state.
Why Do Pro Sports Still Sideline Women?
May 14, 2021 02:11 - 50 minutes - 2.94 KBIf you’re a woman in the sports world, trying to dominate the field can be a tough gig. Julie DiCaro joins us to talk about her book Sidelined: Sports, Culture, and Being a Woman in America.
Jill Lepore On The Rise Of Doubt
May 14, 2021 00:36 - 50 minutes - 2.98 KBIn the second season of her podcast The Last Archive , historian Jill Lepore journeys through the dusty halls of history to explore the evolution of doubt in the past century.
Web Extra: Tyler Measom and Diana Whitten on Ballet West's Lost Year
May 11, 2021 20:50 - 22 minutes - 1.32 KBAs the dancers of Utah’s Ballet West prepared for their first public performance during the COVID-19 pandemic, directors Diana Whitten and Tyler Measom filmed the company to document how they dealt with the difficulties and uncertainty of creating art during unprecedented times.
The Life And Music Of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
May 07, 2021 02:10 - 51 minutes - 3 KBYou could say that Mozart is the gateway drug to a love of classical music. But who was the person behind the music? Author-composer Jan Swafford joins us to help us better understand the most famous name in classical music .
Ryan Michael Painter On Being ‘The Unexpected Son’
May 07, 2021 00:15 - 50 minutes - 2.96 KBRyan Michael Painter’s father was Utah’s first documented death from an AIDS-related illness. We’ll talk with Ryan about his memoir, The Unexpected Son and about the man he lost when he was just seven years old.
Writer Craig Childs On The Beauty Of Dry Places
April 30, 2021 22:05 - 50 minutes - 2.97 KBIn his latest book, the writer and adventurer Craig Childs writes that he dreams of canyons and was born to deserts — deserts ruled by a god of drought who leaves them dry on purpose.
Carl Zimmer On Life’s Biggest Question
April 29, 2021 22:25 - 49 minutes - 2.88 KBIt seems an obvious question: What is life? But science writer Carl Zimmer says the answer to it is far more complicated than it appears at first glance.
2021 Oscar Nominated Film Scores
April 24, 2021 05:06 - 51 minutes - 3 KBIt’s Oscars season again, which means it’s time for RadioWest to talk about the films nominated for one of our favorite awards — best original score.