WPRB News and Culture
160 episodes - English - Latest episode: 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsWPRB News and Culture brings human stories about public affairs, the arts, and local news to the airwaves of New Jersey. Check us out at news.wprb.com!
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Episodes
Guardian Angels
September 21, 2019 17:49 - 7 minutes - 7.15 MBDo you know the voice that counts down the time you have left to cross the crosswalk? "Ten, nine, eight, seven, six..." That's a real person. And at more than 40,000 crosswalks around the U.S. this guy's voice guides people across the road. Remy Reya brings us this story.
The Sound of Silence
September 20, 2019 23:57 - 6 minutes - 6.21 MBJulia Ilhardt describes the sounds -- and not sounds -- she heard while in a private Australian forest.
Everyday Noises
September 20, 2019 23:50 - 11 minutes - 10.9 MBThis week we made an hour of radio about noises you hear every day.
Reform Title IX Now Protests
May 11, 2019 00:21 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBOn May 7th, this past Tuesday, Princeton University students took to the lawn outside of Nassau Hall, which houses the offices of the school's administrators. They've been there, sitting, organizing, chanting, for over 72 hours—through day and night, rain and shine. They're protesting the way the University's Title IX Office has handled accusations of sexual assault. WPRB News reports.
An Interview This Week - Katie Duggan
April 23, 2019 03:43 - 21 minutes - 19.6 MBThis week, in an interview, Oliver talks to Katie Duggan about the Woody Allen archives in Princeton University's Firestone Library. Katie's piece "The Women of the Woody Allen Archives," appears in the March 31st edition of the Nassau Weekly.
This Week In History - The Assassination Of Martin Luther King Jr.
April 05, 2019 20:16 - 4 minutes - 4.05 MBThis Week in History - Andy Latoni tells us about the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr., which occurred on April 4th, 1968.
An Interview This Week - Tess Solomon
March 29, 2019 20:09 - 16 minutes - 15.4 MBThis week, in an interview, Oliver talks to Tess Solomon about nail polish and evolutionary theory. Solomon's essay, "At Your Fingertips," appeared in the March 10th issue of the Nassau Weekly.
An Interview This Week - Pat Macdonald
March 15, 2019 18:49 - 21 minutes - 19.4 MBThis week, in an interview, Oliver talks to Pat Macdonald about emo rap. Macdonald's essay "Emo Rap: A Eulogy" appeared in the March 3rd issue of the Nassau Weekly.
Same Same but Different: National Broadcasters
March 06, 2019 05:05 - 9 minutes - 8.96 MBSepideh Soltaninia is Canadian. Lachlan Carey is an Aussie. They’re both grad students at Princeton taking a look at something going on in the States that might be better understood with a global perspective. In this episode, they take on national broadcasting.
An Interview This Week - Zartosht Ahlers
March 02, 2019 01:00 - 16 minutes - 14.9 MBThis week, in an interview, Oliver talks to Zartosht Ahlers about the speed of cultural development. And roadkill. Ahlers's essay "How to Roadkill" appeared in the February 17th issue of The Nassau Weekly.
This Week In History - Marbury v. Madison
March 02, 2019 00:46 - 4 minutes - 4.04 MBThis Week in History - Andy Latoni explains the historical importance of the Supreme Court case Marbury v. Madison, which established the precedent of judicial review. The ruling was handed down February 24th, 1803.
Injured Animals: Princeton
February 22, 2019 21:35 - 24 minutes - 22.2 MBIf you've ever found an injured animal on the road, or injured an animal yourself, chances are you were faced by a swell of emotions. They seem so helpless, so, injured, but how can you help them? You don't want to risk getting bitten, or maybe even worse, injure the animal further by handling it in the wrong way. Oliver Whang and Julia Ilhardt talk to people who deal with injured animals - and animals of all types - as a living. This is Injured Animals: Princeton edition.
Rock 'n' Roll 'n' Led Zeppelin 'n' Steve Mackey
February 22, 2019 20:06 - 10 minutes - 9.47 MBCulture progresses in stages of punctuated equilibrium. There's a steady period of trend, and then something else - usually unexpected - comes along and changes everything. Some genius, or crazy artist, or crazy person does something wild, and it just sticks for some reason. What was once crazy becomes the trend, and what used to be the trend becomes history - we develop nostalgia for it. Led Zeppelin, in the 1960's, punctuated The Beatles' equilibrium by introducing hard rock to mainstream c...
This Week In History - The Publishing of The Communist Manifesto
February 22, 2019 19:52 - 3 minutes - 3.43 MBThis Week in History - Andy Latoni tells us of the publishing of The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels on February 21, 1848.
This Week In History - The Bombing Of Dresden
February 15, 2019 20:14 - 4 minutes - 4.54 MBThis Week in History - Andy Latoni tells us about the Bombing of Dresden, which took place from February 13th to February 15th 1945.
Canada, Migration, and Being More than a Linguistic Stick Figure
February 13, 2019 02:30 - 7 minutes - 6.49 MBOne of our reporters at PRB News, David Exume, went up to Toronto, Canada in November to talk to immigrants and refugees about their experiences. Amid the backdrop of protests around conservative thinkers like Steve Bannon and calls for a more multicultural Canada, he found that many immigrants have a difficult time adjusting to the realities of life in their new country. They have very little time to get jobs, find a place to live, and support their families once they arrive. There is insuff...
Your Television Screen is on Fire
January 17, 2019 17:39 - 11 minutes - 10.7 MBThe holiday season has just ended. Christmas trees are being laid out on front lawns, people are forgetting about Mariah Carey, everything’s winding down. But it’s still cold - really cold. And sometimes the thing to do when it’s really cold is snuggle up by the fire with a warm cup of cocoa nestled between your hands. But what if you don’t have a fireplace? The next best thing to do is go to Netflix, or Amazon video, or YouTube, and type in George Ford, Fireplace for Your Home.
What Happens When the Supreme Court Gets Political?
December 01, 2018 16:02 - 18 minutes - 17.2 MBA few weeks have passed since everyone’s eyes were glued to the Supreme Court during the confirmation hearings of Brett Kavanaugh. A familiar story played out, one we saw in the presidential elections, and now again in the courts: the country seemed to split in half, with the distance between the two sides seeming impossibly far. Now that the main event is over and the dust has settled, Oliver and Alice talked to constitutional law expert Robert George and socio-economist Minjae Kim about wha...
Former Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer on Intervention in the Middle East
December 01, 2018 15:58 - 10 minutes - 9.78 MBThis week, the Senate voted to end US military support for Saudi war effort in Yemen in the wake the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Jalen spoke to former US ambassador Daniel Kurtzer about what the United States’ role is and should be in the Middle East, and what possibilities might exist for diplomatic intervention. The song in this track is Sweeterman by Zach Farache.
Sean Wilentz on Bob Dylan's Life and Legacy
December 01, 2018 15:30 - 8 minutes - 7.64 MBHundreds of books have been written about the songs of Bob Dylan, from “All Along the Watchtower” to “Tangled Up In Blue.” He’s an artist who is as comfortable dipping into the legacy of the Delta Blues as he is recording three albums of Frank Sinatra covers. WPRB’s Dylan Fox – one of our newest reporters and our resident Bob Dylan fan – sat down with Sean Wilenz to discuss Dylan’s life and legacy.
The Moral Conundrum of Gene-Edited Babies
December 01, 2018 15:27 - 5 minutes - 5.44 MBThe scientific community was taken by surprise this week when a Chinese researcher announced that two genetically modified babies under his watch had been born. This opened up a whole bunch of ethical problems that philosophers and scientists have been trying to grapple with. Oliver Whang brings us the story. Illustration by Diego Patiño for Pacific Standard Magazine.
Political Violence and the Psychology of Hate
November 17, 2018 01:11 - 11 minutes - 10.5 MBThe past month has seen several high profile incidents of political violence: from shootings in Pittsburgh and Kentucky, to explosives sent through the mail. Is political violence on the rise in the United States? And is President Trump's rhetoric to blame? Allie Spensley reports.
Five Minutes Around the World: Uighur Muslim Crackdown, Violence in Gaza, Duterte's Drug War
November 17, 2018 00:58 - 3 minutes - 3.55 MBAisha Tahir brings us the latest updates on global humanitarian crises you might have missed. This week: the crackdown on Uighur Muslims in China, violence in Gaza, the latest casualty in Duterte's Drug War, and more.
Same Same but Different: All Aboot Migration
November 17, 2018 00:45 - 8 minutes - 7.89 MBSepideh Soltaninia is Canadian, Lachlan Carey is an Aussie, and they’re both grad students at Princeton taking a look at something going on in the States that we might understand better with a global perspective. In this second episode of Same Same but Different, they talk migration.
Voting As A Puerto Rican
November 16, 2018 22:35 - 19 minutes - 18 MBHaving representation in the government has been an important value in the United States ever since its founding. After all, wasn’t it “no taxation without representation.” Yet, there are still a few territories out there that have no say in what laws affect them: Puerto Rico is one of those islands. Andy Latoni brings us the complicated story of voting in Puerto Rico.
Happily Ever After
November 10, 2018 03:10 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBWe're used to stories ending with "happily ever after." But in our own lives, things don't go so perfectly -- our stories have ups and downs, we reach or don't reach our goals, and things keep going. In this story, Oliver talks to some fairytale experts to look at what happens after that "ever after."
Putting a Price on Pollution
November 10, 2018 02:29 - 14 minutes - 13.8 MBLast month, the IPCC, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, came out with its latest report on the state of the planet. They gave the world a deadline: if states don’t change their ways by about twelve years from now, there’s no chance we can limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. And if we cross that threshold of 1.5 degrees, the world will look a lot different -- higher sea levels, more intense storms, fundamental changes in ecosystems that might t...
Five Minutes Around the World: Migrant Caravan, Crisis in Yemen, Airstrikes in Syria
November 10, 2018 02:22 - 2 minutes - 2.04 MBThe world we live in is complicated and busy. There isn’t enough capacity in our minds to hold onto every piece of news. But do you wonder, as you go about your busy life, what’s happening in the world? In five minutes - give or take two - Aisha Tahir will talk us through global crises and human rights violations that you might have missed in the turbidity of national news. This week: updates on the "migrant caravan" moving towards the United States, crisis in Yemen, and airstrikes in Syria....
Exhibiting Nature for a Changing Planet
November 09, 2018 23:54 - 9 minutes - 8.55 MBOn October 13th, the Princeton Art Museum unveiled one of the largest exhibits it has ever showcased: Nature’s Nation. Julia Ilhardt talks to the exhibit's curator, Karl Kusserow, about challenging viewers to rethink their relationship to nature, and conceptualizing climate change through art.
Same Same but Different: Voting
November 09, 2018 23:43 - 8 minutes - 7.65 MBSepideh Soltaninia is Canadian, Lachlan Carey is an Aussie, and they’re both grad students at Princeton taking a look at something going on in the States that we might understand better with a global perspective. In this second episode of Same Same but Different, they talk about voting in the United States and Canada, and Australia's practice of compulsory voting.
Five Minutes Around the World: Migration, Airstrikes, Healing Schools
October 22, 2018 01:22 - 3 minutes - 3.22 MBAisha Tahir brings you the latest in global human rights violations you might have missed this week.
The Renegade Sheriffs: Interview with Ashley Powers
October 21, 2018 20:31 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBSheriffs are pretty powerful in the United States. Each sheriff gets a certain amount of leeway in terms of what laws they enforce. For instance, if you have a nice sheriff in your town, you probably won’t have to pay a fine or go to jail if you’re caught jaywalking. And it may be comforting to know that the person enforcing the laws is human just like you; they understand and have the power to forgive human mistakes like anyone else. But sometimes this sheriff’s power is overused, sometimes...
Same Same but Different: The Supreme Court
October 13, 2018 02:21 - 9 minutes - 8.35 MBSepideh Soltaninia is Canadian, Lachlan Carey is an Aussie, and they're both grad students at Princeton taking a look at something going on in the States that we might understand better by stepping back a bit. In this first episode of Same Same but Different, we they talk about the Supreme Court Confirmation Hearings of Brett Kavanaugh. (Check out the Canadian Supreme Court in the image.)
Chagas Disease
October 13, 2018 02:14 - 8 minutes - 7.78 MBIn the Americas, there’s a kissing bug that can cause a parasite to take root inside you, usually in your heart. Years or even decades could pass without you realizing you’re infected. Then one day, that parasite could make your heart explode. It’s called Chagas Disease, and even though it affects millions of people, you probably had never heard of it -- because the people it affects are mostly from rural, poor areas. Oliver Whang brings us the story of the infection, spread, and worldwide ...
"Resist Kavanaugh" Rally in Princeton
October 07, 2018 20:34 - 7 minutes - 6.47 MBThe Princeton Community Democratic Organization held an Emergency Rally on Thursday, Oct 4 to “Resist Kavanaugh.” Our newest reporter Andy Latoni was there.
Chaos (and Butterflies and Time and Jeff Goldblum)
September 29, 2018 18:17 - 15 minutes - 14.1 MBHow can the death of a butterfly change the result of a presidential election? Oliver dives into the topic of mathematical and philosophical chaos to try to answer that question.
Five Minutes Around the World: Peace, Genocide, and Famine
September 29, 2018 18:07 - 4 minutes - 4.61 MBThe world we live in is complicated and busy. There isn't enough capacity in our minds to hold onto every piece of news. But do you wonder, as you go about your busy life, what's happening in the world? In five minutes - give or take two - Aisha Tahir will talk us through global crises and human rights violations that you might have missed in the turbidity of national news. This week: updates on South Sudan peace agreement talks, calls for Guantanamo Bay's closing, possible genocidal charge...
This Week's "Trial" of Brett Kavanaugh
September 29, 2018 14:21 - 10 minutes - 9.55 MBWe sat down last night to talk, via Skype, about Brett Kavanaugh’s confirmation hearing with Madiba Dennie. Madiba is an attorney based in New York who focuses on race and gender issues. If this whole debacle in Washington D.C. is confusing to you, or if you don’t know exactly what’s going on, stay tuned. Hopefully, Madiba can clear some things up for you.
Another Postcard from Panama
September 27, 2018 23:57 - 2 minutes - 2.55 MBOliver takes us on another trip to Panama in his second audio postcard.
Mysteries and Memories in ASMR
September 07, 2018 19:17 - 18 minutes - 16.9 MBASMR can be a strange experience. The sounds you hear feel so hyper-realistic, so close to your eardrums, that it gives some listeners the tingles -- which can be both pleasant and unsettling at the same time. Oliver dives into the world of ASMR to try to understand how the phenomenon works. Grab your headphones to listen to this piece for the full experience.
The Rabbi and the Mensch
July 07, 2018 02:13 - 12 minutes - 11.2 MBIt's always strange when you find out someone isn't quite who you thought they were. Like seeing your old kindergarten teacher shopping at Victoria's Secret. Or learning that Ben Affleck vapes. What if you found out that your rabbi--the person in your life that's closest to God--is just a regular guy? Oliver brings us that story. WPRB News & Culture is bringing you stories from around the country & the world while we're off the airwaves this summer. Also in this first batch of stories, hear ...
Postcard from Santa Monica
July 07, 2018 02:10 - 2 minutes - 2.44 MBA soundscape of shouts, drums, and melodies from the Santa Monica pier, produced by our Program Director David. WPRB News & Culture is bringing you stories from around the country & the world while we're off the airwaves this summer. In this first batch of stories, hear audio postcards (with thanks to KUOW for the story format!) and a story by Oliver about those moments when you find out someone in your life isn't quite who you imagined them to be. Image credits to John O'Connell: https://...
Postcard from Panama
July 07, 2018 02:06 - 2 minutes - 1.83 MBFollow Oliver through taxi and boat rides to a muggy, misty island in Panama in his first audio postcard. WPRB News & Culture is bringing you stories from around the country & the world while we're off the airwaves this summer. In this first batch of stories, hear audio postcards (with thanks to KUOW for the story format!) and a story by Oliver about those moments when you find out someone in your life isn't quite who you imagined them to be. Image credits to John O'Connell: https://bit.ly...
NPR’s Deb Amos on Syrian Missile Strikes
April 20, 2018 21:20 - 8 minutes - 8.06 MBNivi Thomas sat down with NPR's Deborah Amos to talk about Trump's recent missile strikes on Syria, and what that means for his foreign policy.
Soundtrack to Our Lives
April 14, 2018 00:01 - 16 minutes - 15 MBCande and Paul discuss the soundtracks to quinceaneras & bar mitzvahs in the first installment of Soundtrack to Our Lives. Aired April 2018.
Poetry: incandescence/fluorescence
April 13, 2018 21:24 - 3 minutes - 2.87 MBOriginal writing by Olivia Grah, to be published in The Nassau Weekly on Sunday, April 15, 2018. Aired April 2018.
Banning the Box
April 09, 2018 23:52 - 4 minutes - 3.99 MB“Have you ever been adjudicated guilty or convicted of a misdemeanor, felony, or other crime?” For most high schoolers applying to college, they’ll have to this answer this question. Student activists at Princeton University, however, are trying to change that. This story was first published in The Nassau Weekly in March 2018; it was adapted for audio and aired on WPRB in April 2018. http://nassauweekly.com/banning-the-box/
Ellipses Slam Poetry (Somi)
April 07, 2018 23:44 - 7 minutes - 6.52 MBThis Saturday, April 7th, Ellipses, Princeton’s first slam poetry team, will be having their show, Synthesis, at Richardson Auditorium. During their rehearsal week, MC Otani spoke to two of their members, Jasmine and Somi. They talk about their writing process and their performance styles, and then we got an exclusive preview of the poems they’ll be performing at the show. Aired April 2018.
Ellipses Slam Poetry (Jasmine)
April 07, 2018 23:43 - 6 minutes - 5.72 MBThis Saturday, April 7th, Ellipses, Princeton’s first slam poetry team, will be having their show, Synthesis, at Richardson Auditorium. During their rehearsal week, MC Otani spoke to two of their members, Jasmine and Somi. They talk about their writing process and their performance styles, and then we got an exclusive preview of the poems they’ll be performing at the show. Aired April 2018.