Steve Scher
Stories
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A Conversation With Andrei Codrescu
Poet and NPR commentator Andrei Codrescu is preparing for the death of the written word. His latest, “Bibliodeath: My Archives (With Life In Footnotes),” looks at his own four-decade writing career to examine how language and technology have evolved. The rebirth of words into new forms, he writes, is like “the passage of the soul from one body into another.” Andrei Codrescu joins us.Also this hour, a favorite of ours from June. Former Seattle Symphony principal cellist Joshua Roman was in the KUOW studios, along with current Symphony cellists Roberta Downey and Walter Gray, and KUOW's Dave Beck. We do a lot of live music in our performance studio, but this rendition of “Stairway to Heaven” – performed by a cello quartet, with Joshua Roman on the Jimmy Page licks – was something special.
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Maria Semple Turns Seattle Inside, Outside And Upside Down
Maria Semple has written for television for "Arrested Development," "Ellen," and "Mad About You." We spoke with her in August about her acclaimed new novel, “Where’d You Go, Bernadette?,” the story of an L.A. architect transplanted with her husband and teenage daughter amid the Subarus, private school soirees and Microsoft shuttles of Seattle's upper-middle crust.Also this hour, we listen back to the early days of radio journalism to hear how major news events in history unfolded on radio, and we get a weekly lunch pick from food writer Sara Dickerman.
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Jeffrey Toobin On The Supreme Court In The Obama Era
Despite their political differences, the young and ambitious Harvard Law graduates and Harvard Law Review alumni President Obama and Supreme Court Chief Justice Roberts share many similarities. We talk with Jeffrey Toobin, author of the new book “The Oath: The Obama White House and The Supreme Court,” about the battles and truces between America's judicial and executive branches – from inauguration day to the recent Supreme Court ruling to uphold the Affordable Care Act.Also this hour, we listen back to our conversation with American blues guitar legend Buddy Guy. His new book about his life in music is "When I Left Home."
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Canada, Culture And Commerce
Vancouver Sun political correspondent Vaughn Palmer brings us the latest news from Canada. We hear what’s happening at the movies with film critic Robert Horton. Then, we’ll get a look at the latest business news with Michael Parks.
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Greendays Gardening: Pledge Drive Edition
Our gardening panel joins us to answer your flower, vegetable and native plant questions. Call us with your questions at 206.543.5869 (KUOW) or toll free 800.289.5869 (KUOW). You can also email weekday@kuow.org.Also this hour, Michael Fagin recommends a hike to match the week's weather and we hear from Bellingham-based ecologist Chris Morgan. He set off on a quest to track the Siberian Tiger in the wild. Studying the few that are left is hard work. The elusive creatures have rarely been filmed in the wild. Chris Morgan's report airs on "Nature" on PBS this week.
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'What's In The Fridge?' With The Chef In The Hat
Americans waste a lot of food, partly because we don’t know what to do with our leftovers. So look in your fridge, tell us what you have on hand and call us at 206.543.5869. "The Chef in the Hat" Thierry Rautureau will help you whip up a new meal you can enjoy tonight with what you already have on hand.
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Ira Glass On The Future Of Radio
With NPR’s popular Car Talk hosts retiring, public radio approaches a crossroads. Which way to go? Hit the archives to keep popular programs on the air, or create more new shows? The creator and host of This American Life has some ideas. We talk with Ira Glass about the present and future of public radio.
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"Half The Sky" Author Sheryl WuDunn On The Fight For Gender Equality
Is gender inequity the biggest issue of our time? Around the world, it’s not unusual for young girls from poor families to be kept out of school. In India, the mortality rate for girls under age five is 50 percent higher than it is for boys. Pulitzer Prize–winning author of “Half the Sky” Sheryl WuDunn talked with us earlier this year about education, poverty, maternal mortality, sex trafficking and gender inequality, and what can be done to help.
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A Conversation With Dave Matthews
Musician Dave Matthews has a new album called “Away From The World.” He's just home from tour and joins us to muse on everything from the upcoming presidential election to avoiding wheat. Tune in for an off-the-cuff conversation between Dave and Steve, and pledge your support for KUOW.
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Actor And Storyteller Stephen Tobolowsky
Character actor Stephen Tobolowsky is well-known for his roles as Ned Ryerson in "Groundhog Day" and Sandy Ryerson in TV’s "Glee." Lately, he’s become highly regarded as a storyteller for his podcast and radio show The Tobolowsky Files, and a new book, "The Dangerous Animals Club." Stephen Tobolowsky joins us.