Category Archives: Podcasts

Morning News: Disruptive Airline Passengers, China Trade, Spirit Airlines CEO

A.M. Edition for Aug. 6. WSJ’s Alison Sider discusses recent cases of disruptive airline passengers and how they can affect operations. 

The CEO of Spirit Airlines apologizes for several days of flight cancellations. Some major business groups urge the Biden administration to open trade talks with China. And, how to handle an exit interview from your job. Marc Stewart hosts.

Morning News: Taliban In Afghanistan, Iran Hijacks Vessels, Italy’s Far Right

We get the latest from Lynne O’Donnell on the front line in Afghanistan and ask whether recent hijackings in the Persian Gulf are part of a concerted effort of Iranian foreign policy. Plus: is the far right on the rise in Italy?

Science: Flood Risks In High Population Areas, Selfishness, Democracy

Satellite imaging has shown population increases are 10x higher in flood prone areas than previously thought, and a new way to introduce fairness into a democratic process.

In this episode:

00:47 Calculating how many people are at risk of floods.

Researchers have used satellite imagery to estimate the number of people living in flood-prone regions. They suggest that the percentage of people exposed to floods has increased 10 times more than previously thought, and with climate change that number is only set to climb.

Research Article: Tellman et al.

News and Views: The fraction of the global population at risk of floods is growing

09:41 Research Highlights

People are happy to be selfish towards a crowd, but generous to an individual; and how wildfire smoke affects clouds’ brightness.

Research Highlight: ‘Robber’ experiment tests generosity — with sobering results

Research Highlight: Wildfire smoke creates brighter clouds — and weather changes

12:01 Making democracy fairer

Citizens’ assemblies are small groups of people invited to come together to help inform and affect policy decisions. But deciding who is in these groups is a mathematical challenge — the process needs to be random, but still reflect social demographics. This week, researchers describe a new algorithm that could offer a solution.

Research article: Flanigan et al.

News and Views: A bridge across the democracy–expertise divide

20:04 Briefing Chat

We discuss some highlights from the Nature Briefing. This time, how ships could spread a deadly coral disease, and research shows that female scientists are less likely to be cited in elite medical journals.

The Guardian: Deadly coral disease sweeping Caribbean linked to water from ships

Nature News: Fewer citations for female authors of medical research

Morning News: Delta Variant Challenges Asia, Eviction Delays & Jobs

A.M. Edition for Aug. 4. WSJ’s Jon Emont discusses what’s behind the economic challenges facing some parts of Asia amid a rise in the highly transmissible Delta variant of Covid-19. 

The Biden administration implements a new federal moratorium on evictions. Spirit Airlines cancels more flights as it grapples with a dayslong operational meltdown. And, things to consider before quitting your job. 

Morning News: Myanmar Military Rule, France-UK Rift, Kososvo’s Olympics

We get the latest from Myanmar with Asean under pressure to name an envoy to the country. Plus: we ask why Franco-UK relations are so poor and discuss official Olympic recognition for Kosovo.

Morning News: Taliban Surge In Afghanistan, Singapore & Chewing Gum

Sweeping rural gains made as American forces have slipped out are now giving way to bids for urban areas; an enormous, symbolic victory for the insurgents looms. 

Singapore has enjoyed relative racial harmony for decades, but shocking recent events have revealed persistent inequalities. And why chewing gum has lost its cool.

World Affairs: Emerging Markets Growth, Tunisia Turmoil, Ireland Dry Bars

A selection of three essential articles read aloud from the latest issue of The Economist. This week: growth in emerging markets, Tunisia faces a constitutional crisis (9:53) and dry bars of Ireland (16:03)

Sunday Morning: News And Stories From Zurich, Tokyo, Berlin And London

Emma Nelson covers the weekend’s biggest and most interesting news stories with Rob Cox, Simon Brooke, Christof Münger and Christoph Amend from ‘Zeit Magazin’. Plus: Olympic updates from Monocle’s Tokyo bureau chief, Fiona Wilson.

Neuroscience: Ardem Patapoutian On Human Sense Of Touch (Podcast)