The Great Midwife Sting of 1974

Articles

Wendy Kline says the history of birth in America is the story of the medical establishment’s deliberate suppression of midwives. For her as for most mothers, it’s a story that’s political and personal.  More

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Your Best (Or Worst) Experience With Getting Together In Person

IRL
Articles

We'd like to hear from you for an upcoming show about meeting in real life.

'Fantastic Fungi' And How To Film Them

A still of the mycelium network from "Fantastic Fungi." Photo courtesy of Moving Art.
Articles

Fungi contain vast, untapped potential, says Louie Schwartzberg — to remediate pollution, reverse climate change, even address chronic disease and mental disorder — something he argues in his film "Fantastic Fungi."

How Do You Know Ruben Gee?

Half brothers Robert Lafayette Gee (right) and Henderson Gee (left). Robert was Ruben Gee‘s first child to his white wife, Aurelia. Henderson was his second child to his slave, Venus. Henderson was born a slave.
Articles

Rev. Alex Gee is fascinated by geneology. So he took a DNA test and discovered one of his ancestors was a white slave owner. Then he went down to New Orleans to meet his white relatives — and that meeting sparked a slew of complicated emotions.

Length: 
16:03

John Cage, Vaclav Halek and the Marvels of Mushroom Music

Mushroom music
Sonic Sidebar

Mushrooms have inspired scientists, chefs and even musicians. Mycologist Lawrence Millman says they’ve also inspired a few composers, including Vaclav Halek and John Cage.

Length: 
4:08

The Soil-Cleaning, Insect-Warding, Smallpox-Curing Power of Mushrooms

Mushrooms on a tree
Audio

Paul Stamets may be the most passionate mycologist on the planet. He tells Steve why new medicines and technologies derived from mushrooms might save life as we know it.

Length: 
10:17

Changing Our Conversation About Race Using Genetic Testing

Students testing their DNA
Articles

What's it like to discover that your own genetic ancestry is both black and white? At West Chester University in Pennsylvania, Anita Foeman leads the DNA Discussion Project, where students use DNA testing to learn about their mixed bloodlines.

Length: 
14.22

Did Magic Mushrooms Shape Human Consciousness?

Magic mushrooms and our primate ancestors
Audio

Magic mushrooms go way back in human history. Some people even believe psychedelic mushrooms helped create human consciousness. We examine the "Stoned Ape Theory."

Length: 
18:16

Humanity? It All Started With The Raven and Fungus Man

A drawing of a carving by Charles Edenshaw in the late 1800s depicting the Haida myth of the origin of women. Fungus Man is paddling the canoe with Raven in the bow in search of female genitalia. (Courtesy of the Field Museum of Natural History, Chicago)
Sonic Sidebar

The Haida First Nation people in British Columbia have a myth about the origin of humanity coming from "Fungus Man." And that myth contains plenty of truth.

Length: 
2:57