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Virginia Insight
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Join host Garrison Keillor, Nickel Creek’s Sara Watkins, the Guy’s All-Star Shoe Band, and sound-effects man Fred Newman for tender duets and ballads, poetry and more September 12 at the Charlottesville Pavilion.



WMRA-WEMC Art Exhibit


The current art exhibit at WMRA-WEMC is titled The Sisters Show and features paintings by siblings Lavonne Donohue and Danette Zirkle.

more information



WMRA Podcasts


insight

Monday, December 17, 2007       First Night

In Winchester a human cartoon is among the performers traveling in from around the country.

In Charlottesville the focus is homegrown talent.

And in Harrisonburg, Glick and Phillips are planning to return to the stage, along with a host of newcomers.

Get an idea of the behind the scenes work that goes into First Night.

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Guests:

Bob Mosolgo - President of the Charlottesville based first night celebration First Night Virginia.

Elizabeth Haworth - Executive Director of First Night Harrisonburg.

Sally Coates - Chairman of First Night Winchester.



Monday, December 10, 2007       When a Lawyer Asks: "What Would Jesus Do?"

John Whitehead’s controversial Rutherford Institute funded Paula Jones’ battle against President Bill Clinton, defended a Muslim youngster’s right to wear religious garb in a public school, adamantly opposes abortion, and is now pushing for a moratorium on the death penalty.

Behind it all, says Whitehead, is his understanding of the "Good Samaritan" story and a religious philosophy that requires him to help the underdog.

We talk with one of Virginia’s most outspoken attorneys about his concept of Christianity and civil rights.

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Guest:

John Whitehead - President, The Rutherford Institute.



Monday, December 3, 2007       Changing Virginia

Virginia’s political landscape is about to undergo significant change.

As of January, Democrats take control of the state Senate, while Republicans maintain their control in the House of Delegates.

How will this alter lawmaking in the Old Dominion?

We put that question to Governor Tim Kaine and three state Senators.

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Guests:

Virginia Governor Tim Kaine - Democrat serving as the 70th Governor of Virginia. Governor Kaine took office on January 14, 2006 and will serve until January 2010.

Virginia Senator R. Creigh Deeds - Democrat serving District 25, which includes Albemarle County (Part); Alleghany County (All); Bath County (All); Buckingham County (Part); Buena Vista City (All); Charlottesville City (All); Covington City (All); Nelson County (All); and Rockbridge County (Part).

Virginia Senator Emmett Hanger, Jr. - Republican serving District 24, which includes Albemarle County (Part); Augusta County (All); Greene County (All); Highland County (All); Rockbridge County (Part); Rockingham County (Part); and the Cities of Staunton, Waynesboro and Lexington.

Virginia Senator Russell Potts, Jr. - Republican serving District 27, which includes: Clarke County (All); Fauquier County (Part); Frederick County (All); Loudoun County (Part); and Winchester City (All). Senator Potts will soon retire from his seat in the Senate.



Monday, November 26, 2007       Other People's Children

Guest host Kristin Layng Szakos talks with Doris Moore and Diniah Bell about issues facing foster children in Virginia.

We examine the need for trained, committed foster parents, and the joys and challenges of caring for other people’s children.

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Guest Host:

Kristin Layng Szakos - Freelance Journalist and lead author of the new book We Make Change: Community Organizers Talk About What They Do - and Why.

Guests:

Doris Moore - Regional Director of People Places.

Diniah Bell - Social Services professional and therapeutic foster mom.



Monday, November 19, 2007
      Zenda

A new book, titled An African American Community of Hope, reveals an aspect of Virginia history that few have ever heard of… but in the authors view, is also a lesson about overcoming fear.

We talk about a Valley community, created by freed Virginia slaves after the civil war. And learn how their story could still be affecting all of us.

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Guests:

Nancy Bondurant Jones - Author of An African American Community of Hope: Zenda 1869-1930.

Alfred Jenkins, Jr. - President of the Longs Chapel Preservation Society.



Monday, November 12, 2007       Pacifists in America's Civil War

It was a uniquely American peace movement most Americans have never heard of.

Much of it was centered in Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley, and it may have changed how a whole religion defines itself.

We look at newly published research into aspects of the American Civil War that has gone largely un-reported... until now.

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Guests:

James O. Lehman, M.S. - Director Emeritus of Libraries at Eastern Mennonite University and Co-author of Mennonites, Amish, and the American Civil War.

Steven M. Nolt, Ph.D. - Professor of History at Goshen College and Co-author of Mennonites, Amish, and the American Civil War.



Friday, November 9, 2007       Challenging Normal

Are you normal?

Maybe you take pride in answering "no way!" to that question, but how do you judge other people who are different?

We talk with Jon Mooney about his new book, The Short Bus, which challenges traditional concepts of normal, and is helping people labeled as mentally defective discover that maybe their way of seeing the world is not wrong after all.

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Guests:

Jonathan Mooney - author of The Short Bus: A Journey Beyond Normal.

Paige Pullen Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Education and Director of the Early Childhood and Developmental Risk Education Program at the Curry School of Education at the University of Virginia.



Wednesday, November 7, 2007       Election '07

How will this year's election affect you?

We do our best to connect the dots on this year’s election results.

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Guests:

Bob Gibson, Columnist and political reporter for The Charlottesville Daily Progress.

Bob Roberts Ph.D., Professor of Political Science at James Madison University and author of From Watergate to Whitewater: The Public Integrity War.

Chelyen Davis, Richmond based political reporter for The Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star.



Monday, November 5, 2007       Hunger in Virginia

How far away are you from going hungry?

For an increasing number of Virginians, disaster may actually be only one or two pay checks away.

We talk with those in our region working to prevent hunger and find out why they think the struggle is getting harder.

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Guests:

Martin L. White - Chief Executive Officer of the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.

Teresa Yates - Director of Food Security at the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank.



Friday, November 2, 2007       Business Ethics

Some people say putting Business and Ethics together makes for an oxymoron.

With the scars from Enron and World Com, plus new scandals making the headlines today, who can blame them?

We talk with two Virginians who think there is hope for the future, and believe that morality can play a more important role in the decisions made by the leaders of tomorrow.

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Guests:

Bernard Jackson, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Washington and Lee University.

Bob Kolodinsky, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Management and Director of the Gilliam Center for Ethical Business Leadership at James Madison University.



Wednesday, October 31, 2007       Talking to Dead People

Have you ever talked to a dead person?

Although she only recently publicly admitted her fascination with the subject, an author from our region has been asking people that question for more than 50 years.

We visit with Lexington author Katie Letcher Lyle, this time about a book she’s currently writing that focuses on talking with the dead.

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Guest:

Katie Letcher Lyle - Lexington, VA based writer and Author of My Neighbors’ Ghosts … and Other Amazing True Stories.



Monday, October 29, 2007       SongSharing

If you’re a musician who’s ever played in a crowded bar where most of the audience seemed to ignore you... or a potential audience member who would like to hear good music in a completely different kind of place... then this is the show for you.

We take a look at the Virginia based concept called Song-Sharing, local musicians dedicated to sharing their craft, while also doing good for others.

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Guests:

Greg Allen - Charlottesville based singer, guitarist and songwriter; member of the music group Grasping At Laws; and founder of the SongSharing program.

Tom Prout - Schuyler based guitarist and songwriter; member of the duo Tom & Emily.

Julie Caran - Harrisonburg based singer/songwriter; member of the trio Blue Stone Sky.



Friday, October 26, 2007       Local TV News - Update

Crime... elections... controversy in the classroom... What's the big news in your town lately?

We visit once again with the three people who oversee much of what gets on local TV news in our part of Virginia.

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Guests:

Neal Bennett - News Director, NBC Affiliate WVIR-TV NBC 29, Charlottesville.

Ed Reams - News Director, ABC Affiliate WHSV-TV TV 3, Harrisonburg.

Jeremy Settle - News Director, WCAV-TV, WVAW-TV, WAHU-TV Charlottesville Newsplex: CBS 19, ABC 16, FOX 27, Charlottesville.



Wednesday, October 24, 2007       Mental Health in Rural Virginia

Stoicism and personal independence have long been a part of the American ethic... perhaps nowhere more so that in the rural areas of our country.

So what happens in these rural places when you need help with the kind of thing that it’s just not accepted to ask help for?

We'll try to find out as we talk about the struggle to deal with mental health problems in rural Virginia.

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Guests:

Emily Hauenstein, Ph.D. - The Thomas A Saunders III Family Professor of Nursing at the University of Virginia, and Director of the Southeastern Rural Mental Health Research Center at UVA.

Julie Frosch, PsyNP - Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner at Blue Ridge Medical Center in Nelson County



Monday, October 22, 2007       Becoming a Word Detective

What if you could teach a child how to decipher the meanings of words without using a dictionary?

We delve into the patterns of meaning found in words, and explore the field of Morphology.

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Guest Host:

Katherine Brooks - Co-Chair of Charlottesville-based Women United in Philanthropy, Co-Founder of The Inheritance Project and Co-Editor of The Legacy of Inherited Wealth.

Guests:

Thomas Estes, Ph.D. - Professor Emeritus, University of Virginia and from 1970 to 2001, he served as professor of Reading Education in the Curry School of Education. Dr. Estes is currently President of Dynamic Literacy, a company based in Charlottesville that is committed to improving vocabulary, language, and reading comprehension for students through the WordBuild Vocabulary Development System™.

Rollin David Larrick, Ph.D. - Retired teacher, with 35 years of teaching experience, the last 25 years as Latin and Greek teacher at Albemarle High School. Dr. Larrick is currently a Language Specialist for Dynamic Literacy.



Wednesday, October 17, 2007       On Acupuncture

He felt like he had a gift for working with young children, and pursued a teaching career.

But when they told him touching or hugging a young child to comfort them was against the rules, he realized this was not the profession for him.

Hear about Bob Clickner's journey from educator to alternative healer, and find out why he is now doing some of both.

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Guest:

Bob Clickner - Charlottesville based acupuncturist with offices opening soon in Harrisonburg. Blueridge Oriental



Monday, October 15, 2007       Dealing With Addiction

Some people believe that, no matter who you are, addiction is affecting your life.

Even if you’ve never battled any form of addiction yourself, chances are someone close to you has.

And the simple fact that addictions cost the U-S economy billions each year is having an impact on your pocketbook.

We talk about how to deal with addiction, and offer a few ideas for what you could do to change things.

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Guests:

Mark Blackwell - Executive Director, The Substance Abuse and Addiction Recovery Alliance (SAARA).

Nancy Harden, M.S. - Licensed Professional Counselor, Certified Addictions Counselor, as well as Supervisor of Substance Abuse Services at Northwestern Community Services, in Front Royal, VA.

Stan Stokes, M.S. - Founder and President of the substance abuse treatment agency, Bridging The Gaps, based in Winchester, VA.



Friday, October 12, 2007       Political Update

Heard much about politics lately?

Thinking about burying the TV in the back yard and escaping to the woods until the campaign season is over?

Before you pack your pup tent, you might want to listen to this conversation for bit of political analysis, Insight style.

Give us try... our favorite political observers may be able to offer just the kind of intelligent relief you seek.

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Guests:

Bob Gibson, Columnist and political reporter for The Charlottesville Daily Progress.

Bob Roberts Ph.D., Professor of Political Science at James Madison University and author of From Watergate to Whitewater: The Public Integrity War.

Jen Thompson, Director of External Relations, The Wilder School of Government at Virginia Commonwealth University and former Republican Party campaign consultant.



Wednesday, October 10, 2007       Free Speech Update

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Muzzles, the annual awards given out to those in America judged to have done the most to hurt free speech.

The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Speech hands out it’s annual Muzzle Awards in April, but with all the current free speech controversies, we've decided that six months is too long to wait.

We talk with the man who oversees the Muzzle Awards about current events and court cases that could top the awards in 2008.

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Guest:

Bob O'Neil, Former President of UVA, and current Director of The Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression. O'Neil is also the author of several books, including Free Speech: Responsible Communication Under Law, The Rights of Public Employees, and The First Amendment and Civil Liability.



Monday, October 8, 2007       A Journalist’s View

During public radio fundraisers, you hear over and over again that, "You get exceptional value from public radio, and it can only continue with your support."

But how true is that first part?

We ask NPR's Scott Horsley and Neda Ulaby, "What’s so special about public radio anyway?"

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Guests:

Scott Horsley - San Diego based Business and Economy correspondent for NPR News.

Neda Ulaby - Washington, D. C. based Arts and Culture correspondent for NPR News.



Friday, October 5, 2007       Ghost Mountain Boys

They were called The Ghost Mountain Boys; in part because their World War II engagement included climbing Ghost Mountain; and in part because those who survived the climb, and the following battle, looked a lot like ghosts.

We talk with the author of a new book about perhaps the most horrendous and least reported battle American soldiers faced in the south Pacific.

And in the telling of this gripping story, there are lessons to be learned that can be applied today.

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Guest:

James Campbell - Author of the recently released book, The Ghost Mountain Boys: Their Epic March and the Terrifying Battle for New Guinea - The Forgotten War of the South Pacific. Mr. Campbell is also the author of The Final Frontiersman: Heimo Korth and His Family, Alone in Alaska's Arctic Wilderness.



Wednesday, October 3, 2007       On Stage

One is the story of women exercising exceptional power in the interest of peace.

The other is the story of a man who jousts with windmills as he dreams of bringing justice to the world.

One story now on stage in the Valley, the other in Charlottesville

We take a closer look at the local theater productions of Lysistrata and Man of La Mancha.

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Guest Host:

Peter Sheras, Ph.D - Clinical psychologist specializing in adolescent relationships, family relationships, and stress. Professor in UVA's Curry Programs in Clinical and School Psychology.


Guests:

Virginia Francisco, Ph.D. - Professor of Theater at Mary Baldwin College and Director of Mary Baldwin’s current production of Lysistrata.

Kylene Henry - plays the role of "Lysistrata" in the Mary Baldwin production.

Meggan Mercer - plays the role of "Calonice" in the Mary Baldwin production.

Alex Citron - Executive Director of Play On! Theatre and Director of the group’s current production of Man of La Mancha.

Bill Brown - plays the roles of "Miguel De Cervantes", "Alonso Quijana" and "Don Quixote" in the Play On! production.

Aaron Hale - plays the roles of "Manservant" and "Sancho Panza" in the Play On! production.



Monday, October 1, 2007       The Science of Teaching

Is there a science to teaching?

Sara Rimm-Kaufman says the answer to that question is not only a resounding yes, but more than ever today, the structure of America’s classrooms needs to be based on provable, scientific principles.

We talk with Dr. Rimm-Kaufman and Lee Webb, a local school teacher using some of those principles with her second grade class.

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Guests:

Sara Rimm-Kaufman, Ph.D. - Professor at the University of Virginia’s Curry School of Education and Director of the University of Virginia Social Development Lab.

Lee Webb, MA - Second grade teacher at Woodbrook Elementary in Albemarle County.

The Responsive Classroom Technique



Friday, September 28, 2007       Intellectual Property and the World Economy

19 years ago, doctors said David Martin would never walk again... he proved them wrong.

Now Martin has taken on a new impossible challenge... changing America’s approach to world trade.

We ask this specialist in intellectual property rights to explain his view that changes in patent and copyright law hold the key to saving the U.S. economy.

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Guest:

David Martin, Ph.D. - CEO and founder of M-CAM, Inc., an international intellectual property rights firm based in Charlottesville.



Wednesday, September 26, 2007
      The Mary Baldwin Push for Global Engagement

You've probably heard people talk about the need for more civic engagement, but what does that mean?

We talk with folks from one local college campus who feel they might have an answer to that question.

The new Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement at Mary Baldwin College is embracing a new take on civic engagement, and for them it means sending students out to help those in need, both around the corner and around the world.

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Guests:

Julie Shepherd - Director of Civic Engagement at the Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement at Mary Baldwin College.

Erika Torres - Third year student majoring in Political Science at Mary Baldwin College.

Heather Ward - Director of International Programs at the Spencer Center for Civic and Global Engagement at Mary Baldwin College.

Tromila Wheat - Fourth year student majoring in International Relations at Mary Baldwin College.



Monday, September 24, 2007       The Weather

True or False: When it comes to climate, the higher the elevation the colder the weather.

If you said true, there a few things about weather forecasting you could still learn.

But even if that question didn’t trick you, there are probably other ways the work of Virginia climatologist Jerry Stenger is bound to fascinate.

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Guest:

Jerry Stenger - Climatology Researcher with the Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Virginia.



Friday, September 21, 2007
      ShakesFear

Do you cringe when someone starts quoting Hamlet?

We talk with a Valley man who says it's not uncommon to fear Shakespeare.

And Ralph Cohen believes that you don't have to keep on fearing the Bard, because he knows how to cure it.

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Guest:

Ralph Alan Cohen - Founding Executive Director of the Staunton, Virginia based American Shakespeare Center and Blackfriars Playhouse. Cohen is also the Gonder Professor of Shakespeare and Renaissance Literature at Mary Baldwin College, and author of ShakesFear and How to Cure It: A Handbook for Teaching Shakespeare.



Wednesday, September 19, 2007       Ultra Cold Physics

Someday in the future the weather is going to get really, really cold. But one thing you can count on, the chill you feel will never be as cold as the things in Cass Sackett's lab.

We talk with the Virginia scientist who cools atoms to almost absolute zero, so he can then push them around in the most interesting ways.

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Guest:

Charles "Cass" Sackett, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Physics at the University of Virginia.



Monday, September 17, 2007       The Appeal of the Apocalypse

Are you captivated by catastrophe?

Eduardo Velasquez thinks you just might be.

Whether your favorite TV show is Survivor or Lost, or your favorite music comes from The Clash or the Dave Mathews Band... Velasquez says America has entered a time when apocalyptic scenarios hold unparalleled appeal.

We talk with the author of the new book titled A Consumers Guide to the Apocalypse.

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Guest:

Eduardo Velasquez, Ph.D. - Professor of Politics at Washington and Lee University and Author of A Consumer’s Guide to the Apocalypse: Why There Is No Cultural War in America and Why We Will Perish Nonetheless.



Friday, September 14, 2007       The Demography of Immigration

Of the immigrants now living in Virginia, where do you think the biggest percentage are from, Latin America, Europe, or Asia?

How about the number of immigrants in Virginia that are here illegally? Would you guess 90%, 70% or less than 30%?

We talk with researchers studying immigration. They claim that if you know the facts, it could change how you feel about the issue of immigration in Virginia.

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Guests:

Qian Cai, Ph.D. - Director of the Demographics and Workforce Section of The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.

Meredith Strohm Gunter, Ph.D. - Director of Outreach for the Demographics and Workforce Section of The Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia.



Wednesday, September 12, 2007       Got Any Good Ghost Stories?

What do you do if you are an established writer, you've published more than 20 books, but there’s one kind of story you resist?

A kind of story that you’ve actually been collecting for years, but you hesitate to tell because you don’t want people to think you're crazy.

One solution might be to simply decide that you don’t care what people think.

We talk with Lexington’s Katie Letcher Lyle about her new, non-fiction book on ghosts and other tales of the paranormal.

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Guest:

Katie Letcher Lyle - Lexington, VA based writer and Author of My Neighbors’ Ghosts … and Other Amazing True Stories.



Monday, September 10, 2007       A Conservative Philosophy

"America has been going in the wrong direction since Lee surrendered at Appomattox."

So says one of Virginia’s most outspoken conservative thinkers.

Former editorial writer for the Washington Times, onetime campaign aide to Pat Buchanan, frequent contributor to right wing journals, Cort Kirkwood today serves as Managing Editor of Harrisonburg’s daily newspaper.

He also has a new book out about leadership.

We ask him to enumerate some of his most strongly held views, and invite listeners to share their perspective on what makes a true conservative.

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Guest:

R. Cort Kirkwood - Managing Editor of The Daily News Record, Harrisonburg. Author of Real Men -- Ten Courageous Americans to Know and Admire.



Friday, September 7, 2007       The Voice Behind Friday Classics

He has been a political reporter... an attorney specializing aviation law... and a manager of one of the most challenging airports in America.

But one thing has remained constant in his life. Since early child hood, he has loved classical music.

Listen and get to know the voice behind Friday Evening Classics on WMRA.

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Guest:

Richard 'Dick' Jamison - Retired airport consultant, former attorney for American Airlines, and current host of WMRA's Friday Evening Classics.



Wednesday, September 5, 2007       Got A Problem That Can't Be Solved?

True or False - Some problems just have no solution?

A Virginia man who's made a career out problem solving would answer, "False."

For more than 20 years, Chic Thompson has been teaching businesses and governments unique problem-solving techniques, as well as how to foster creativity.

We talk with Chic Thompson, author of What a Great Idea, a 1990 best selling book which has just been re-issued in a new edition.

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Guest:

'Chic' Thompson - Founder of Charlottesville based Creative Management Group and creator of the website WhatAGreatIdea.Com. Author of What a Great Idea and What A Great Idea - 2.0.



Monday, September 3, 2007       Making Your Brain Work Better?

What if you could understand so much about the human brain that you could make yours work both more easily and more efficiently?

It would probably not only make us smarter, it could make learning fun.

We talk with a Valley teacher who’s getting rave reviews for his teaching style. A style he says is based on what science has learned about the brain... a style he says anybody could use in almost any situation.

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Guest:

John Almarode - Instructor of Math and Physics at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Governors School, and an educational consultant specializing in Brain-Based Learning.



Monday, August 27, 2007       The Race for the 24th District

One of Virginia's most crowded state legislative races this year is the contest for the 24th Senate District seat held by Senator Emmett Hanger.

After surviving a hard-fought GOP primary race in June, Hanger now faces two more challengers in the upcoming November election.

Those challengers are David Cox, a Democrat from Lexington and Arin Sime, a Libertarian Candidate from Crozet.

We talk with the three men on the ballot for the 24th senate district about transportation, education, abusive driver fees, and more.

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Guest Host:

Bob Gibson - Columnist and political reporter for The Charlottesville Daily Progress.

Guests:

Senator Emmett Hanger, Jr. - Incumbent and Republican Candidate for Virginia Senate District 24. Senator Hanger was a Member of the Virginia House of Delegates from 1983 to 1992, and has been a Member of the Virginia Senate since 1996. Emmet Hanger Campaign Website

David Cox - Democratic Candidate for Virginia Senate District 24. Cox is an Episcopal pastor currently serving a small congregation in Bath County. Cox also serves on the Rockbridge Community Foundation; the Rockbridge Area Community Services Board, which oversees mental health/mental retardation services to the region; and the Rockbridge County Public Schools Foundation. David Cox Campaign Website

Arin Sime - Libertarian Candidate for Virginia Senate District 24. Sime is a small business owner and software developer, and lives in Crozet. Arin Sime Campaign Website



Friday, August 24, 2007       A Hundred Years Back In Time

Career success has taken you from a small southern town to the skyscrapers of Manhattan. But living in the big city makes you begin to wonder if you're losing your humanity in the process.

Could it be that technology, something that's suppose to make living easier, is actually draining your life away?

We talk with the man who answered that question by taking his family a hundred years back in time to live off the land in rural Virginia.

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Guest:

Logan Ward - Author of See you in a Hundred Years; Four Seasons in Forgotten America.



Wednesday, August 22, 2007       Lifelong Learning

There was probably a day when you got your degree and then thought, "I will never have to go to school again."

But if that day happened a few decades ago, you may find yourself thinking that it might be nice to get more education... if only there was an easier way to do it.

We talk with leaders of the Lifelong Learning movement, who specialize in easy access to education for the golden years.

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Guests:

Whitman "Pete" Cross, Ed.D. - Program Committee Member of the Jefferson Institute for Lifelong Learning at the University of Virginia.

Nancy Owens - Director of The James Madison University Lifelong Learning Institute.

Bob Bloomquist - Program Chair of The James Madison University Lifelong Learning Institute.



Monday, August 20, 2007       Car Repair - A History

How highly do we regard the people who keep our vehicles running?

For most of us, the automobile has becoming an absolutely critical part of our daily lives. When it breaks down, we need it fixed fast and well.

Yet for the past one hundred years, the technical experts employed to repair cars have not gotten the same respect as many who work in other technological professions.

We talk with a former car mechanic who’s now a college professor. His new book examines the history and sociology of auto repair.

We also get some perspective from a local man who created a successful car repair business, retired, then missed fixing cars so much went back to working under the hood in someone else’s shop.

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Guests:

Kevin Borg, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of History at James Madison University and Author of Auto Mechanics: Technology and Expertise in Twentieth-Century America.

Mark Heisel - Auto mechanic at Wrench Craft in Harrisonburg, Virginia and former owner of Oviedo Foreign Car Repair in Oviedo, Florida.



Wednesday, August 15, 2007       Health Care At Risk

Have you ever heard of something called, "the consumer driven health care movement?"

It’s gaining popularity in many policy making circles, but a Virginia legal scholar claims that consumer driven health care, or health care priorities based on profit motives and market forces, is exactly the wrong direction for America to go.

We ask the author of the new book Health Care at Risk to take us through his international research on health care solutions.

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Guest:

Timothy Stoltzfus Jost, J.D. The Robert L. Willett Family Professor of Law, Washington and Lee University School of Law. His newest book is titled Health Care at Risk: A Critique of the Consumer-Driven Movement.

Physicians for a National Health Program  

The Consumer-Driven Health Care Institute  



Wednesday, August 8, 2007       Little Big Minds

Kids seem to always be asking questions that aren’t that easy to answer.

What is love? Why do people fight? Why do you have to go to work every day?

Instead of giving a simple answer, what would happen if you introduced them to some big ideas, like those of Plato and Socrates?

We talk about some innovative ways to engage a child’s natural curiosity and help brace them for the grey areas of life.

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Guests:

Marietta McCarty - Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Piedmont Virginia Community College in Charlottesville and author of Little Big Minds.

Anne Carter - Former middle school teacher and current teacher of the Discovering and Developing the Philosopher Within course in the Curry School of Education's Summer Enrichment Program.



Friday, August 3, 2007       Wayward Christian Soldiers

Charles Marsh is an Evangelical Christian. He believes in Jesus as his personal savior. He does not, however, believe that to be a good Christian you have to support the war in Iraq, or President Bush.

We talk with Dr. Marsh about his controversial new book Wayward Christian Soldiers, and his theory that the world needs more Christianity and less politics.

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Guest:

Charles Marsh, Ph.D. - Professor of Religion and Director of The Project on Lived Theology, at the University of Virginia. His newest book is titled Wayward Christian Soldiers: Freeing the Gospel from Political Captivity. His previous books include: Reclaiming Dietrich Bonhoeffer; The Last Days; God’s Long Summer; and The Beloved Community: How Faith Shapes Social Justice, from the Civil Rights Movement to Today.



Monday, July 30, 2007       Teaching Boys

Men have long complained that they don’t understand how women think.

Now a Virginia woman has written a book detailing how "not understanding how males think" is a problem not just for women, but for most of America’s education system.

We talk with this local educator about her theory that schools have to change if boys are going to have the same opportunities for success as girls.

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Guest:

Abigail Norfleet James, Ph.D. - author of Teaching the Male Brain: How Boys Think, Feel, and Learn in School.



Friday, July 27, 2007       Driving Virginia

Construction plans for I-81 and I-64 - New Regional Transportation Boards - Freight by Rail - Abusive Driver Fees...

Transportation issues in Virginia remain a hot topic and are still evolving.

We talk with Virginia's Secretary of Transportation about these issues and more.

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Guest:

Pierce R. Homer - Virginia Secretary of Transportation and Chairman of the Commonwealth Transportation Board. Virginia Transportation Office.



Wednesday, July 25       Musician Nathan Moore, 2007

How is music like collard greens?

Nathan Moore has been writing songs since the age of 9. That’s just a bit shy of 30 years.

Now having toured all across the U.S., he says pursuing the perfect sound is a lot like the pursuit of the perfect dish of collard greens.

We ask him to explain that, and other things, on this edition of Insight.

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Guest:

Nathan Moore - Singer/Songwriter based in Augusta County. Moore just released a new album titled In His Own Worlds.



Monday, July 23, 2007       Ted DeLaney

You’ve just graduated high school... but where you live, people with your skin color are supposed to stay in the background.

So instead of taking classes at the college down the street, you become it janitor.

Jump forward more than 40 years, and you’ve just been appointed to lead one of that college’s most prestigious departments.

We talk with the Virginia man who lived that story and ask him about race, education and having a dream.

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Guest:

Ted DeLaney, Ph.D. - Professor of History, and Chair of the History Department at Washington and Lee University.



Friday, July 20, 2007       The Innocence Project

Since 1989, over 200 innocent people have been freed from prison because of DNA testing.

This has shaken the criminal justice system and left advocates asking how many more innocent people are still in US prisons.

We’ll explore how it was possible for these men to have been wrongfully incarcerated and learn of a brand new study by a University of Virginia Attorney who looked at all 200 cases to see why these people were unable to get the courts to believe they were being wrongfully accused.

We’ll also look at what has been happening in Virginia to change the laws so that this kind of thing doesn't happen again.

We explore what it takes to get DNA testing for those in prison who claim to be innocent.

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Guests:

Shawn Armbrust - Director of the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project.

Brandon Garrett - Associate Professor of Law at the University of Virginia and author of a brand new report called Judging Innocence.



Wednesday, July 18, 2007       We Make Change

20 years ago, when Karen met Joe, she asked what he did for a living.

He named a job she’d never hear of, but she married him anyway.

Now she’s written a book about the work Joe, and hundreds like him, are doing that most people still don’t know about.

We talk with this Charlottesville couple about their new book and the Organizers work they say is changing the world one community at a time.

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Guests:

Kristin Layng Szakos - Freelance Journalist and lead author of the new book We Make Change: Community Organizers Talk About What They Do - and Why.

Joe Szakos - Executive Director of The Virginia Organizing Project and co-author of We Make Change: Community Organizers Talk About What They Do - and Why.



Monday, July 16, 2007       Super of the Year

Don Ford, Harrisonburg Superintendent of Schools, recently accepted the award for Superintendent of the Year in Virginia.

One factor that led to his recognition was his determination to address the problems that come from running a school system that now has Virginia’s highest percentage of students with English as a second language.

We talk with Superintendent Ford about the challenges facing Harrisonburg schools, the No Child Left Behind Act and the ongoing struggle to adapt to a changing student population.

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Guest:

Don Ford, Ph.D. - Superintendent of Schools for the Harrisonburg City School District and recipient of Virginia Superintendent of the Year for 2007.



Friday, July 13, 2007       C-SCAT & Alternative Medicine

Herbal Remedies - Acupuncture - Homeopathy - Energy Healing...

While alternative medicine is thriving in America, is it doing any good?

A federally funded center based in Virginia may have a few answers, since they've been studying that question for more than a decade.

We talk with researchers from the Center for the Study of Alternative and Complementary Therapies.

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Guests:

Ann Gil Taylor, RN, MS, Ed.D., FAAN - Director of the Center for the Study of Alternative and Complementary Therapies a.k.a. C-SCAT and the Betty Norman Norris Professor of Nursing at the University of Virginia.

Cynthia Brown, RN, DNSc - Post Doctoral Research Fellow at C-SCAT.

Jason Dave, NMD - Post Doctoral Research Fellow at C-SCAT.



Wednesday, July 11, 2007       The Grass Roots Peace Movement

There was a time when their vigil was a lonely one.

Now their long held view that invading Iraq was a bad idea has become majority opinion.

We talk with those who were in on the beginning of the opposition to the War.

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Guests:

William Anderson, Ph.D. - Steering Committee Chair for the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice.

Rev. Hunter Mabry B.D., Ph.D. - Coordinator of the Augusta Coalition for Peace and Justice.

Susan Oberman - Member of the Charlottesville Center for Peace and Justice.



Monday, July 9, 2007       Thriving After Breast Cancer

A group of women in west Albemarle want to speak with you, especially if you’ve ever been, or have any fear of someday being, diagnosed with cancer.

These women have one thing in common; they have all dealt with breast cancer.

And for more than ten years now they've been meeting in what might be called a survivors group, although they wouldd more likely call it a thrivers group.

We celebrate their friendship and explore the power of a helping hand.

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Guests:

Elfie Ash - Retired artist and 11-year member of the Batesville Breast Cancer Survivors Group.

Linda Krag - Owner of Denise Interchangeable Knitting Needles and 11-year member of the Batesville Breast Cancer Survivors Group.

Sarah O’Connor, MFA - Professor of Writing & Rhetoric at James Madison University and 8-year member of the Batesville Breast Cancer Survivors Group.



Monday, July 2, 2007       When Eagles Soar

The bald eagle became America’s national symbol over 200 years ago, and by the 1960’s it had nearly disappeared from our skies.

However, thanks to the efforts of conservationists across the country, in the past 4 decades the bald eagle has survived and thrived.

On June 28th, 2007, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced its decision to remove the Bald Eagle from the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

We talk about what it means for this majestic raptor to be de-listed as an Endangered Species.

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Guest Host:

Andi Arndt - Part-time faculty with the Theater Department at James Madison University and professional voice over actor.

Guest:

Ed Clark - President of The Wildlife Center of Virginia and former director and current board member of the International Wildlife Rehabilitation Council.



Friday, June 29, 2007       Meeting NOVA’s Power Demands

While the nation wrestles with an uncertain energy future, Northern Virginia continues to grow and consume electricity at an alarming rate.

In response to anticipated demand, Dominion Power plans to build a new high-voltage power line stretching over half-a-dozen counties.

We look at energy needs in Virginia and the role of conservation in finding a solution to this looming need.

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Guest Host:

Chris Graham - Executive Editor of The New Dominion, and Co-Author, along with Patrick Hite, of Mad About U: Four Decades of Basketball at University Hall.

Guest:

Erik Curren, Ph.D. - Editor of Conserve. Dr. Curren also teaches English at James Madison University. Dr. Curren has served as a communication and political consultant to such clients as the State of California, Hill and Knowlton, Wells Fargo Bank, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Bob Lazaro - Communications Director for the Piedmont Environmental Council.



Wedensday, June 27, 2007       Surviving and Thriving with Neurological Disorders

When he was first diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, he felt like the world had ended.

Since that dark day, two years have passed and he’s now training for a marathon, managing a successful psychology practice and writing his second book.

Dr. Audie Gaddis talks about his determination to have fun fighting his disease, and shares a few tips for anyone else wrestling with a neurological disorder.

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Guest Host:

Matt Bingay - Executive Producer for Insight.

Guest:

Audie Gaddis, Ph.D. - Clinical Psychologist, Commonwealth Psychological Services.



Monday, June 25, 2007       How To Stop Screwing Up

Years ago, her self-destructive behavior culminated with a life changing night in jail.

After that fateful night, Martha Woodroof took a journey through 12 steps of recovery and gained some wisdom she would like to share.

Discover how you can tackle the urge, behind the urge... and finally stop doing whatever behavior it is that you find limits your happiness.

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Guest Host:

Bob Leweke - Local host for All Things Considered every Monday and Tuesday.

Guest:

Martha Woodroof - WMRA Reporter, Freelance Reporter for NPR and other public radio networks, and author of How To Stop Screwing Up: 12 Steps to a Real Life and a Pretty Good Time.



Wednesday, June 20, 2007      

At-Risk Health

The official phrase is at-risk families. In simplest terms, that often means people who don’t have enough money to get by.

And if a family is dealing with significant health challenges, not having enough money can be life-threatening.

Guest host Katherine Brooks examines one local effort to make sure at-risk families have a much better chance of getting the health care they need.

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Guest Host:

Katherine Brooks - Co-Chair of Charlottesville-based Women United in Philanthropy, Co-Founder of The Inheritance Project and Co-Editor of The Legacy of Inherited Wealth.

Guest:

Judy Smith - Coordinator of The Jefferson Area Office of the Comprehensive Health Investment Project (CHIP).



Monday, June 18, 2007       A Warning From The Walrus?

Two Virginia researchers, who recently returned from the Bering Sea, have come to the conclusion that what happens in the Bering Sea today could affect all of us tomorrow.

They have been examining how climate change in sub-artic regions is affecting walrus populations.

Hear what they’ve been discovering, and how those discoveries may hold warnings for the future of our planet.

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Guests:

G. Carleton Ray, Ph.D. - Research Professor in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia.

Jerry McCormick-Ray, M.A. - Senior Research Scientist in the Department of Environmental Sciences at the University of Virginia.



Friday, June 15, 2007       Securing the Homeland

When it comes to focusing on Homeland Security, is the primary goal preventing a terrorist attack? How about responding to natural disasters and other massive emergencies?

If a terrorist attack does occur again inside the U.S., who should be in charge of each aspect of an emergency response?

Three scholars from James Madison University spent the past two years researching such questions and the results are now making their way into classrooms across America.

We ask the authors of Understanding Homeland Security: Policies, Perspectives and Paradoxes about their idea that if the homeland is to be secure, each individual American needs to do more.

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Guests:

John Noftsinger, Jr. Ph.D. - Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Executive Director of The Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance at James Madison University.

Ken Newbold, Jr. M.A. - Associate Director of The Institute for Infrastructure and Information Assurance at James Madison University.

Jack Wheeler, M.A. Security Consultant for IBM Global.



Monday, June 11, 2007       Balancing Work and Family Life

Is your life so busy you could use some Crisis Management advice?

Guest host Jim Clawson interviews a woman who’s spent years researching Crisis Management, and uses what she’s learned in her own busy life as mother, spouse, author, adviser and teacher.

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Guest Host:

James Clawson, Ph.D. - Professor of Business at the Darden School, University of Virginia. Author of Level Three Leadership. Dr. Clawson is also an International Business Consultant and Co-founder of the interactive career advice service, Career Next Step.

Guest:

Erika James, Ph.D. - Associate Professor of Business Administration at the Darden School, University of Virginia.



Friday, June 8, 2007       The Future of Nuclear Power

What do nuclear power plants have to do with the future of America’s foreign policy?

The U.S. Council on Foreign Relations has just completed a study on the subject, and their findings are soon to be reviewed in a public forum at Washington and Lee University.

We examine the many controversies connected to nuclear power... an energy source whose future will likely affect us all.

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Guests:

Frank Settle, Ph.D. - Professor of Chemistry at Washington and Lee University, and editor for the Alsos Digital Library for Nuclear Issues.

Albert Carr, J.D. - Adjunct Professor of Law at Washington and Lee University, and former counsel for Duke Energy Corporation.



Wednesday, June 6, 2007       A Critic's Life

What would it be like to have a job where, if you do it well, you can be certain somebody is always going to be mad at you?

We talk with three arts and entertainment critics and find out whether getting paid to go to all those shows is as fun as some people might think.

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Guests:

Frank Albrecht - Theater Reviewer for The News Leader, Staunton.

Clare Aukofer - Entertainment Critic for The Daily Progress, Charlottesville.

Cathy Harding - Editor of C-ville, Charlottesville.



Monday, June 4, 2007       Happiness 101

What does it take to create happiness?

Therapist Christy Barongan says the more she read about the findings in the field of positive psychology, the more fascinated she became.

Now she’s offering a course called Happiness 101 to faculty and staff at Washington and Lee University.

She started the course, and agreed to be our guest, in the hopes that new research findings about creating happiness reach as wide an audience as possible.

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Guest:

Christy Barongan, Ph.D. - Counseling Psychologist at the Washington and Lee University Counseling Center and Co-author of the college textbook Multi-Cultural Psychology.



Friday, June 1, 2007       Nixon and Vietnam - Secret Lessons?

As a president faces mounting pressure to withdraw troops from an increasingly unpopular war, what is he secretly thinking behind the scenes?

Scholars from the University of Virginia’s Miller Center discuss recently released recordings from the Nixon White House.

The focus of these tapes reveal Nixon’s hidden views about Vietnam.

These secret recordings were made more than 36 years ago, but with a White House and Congress once again at odds over an unpopular war, revelation of the hidden politics of Vietnam could be especially useful today.

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Guests:

David Coleman - Chair of the Presidential Recordings Program, Miller Center of Public Affairs University of Virginia.

Ken Hughes - Research Associate for the Presidential Recordings Program, Miller Center of Public Affairs University of Virginia.



Friday, May 25, 2007       Your Life — A Book!

Ever think of writing your life story?

A man from Albemarle County, a former journalist, thinks you probably have. And if you haven't — you should!

We talk with the founder of Memoirs for Life about how everyday people are turning their personal histories into published memoirs.

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Guest:

Kevin Quirk - founder of Memoirs for Life; author of Hello, Aibek! A Journey of International Adoption and Not Now Honey, I’m Watching the Game.



Monday, May 21, 2007       The Power of Empathy

After some thirty years as a clinical therapist, Maslow acknowledges he, of course, long knew about the importance of being empathic. But it wasn't until just a few years ago that he discovered a way to use empathy in an exceptionally powerful manner. First in his work. Then in his personal life.

We talk with this Charlottesville psychologist about his new book Men, Women, and the Power of Empathy.

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Guest:

A.R. “Bob” Maslow, PhD Clinical Psychologist. Author of Men, Women, and the Power of Empathy.



Friday, May 18, 2007       "Practically Perfect"

Need Help ?

Before you pick up yet another self-help book, you may want to hear what Jennifer Niesslein has to say. She is the Charlottesville based magazine editor who spent two years following a series of self-help programs, and has just published her own book about that experience.

One reviewer calls Niesslein's approach "a levelheaded, laugh-out-loud tour of the loopy world of self-help."

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Guest:

Jennifer Niesslein Co-founder of Brain, Child: The Magazine for Thinking Mothers and author of Practically Perfect in Every Way: My Misadventures Through the World of Self-Help - And Back.



Monday, May 14, 2007       The Minutemen in Virginia

They were the first military “Special Forces” in America.

Best known by school children for their part in America’s War for Independence, the “Minutemen” actually date back to the 1600’s — when they would mobilize to fight off Indian attacks. Now a new kind of Minuteman group is making history. These Minutemen focus on fighting illegal immigration.

We examine the Minutemen’s agenda for Virginia.

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Guests:

George Taplin, Director, Virginia Chapter, Minuteman Civil Defense Corps

Sam Nickels, Cultural Diversity Coordinator, New Bridges Immigrant Resource Center of Harrisonburg



Friday, May 11, 2007       Atrocity, Punishment and International Law

"It’s time to change how war crimes are punished."

So says a Virginia lawyer who has spent more than fifteen years studying atrocity and genocide. He has worked both on defense and prosecution sides in international tribunals. Now he explains why he thinks current approaches to international law are not working.

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Guest:

Mark A. Drumbl, author of Atrocity, Punishment, and International Law (published April, 2007). Professor of Law and Director - Transnational Law Institute, Washington & Lee University.



Monday, May 7, 2007       A River, A History

Bob Deans believes the James River is “the most historic waterway in America.”

Yet he acknowledges that most Virginians, let alone the rest of America, know very little about the true history of Jamestown, the James River, or the people whose lives have been touched by both.

We ask this international journalist (and native Virginian) why he thinks a better understanding of one key part of American history could lead to better understanding between today’s peoples of the world.

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Guest:

Bob Deans, National Correspondent, Cox Newspapers. Author, The River Where America Began.



Friday, May 4, 2007       Do Science and Religion Need Each Other?

According to Trinh Xuan Thuan: “Science can operate without spirituality. Spirituality can exist without science. But man, to be complete, needs both.”

We ask this Virginia based astrophysicist how he came to believe that — not only do science and religion compliment each other — but they may be leading to similar discoveries.

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Guest:

Trinh Xuan Thuan, PhD. Professor of Astronomy, University of Virginia. Co-author, The Quantum and the Lotus.



Monday, April 30, 2007       Women, Sex, and the Quest for Intimacy

Is everybody else’s sex life better than yours?

If you are an adult American female, Dr. Anita Clayton suspects “Yes!” is the private answer you think to yourself in response to that question.

In her new book, the Charlottesville based psychiatrist says millions of women quietly keep to themselves dysfunctional beliefs about their sex lives. Clayton argues that shame and misunderstanding are major factors preventing many women from experiencing levels of fulfillment to which they are entitled. On this edition of Insight a frank discussion about what — when it comes to sex and intimacy — women (and men) want and need.

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Guest:

Anita Clayton, M.D. - Professor of Obstetrics, David C. Wilson Professor of Psychiatry — University of Virginia School of Medicine. Author of Satisfaction: Women, Sex, and the Quest for Intimacy.



Monday, April 23, 2007       Catastrophic Legacy?

What do you know about Donald Rumsfeld?

Andrew Cockburn suspects that what you think you know is only a small fraction of the true story behind the most controversial Secretary of Defense in modern times.

In his highly critical biography, Cockburn argues that Donald Rumsfeld did more damage than even many of his most ardent critics had previously claimed.

Guest Host Bob Leweke interviews the author on this edition of Insight.

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Guest:

Andrew Cockburn, author of Rumsfeld: His Rise, Fall and Catastrophic Legacy



Friday, April 20, 2007
      Islam and International Commerce

Mention “Islam” and what springs to mind for most Americans is not “Commerce.”

But Charlottesville based businessman David Martin thinks that is about to change.

We talk with Martin and two international business leaders about their belief that the future of world commerce may be based in the Middle East.

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Guests:

David Martin, Ph.D., founder of M-CAM, Inc., an international intellectual property rights firm based in Charlottesville.

Moustapha Sarhank, honorary chairman of Sarhank Group for Investments, a holding company with headquarters in Egypt and Switzerland.

Steffen Schubert, founding CEO of the Dubai International Financial Exchange.



Thursday, April 19, 2007       Preparing for Tragedy

"I never believed it could happen here."

Those words are an often heard refrain following any disaster — natural or man made. But they have never been more poignant than this week in Virginia.

On this special edition of Insight — we talk with those responsible for safety and emergency planning on several college campuses in our region. Additionally, we will hear from research and clinical psychologists experienced in responding to the traumatic aftermath of violence.

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Guests:

Peter Sheras, Ph.D - Psychologist, Associate Director of Virginia Youth Violence Project

Andrew Perrine - Associate Vice President for Communications at James Madison University

Ken Nafziger, Ph.D - Vice President for Student Life, Eastern Mennonite University

Lennie Echterling, Ph.D - Clinical Psychologist and Director of JMU's Counseling Psychology Program

Tim Kolly - Vice President of Communications, Washington and Lee University

Patricia Lampkin, Ed.D - Vice President in charge of Student Affairs at University of Virginia



Friday, March 30, 2007       Legislative Wrap

Where does Virginia stand on budgeting for and addressing our transportation needs… or what about the idea of the state mandating a vaccine for young women in hopes to prevent cervical cancer?

Chris Graham is our guest host as we look at some unresolved issues facing our state lawmakers.

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Guests:

Bob Roberts, Ph.D. - Professor of Political Science at James Madison University and a frequent political analyst for news media outlets across the state. Dr. Roberts is the author of The Public Integrity War and Ethics in Government.

Delegate Chris Saxman - Elected to the Virginia General Assembly as a member of the House of Delegates in 2002 to represent the 20th District of Virginia which consists of portions of the counties of Augusta and Rockingham, most of Highland county and the city of Staunton.



Monday, March 26, 2007       Restorative Justice

What is your definition of justice?

We talk with a Virginia man who’s spent the last three decades challenging our concepts of justice, and hear how this new approach to crime is gaining popularity all over the globe.

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Guest:

Howard Zehr, Ph.D. - Professor of Restorative Justice and Co-Director of the Center for Justice and Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University.



Wednesday, March 21, 2007       Local TV News

They’re called News Directors, and they have a lot of say about what makes it onto your TV set when the local news comes on.

But how do they determine what makes it on and what doesn't?

We talk with the three men in charge of local TV news for much our region.

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Guests:

Neal Bennett - News Director, NBC Affiliate WVIR-TV NBC 29, Charlottesville.

Ed Reams - News Director, ABC Affiliate WHSV-TV TV 3, Harrisonburg.

Jeremy Settle - News Director, WCAV-TV, WVAW-TV, WAHU-TV Charlottesville News Complex: CBS 19, ABC 16, FOX 27, Charlottesville.



Monday, March 19, 2007       Tell Me A Story

In this age of instant communication and slick media production, where does the art of story telling fit in?

We speak with two Virginia storytellers who believe that the telling of tales goes well beyond the bedtime stories you heard as a kid.

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Guests:

Mack "Mountain Mack" Swift - Mack taught high school history for 35 years. He also taught speech and drama, and coached football and tennis. These days, besides being a storyteller, he works as an adjunct history professor at Blue Ridge Community College.

Joan Swift - Joan taught elementary school for 30 years with a three-year hiatus to direct the gifted education program for the City of Staunton. In 1994, she earned her Master of Arts in Reading and Story Arts from East Tennessee State University. In addition to storytelling, Joan spends her time teaching a master’s class in education at Mary Baldwin College and working as an adjunct professor in reading at Blue Ridge Community College.

Together, Joan and Mack Swift are known as Tales in Tandem.



Friday, March 16, 2007       Ireland

How do they celebrate Saint Patrick’s Day in Ireland today?

In the last decade, Ireland has seen a dramatic change in its economy and status in the world… but what about it’s culture?

We talk about tradition and change on the Emerald Isle.

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Guests:

Rod Smith - Editor of Shenandoah, Washington and Lee University's literary review, and author of numerous works including a book about his travels in Ireland titled Trespasser and a collection of poems about Ireland titled Split the Lark.

Kay McDonagh - Retired Midwife and self-employed home health care provider.

Conor O’Brien - A specialist in Information Technology, currently applying for citizenship in the U.S.



Wednesday, March 14, 2007       While They're at War

How would you handle the house, kids and day to day life if you had to stay behind as your spouse went off to war?

Meet a woman who’s been helping military families cope with the stress of deployment and has a few ideas on how you can help.

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Guest:

Kristin Henderson - Author and frequent contributor to the Washington Post Magazine. Her latest book, While They're at War: The True Story of American Families on the Homefront, is an in-depth portrait of military spouses in wartime. Her critically praised memoir, Driving by Moonlight: A Journey Through Love, War, and Infertility, details her own experience during her husband's deployment to Afghanistan following 9/11, as well as her struggle with infertility. Kristin Henderson.



Monday, March 12, 2007       A Legacy of Inherited Wealth

You've heard that money can't buy happiness, but can great wealth automatically cause unhappiness?

We talk with the editors of The Legacy of Wealth, a book based on interviews with more than a hundred Americans who had inherited substantial wealth.

The degree of despair most of the subjects experienced may surprise you, but the authors say there is a path to healing that they believe can serve us all.

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Guests:

Barbara Blouin - Resident of Halifax, Canada, Co-Founder of The Inheritance Project and Co-Editor of The Legacy of Inherited Wealth.

Katherine Brooks - Resident of Charlottesville, Virginia, Co-Founder of The Inheritance Project and Co-Editor of The Legacy of Inherited Wealth.



Friday, March 9, 2007       A Dream of World Health

Ever since his first visit to a third world country almost 40 years ago, Dr. Richard Guerrant has searched for understanding of what he calls the world's biggest health problem. It is an illness that devastates the lives of millions of children.

Now on the verge of a scientific breakthrough, Dr. Guerrant says it's time for all of us to view health differently.

We probe one man's dream for a different definition of human well being.

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Guest:

Richard L. Guerrant, MD - Director of the Center for Global Health at the University of Virginia.



Wednesday, March 7, 2007       Barhoppers

Looking for some entertainment... how about a play in an unusual location?

From March 11 to March 27, a group of Central Virginia performers will be presenting the 17th annual Barhoppers series of short, one-act plays. Performances are staged at bars and restaurants in Charlottesville.

We talk with several of those involved, and hear one of the selected plays, Power Lunch, performed live on the air.

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Guests:

Alex Citron - Executive Director, Play On! Theatre.

Grace Jordon - Charlottesville area actress.

Joel Jones - New York based playwright and author of the one act play Power Lunch.

Stewart Moneymaker - Charlottesville area actor.



Monday, March 5, 2007       3D Security

In numerous speeches and public appearances, President Bush has outlined America’s foreign security policy as a balance of defense, development, and diplomacy.

And according to one Virginia scholar, America has only been standing on one leg of this three legged stool, and we’re about to tip over.

We take a look at the concept of 3D Security.

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Guest:

Lisa Schirch, Ph.D. - Professor of Peacebuilding at Eastern Mennonite University and Program Director for The 3D Security Initiative.



Friday, March 2, 2007       Lessons From the Boardroom

Quaker Oats buys Snapple, AOL combines with Time Warner, Sony buys Columbia Pictures... big deals involving a fair amount of risk and reward, but were they successful?

We talk with the Dean of the Darden School of Business about success in the corner office and the lessons he’s learned by analyzing "Deals From Hell."

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Guest:

Robert Bruner, MBA, DBA - Dean of UVA's Darden School of Business, and author of Deals From Hell: M&A Lessons That Rise Above the Ashes.



Wednesday, February 28, 2007       Culture Pop

When she was fresh out of college, she thought she’d have a career as a modern dancer, but her dance music took off and she found herself fronting a pop band instead.

Years later, she continued to delve into music, but as a classical composer, not as a pop star.

Today, there's a resurging interest in her pop days and she is now thinking about dusting off the pom-poms, picking up the mic and heading out on a reunion tour with The Cosmopolitans.

We talk with Jamie Sims about her life as a genre crossing artist and what it’s like to reconcile the present with the past.

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Guest:

Jamie Sims - Freelance classical composer and creative force behind the 1980s new wave/pop punk/garage band The Cosmopolitans.



Monday, February 26, 2007       Preventing Sexual Assault

In August, 2004, State Health Commissioner Robert Stroube declared, "sexual assault of children in Virginia continues to be a major public health concern."

So what have we been doing since then?

Are children any safer today?

Will they be safer tomorrow?

We peruse answers to those questions with The Collins Center.

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Guests:

Gianna Gariglietti, LPC - Executive Director of The Collins Center.

Cory Davies - Outreach Coordinator of The Collins Center.

Trent Wagler - Education Coordinator of The Collins Center.



Friday, February 23, 2007       Historic Preservation

Virginia is growing rapidly, and there are new construction projects popping up everywhere.

Unfortunately, something old occasionally has to go, in order to make room for something new… but can we go too far in the name of progress?

Leslie Cintron guest hosts and looks at efforts to preserve our historical identity in this region of Virginia.

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Guest:

Pamela H. Simpson, Ph.D. - Ernest Williams II Professor of Art History at Washington & Lee University. Dr. Simpson has written and edited several award-winning books and numerous articles on historic preservation, particularly in the context of the South. Her most recent book is titled Monuments to the Lost Cause, Women, Art and the Landscapes of Southern Memory and was co-edited with Cindy Mills. Dr. Simpson is also the curator of Re-Visioning Lee a recent exhibit at Washington & Lee University’s Staniar Gallery that examined how Robert E Lee's image has been portrayed in different ways over the years.



Wednesday, February 21, 2007       The God Particle

What is the biggest thing science can examine... or the smallest... and are they connected?

Astrophysicists estimate that gamma ray bursts, the biggest explosions in the universe, take ten billion years to reach us.

Physicists believe the smallest possible element of matter is something they haven’t actually seen yet.

And there is now reason to believe they will actually find the Higgs Particle, sometimes called the God Particle, before the end of this decade.

We talk with two local scientists who are on the cutting edge of research into the biggest and smallest parts of the universe... and the possible connections between them.

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Guests:

Bradley B. Cox, Ph.D. - Professor of Physics at the University of Virginia.

Craig Sarazin, Ph.D. - WH Vanderbilt Professor of Astronomy at the University of Virginia.



Monday, February 19, 2007       Homecoming

The trail starts in the mid 1700's with a lucrative slave trade based out of Sierra Leone, and ends on the modern day coasts of Georgia and South Carolina.

And the series of events that led to a reunification of long lost relatives is so unlikely, that one researcher described the experience as being struck by lightning, over and over again.

We talk with Historian Joseph Opala about this journey of discovery and joy as he helped a few African-Americans connect to their roots.

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Guest:

Joseph Opala - Professor of History at James Madison University and teaches African and African-American History in the honors program. Mr. Opala lived in West Africa for two decades, teaching African studies at the University of Sierra Leone and researching the Atlantic slave trade, creole languages, and various topics in West African history and traditional culture. He has published two documentary films: Family Across the Sea (1991) and The Language You Cry in (1998).



Friday, February 16, 2007       The Devil Is a Gentleman

What would compel a person to join a UFO cult, or the Church of Satan, or become a modern day Witch?

When author J.C. Hallman asked himself this question, he thought he might know the answer.

And after a year of strange encounters, he finally confirmed his suspicions.

J.C. Hallman shares his religious discoveries on Insight.

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Guest:

J.C. Hallman - Writer-In-Residence at Sweet Briar College and author of The Devil Is a Gentleman: Exploring America's Religious Fringe and The Chess Artist: Genius, Obsession, and the World's Oldest Game.



Wednesday, February 14, 2007       Heart's Desire

Rolfing... Mind/Body Integration... Psychospiritual Counseling...

For more than 20 years he practiced as a traditional psychological counselor.

But a few years back, things began to change.

Now his focus involves combining science with spirituality to help clients find what he calls the Heart’s Desire.

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Guest:

Len Worley, Ph.D. - Charlottesville based psychologist specializing in Psychospiritual Counseling and Mind/Body Integration.



Monday, February 12, 2007       Pre-Valentines

Think your love life challenges are beyond help?

You've probably heard plenty of relationship advice before... so why hear more?

Maybe, just maybe, this panel of relationship experts (all from different fields of expertise) has something to offer that can put things in a different perspective.

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Guests:

Phyllis Koch-Sheras, Ph.D. - Clinical Psychotherapist and Co-author of Couple Power Therapy.

Elroy Miller, LCSW - Counselor at the Center for Marriage and Family Counseling of Harrisonburg and Director of Eastern Mennonite University’s Social Work Program.

Judith Minter, MSW - Certified Imago Relationship Therapist.



Friday, February 9, 2007       Cultural Opportunities

Discover the chance to experience the world of contemporary classical music, something that only happens once a year in this area.

Meet a woman who writes children’s literature and is traveling around the country promoting the first organized library initiative in Ethiopia.

And spend a little time with two people who just finished translating an obscure French musical farce into English, and are excited at the chance to give it new life and relevance.

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Guests:

Jason Haney Ph.D. - Professor of Theory and Composition at James Madison University and Director of the 27th Annual Contemporary Music Festival.

Jane Kurtz - Award-winning children’s book author and co-founder of Ethiopia Reads. She has authored over 22 books, including In the Small, Small Night, The Feverbird's Claw, Do Kangaroos Wear Seatbelts?, and Saba: Under the Hyena's Foot. Jane Kurtz will be appearing at Eastern Mennonite University as part of their Writers Read program.

Virginia Francisco, Ph.D. - Professor of Theater at Mary Baldwin College and Director of the English premier of The Pretty Perfume Maker.

Lou Dolive - Restorer of early keyboard instruments, member of Waynesboro's Schola Cantorum and Music Arranger for the English premier of The Pretty Perfume Maker.



Monday, February 5, 2007
      History of Technology

Cavemen used a stone hammer... you use a cell phone... is there any similarity between the two?

The editor of a new seven volume set of history books thinks you may be surprised by the answer to that question.

Yes, technology is always changing, but some researchers believe the manner in which humankind uses technological advances to shape culture remains constant.

We talk with the man behind the ambitious project to sum up the history of technology since the beginning of recorded time.

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Guest:

W. Bernard Carlson, Ph.D. - Professor of Science, Technology and Society at the University of Virginia and Editor of Technology In World History.



Friday, February 2, 2007       Level Three Leadership

There’s doing... there’s thinking... and then there’s believing.

On this edition of Insight, join the discussion as we talk with a productivity researcher who says bosses are not doing their jobs correctly unless they connect with employees about all three of those activities.

He also proposes that, no matter what the organization, leadership stems far more from personal choice than organizational status.

His new book on the subject is titled Level Three Leadership and he believes that this is something anyone can do, if they want to.

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Guest:

James G. Clawson, Ph.D. - Professor of Business, Darden School, University of Virginia. Author of Level Three Leadership. Dr. Clawson is also an International Business Consultant and Co-founder of the interactive career advice service, Career Next Step.



Wednesday, January 31, 2007       Bio Rhythms

What happens to your inner clock when you cross too many times zones too often?

How do frequent changes in schedule, like rotating shift work, affect your health?

A biologist who has been studying those questions for more than three decades explains the latest research.

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Guest:

Gene D. Block, Ph.D. - Research Biologist, Professor of Biology, and Provost at the University of Virginia.



Friday, January 26, 2007       Preventing Child Abuse

For more than three decades her passion has been making life better for disadvantaged children.

A few weeks ago, the Carnegie Foundation named her as "Virginia's Professor of the Year."

Find out why she deserves this honor and join the conversation as we talk with research psychologist Joann Grayson about her efforts to prevent child abuse and promote better parenting.

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Guest:

Joann Grayson Ph.D. - Professor of Psychology at James Madison University.



Monday, January 22, 2007       Collaborative Law

For many people involved in thorny disputes, getting a lawyer involved might just end up causing problems instead of resolving them.

And as a result of this experience, there's a new trend in America's law offices...

Guest Host Peter Sheras talks with two attorneys about a new resolution practice called Collaborative Law.

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Guests:

Ron Tweel - Attorney with Michie, Hamlett, Lowry, Rasmussen & Tweel in Charlottesville, Virginia. Practicing Family Law for more than 35 years, he is listed in The Best Lawyers in America.

Susan White - Family law attorney in Charlottesville where she has been practicing for more than 30 years. Also listed in The Best Lawyers in America, she practices Collaborative Law full time now and is a member of the International Association of Collaborative Professionals.



Friday, January 19, 2007       Surprises in Marketing

How much does advertising and marketing influence your daily life?

Many people say, "Oh, advertising doesn't affect me."

However, research shows that the same people who believe advertising has little influence in what they decide to buy, often fill their lives with brand name products.

We talk with a Viriginia researcher who studies American responses to marketing campaigns.

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Guest:

Amanda Bower, Ph.D. - Professor of Business Administration at Washington and Lee University.



Wednesday, January 17, 2007       Wild Virginia

They are an environmental group that has renamed and reoriented itself.

But its members say their top priority remains the same.

And that priority is protecting and preserving the lands and ecosystem of the George Washington National Forest.

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Guests:

David Hannah - Conservation Director of Wild Virginia.

Cynthia Hurst - President of Butterflies in Progress and Board member of Wild Virginia.

Ernie Reed - Director of the The Living Education Center for Ecology and the Arts and Board member of Wild Virginia.



Monday, January 15, 2007       The King Legacy

He urged us to evaluate others by the content of their characters.

That was more than forty years ago. So, how are we doing now?

Guest host, Chris Graham, examines the legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

His guests are three Virginians who have civil rights credentials of their own.

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Guests:

Arthur Dean, II - Director of the Center for Multicultural and International Student Services, James Madison University.

Paul Gaston - Professor-Emeritus, University of Virginia.

Will Hairston - Harrisonburg resident active in efforts to reunite families once linked by slavery.



Friday, January 12, 2007       ADHD

It stands for "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder." You probably knew that. But how much else can you say for certain about ADHD?

We talk with two Virginians devoted to research into — and more effective treatment of — a disorder said to effect at least five per cent of America's children.

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Guests:

Steven Evans, Ph.D. - Professor of Psychology and Director of the Alvin V. Baird Attention and Learning Disabilities Center at James Madison University. Research focus is on teenagers with ADHD.

Amori Mikami, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Psychology at University of Virginia. Research focus is on elementary school age children with ADHD.



Monday, January 8, 2007       Cars, People and the Word That Changed A Nation

Can one word change the future of a nation?

In the early 1920’s, a public relations campaign promoted a word that was so successful, it reshaped our views on transportation.

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Guest:

Peter Norton, Ph.D. - Assistant Professor of Science Technology and Society, University of Virginia. Author of the soon to be published book, Fighting Traffic: The Dawn of The Motor Age In The American City.



Friday, January 5, 2007       Forensic Archeology

What do you think should happen to your body once you’re gone?

A Virginia researcher says the fact that most of us have trouble with that question shows us a lot about our culture. We discover how society's attitudes have changed over the years about the topic of death.

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Guest:

Bernard Means, Ph.D. - Visiting Professor of Anthropology, Washington & Lee University. Author of the new book, Circular Villages of the Monongahela Tradition.



Wednesday, January 3, 2007       Editors Roundtable

What will be the big news in the year ahead? We put that question to four newspaper editors from across our region. And your predictions are welcome too!

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Guests:

Bobby Ford, Managing Editor, The Winchester Star, Winchester

Cort R. Kirkwood, Managing Editor, The Daily News Record, Harrisonburg

McGregor McCance, Managing Editor, The Daily Progress, Charlottesville

Jenny Rector, City Editor, The Daily Progress, Charlottesville

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