Public Radio Redux

The world lost one of its great listeners today. Studs Terkel -- the great oral historian, author, and radio host -- loved to listen to everyday people, ask them questions and revel in their memories. Whether the topic was the Great Depression, World War II, or simply Work, Terkel never gravitated towards the rich or elite. He believed that average, hard-working Americans had the best stories to tell. As Joe the Plumber and Joe Six Pack are propped up for political angling, I'm curious what questions Studs would ask them. I quite positive they'd have more to say than Drill Baby Drill.

By now you've likely heard the hubub surrounding the "creative" editing and anonymous YouTube posting of a 7 year old Obama interview. The year was 2001. Usher had a hit song, gas cost $1.30 a gallon, and Illinois State Senator Barack Obama was a guest on the now defunct Chicago Public Radio program Odyssey. Now some anonymous McCain supporter has edited Obama's remarks on civil rights into a four minute rant on the redistribution of wealth. Ah, the perils of free editing software.

Now that the initial scandal has passed, Chicago Public Radio's Josh Andrews has some some funny things to say about the joys of digging through archival tape. Namely, Odyssey's theme song.

See, choosing a radio theme song is no easy task:

a) It must be catchy, but not too catchy. Never forget that you'll be hearing the damn thing every day.

b) It must command gravitas or at least sincerity. No one wants their news served up with a side of Barney.

c) It must also convey the lively moments and perhaps even the fun you'll be having on the air. Somber timpani solos are not the answer.

But way back at the turn of the century, the fine folks at Odyssey found the perfect song: "Son of My Father" by some random Russian guy named Miguel Ramos. Ramos never made it to the internet age, but Josh Andrews managed to dig up an even zanier version of the same song. Please note the lead singer's outstanding hair, after the jump.

(12:58)

When you think of Chicago, what comes to mind? Skyscrapers, taxis, and... pigs? It's easy to forgot that this major metropolitan city happens to be located in Illinois - a state known for its agricultural prowess. NPR's Scott Simon brings us to the very intersection of urban and rural: 111th Street and Pulaski Boulevard. It's the city block that abuts Chicago's High School for Agricultural Sciences' 72-acre working farm.

Simon's portrait of this public high school overflows with great sound. As your ears perk to buses and trucks whooshing by, slowly this weird, slobbery chomp, chomp, chomp comes into focus. It's Lucy the 350 pound pig, of course. She makes way for a diverse group of students genuinely enthused about farming - whether it's gossiping about a skinny goat or growing basil for the school's own pesto.

What makes this piece really sing is Simon's writing. It's clean, sharp, and frankly enviable. He captures simple, telling moments that make Chicago's "Ag High" a living, breathing place, not just a postcard or politician's cliche. Plus, he makes that pesto sound really, really good.

Photo via flickr by: Johnmuk

Click here for a direct audio link.

Weekend America's "This Weekend in 1968" series is ingenious. So many fascinating things happened that year and what better way to understand them than to listen to the music, newscasts, and archival sound from the events themselves. The audio is so rich and well-researched, it's as if independent producers Ann Heppermann and Kara Oehler have freed hours of audio archives from dusty library shelves so that we can hear for ourselves what each weekend in 1968 sounded like.

I'm particularly enamored with this audio collage of political and cultural protests from 1968 to today. It's fascinating to hear how much has changed and how much has not. But I wish we could have heard more from conservative protesters. Pro-life and anti-gay marriage protesters have lined the streets of every city I've lived in. Their signs are often more graphic than their liberal counterparts. I've seen them standing their ground in rain, sleet, and snow. My curiosity is often piqued by their determination, but the few times I've asked conservative activists about their positions, they have simply repeated well-worn slogans. I would have liked to hear their fury side-by-side with AIDS rights and anti-capitalism protesters. Perhaps their message would make more sense in context.

(12:30)

Tommy Lee is a lifelong Democrat. He's also voting for McCain. "I don't think blacks don't have enough to run the country," he tells NPR's David Greene. Greene payed a visit to Logan, West Virginia -- the self-proclaimed "Friendliest Town in WV" -- to take the pulse of swing state voters. While many people Greene spoke with have valid, well researched reasons for voting for one candidate or another, others are straightforward bigots. Lee doesn't say what he thinks African-Americans don't have "enough" of, but it's pretty clear what he's implying. Anyone who thinks America no longer has a problem with racism needs to hear his voice.

On a lighter note, this piece teems with sounds of small town life. From the barber shop to the bowling alley, it's clear that music and community are at the heart of this coal-mining town. To see for yourself, check out these beautiful photographs of life in Logan, West Virgina.

Today is an exciting day for producers and for public radio. The Association of Independents in Radio (where I just happen to work) and CPB today announced a new producer-focused initiative -- the Public Radio Makers Quest (MQ2.0). MQ2.0 will identify the best and brightest audio makers from within public radio and beyond and provide them with funds to experiment with new ways of producing for both traditional broadcast and new digital platforms.

For more details, definitely check out the FAQ.

What would a blog written by two Salt grads be without a shout-out to the new PRX-distributed Salt podcast? The idea behind the Saltcast is simple yet brilliant. Rob Rosenthal, director of the Salt radio program and producer and teacher extraordinaire, introduces listeners to pieces produced by Salt students. He presents a dilemma the student faced or simply gives an intriguing back story. And then, what's especially cool (not that you're not uber cool on your own, Rob), is that listeners get to hear from the producer, with Rob asking questions about what the process was like. So basically, it's a lot like sitting in class with Rob, the idea being that he uses the stories and experiences of previous students as a teaching tool for incoming students. Pretty darn effective.

In this particular podcast, discover the connection between blood worms and Russian mail order brides. You read correctly. Blood worms and Russian mail order brides. Seriously, you can't make this stuff up.

Photo caption: Radio students from Fall 2007 take a lunch break.

I've grown up making mix tapes - for myself, for my friends and family, for crushes and for boyfriends. And I remember the days of "dubbing" from one tape to another, timing it just right and hoping that I didn't inadvertently cut off the beginning or ending of a song. Choosing the ultimate order for a mix tape was also tricky - it had to be thought out in advance. Not like today where you can just reorder your playlist on a whim.

(And, yes, in my day I had to walk 5 miles to school in the snow. Uphill both ways.)

Entertaining as always, in this episode of What Would Rob Do, Rob not only tackles the subject of crafting the perfect mix tape, but he also gets some good advice from one of his favorite bands, The Squeeze. What song of theirs would they select to win over someone's heart? Listen and find out.

OK. So, more often than not I don't have a clue why some stories make the "Most Emailed" list at NPR and others don't. (Bryant Park Project took a crack at this mystery as well, in their hilarious, "E-Mail This Story: Of Kittens, Quinoa & Ron Paul").

But this story, which is about 12:40 in, I understand. BJDs or "Ball-Jointed Dolls" are all the rage in Asia (mostly in Japan and South Korea). And this report doesn't really say why, exactly, but it highlights what has become an obsession for some. Think American Girl doll, only a bit creepier.

It looks like the universe lived to see another day, in spite of the Hadron Collider. The most powerful microscope ever built was activated early this morning, 300 feet under ground near Geneva. Doomsday scenarios crowded the internet, but none were as frightening as this fictional account of collider misfunction on Studio 360.

If you can make it through Martha Plimpton's reading of Lydia Millet's tale of sub-atomic disaster without getting goosebumps, you'll be rewarded with one of my favorite listener essays on punk rock, architecture, and DIY ingenuity.