Monkey See
2:59 pm
Fri August 10, 2012

'Into The Woods' All Over Again, This Time In An Actual Urban Jungle

Originally published on Fri August 10, 2012 3:44 pm

Oh, the questions that circulated when this summer's Shakespeare in the Park revival of Into the Woods was announced.

Who'd play the Baker, that woebegone would-be father at the center of Stephen Sondheim's fractured musical fairy tale?

Who'd step into the star role of the vengeful Witch, played notably by Bernadette Peters in the premiere and by Vanessa Williams in the 2002 revival?

How would the show work in a giant outdoor amphitheater, amid the trees and lawns and urban clatter of Central Park?

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Travel with Rick Steves

Each program mixes interviews with guest travel experts, your call-ins with questions and comments, and music. We talk about our favorite travels in Europe, as well as travel anywhere in the U.S. and the rest of the world. Along with exciting destinations, we discuss general topics, as far flung as keeping healthy on the road, bicycling trips and tips, senior travel, finding chocolates, fear of flying, and more.

Visit the Travel with Rick Steves website.

Talk of the Nation Science Friday

Each Friday, journalist Ira Flatow is joined by listeners and studio guests to explore science-related topics - from subatomic particles and the human genome to the Internet and earthquakes. Flatow offers in-depth discussion with scientists and others from all walks of life, giving listeners the chance to hear from the people whose work influences their daily lives.

Visit the Science Friday website.

Talk of the Nation

Monday through Thursday, host Neal Conan invites callers to discuss areas of topical interest, including politics and public service, education, religion, music, and healthcare. Talk of the Nation goes behind the headlines with decision-makers, authors, thinkers, artists, and listeners around the world, who become part of the conversation by calling 1-800-989-TALK.

Visit the Talk of the Nation website.

This American Life

This American Life is an award-winning critically acclaimed weekly program describing and documenting contemporary American life. Each week a theme is chosen, and host Ira Glass and a variety of writers and performers share stories in a range of styles: monologues, documentaries, short radio plays, “found recordings,” and original works for radio. Music underscores many stories.

Visit the This American Life website.

The Story

From American Public Media. The Story brings together ordinary and extraordinary people who can provide perspective on the news and inspire conversation and understanding. Its focus is where the news changes lives, inspires, and causes us to think and re-think.

Visit The Story website.

Planet Money
2:40 pm
Fri August 10, 2012

How A Pasta Factory Got People To Show Up For Work

Credit Robert Smith / NPR

Originally published on Mon August 13, 2012 10:06 am

Zoe Chace and Robert Smith are reporting from European borders this week. This story is about the unofficial border within one country — the border that divides northern and southern Italy. This is the fourth story in a four-part series.

A decade ago, the Barilla pasta factory in Foggia, Italy, had a big problem with people skipping work. The absentee rate was around 10 percent.

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A Prairie Home Companion

Recorded live every Saturday,  A Prairie Home Companion features comedy sketches, music, and Garrison Keillor's signature monologue, "The News from Lake Wobegon."

Visit the A Prairie Home Companion website.

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!

Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me! is NPR's weekly hour-long quiz program. Each week on the radio you can test your knowledge against some of the best and brightest in the news and entertainment world while figuring out what's real news and what's made up. On the Web, you can play along too.

Visit the Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me! website.

Remembrances
2:14 pm
Fri August 10, 2012

David Rakoff: 'There Is No Answer As To Why Me'

Originally published on Mon August 13, 2012 7:28 am

Writer and humorist David Rakoff, who died Thursday at the age of 47, wrote with a perfect balance of wit and gravity about the cancer that would ultimately take his life.

Rakoff developed a devoted following as a regular contributor to the public radio program This American Life. His books of essays include Fraud and Don't Get Too Comfortable. Rakoff's most recent book, Half Empty, won the Thurber Prize for American Humor in 2011.

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