B4uLeap

We hear from Dr. Charles Limb, who straps jazz musicians and freestyle rappers into an MRI machine and studies their brains while they create musical improvisations. His Ted Talk has over 1 million views. Also, two leading activists tell us how creativity informs their work.

We speak to Gerald Markowitz, co-author of Lead Wars, a history outlining the lead industry's 100-year campaign to maintain sales of lead-based paint. Also, CEH Research Director Caroline Cox with tips on avoiding lead threats to your children and family.

Hear Professor Agustin Fuentes explain how New York Times science writer Nicholas Wade gets the science wrong in his new book on race and genetics, and comedian Baratunde Thurston, author of "How To Be Black." Plus we hear about environmental racism and environmental justice.

We speak to Goldman Environmental Prize winner Helen Slottje, scientist Anthony Ingraffea, Professor Mark Jacobson of the Solutions Project, and CEH Energy and Health expert Ansje Miller. Health experts say fracking is damaging communities, and scientists say the fossil fuels from fracking will doom the planet. Hear why fracking can’t work, and how we can protect our children and families from fracking risks!

We hear from the country’s leading expert on food politics, Marion Nestle, on the food industry’s influence, genetically engineered and cloned food, and much more. Then food author, educator and advocate Anna Lappé tells us why GMOs won’t feed the world, and how organic farming can alleviate the climate crisis. And Rebecca Spector of the Center for Food Safety gives us updates on the latest food fights in Congress and the states.

Why does Mary Roach have her arm inside a cow's stomach? What's periblepsis mean? How did I make Mary cry? These and many other questions answered in the podcast, in which we talk about Mary's latest book, Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal. Plus, science writer Virginia Hughes on new research on gut bacteria and obesity.

Some say our genes are our destiny. But what if our biological inheritance is more than just genes? Hear what this means for genetic testing, and our understanding of the basic concepts of genetics, disease and health.

More from Harry Shearer, including Spinal Tap, The Big Uneasy, and more from Le Show, Paul Krassner on Lenny Bruce, Negin Farsad of "The Muslims Are Coming, and Brian Janosch of Cultivated Wit.

You know Harry Shearer from Spinal Tap, the Simpsons, movies, TV and his weekly radio show Le Show. Paul Krassner hung out with Abbie Hoffman, Ken Kesey, and Lenny Bruce. Negin Farsad tells us about The Muslims Are Coming, and Brian Janosch talks about working with Baratunde Thurston at Cultivated Wit.

Breast cancer and other changes in breast health may be a signal for all human health. With Florence Williams, author of Breasts: A Natural and Unnatural History, Ted Schettler, author of the Ecology of Breast Cancer, and Connie Engel of the Breast Cancer Fund.