Joshua Mezrich share a day in the life of a transplant surgeon. Jens Puschhof of Hubrecht Institute shares his groundbreaking research growing organs in a lab.

Derek Gow is a beaver crusader with a mission to bring back beavers to the world's waterways. Andrew Reeves explains why Asian Carp have become a huge problem in America's river systems, even as they become endangered in their native habitats.

Judith Sumner breaks down the botanical history of WWII to show how plants played a significant role, for good and ill, on both sides of the war. David Taylor explains that cork was essential in construction of WWII battleships.

Judith Sumner breaks down the botanical history of WWII to show how plants played a significant role, for good and ill, on both sides of the war. David Taylor explains that cork was essential in construction of WWII battleships.

Nicholas A. Basbanes tells the rich story of famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Daniel Peterson of BYU examines the mystery of the Magi.

Nicholas A. Basbanes tells the rich story of famous poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. Daniel Peterson of BYU examines the mystery of the Magi.

Judith Flanders shares all the types of Christmas traditions that have arisen in the almost 2000 year history of Christmas. Kim Balaschak explains the Russian tradition of New Year's Ornaments.

Christmas Traditions from the Archbishop of Constantinople to Department Store Parades

Guest: Judith Flanders, writer and social historian, primarily focused on Victorian era, author of “Inside the Victorian Home,” “The Invention of Murder,” and, “Christmas: A Biography."

Christmas has had nearly 2000 years of evolving traditions, cultures, and practices.  While we all might think our way of celebrating the holiday is the “right” way to do it, there are actually as many differences as you’d expect with 2000 years of history.

 

A Russian Tradition

Guest: Kim Balaschak, retired collector of Russian New Year’s Tree Ornaments

Kim Balaschak’s Russian New Year’s ornament collection started as a way for her to feel a bit of the holidays in Russia. Over the years, it’s become a chronicle of Russian history. It’s now at The Museum of Russian Art

Kris Kringle Nabs Cash! A Cunning Christmas Crime

Guest: Alex Palmer, author of "The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York," published in 2016, but the paperback version just came out on November 1st of this year.

John Duval Gluck started the Santa Claus Association, which answered children’s Christmas letters to the fat man and connected them with philanthropists who could help. But corruption was the downfall of this Progressive-Era showman.

 

Johnny Appleseed: The Eccentric Man Behind the Great American Legend

Guest: Howard Means, journalist and author, "Johnny Appleseed: The Man, the Myth, the American Story"

Johnny Appleseed, born John Chapman, was a pioneer of the American frontier, and an eccentric one at that. He's a larger-than-life figure with a story we've all helped to promote and expand. His history, though, is a bit more complicated than the Disney biopic lets on.

John Duval Gluck founded the Santa Claus Association to answer the letters children sent to Santa but was caught embezzling large amounts of the association's funds. And, the myths behind the man Johnny Appleseed.