Biologist Jonathan Balcome specializes in animal behavior and emotions. He will be at Chico State giving a free public lecture on April 24th. This week join Nancy for a conversation with the author of What A Fish Knows: The Inner Lives Of Our Underwater Cousins .

Butte College philosophy professor Dan Barnett has just celebrated 30 years of writing a book review column for the Chico Enterprise-Record . Later this month, Butte College will host a Creative Writing Conference featuring writers such as Jael Richardson, author of a memoir about her football player father. Join Nancy for a conversation with the author of The Stone Thrower and a look back at 30 years of writing book reviews.

War correspondent Ann Scott Tyson wrote a piece for the Washington Post about a U.S. Army Special Forces major named Jim Gant. She has now written a book about this charismatic and controversial commander who was on Osama bin Laden's hit list. This week join Nancy for a conversation with author Ann Scott, and her husband Major Jim Gant.

North State author Jim Barrett retired after 30 years in law enforcement and wrote a book, Ma Duncan , about Ventura County's "Trial of the Century" from 1959. In this episode we explore the shocking true story of the last female executed in the state of California.

Janet Turner Print Museum board member Mike Halldorson has written a memoir recounting his experiences in the Navy during the Vietnam war. This week join Nancy Wiegman for a conversation with this author and artist about his book Navy Daze: Coming Of Age In The 1960s Aboard A Navy Destroyer .

Redding author Dan Greaney has a new novel, The Worst Generation . This week join host Nancy Wiegman for a fictional daughter's recounting of a childhood she is thankful for. But, as an adult, she also sees the economic and environmental plundering she couldn't see as a child.

Professors Bill Rich and Tony Waters were contracted by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to evaluate vocational education in California prisons. They published their results in a frank, funny, disturbing, and personal account of attempts to educate state prisoners.

This year's community "book in common" is My Life On The Road by feminist icon Gloria Steinem, who will be in Chico's Laxson Auditorium on March 1st. On this week's show, joined by NSPR General Manager Beth Lamberson, Nancy talks with Gloria Steinem about traveling and listening.

Chico physician Kelley Otani sought to combine what he learned in his medical training with healing practices from other sources. The principles in his book, Paradox of Conscious Healing , have been clinically tested by his patients. Redding author Crystal Sage wrote Master Your Destiny after she discovered how to heal herself of chronic health problems.

On Valentine's Day our thoughts turn to love. Physician and author Dr. Kelley Otani explains the role of love in his book on conscious healing. This week Nancy explores Dr. Otani's journey to spiritual healing, plus a Valentine's Day story from humorist Eric Miller .