Tonight we'll read the next chapter of Good Wives, written by Louisa may Alcott, titled "New Impressions". This is also known as the second half of the Little Women novel, and is considered the 37th chapter as part of that work as a whole. In the last chapter, Jo returns home and is troubled by the changes in Beth. Although Beth appears happy, Jo senses that her sister is fading away. Beth reveals that she has known for some time that she is dying, but has kept it to herself, trying to remain positive for the family. Jo is heartbroken and struggles to accept the truth, but Beth comforts her, assuring her that it is best.

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Introducing Finding Hope in Dark Times (From the Archive) from How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality.

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This episode from 2023 is one of our all-time listener favorites. We're sharing it again for anyone who may have missed it, or could do with a refresher, especially at the holiday season! 

Surveys show feelings of sadness and despair peaked in 2023. So as we look to the new year, it’s understandable why any of us might be feeling pessimistic, even hopeless. But these feelings aren’t written in stone. We always have a choice. It’s in these darkest of times, when all feels lost, that hope helps us find our way … not just to heal ourselves, but also the world around us.

On this episode, we’ll talk with the Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, about how he remains motivated and hopeful, even while covering some of the most tragic events in recent history. And he’ll offer a little advice for ways we can all rise above despair.

And we’ll talk with Roshi Joan Halifax — ecologist, civil rights activist, hospice caregiver, and founder of the Upaya Zen Center — about the Buddhist-informed notion of wise hope, the equanimity it can bring, and the fierce compassion it can unleash.

Nicholas Kristof is the author of the  book Chasing Hope: A Reporter's Life. Read his NYT columns here, and find out more about the cider he makes here.

Roshi Joan Halifax leads the Upaya Zen Center in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Learn more about her work on her website.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Tonight, for this month’s Snoozecast+ Deluxe bonus episode, we’ll read a selection of classical Christmas poems, starting with “A Visit from St. Nicholas” written by Clement Clarke Moore. 

We hope that our Deluxe listeners enjoy tonight’s sleep holiday poetry. If you are interested in learning more about what Snoozecast+ and Snoozecast+ Deluxe offer, please go to snoozecast.com/plus 

Moore was an American writer, scholar and real estate developer. But he is best known to this day as the author of the poem with the opening line “Twas the Night Before Christmas” that has become "arguably the best-known verses ever written by an American," from its opening line “Twas the Night Before Christmas…” 

The poem was initially published anonymously, or rather under a penname, which was customary for poetry at the time, in 1823. As the poem's popularity grew so did curiosity about its author. In response to a query in 1829, a newspaper editor wrote that "We have been given to understand that the author ... belongs by birth and residence to the city of New York, and that he is a gentleman of more merit as a scholar and a writer than many of more noisy pretensions." 

Fourteen years after initial publication, the author was revealed. It was his children, for whom he had originally written the piece, that encouraged him to submit it for publication. Snoozecast wishes a happy Christmas to all our listeners, and to all, a good night. 

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Introducing Finding Holiday Happiness from How God Works: The Science Behind Spirituality.

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The holidays are supposed to be a time of joy. But all too often, the darker, colder days of winter, and even the stress of preparing for the holidays themselves, can lead people to feel something else: rushed, stressed, lonely, or even hopeless. How can you make sure this year is bright? Science shows that there's a wisdom to parts of traditional winter celebrations – a wisdom that's been honed over centuries to help us all find light, joy, and connection during the darkest and coldest time of the year. 

Join Dave as he chats with Laurie Santos about how to unpack the psychological secrets of celebrations from Christmas, to Hanukkah, to Yule, and more. They’ll also discuss how we can put that wisdom into practice, whatever our beliefs, to make this season a happier and healthier one for all.

Laurie Santos hosts the podcast The Happiness Lab and is a Professor of Psychology at Yale, where she teaches the most popular class in the university’s history. Learn more about her work at her website. 

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Tonight, we’ll read the opening to “Roughing It”, by Mark Twain, published in 1872. It is a semi-autobiographical travel memoir following a young Twain through the Wild West during the 1860s. The book offers a vivid glimpse into a bygone era, filled with stagecoaches, mining camps, and encounters with colorful characters.

Twain's signature wit and humor permeate the narrative, as he recounts his experiences as a novice miner, a stagecoach driver, and a journalist. He paints a vivid picture of the rugged landscapes, the bustling towns, and the diverse people he encountered along the way. From the majestic Sierra Nevada mountains to the vast deserts of Nevada, Twain's descriptions transport the reader to a time when the West was still a land of opportunity and adventure.

US Astronauts Frank Borman and Jim Lovell read “Roughing It” aloud to pass the time aboard a two week long mission orbiting the earth in 1965. This highlights the book's enduring appeal and its ability to transport readers to another time and place, even in the most extraordinary of circumstances.

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Tonight, we’ll read from the sixth chapter of British naturalist Charles Darwin’s “The Voyage of the Beagle”. This chapter explores more of Darwin’s journey from Bahia Blanca to Buenos Aries. He reflects on the landscape, vegetation, and wildlife of the region, which is marked by vast, desolate plains and dry shrubland. Darwin notes the scarcity of water, the presence of thorny bushes, and the occasional sighting of wildlife like armadillos. He also encounters the indigenous people of the area and reflects on their customs and ways of life, contrasting them with those of European settlers. This chapter captures his growing curiosity and sense of discovery, as he observes and analyzes the natural history of South America with scientific enthusiasm.

“The Voyage of the Beagle” is the title most commonly given to the book published in 1839 as Darwin’s “Journal and Remarks”, bringing him considerable fame and respect. If you’d like to start from the beginning, the first of this series aired on June 10th, 2024, and the most recent episode prior to this one, in August of 2024.

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Introducing ExoPod from The Rennae Stubbs Tennis Podcast.

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What is the purpose of exhibitions? How is an off season best used? Should NFL players wear helmets? We tackle all of these burning questions and more with our very own Angela Merkel, Andrea Petkovic, who has been elected against her will to serve as global tennis commissioner.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Tonight, we shall read the next part to “Persuasion”, the last novel fully completed by Jane Austen, and published in 1817. The story concerns Anne Elliot, an Englishwoman whose family moves in order to lower their expenses, by renting their home to an Admiral and his wife. 

In the last episode, the off-season tourists to the beach town of Lyme are surprised to learn that the mysterious gentleman they passed by was not only a cousin to Anne and Mary Elliot, but was the heir to their family fortune. Later, a tragic accident occurs suddenly after Louisa playfully falls from a ledge, expecting to be caught by Captain Wentworth. The situation is sudden and terrible, and each individual in the group shows their ability (or inability) to handle the emergency with grace. Anne’s steadiness and calm particularly shines. Louisa is alive but unresponsive, and it is decided that she will stay at the Harville’s, in their care, while she recovers.

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Introducing How Climate Change Impacts Gender from The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women (HERO).

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The number of people exposed to floods globally has surged by nearly 25 percent since 2000, with Africa experiencing the most dramatic increase. Floods this spring were especially brutal in East Africa, killing nearly 530 people and most heavily impacting Kenya.

On today’s episode of the Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women, we analyze the relationship between climate and gender equality. Host Reena Ninan begins by hearing from Nairobi-based reporter Eunice Maina, who spoke with a family deeply impacted by the spring floods. They dig deeper into how these floods and climate change in general disproportionately affect women and children.

Then, Ninan speaks with Tariye Gbadegesin, the CEO of the Climate Investment Funds. It is one of the world’s largest multilateral climate funds, and a significant portion of their work targets women and girls. We recorded this interview during the annual World Bank-International Monetary Fund meetings in October.

Guests and organizations: 

The Hidden Economics of Remarkable Women is a podcast from Foreign Policy, supported in part this season by the Gates Foundation, Northwestern University’s Roberta Buffett Institute for Global Affairs, and the Atlantic Council.

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DISCLAIMER: Please note, this is an independent podcast episode not affiliated with, endorsed by, or produced in conjunction with the host podcast feed or any of its media entities. The views and opinions expressed in this episode are solely those of the creators and guests. For any concerns, please reach out to [email protected].

Tonight, we'll read the chapter “On Soup” from The Feasts of Autolycus by Elizabeth Robins Pennell, in which Pennell draws from her experiences as a food critic and essayist to explore the role of soup in culinary culture. Snoozecast first read this back in 2020. An American writer who lived much of her life in Europe, Pennell was known for her travel writing and gastronomic studies, often blending personal observations with cultural critique. Her perspective reflects a deep familiarity with both English and French cuisines, informed by her broader interest in art and domestic life.

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