Discovering the World Through Stamps

Guest: Graham Beck, philatelist and YouTube host

Perhaps nothing is quite as synonymous with the stereotyped image of an eclectic collector as that of the philatelist, or stamp collector. Since 1774 when John Bourke first started the practice, dedicated individuals have hunted down and been captivated by the humble postage stamp. Beck takes this obsession one step further and uses stamps as a lens on the world.

 

This Couple is Out to Regrow the Indian Rain Forest 

Guest: Pamela Gale-Malhotra, Co-founder, SAI (Save Animals Initiative) Sanctuary

Chances are, you’ve probably watched a video or two in your lifetime about the dangers of deforestation. You heard about the sad tales of the millions of acres of rain forest destroyed around the world. You were probably asked to donate to help the preservation effort. But you probably didn’t do what Pamela and Anil Malholtra did: move to India and replant 300 acres of rain forest yourself.

 

Archeologists Shed New Light on Ancient Jewish Life

Guest: Jodi Magness, Professor of Early Judaism, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Director, Huqoq Excavation Project

In an ancient mural of Jonah, the poor prophet is swallowed by a succession of three fish. What could that possibly mean? We’ll ask the expert who just recently found this unusual mural in a remote town in Israel. 

See Huqoq murals here.

Learn more about the Huqoq excavation here.

 

When Getting a Physical Means Mapping Your Genome 

Guest: Michael Snyder, Stanford B. Ascherman Professor and Chair of Genetics, Director of Genomics and Personalized Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine

The task of mapping the human genome began in 1990 and took over a decade to complete, finishing in 2003. Now, Stanford professor and entrepreneur Michael Snyder can scan your genome in two weeks and use the information to predict your future health. But is that worth a few thousand dollars?

 

Word Story- Jalopy

Guest: Eric Schulzke