The Christian Science Monitor Daily Podcast

On Wednesday, swimmer Katie Ledecky attempted to do something no swimmer has done at the Olympics before – swim both the 200- and 1,500-meter freestyle final on the same day. When asked about this challenge, Ms. Ledecky said, “More than anything, it’s just being mentally prepared for it.” Also: today’s stories, including how the U.S. women’s gymnastics team responded to the exit of Simone Biles, the global focus on reducing food waste, and the new arms race in cyberwarfare. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Jessica Mendoza for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

For people experiencing homelessness, keeping track of belongings is a full-time affair. Grabbing a meal or attending a job interview can mean leaving valuables unattended. But recently, communities have started to offer storage spaces for people who are precariously housed. Also: today’s stories, including a presidential power grab in Tunisia, the conviction of a Hong Kong protester under a new security law, and the testimonies of Capitol police officers before the Jan. 6 House Committee. Join the Monitor's Noelle Swan and Jingnan Peng for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

When Amelia read that veteran, Black civil rights leader Bob Moses died Sunday, her thought swung back 20 years to a school cafeteria in a low-income, largely minority area of Charleston, South Carolina. Also: today’s stories, including why a Taliban victory may not be everything Pakistan wished for, how a spyware scandal has shaken trust in India's democracy, and the U.S. male gymnasts’ approach to Tokyo. Join the Monitor's Amelia Newcomb and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

As cooped-up Americans have burst into the great outdoors this summer, there’s been one predictable, irritating side effect: traffic. Also: today’s stories, including Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Washington, Tokyo Olympics face challenges, Cuba’s unrest serves as potent fodder for Americans’ own struggles. Join the Monitor's Peter Grier and Samantha Laine Perfas for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The Tokyo Summer Olympics will be unlike any other. Amid risks from the pandemic and social unrest, how will they feel? To answer that, we think back to the 2012 London Games, and the love that abounded – and still abounds – from the Olympic atmosphere. Also: today’s stories, including the return of the Florida panther, the search for graves of Indigenous children in Canada, and protests in Eswatini, Africa's last absolute monarchy. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and April Austin for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Sometimes an old building is worth preserving for its own sake, because it is beautiful, not just for the history it represents. Also: today’s stories, including cities grappling with homeless encampments, water system failures in Jackson, Mississippi, and how one South African non-profit is expanding access to books. Join the Monitor's April Austin and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

If you’re going to strap yourself into a 60-foot-tall rocket in West Texas, you’d probably want the experience, verve, and exuberance that Mary Wallace “Wally” Funk brings. Also: today’s stories, including the outpouring of community support in Germany and Belgium after catastrophic storms, why it’s so tough to find – and keep – the right police chief, and why these adults are finally learning to ride a bike. Join the Monitor's Dave Scott and Noelle Swan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

Problems need to be exposed and confronted. But there’s inspiration in personal stories of adaptation and pushback. Our new podcast, “Stronger,” resumes today with another profile in persistence. Also: today’s stories, including a look at what a Nobel Peace Prize really represents, whether space travel needs more enforceable rules, and how a hotel worker found community – and her her voice. Join the Monitor's Clay Collins and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

The sidewalks outside the White House are full of life again, and protests. Also: today’s stories, including conservatives warming up to child tax credit, stability in Afghanistan in China's court. Join the Monitor's Trudy Palmer and Ken Kaplan for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.

What do Russians think when they watch the new Marvel blockbuster “Black Widow”? Does its depiction of Russian culture and identity ring true? Also: today’s stories, including a story of pandemic resilience from the Bronx, a small Illinois town's model for perseverance against a changing climate, the state of women’s rights in Afghanistan vis-à-vis a surging Taliban. Join the Monitor's Mark Sappenfield and Kendra Nordin Beato for today's news. You can also visit csmonitor.com/daily for more information.