The Exchange

Have you hiked Mount Lafayette in N.H.'s Franconia Notch? We talked with N.H. author Ty Gagne about his new book “The Last Traverse: Tragedy and Resilience in the Winter Whites." It’s the true story of two friends on a winter hike that goes awry, and the search-and-rescue efforts that keep it from becoming a bigger tragedy. What makes it especially relevant for this moment is the insight into how we make high-stakes decisions and manage risk in uncertain situations. Airdate: Friday, January 1,

We talked with philosopher Robert Talisse about his book, Overdoing Democracy: Putting Politics In Its Place. He argues that politics is dominating our lives and minds right now, at a moment when we might make more of a difference by nurturing social connections, cooperation and civic engagement. We find out more, and ask: Has the pandemic increased political polarization? Airdate: Thursday, Dec. 31, 2020. Originally aired Nov. 30. 2020

All this week on The Exchange, it's another opportunity to hear some of our most interesting discussions of the year. NHPR's Peter Biello talked with the author of a biography of Nackey Scripps Loeb. She headed the Union Leader Corporation in the 1980s and 1990s, one of the most unusual and influential local newspapers in the U.S. Her unapologetic conservatism and position in the first-in-the-nation primary state gave her an outsized and now largely forgotten role in American politics. Although

How well do you really know George Washington? If you’re picturing wooden teeth and a cherry tree, you will want to tune in for NHPR reporter Casey McDermott's conversation with historians Alexis Coe and Erica Armstrong Dunbar. Their work challenges conventional wisdom about this founding father and brings to the forefront Ona Judge, the runaway enslaved person he pursued to Portsmouth, N.H.. Air date: Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2020. Originally aired June 24, 2020

All this week on The Exchange, we bring you some of our most thought-provoking discussions of the year. The national conversation about how we consider confederate statues came to New Hampshire, as Native Americans called for a closer look at the history of Hannah Duston’s statue in Boscawen. Her tale of native slaughter made her a colonial era heroine, but controversial in our time. And we learned about efforts to expand Duston’s story to include Abenaki history. Airdate: Monday, December 28,

On Christmas Day, we listen back to a seasonal favorite, our 2005 conversation with Gerald Charles Dickens, Charles Dickens's great-great-grandson and an actor. He toured America with his one-man performance of "A Christmas Carol," and we speak with him about the legacy of his namesake and the magic of "A Christmas Carol." He also performs a handful of scenes from his show.

The solstice on December twenty-first brought us the official start of winter. To help keep you going through the holidays and the shorter days of this season, The Exchange brings you inspiration from our discussion with outdoor enthusiasts about continuing to exercising safely, and maybe even picking up a new activity. Plus, we hear from the Mount Washington Observatory, on how summit observers stay fit at the "home of the world's worst weather." Airdate: Thursday, Dec. 24, 2020: Originally

With many restaurants closed down, people spent more time cooking and baking in the kitchen this year. Although we cannot hold our usual holiday parties, we explore what you're cooking this year, what new recipes you're trying, and how you've scaled down your traditional holiday favorites. Air date: Wednesday, Dec. 23, 2020.

It isn’t the holiday season without holiday movies! With family gatherings curtailed, many are taking solace in the holiday movies being offered by Hallmark, Lifetime and Netflix. We’ll discuss why they’re so appealing, and learn about the business behind the movies: how can so many be produced during a pandemic? We also discuss how they’re changing to address diversity and gender roles, as well as the picture they paint about romantic relationships and how we talk about them with our children.

As 2020 closes, we check in with past guests and Morning Edition host Rick Ganley, and hear from listeners, about what this year’s been like, and what you’ll take with you into 2020. Air date: Monday, December 21, 2020.