He's a filmmaker.  And he's a film fan.  Listen as Justin Timpane gives his take on how studios can make good films on decent budgets.

Baseball 2024 is underway! Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer and Nick Roman of KPCC Radio preview the season and make their predictions on winners, losers, and how gambling will affect the game.

Back in 1177 BC, civilization in the eastern Mediterranean collapsed. After a few decades, civilization in the area rose again. Eric Cline has books about both events - and one of them is a graphic novel!

Most of us are defined by our jobs: "and what do you do?" And it seems employers have always had the upper hand. Philosopher and economist Elizabeth Anderson says workers deserve better.

Mykhylo is an American who lives most of the year in Ukraine, training field medics in the war against Russia. We last talked with him in 2022. He's back with an update.

Film critic Sam Adams says 2023 was a banner year for film, and the 2024 Oscars will be proof! Sam talks good and bad about candidates for Best Picture, Best Lead Actress, Best Supporting Actor, writing, music, documentaries and lots more.

Forward into the past!  Clay Routledge has studied nostalgia for years, and says our tendency to think about the "good old days" can actually help us deal with the present and look to the future.

Barcodes - the little stripes on everything you buy that make the register beep at the checkout counter. Ever wonder how they got there? Jordan Firth did, and his book reveals a weird and wonderful history.

In February 1965 there was a televised debate on "the American dream is at the expense of the American Negro." Author Nicholas Buccola tells why that debate still affects us today.

Have you checked out politics lately? We're definitely in the midst of strange political times. Thank goodness political columnist Dick Polman is here to help us sort things out.  As much as he can.....