We look ahead to the new year with the 2021 World Almanac, the lessons modern-day activists can draw from the suffragists, and one journalist's journey to lose weight. Also, we follow the extraordinary journey of Olive the Lionheart and we learn about shark friendships.

First, conversations about nocebos and side effects–is it all in your head?. Then, how to connect with real scientists from your home, and the future of hydrogen fuel. Also, how English conversations work, and why scientists painted eyes on cow rumps.

Christmas special with LEGOS, Santa Claus in Indiana, food banks, and holiday spices. Then, how Mariah Carey became a Christmas classic. Then, why the pandemic could lead to a golden era in TV and film. Also, A family of tinkerers in California missed going to Disneyland so much this year, they built their own Matterhorn rollercoaster.

Other states watch as California announces that it will develop and sell its own line of generic drugs. Then, how the 80's role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons can be used in therapy. Also, how a new company is tracks pollen in real-time. We also discuss new AC technology, how one photographer takes pictures of wildfires, and the development of small nuclear reactors.

What it’s like to transition into the White House during a national crisis. Also, why the six-foot rule for avoiding COVID-19 isn’t always the best guideline. Then, should someone be held legally responsible for a volcanic eruption that killed 22 tourists last year? And on the show, how the US Army is training dogs to detect COVID-19, the mold that makes food taste better, and how researchers in Australia have figured out how to make diamonds in minutes–at room temperature.

How did the Salvation Army bell-ringers become American Christmas icons–especially considering the Salvation Army originated in England. Then, what we still don't know about the Deepwater Horizon oil spill a decade later. We also talk about Katherine Keith's memoir on solitude. Also today, a pet detective, the power of family stories, and the TV series on Jane Austen's unfinished novel.

A look at the state of the economy–is it worse now than it has been during the pandemic? Then, Medina Tenour Whiteman calls herself an “invisible Muslim” because, while she was born Muslim with an Arabic name, she’s white and blonde. Also today, how friendliness was central to our human survival, family Christmas movies, and a vending machine of short stories.

US Economy is Worsening During the Pandemic as Extra Benefits Run Out (0:32)

The number of Americans falling below the poverty line has risen swiftly in the last couple of months with 26 million workers–that’s one out of every six people in the American workforce–unemployed or experiencing a decrease in hours and pay.  Elise Gould joins us to talk about the current state of the economy.  Gould is a senior economist with the Economic Policy Institute.

 

The Secret to Homo Sapiens' Survival? Friendly Cooperation (11:03)

What if it wasn’t "survival of the fittest"–like ferocity and stamina–that made humans successful, but rather our ability to cooperate?  Duke University Anthropology professor Brian Hare states his theory in the book "Survival of the Friendliest: Understanding Our Origins and Rediscovering Our Common Humanity."

 

Christmas Movies to Stream with the Family (32:13)

It's a brave new world for holiday movies as studios scale back their releases this year and new movies are being released directly to streaming platforms.  So Kirsten Hawkes from ParentPreviews.com reviews some of the most popular holiday films to stream with your family.

 

White, Muslim and Searching for Home (52:18)

Medina Tenour Whiteman has struggled with her identity.  She's a white woman who was born and raised Muslim.  Tenour Whiteman has now written a memoir about searching for a place that feels like home.  The book is called "The Invisible Muslim: Journeys Through Whiteness and Islam."

 

On-the-Go Literature (1:32:01)

One company is trying to help us remember a time before smartphones by installing short story dispensers around the country where people can select different types of stories for the machine to print out.  Short Story Dispenser editor Lane Proctor gives us a taste of some of these short stories.

Find A Short Story Dispenser Near You

Why are many Arab nations now deciding to establish ties with Israel–a long–time enemy? Then, the planetary meeting in the evening sky right now that some are calling “A Christmas Star.” Also, how a young woman fresh out of college ended up at the CIA tracking terrorists before and after 9-11. Also today, a musical choose-your-own-adventure in Central Park and a new way to deal with backcountry waste.

Why Are Arab Countries Warming to Israel? (0:31)

Israel has announced deals to “normalize” relations with four Arab countries in recent months–Bahrain, Sudan, the United Arab Emirates and–as of last week–Morocco. So what does each country get from this agreement?  Quinn Mecham explains why the Trump administration got involved.  Mecham is a professor of political science at Brigham Young University.

 

Rare "Christmas Star" Sighting (22:45)

On December 21st, we’ll see a phenomenon some are calling a “Christmas Star,” but it’s not a star–it’s actually two planets close together.  Rice University astronomy professor Patrick Hartigan explains the occurence and the best way to see it.

 

A Choose-Your-Own Soundtrack to a Walk in Central Park (35:28)

Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ellen Reid utilized GPS to create a choose-your-own musical experience for people walking around New York’s Central Park. And it's all done through an app that Reid created.  Reid shares where she received her inspiration for the various pieces of music. 

 

Celebrating Nontraditional Holiday Traditions. (52:19)

BYU Radio's Sam Payne stops by to talk about the nontraditional Christmas traditions around the world .

 

Solving the Human Waste Problem in the Most Remote Places (58:36)

The influx of visitors to the US backcountry has created the unique problem of dealing with their bodily waste. But Geoff Hill has a potential solution.  Hill is a PhD in human waste management and is the founder of the company Toilet Tech.

 

A Young Woman’s Extraordinary Career at the CIA and FBI (1:16:43)

A Southern California sorority girl with a fascination for politics ended up tracking and interrogating terrorists for the CIA after 9-11.  But the stress of the job kept Tracy Walder up at night. Now Walder is a teacher and the author of "The Unexpected Spy."  

 

Ever Wonder How Many Hot Dogs A Human Could Eat? Science Has the Answer (1:38:19)

Competitive hot dog eaters swallow a huge number of hot dogs in a very short amount of time.  But is there a limit in which a human can't down any more franks?  High Point University exercise scientist James Smoliga thinks he’s found the answer.