Singer Buffy Sainte-Marie discusses her new album of activist "Medicine Songs" and what they have to say about our place in today's world. Then author Kim Dinan tells the story of how she quit her job, sold her stuff, and set off on a three-year round-the-world adventure — inspired, in part, by a certain yellow envelope. And listeners converse with Rick about the special concerns involved in traveling to politically sensitive countries.

An Italian scholar of architecture compares the scope of today's mega-cities with the more human scale of Venice. And we'll hear what a pair of documentary producers noticed when they interviewed residents of Christiania, a communal society tucked into the middle of downtown Copenhagen. Plus, we get mom-tested advice for making everyone happy on an overseas trip with teenagers.

Pour a festive glass as we learn about the strong, often homemade liquors that lend zest to celebrations across central and eastern Europe. Then hear where to find some of the world's best beer, from the author of "50 Places to Drink Beer Before You Die." And join the party as friends from Edinburgh offer a wee taste of the Scottish capital's year-end Hogmanay festivities. Plus, author and former Moscow resident Lisa Dickey tells us how the people of Russia are coping with a changing world.

Learn about holiday traditions observed in France, Norway, Greece, London, the Spanish Basque Country, and small-town Italy. From festively decorated Greek boats to dishes of fresh oysters and fermented trout, and Santas who live not on the North Pole but on a farm or in the woods, Christmas is a little different across the pond.

Hear about what Europeans are looking forward to at this time of year, from Saint Nicholas Day through Boxing Day, in Germany, England, Belgium, Hungary, Portugal, and the Czech Republic — perhaps it's some of grandma's special potato salad to go with the fish stew and figgy pudding!

We hear of the true awesomeness of experiencing a total solar eclipse, from the one that swept across the American West in 1878 to the one that drew crowds to the totality's path in the US in August 2017. And we'll also learn what it's like to take part in a winter solstice ritual from inside Ireland's ancient tomb at Newgrange. Plus, author and conservationist Terry Tempest Williams describes breathtaking moments in America's national parks, and why it's critical to protect them from the forces that divide Americans today.

Hear about some of the world's most remarkable — and creepiest — traditions. Then discover the timeless character of the Hebrides — an island group off Scotland's northwest coast where you're more likely to overhear Gaelic than English. And enjoy a sampling of Portugal's beloved fado music: sad songs that make everyone feel better.

Hear what makes Spain's jamon the best ham in the world, then learn about the traditional comfort foods of Scandinavia, and the after-dinner customs that keep Italians lingering at restaurant tables. And find out why a Tulsa mom embarked on a four-year project to prepare meals from every country in the world.

Travel writer Dave Seminara explains why Indonesia's motor-free Gili Islands are a good alternative to the crowded tourist scene on nearby Bali, then a tour guide from Australia shares all-season recommendations for getting away from it all Down Under. And listeners share their most memorable travel adventures.

Tour guides from Berlin recommend sites you can visit to better appreciate their city's tumultuous past century, from the Nazi years to the Cold War, and the wall that split Berlin in half. And travel writer Leif Pettersen describes what he enjoyed about living in Romania, and why it's become one of today's best bargain destinations in Europe.