University of California Audio Podcasts (Audio)

Explore the captivating realm of brain research at UC San Diego with Frank Furnari, Ph.D., and Alexander Khalessi, M.D., M.B.A. Furnari and Khalessi delve into groundbreaking efforts to find new treatments for neurological conditions such as brain tumors, stroke, and brain injuries, bringing hope to patients and their families. Emphasizing ethics, innovation, and patient care, Furnari and Khalessi shed light on the challenges and successes in their quest to unravel the mysteries of the mind. Series: "Stem Cell Channel" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39723]

This creative program invites musicians to interact with sounds recorded from the depths of the ocean. UC San Diego music professor and Qualcomm Institute Research Artist-in-Residence Lei Liang explores his composition "Six Seasons" with Marco Fusi, a renowned string player who has performed “Six Seasons,” and Joshua Jones, a project scientist with the UC San Diego Scripps Institution of Oceanography lab that recorded the soundscape. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40019]

Lucy is one of the most famous fossils of all time. The discovery of this species had a major impact on the science of human origins and evolution. Why? What was that impact? The symposium speakers—each a prominent scientist in their field—will address this question and specifically discuss the discovery’s impact through time, starting with the first few years after the discovery, the lasting impact, and the state of the art in that research area today. We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of the discovery of the fossil skeleton “Lucy” with the aim of reigniting a global interest in how we “became human” and promoting the importance of connecting our human past to the global future on the planet. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39830]

Earl Thomas was born into a musical family in rural Tennessee and grew up in a house brimming with music. His father was a bluesman and his mother was a gospel singer, so music is in his veins. He stumbled into the music industry by accident, which led to a vibrant 30-year career that is steeped in African American tradition and culture. His music is a potent mix of the traditional and contemporary gospel, expressed in an impressive music catalogue. As a singer songwriter, his music – deeply rooted in the blues and gospel – is infused with contemporary sensibilities of rock, soul, and rhythm & blues. Thomas’ latest production, after a three-year hiatus, is all vintage gospel or what the singer says is “the music I was meant to do.” His mother always said that he was a gospel singer and now he is finally performing songs that have been, for decades, the soundtrack of African American culture and history and the backbone of the blues. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40052]

The discovery of a 3.2-million-year-old hominin skeleton named Lucy revolutionized human evolutionary studies. Her Linnean classification as Australopithecus afarensis sparked debates on taxonomy, highlighting the complexity of interpreting fossil evidence and shaping our understanding of hominin evolution. Lucy's systematics provide insights into the challenges of classifying early hominins, emphasizing how interpretations evolve with new evidence and knowledge. Comparing fossils with living ape taxa and extinct species helps infer evolutionary relationships, while considering temporal variation adds depth to our understanding. Lucy's case illustrates the ongoing debate on species classification in paleoanthropology and the critical role of evidence in shaping taxonomic hypotheses. Series: "CARTA - Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny" [Humanities] [Science] [Show ID: 39837]

An American animator, film director, and producer, Max Fleischer is best known for creating some of the most iconic animated characters and for pioneering several animation techniques that have had a lasting impact on the industry. Fleischer is responsible for creating Betty Boop, Popeye the Sailor, and Koko the Clown, and was one of the leading figures in the early days of American animation, alongside Walt Disney, and his work significantly shaped the development of the medium. While his contributions to animation were groundbreaking, but Fleischer's work was often overshadowed by Disney in later years. Rockin Pins CEO, Mauricio Alvarado is joined by animation historian Ray Pointer in a discussion on how Fleischer Cartoons are working to be restored for a new generation of animation lovers. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40088]

How much do we really know about the quantum nature of space and time, the origins of the universe itself, and its most mysterious phenomena - black holes? In this program, Clifford Johnson, professor of physics at UC Santa Barbara, explains why understanding the laws of physics helps explain how the world around us works, and can fuel our imaginations to dream, invent, and create. Johnson works to engage the general public with scientific ideas, through many media outlets, including the entertainment industry. He has been a science advisor for many movies and TV shows. Series: "GRIT Talks" [Science] [Show ID: 40084]

An electrifying harmonizer, Lisa Sanders’ heartfelt songs are genuine with deep meaning and conviction. Her music conveys a style that can only be described as soulful country blues, integrating influences of folk-pop, gospel, rock, and jazz. Writing, singing, and producing from her heart in nearly every genre for over three decades, Sanders continues to make an impact in the musical world. Joining her from the Los Angeles band, Water Tower, will be Kenny Feinstein, on guitars, mandolin, bass, and violin and Tommy Drinkard on bass, percussion, guitars, and banjo. Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40050]

Filmmaker Sreemoyee Singh joins moderator Shiva Balaghi (Area Global Initiative, UCSB) for a discussion of her film And, Towards Happy Alleys. They discuss the impetus for the film and Singh’s research into the cinema of Iran, as well as her travels to the country. Singh reflects on her experiences documenting Iranian filmmakers like Jafar Panahi and meeting those close to and following in the footsteps of the late Forugh Farrokhzad. She also discusses lessons learned as a documentary filmmaker. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39779]

A fixture in the local music scene since 1974, Gene Perry was born in Santurce, Puerto Rico, and was one of the earliest pioneers of Afro-Cuban and Afro-Caribbean music in San Diego. His ensemble, Rumba Ketumba, is composed of a mixture of San Diego natives and musicians from around the world. Rumba Ketumba plays a high-energy mixture of Afro-Latin, Caribbean, Spanish Rumba, and other dance rhythms. Curator Yael Strom, whose Yiddish klezmer group has previously collaborated with Rumba Ketumba, will host and conduct a Q&A with the group after their performance. “Gene Perry and Rumba Ketumba’s extraordinary musical talent and personalities are hard for audiences to resist,” says Strom. “They have virtuosic ability with calypso, reggae, salsa, samba, Afro-Cuban, and African Diaspora music, and I have been fortunate enough to tour and collaborate with them on a number of groundbreaking cross-genre projects.” Series: "Arts Channel " [Arts and Music] [Show ID: 40145]