University of California Audio Podcasts (Audio)

What does it take to survive persecution and exile? The story of Greta Taussig and Rudy Gans offers answers to this tantalizing question. Born in Linz, Austria, Greta emigrated to London after the country’s incorporation into the Third Reich, eventually enduring the horrors of the Blitz. Rudy was able to make his way to Shanghai after imprisonment in the notorious Dachau concentration camp. Along their arduous journey, each experienced the life-saving kindness of courageous strangers. As part of the UC San Diego Holocaust Living History Workshop, their son, Bob Gans, shares their thought-provoking story, supplemented by a display of artifacts and original documents. Series: "Library Channel" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39008]

As part of the 2024 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Elizabeth Vosseller and Ian Nordling demonstrate techniques for helping autistic people who cannot use speech reliably to communicate. They discuss the neuroscience behind techniques for helping people with sensory and movement differences to use spelling and typing to communicate. Ian Nordling, a nonspeaking autistic man, provides insights into the lived experience of learning to communicate. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39751]

As part of the 2024 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Dr. Ellen Elias is a pediatrician and geneticist who has dedicated her career to the care of children and youth with medical complexity and developmental disabilities. She discusses sexuality and the need for education, normalization and anticipatory preventive care in youth and adults with disabilities. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39753]

Associate producer Steve Starkey and screenwriter Peter S. Seaman join moderator Tyler Morgenstern (Assistant Director of the Carsey-Wolf Center) for a discussion of the film Who Framed Roger Rabbit. They discuss the early development and complex visual effects of the film. They also discuss the state of Walt Disney Studios in the 1980s and the industrial contexts surrounding the film, as well as allegories of segregation and urban sprawl in Los Angeles worked into the narrative. Series: "Carsey-Wolf Center" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39737]

Almost every child born in the United States undergoes state-mandated newborn screening within the first 48 hours of life. The blood collected from a "heel stick" helps test for 80 different serious but treatable genetic disorders. These disorders can be either genetic (passed down in families) or congenital (present at birth). But... what if we could go further? What if we could test a newborn's entire genetic sequence? Pediatric geneticist Ingrid Holm discusses the risks, benefits, costs and ethics of genomic sequencing in newborns. Series: "Exploring Ethics" [Health and Medicine] [Science] [Show ID: 39266]

Placing the U.S. in comparative perspective, Daniel Ziblatt, professor of government at Harvard University, discusses uniquely American counter-majoritarian institutions.

Ziblatt is also director of the Transformations of Democracy group at Berlin’s WZB Social Science Center. He is the author of four books, including "How Democracies Die," co-authored with Steve Levitsky, a New York Times best-seller. His newest book co-authored with Steven Levitsky is entitled "Tyranny of the Minority." Series: "UC Berkeley Graduate Lectures" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 39852]

As part of the 2024 Prostate Cancer Patient Conference, Dr. Matthew Cooperberg discusses surgery as treatment for localized prostate cancer, including risk stratification, how prostatectomy is performed, surgery outcomes and potential side effects.

Series: "Prostate Cancer Patient Conference" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39758]

New York Times bestselling author Anne Lamott returns to the 2024 Writer's Symposium by the Sea to talk about her new book "Somehow: Thoughts on Love." In a funny and spirited conversation with host Dean Nelson, Lamott talks about grief, addiction, hope, faith and love. Lamott is author of "Bird by Bird," "Grace," "Plan B" and "Hard Laughter." Series: "Writer's Symposium By The Sea" [Humanities] [Show ID: 39512]

As part of the 2024 Developmental Disabilities Conference, Vikram Jaswal, Professor of Psychology at the University of Virginia, presents research using objective measurements of eye gaze and speed of movements. He demonstrates that prompting by supporters is not a plausible explanation for the success nonspeaking autistic people have had communicating using letterboards held by a trained Communication Regulation Partner. He also presents data that nonspeaking autistic people can tolerate Augmentative Reality headsets and engage with virtual buttons to play games and point to letters on a virtual letterboard. Series: "Developmental Disabilities Update" [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 39750]

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: 39604]