His upbringing was unlikely to produce a writer with an international reputation. His education was limited and traumatic. But Hans Christian Andersen became known throughout Europe for stories such as The Little Mermaid, The Ugly Duckling, and The Snow Queen. How was he able to turn simple ideas into stories for the ages? And were those stories, so popular in Disney films, really for children? Andersen expert Scott Mellor will tell us about the breaks, good and bad, that elevated Andersen to the ranks of celebrated authors.

In this hour, we sample the rapidly changing, turbulent sixties, from JFK to LBJ, from Martin Luther King to the Black Panthers, from the Beatles to the Rolling Stones, from hippies to Reagan conservatives.

Veiled in clouds, Venus is one of earth's most mysterious neighbors, and yet those studying the planet continue to make discoveries about it. Is life possible on Venus? If not, was it ever possible? And what does it tell us about the future of earth? Astronomer Sanjay Limaye will share some answers.

David Walker, Maria Stewart, and Frederick Douglass were revolutionary black abolitionists in the 19 th century who raised their voices to try to end slavery. Professor Christy Clark Pujara introduces these figures and their turbulent times. Two graduates of the UW Odyssey Project (Tosumba Welch and Molinda Henry) read eloquent passages from the writings of abolitionists.

It's a record that many a songwriter would envy--2000 songs recorded, many of them covered by prominent performers including Ray Charles, Roy Orbison, Elvis Presley, James Taylor, Alison Kraus and the Everly Brothers. Boudleaux and Felice Bryant had a major impact on country and popular music. Bill and Bobbie Malone will tell us how an unlikely couple developed into a songwriting powerhouse.

We take a look at the US Constitution from the standpoint of America's founding father of the Supreme Court.

How did the Christian and Jewish bibles take their present shape, and how can knowing their historical context help Jews and Christians (and others) think about each other's scriptures differently? Historian Charles Cohen will give us insights.

Revolutionary medieval mystic Julian of Norwich penned what’s thought to be the first book in English written by a woman. She dared to suggest that God was both father and mother. Professor Sherry Reames explores the life, writings, and legacy of a courageous medieval anchoress and author.

By the end of nineteenth century, food in America could be ownright deadly. Sustances added to extend the shelf life of food often shortened the life of the person who ate it. But American corporations blocked even modest food safety egulations. Then, in 1883, chemist Harvey Washington Wiley was named chief chemist of the agriculture department, and the agency began methodically analyzing food and drink, resorting to somtimes shocking methods. Pulitzer Prize-winning science journalist Deborah Blum will tell us about the long and dangerous conflict behind making food safe.

We may think of the French horn as producing mellow romantic sounds for symphonies, but what happens when you add electronic sounds to this instrument's repertoire?