Wonder Cabinet

As terrible as it sounds, most of us will go through something traumatic at some point in our lives. The experience can be deeply isolating and crushing, but it doesn't have to be. Today, researchers are discovering new ways to help people recover. This hour, we explore how to cope with and learn from trauma. A Brief History of PTSD; Secondary Violence and PTSD; The Positive Side Of Pain; Feeling Through Trauma; BookMark: The Argonauts; The Science Of Skin Color.

As the Dalai Lama turns 80, we reflect on his legacy and remarkable personal history. Also, how various Eastern spiritual traditions have taken root in the West - from yoga to meditation. And the legacy of California's famous utopian experiment at Esalen and its "religion of no religion." The Happy Buddhist; Can a Video Game Teach Kids to Meditate?; Meditation on Death Row; The Religion of No Religion; A Rapper's Homage to Ganesh.

Who are you? White or black, Muslim or Christian, working class or wealthy? Most of us rotate through many different cultural identities, at work and at home. And sometimes, reconciling them is hard. Becoming Biracial; Mixed Feelings; Hybrid Identities; Sonic Sidebar: Richard Rodriguez on "Brown"; Culture Clash; BookMark: Stoner; On Our Minds: Public Higher Education.

American children grow up playing Pokemon and Yu-Gi-Oh.  As adults, they line up for the latest anime movies and hang out in karaoke bars.  In other words -- Japanese culture is serious business.  So serious that Japan's Prime Minister appointed a "Cool Japan" minister to oversee a multi-million-dollar "Cool Japan" campaign.  The goal -- to make Japan one of the world's leading cultural forces.  But wait...Isn't it already?  In this hour, we explore why we crave Japanese pop culture as we delve into Japan's G.N.C. -- Gross National Cool. Japan's G.N.C. -- Gross National Cool; Osamu Tezuka, God of Manga; Sonic Sidebar: Godzilla; Karaoke Fascism; Kumiko, the Treasure Hunter; BookMark: James Wood on "Effi Briest"; On Our Minds: Dean Bakopoulos' New Novel.

skill versus luck Gambling with 100% Skill; Is there an Equation for Success?; Choreographer Bill T. Jones on the Randomness of Musician John Cage; Poker Legend Annie Duke on Luck; BookMark: Julie Schumacher recommends Saramago's "Elephant's Journey"; On Our Minds: The Eurozone Crisis.

Philosophers get a bad rap - they're written off as too academic, too detached from daily life. But we're seeing a philosophy revival, from philosophy cafes to philosophers as therapists.  From the Stoics to Spinoza, an argument for why philosophy still matters. Philosopher and Wolf - Mark Rowlands; Sonic Sidebar: Rebecca Goldstein on Plato; Philosophy as Therapy - Jules Evans; Spinoza's Heresy - Steve Nadler; BookMark: Eric Jarosinski; On Our Minds: The Perfect Peach.

Why do Americans suck at math?  And why do so many claim to hate math?  In a recent survey, a third of respondents said they'd rather clean the bathroom than solve an equation.  In today's show, mathematicians tell us what we're missing. How Not To Be Wrong; The Calculus Diaries; Russian Postal System Puzzle; The Magician of Mathematics; The Magic of Pi; Neal Stephenson Blows Up The Moon.

What we eat can often say a lot about us. But why do we consider certain foods more appealing than others? In this hour, we look a the trends and tastemakers who shape our feelings about food. The Buzz Behind Food Trends; Sonic Sidebar: Food Preferences; Julia Child and the Love of Cooking; Food As Religion; BookMark: Michelle Wildgen on "Crossing to Safety"; 1971 - An FBI break-in that rocked the nation.

As Cuba and the U.S. restore diplomatic relations, what's in store for Americans who want to visit Cuba? And for Cubans wanting more prosperity? Steve Paulson recently traveled to Cuba and brought back new stories about our island neighbor. From diplomacy to culture, we tackle jazz, baseball and politics. Life as a Cuban Tour Guide; Why the Opening Between Cuba and the U.S.?; Rainforest Remedies; American Expat Finds His Home in Cuban Jazz; Cuban Rhythms; Baseball Diplomacy.

Does anyone still hitchhike?  Cult film director John Waters does.  At the age of 66, he hitchhiked 2,800 miles, from Baltimore to San Francisco.  He tells us about the people who picked him up, along with some who didn't.  And did the America Interstate System pave the way for fear and violence on the highways? Killer on the Road - Ginger Strand; Carsick: Hitchhiking Across America - John Waters; Anywhere - Mishy Harman; PEN World Voices Festival Chairman on Charlie Hebdo Controversy; Colm Toibin on Poet Elizabeth Bishop; BONUS SEGMENT -- Sonic Sidebar: John Waters' Hitchhiking Playlist.