Radio Curious

Bayou Farewell, The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Louisiana’s Cajun Coast

It is now known that the destruction to southern Louisiana, which occurred as a result of hurricane Katrina in August, 2005, was anticipated by some and should have been anticipated by others.  In this interview recorded in April 2003, and first broadcast in February 2006, our guest is Mike Tidwell, author of, “Bayou Farewell: The Rich Life and Tragic Death of Coastal Louisiana.” Tidwell describes how that vast marshland of coastal Louisiana, home to millions of migratory birds and the source of one-third of America’s seafood, is literally washing out to sea. The bayou region, 6000 square miles in size, remains the fastest disappearing landmass on earth.  An acre of solid ground turns to water every 20 minutes; an area the size of Manhattan Island washes away every ten months.

Mike Tidwell recommends, “Oil Notes,” by Rick Bass.

Originally Broadcast: February 28, 2006

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To A High Court: The Tumult and Choices that Led to United States v. SCRAP

Law as a tool for social change is the subject of this edition of Radio Curious, and it’s also the reason why I decided to be an attorney. Neil Proto, now a veteran Washington D.C. lawyer, was a law student in the early 1970s in Washington D.C. and one of several law students in a group called SCRAP (Student’s Challenging Regulatory Agency Procedures), which sued the United States Interstate Commerce Commission and the nation’s railroads for what they believed was a violation of the NEPA, the National Environmental Protection Act. The regulations, which they successfully challenged, discouraged the movement of materials that could be recycled and encouraged the movement of raw materials. The Federal court issued an injunction, ordered an environmental impact report be prepared and in the end, the regulations were overturned. The story is told in Neil Proto’s book, “To A High Court: The Tumult and Choices that Led to United States v. SCRAP.” For the past 35 years, Neil Proto has practiced and taught law in the Nation’s capital. In this conversation, recorded in early February, 2006, we discuss the SCRPA lawsuit, ihe importance of citizen involvement in the use of the law as a tool for social change, and how court rulings in recent decades have made this involvement more difficult.

Neil Proto recommends, “The Prince of Our Disorder: The Life of T.E. Lawrence,” by John E. Mack.

Originally Broadcast: February 14, 2006

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Better Living Through Urology

Urinary tract diseases and their symptoms can affect all of us, men and women alike, whether we know it or not. Sometimes we don’t know it until it is too late. More people die each year from prostate cancer than from breast cancer or colon cancer. So, education and prevention is perhaps our best medicine.  Dr. Jack Cassell, a Florida urologist, and author of, “Better Living Through Urology: 21st Century Solutions to Age-Old Problems,” discusses care of the urinary tract for men and women and how to avoid discomfort and disease that could be fatal. In this interview we visit with Dr. Cassell from his office in Florida and begin with his description of what urine is.

www.blturology.com

Jack Cassell recommends, “Human Sexual Response,” by William H. Masters and Virginia E. Johnson.

Originally Broadcast: February 7, 2006

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Radical: A Memoir of Wars, Communists & Work

Political philosophy and one’s education, both formal and informal, can lead a person on unimagined paths that are woven into stories of that person’s life. Mel Fiske, author of the book, “Radical: A Memoir of Wars, Communists & Work,” is our guest in this edition of Radio Curious. Mel was radicalized after a 15,000 mile journey across America during the Depression. That trip opened his eyes to a life he never knew existed growing up in New York City.

Mel Fiske recommends, “Bayou Farewell,” by Mike Tidwell.

Originally Broadcast: January 17, 2006

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Juice, The Creative Fuel That Drives World-class Inventors

Albert Einstein suggests: “To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old questions from anew angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance.”

Thomas Edison suggests, “The inventor has a logical mind that sees analogies.”

And Winston Churchill comments, “Success consists of going from one failure to another without loss of enthusiasm.”

The mind of an inventor works differently than the mind of a non-inventor. What inspires the inventive mind? What is different in the way an inventive mind perceives the world that is different from other minds? What is the role of the role of invention in our society? In this interview, recorded in January 2005, Evan Schwartz, author of, “Juice, The Creative Fuel That Drives World-Class Inventors,” discusses inventing and inventions. According to Evan Schwartz, the creative energy of inventors, their “juice” gets applied to problems, products, companies and markers through the use of creativity patterns. Invention is a set of strategic thinking strategies that can be learned, taught and practiced, just as with other skills, like cooking, acting, or sailing. He began our conversation by describing what differentiates an inventive mind from other types of minds.

www.gotjuice.org

Evan Schwartz recommends, “Chronicles Volume One,” by Bob Dyland.

Originally Broadcast: January 3, 2006

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