Best Ear Hustle Podcasts (2025)

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Ear Hustle, plus Choosing Justice Initiative 50:07

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2h ago50:07

50:07

If you’ve ever wondered what it’s really like to live behind bars, any episode of “Ear Hustle” will give you a pretty good idea. It’s basically “This American Life” but for the 2 million Americans who are incarcerated – primarily produced by people who are in prison. “Ear Hustle” hosts and co-founders Nigel Poor and Earlonne Woods join us to talk a…

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San Quentin: The Magazine, Issue 3 42:26

21h ago42:26

42:26

The candy craze that’s sweeping the prison. What happens when your cellie dies? An update to our continuing coverage on jeans. And, why some people like sharing a cell. Four stories from our inside team: Derrell Sadiq Davis, Aristeo Sampablo, Tam Nguyen, and Tony Tafoya. This episode was scored with music by David Jassy, Derrell Sadiq Davis, and Ta…

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✦ Ear Hustle Live at Terminal West ✦ A Tribute to MALCOLM-JAMAL WARNER: The Man - The Message - The Music - The Mission ✦ Bocce and Cornhole in Atlanta ✦ The Pan African Festival ✦ "Hip Hop Can Save America ... 50:27

22h ago50:27

50:27

✦ What's the unlikeliest place you can think of to start a podcast? Well, back in 2016, the creatives behind the hit podcast Ear Hustle launched their show from inside California's San Quentin State Prison. Their goal? To tell first-hand true stories of life during and after incarceration. The show is co-hosted by Earlonne Woods, who spent over 20 …

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✦ Funny Fridays ✦ Monster Mansion and the Art of Animatronics ✦ Inner Space’s Summer Sunday Concert Series ✦ ArtsATL Cultural Calendar ✦ Kosmo’s Vinyl of the Week ✦ Celebrating National Pinball Day 49:55

1h ago49:55

49:55

✦ If you're looking for your next much-needed laugh, Atlanta comedian Joel Byars has plenty of them ready for you at his "Funny Fridays" comedy showcase. The next event in the series is scheduled for August 22 at the Sandy Springs Performing Arts Center and will feature performances by Lace Larrabee, Carlos Rodriguez, and Emily Holden. Byars recent…

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In My Place, Episode 15: Two steps forward. Now what? 49:57

2h ago49:57

49:57

Welcome back to our second season of In My Place. This special series educates listeners on what communities like Nashville can do to prevent and end homelessness — while caring for our neighbors who are still unhoused. In our last episode, we learned what happens when the paperwork finally comes through and puzzle pieces start building a hopeful p…

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443: How This Wedding Filmmaker Turned His Passion for Storytelling into a Multi-Faceted Youtube Brand with Eric Floberg 1:09:10

3h ago1:09:10

1:09:10

Ever wondered what happens when a high school teacher swaps textbooks for a camera and turns weddings into cinematic art? This week on the Heart and Hustle Podcast, Lindsey and Evie sit down with filmmaker, photographer, YouTuber, and all-around creative powerhouse Eric Floberg. Get ready to dive deep into storytelling, sustainability, and diversif…

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Introducing: Forever is a Long Time 32:57

2h ago32:57

32:57

When Ian Coss decided to get married, every living member of his family who had ever been married had also gotten divorced: parents, grandparents, and all his aunts and uncles on both sides — some of them twice. Today, he has questions: What is the value of a lifetime commitment? Are we doomed to recycle the patterns of behavior we get from our anc…

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Tia Sillers: GRAMMY-winning songwriter 49:59

2h ago49:59

49:59

Tia Sillers has written her fair share of hit songs — most notably, “I Hope You Dance,” performed by Lee Ann Womack. From her beginnings as a songwriter to performing with her husband, she joins us to reflect on her career, her approach to creativity and her relationship with Nashville. We also learn about her personal life and how her husband’s de…

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✦ “Harmony of Freedom” ✦ “Reel Resistance” ✦ Wowie Zowie ✦ “Toni at Random” ✦ Gulch Weekly Visual Arts Calendar 50:08

1h ago50:08

50:08

✦ 61 years ago, racial minorities had no legally protected right to vote. A new documentary film “Harmony of Freedom” reminds us of this unsettling fact while celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act, through the power of music. WABE has partnered with Georgia State student conductor and filmmaker Jackson Allred to air “Harmony of …

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Public Media at Risk: The Impact and Uncertainty of Federal Funding Loss 50:00

4d ago50:00

50:00

t’s not just a one-year budget crisis. Federal support for public media may be a thing of the past. And it’s hardly just WPLN at risk. Leaders of public media outlets in Middle Tennessee will be in the studio talking about the immediate impacts and uncertainty that lies ahead. Plus, it’s your turn to talk! We’re taking your calls, whether it’s curi…

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✦ Thank you, DJ ✦ Ridibund Chamber Music Society ✦ The History of Waffle House ✦ How Do You Atlanta ✦ The Swell Season 49:27

4d ago49:27

49:27

✦ If artists are the heartbeats, pumping out music, then DJs are the people with their fingers on the pulse. People in-tune with the rhythms that allow you to feel how love, longing, and light in a song, and in your soul. There are DJs that play arenas, clubs, weddings, backyard BBQs, and every place in-between. They can make or break or night, but…

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Facing eviction in Nashville 50:07

7d ago50:07

50:07

As rent in Nashville remains close to its all-time high, some affected tenants rush to court to contest their eviction notices. They may have medical issues, significant personal challenges or legal hurdles, but the same question hangs over each of them: where are they going to go once their lease is up? The Eviction Right to Counsel program is a g…

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✦ Sneaker Culture ✦ Poet Lauren Doriahna ✦ ArtsATL Weekly Cultural Calendar ✦ Five Eight ✦ Kosmo Vinyl ✦ Documentarian Will Feagins Jr. 50:33

7d ago50:33

50:33

✦ From street corners to collectors' closets, sneakers have become more than just footwear. They're currency, they're conversation starters, and they're Culture. In Atlanta, sneakers have found their way into exhibitions, college degrees, and even job opportunities. WABE arts reporter Summer Evans recently laced up to learn more about the billion-d…

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Opryland's Lasting Legacy 49:59

6d ago49:59

49:59

Opryland has been closed for nearly 30 years, and as the producer of a new documentary puts it, some people are still “butt hurt” about it. Maybe we didn’t know what we had until it left a theme park-size hole in Nashville’s heart. A documentary premiering at the Nashville Film Festival, called “A Circle Broken,” gives us a good excuse to reopen th…

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✦ Atlanta’s Listening Rooms ✦ The Palefsky Collision Project ✦ False Face ✦ “Rise Above: On Top of Stone Mountain” ✦ “data-verse” 50:56

6d ago50:56

50:56

✦ 0:30 - Atlanta's music scene is often associated with sold-out arenas, local small stages, or eclectic late-night venues. But hidden in corners of the city, another kind of music space is thriving, one powered by turntables, vintage speakers, and the warm crackle of vinyl. These are Atlanta's listening rooms, where music isn't just played; it's e…

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442: Lindsey & Evie React to YOUR Unpopular Business Opinions 54:03

6d ago54:03

54:03

Today on the Heart and Hustle Podcast Evie and Lindsey react to your unpopular business opinions and hot takes from the Heart and Hustle group DM on Instagram, sharing their honest opinions and insights. They comment on work ethic, posting sneak peeks on socials before the clients have had a chance to see them first, “true to color” editing, addres…

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Pastor Glenda Sutton moves Nashville families through their challenges 49:59

7d ago49:59

49:59

Pastor Glenda Gleaves Sutton arrived in Nashville with her two sons in tow. She had left a stressful but steady life as an air traffic controller and was on a mission to repair her own family. That effort didn’t pan out as quickly as hoped, and left her temporarily homeless. She has since dedicated her life to repairing the families of anyone withi…

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✦ MODA’s exhibit Tour of Bittersweet: The Design of Chocolate ✦ Sounds Like ATL: Kira ✦ BLVD NEXT ✦ Gulch’s weekly visual arts calendar ✦ Throat singing with Aileen Loy 49:55

7d ago49:55

49:55

✦ 0:40 - The five main food groups that are important for anyone’s diet include—fruits, vegetables, protein, grains, and chocolate…okay, maybe not the last one. However, it remains an essential building block of a balanced diet. A new exhibition at the Museum of Design Atlanta, also known as MODA, explores the origins of chocolate, its evolution in…

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Ask the Mayor + The impact of a reduced Metro Council 49:43

13d ago49:43

49:43

It’s that time again! Time for you to talk with Mayor Freddie O’Connell. Do you have a concern you would like him to address? Do you have a question about the direction of the city? Every month, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell joins us to discuss the latest happenings in and around the city — and take your calls! Plus, Last month, an appeals cour…

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✦ The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever ✦ Evan Stepp & The Piners ✦ “A Place to Play” ✦ The history of SciTrek ✦ How Do You Atlanta ✦ Twilight actors Kellan Lutz and Jackson Rathbone 51:30

11d ago51:30

51:30

✦ The Most Wuthering Heights Day Ever is dancing into its 10th year in Atlanta on Saturday, July 26, in Candler Park. City Lights Collective member, Chantelle Rytter, has more on this odd Atlanta tradition that brings Kate Bush and Emily Brontë fans together in a public dance. ✦ Today marks the 5th anniversary of Congressman John Lewis' death. Lewi…

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Music Citizens: The Wrangler 50:05

12d ago50:05

50:05

When you go to a live show these days, you expect to see a spectacle — an artistic production that will blow you away. Behind the scenes, there’s one person responsible for bringing this production to life — the production manager. Today we join with WNXP's Music Citizens podcast to go behind the scenes with Nashville-based production manager, Tori…

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✦ The Hambidge Center ✦ Atlanta Halal Food Festival ✦ Sketchy Business ATL ✦ Sounds Like ATL: Uriel UMC ✦ “Technoterria” ✦ Kosmo’s Vinyl of the Week ✦ Arts ATL cultural events highlights ✦ 50:59

12d ago50:59

50:59

✦ It's hard to believe that just a two-hour drive north of Atlanta, just past the end of 985 on Highway 441, brings you to a place where art, nature, and history converge in the most beautiful ways. City Lights Collective Member Zachary Brown recently hit the highway to learn more about the Hambidge Center. ✦ Atlanta's first-ever Halal Food Festiva…

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Hospice care: learning what you need to know when the time comes in NEXT AGE episode 4 49:57

15d ago49:57

49:57

There is no more tender time than the months, weeks and days before a loved one's passing. More likely than not, hospice care is going to be involved. Still, many people don’t fully understand what hospice looks like. So today we’re breaking down what you need to know so you’ll be a little more prepared when it matters. We'll hear from two Tennesse…

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Name that Feeling ✦ Mike Schacht Exhibition ✦ Maurice Bernard ✦ Faith Ringgold Exhibition ✦ Municipal Support for the Arts Grants ✦ Busking in Atlanta 50:53

13d ago50:53

50:53

✦ Can you name a feeling? Dashill Smith and the musicians and vocalists that join him at TenATL certainly think so. City Lights Collective co-host Jon Goode recently went to visit TenATL in East Atlanta to learn more. ✦ In honor of MLB All-Star Week, Truist Park isn’t the only place in Cobb County to see baseball this summer. A new exhibition at th…

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441: Documentary vs. Editorial Based Posing. What’s the Actual Difference? Let’s Discuss. 36:18

13d ago36:18

36:18

Today on the Heart and Hustle Podcast we are diving into the currently trending debate on documentary and editorial based posing and photography. They dissect what each style really means, the difference between the two, and when certain instances call for one or the other. Evie and Lindsey talk about times where you may find yourself unconsciously…

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Candice Lee, Vice Chancellor Athletics & Athletic Director, Vanderbilt University 49:53

14d ago49:53

49:53

Candice Lee is a Vanderbilt Commodore through and through. In the late 90’s and early aughts, she played for the women’s basketball team. She endured injuries but never quit. After her playing days were over she moved to the administration side of sports. Also earning a PhD from the university. Today, we learn what it’s like to get inside the mind …

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World Listening Day ✦ The Happy Black Parent 4th annual Children's Book Festival ✦ Landmarks: The World of R. Land ✦ GULCH visual arts calendar ✦ Sounds Like ATL: Anna Kramer and Easy Now 49:38

14d ago49:38

49:38

✦ World Listening Day, coming up on July 18th, celebrates the simple yet profound act of listening. As we tune in to the world around us, more of us are also experiencing our favorite stories through sound. City Lights Collective member and "Bookmarked" contributor Alison Law recently explored the growing popularity of audiobooks and what's next fo…

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School vouchers are here. What now? 50:08

20d ago50:08

50:08

The school voucher debate has been raging in Tennessee for almost two decades... but it was just this year the Tennessee State Legislature successfully passed a law creating a statewide program. The Education Freedom Scholarship Act will provide 20,000 eligible students with about $7,300 per year in public school funds to use for private school tui…

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✦ Sounds Like ATL: E'lanah ✦ The High Museum of Art’s new fashion track ✦ The Georgia Film Academy ✦ The Heart of Atlanta Motel ✦ The Pancakes and Booze Art Show ✦ Old Car City USA 50:14

18d ago50:14

50:14

✦ WABE's "Sounds Like ATL" music documentary series explores Atlanta's renowned music scene. Each episode spotlights a local Atlanta musician, allowing viewers to witness their creative process while they perform a couple of songs. The weekly segments are released on our YouTube channel, @WABE ATL, and we share a preview of their recent episode, sp…

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Kustom Kulture in Nashville 50:08

20d ago50:08

50:08

In 1960s Southern California, a movement called "Kustom Kulture" emerged. Its mission: restore and refurbish cars. Since then, thousands across America have had their own vehicles customized. On today's show, we speak with local builders, musicians, and enthusiasts about their Kustom Kulture, how it helps people express themselves creatively, and t…

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The History of Ice Cream in Atlanta ✦ Joe Alterman ✦ Arts ATL cultural events highlights ✦ Kosmo’s Vinyl of the Week ✦ The Book Bird 50:54

19d ago50:54

50:54

✦ Summertime is officially upon us, and there’s nothing better to help cool you off on hot Atlanta days than ice cream. City Lights Collective food contributors Akila McConnel and Chef Asata Reid know this well, and they’re taking us back to 1870 to learn the history of ice cream in our city. ✦ Praised by jazz legends Ramsey Lewis and Les McCann, A…

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Revisiting “12 Hours on the Yard” 1:15:31

19d ago1:15:31

1:15:31

Cat Schuknecht, Ear Hustle’s Senior Producer at the California Institution for Women, listens back to our 2023 episode “12 Hours on the Yard.” Inspired by the classic This American Life episode “24 Hours at the Golden Apple,” the Ear Hustle team documents one day in the life of San Quentin’s lower yard, from Haka dancing to dominoes; gospel to gees…

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We're seeing double! Identical twins in Middle Tennesee 50:14

22d ago50:14

50:14

Today we’re talking with identical twins who live here in Middle Tennessee - including two who work at the same local police department- to learn about how their unique connection has shaped their lives. We’ll also speak with the parent and a spouse of identical twins to learn about how they love the twins closest to them. It’s going to be a double…

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High Bias Listening Sessions ✦ Lost in the Letters ✦ K Michelle Dubois ✦ Luenell ✦ The Beverage Beat 51:45

20d ago51:45

51:45

✦ When City Lights Collective co-host Jon Goode was told that High Bias is a good thing, he wasn't entirely sure what that meant. So, he decided to go to Block and Drum on a Wednesday night to find out for himself. Created by STLNDRMS, High Bias is a deep listening experience. Each week, they explore the highest level of music curation in a room de…

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440: Building a Strong Marriage - Should It Make Us Holy or Happy with Gary Thomas 1:03:16

20d ago1:03:16

1:03:16

Today on the Heart and Hustle Podcast Evie and Lindsey are sitting down and chatting with Gary Thomas, a bestselling author and international speaker whose ministry brings people closer to Christ, their spouses, and others. Evie and Lindsey dive right in by asking Gary to elaborate on a central theme of his book, "Sacred Marriage": "What if God des…

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We're Doing The Wiz 4 - Pass the Squeeze 40:12

21d ago40:12

40:12

It's opening night. Will PVPA pull it off? And almost 20 years later, the cast reflects on the impact doing The Wiz had on their lives. The series is made possible in part by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Learn more about We're Doing The Wiz at radiotopiapresents.fm and discover mor…

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Tequila Johnson, co-founder of The Equity Alliance 49:57

23d ago49:57

49:57

For many people, getting involved in your community is something they would like to do — but don’t have much time to do. For Tequila Johnson, though, community is a calling. Today we sit down with an entrepreneur, mom, and the co-founder of The Equity Alliance to talk about her life and how her philosophy on humanity is evolving. This episode was p…

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Atlanta Contra Dance ✦ Latinas in Media Atlanta ✦ Lavender Performing Arts Festival ✦ GULCH visual arts calendar 51:22

21d ago51:22

51:22

✦ If you go to the Decatur Recreation Center on a Friday evening, you’ll see about 75 people dancing to a live fiddle band, and they look like the happiest people in town. City Lights Collective member Gillian Anne Renault learns more about Atlanta Contra Dance. ✦ Latinas in Media Atlanta, also known as LIMA, creates opportunities for Latine artist…

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The Country in our Hearts, Ep. 4: The Kurdish American Dream 49:31

26d ago49:31

49:31

For over three decades Kurdish refugees have found a safe place to land in America. The latest wave of Kurds is arriving from Turkey – fleeing political repression and nationalist hate groups. But today, they’re coming to a very different America. It’s an America in turmoil. A place where immigrants are increasingly seen as enemies within, to be ro…

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The Country in our Hearts, Ep. 3: Safety Zone 54:59

27d ago54:59

54:59

When a wave of Kurdish refugees came to Nashville, they quickly got to work. They opened businesses and raised their kids. As those kids grew up, they had to figure out how to navigate the world of a first-generation Kurdish-American teenager. And in that world, something new was forming — something that threatened to tarnish the sterling reputatio…

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The Country in our Hearts, Ep. 2: The Ones Who Face Death 52:43

29d ago52:43

52:43

Revealing all this family lost to war and displacement. But also, what they are determined to reclaim and rebuild. The Country in our Hearts is the story of how Nashville became home to the largest Kurdish diaspora in America is an epic one. A tale of bloody genocide, of freedom fighters, of stunning perseverance. But the story of the Kurdish peopl…

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439: Evie’s Pregnancy Journey Part 2 - Actively Choosing Faith Over Fear 1:07:49

27d ago1:07:49

1:07:49

Today on the Heart and Hustle Podcast we are continuing the conversation from last week with part 2 of Evie’s pregnancy journey. Evie dives right back into the heartfelt story of her pregnancy while visiting some of the scripture and sermons that kept her mind and heart in the right place as she found out she was pregnant until where she is today. …

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We're Doing The Wiz 3 - You Don’t Hit White Girls 34:30

28d ago34:30

34:30

Rehearsals are in full swing. But while most students are focused on their songs and dance steps, a tense backstage drama threatens the entire production. The series is made possible in part by a grant from Mass Humanities, which provided funding through the Massachusetts Cultural Council. Learn more about We're Doing The Wiz at radiotopiapresents.…

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Coming July 7: The City Lights Collective 1:30

1M ago1:30

1:30

For over a decade, Lois Reitzes made City Lights a welcoming home for Atlanta’s artists. Now, we’re opening the doors even wider and carrying on her legacy with a chorus of voices. Welcome to The City Lights Collective, WABE’s new weekday show where you’ll discover the best of what Atlanta’s arts and culture scene has to offer. You’ll hear short st…

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The Country in our Hearts, Ep. 1: The Enemy Within 54:47

29d ago54:47

54:47

We dive headlong into one family’s migration odyssey from Iraqi Kurdistan to Nashville. To really understand what this family — and so many others — were fleeing from, we need to go back to one terrible, pivotal day in 1988. And to do that, we need to go to Kurdistan. The Country in our Hearts is the story of how Nashville became home to the larges…

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Lois Bids a Fond Farewell to "City Lights" 57:07

1M ago57:07

57:07

After more than 45 years at WABE, Lois Reitzes hosts her final episode of City Lights ahead of her retirement. In this grand finale, Lois is joined by her producers and very special guests, as they share heartfelt memories and celebrate her legacy as Atlanta's foremost champion of Arts and Culture. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio…

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The Scopes Trial at 100 50:06

1M ago50:06

50:06

Science and religion are in a constant state of friction. But 100 years ago, that friction flared into a firestorm in Tennessee. In 1925, John Scopes, a 24-year-old high school science teacher in Dayton, decided to teach human evolution to his students even though the state had just outlawed it. He was put on trial, and Dayton was the center of int…

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Lois Reitzes Leader of the Arts Award: Chris Escobar / City Lights Cinema: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”/ Susan Booth 52:26

1M ago52:26

52:26

Lois presents the inaugural “Lois Reitzes Leader of the Arts Award.” Plus, Lois’s conversation with film scholar Eddy Von Mueller, recorded live at the Tara Theater this past Sunday, and Susan Booth, Artistic Director of the Goodman Theater in Chicago and former Alliance Theater Artistic Director, joins Lois for a final interview ahead of Lois’s re…