The Thought Spot

Slippery Histories, Memory, and Apologies in Asia and the United States

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sat, 09 May 2009 17:27:00 +0000

Alexis Dudden tells us stories we haven't heard from histories we thought we knew. An Associate Professor of History and Director of Humanitarian Studies at the University of Connecticut, Dudden's recently published Troubled Apologies among Japan, Korea, and the United States, investigates when and why politicians apologize for government transgressions, and what affect that has for the victims of that misconduct. Was Hiroshima really necessary? Should a nation have to take responsibility for the actions of its former governments? What does Japan's former occupation of Korea teach us about our own presence in Afghanistan and Iraq? Better have a listen. . . .

Broadcast on 5/8/09.

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54:43

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Intro and Outro music by Matthew Shipp

The Low Down on Swine Flu and the Origins of Alternative Medicine

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sat, 02 May 2009 02:03:00 +0000

Swine Flu! Mexico City is shut down, every last pig in Egypt is to be slaughtered -- some say arbitrarily -- and Catholic Churches in Chicago and Florida have suspended the sharing of communion wine and The World Health Organization has boosted Pandemic Alert level to the second highest level, Phase 5.

Merrill Singer, Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Health, Intervention and Prevention and at the Center for Health Communication and Marketing at the University of Connecticut relates his ground breaking theory of ecosyndemics--the exacerbating, or synergistic relationship between diseases and environments--to explain the swine flu epidemic.

Broadcast on 5/1/09.

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18:20

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Medical Anthropologist and author of Ethnomedicine discusses her book and the role of alternative medicine in contemporary Western medicine.

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16:01

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Intro and Outro music: Matthew Shipp.

Food, Health and Happiness: Real Slow Food at the University of Connecticut

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 23:16:00 +0000

Student leaders of the Real Slow Food movement at the University of Connecticut discuss what we eat, why we eat it, and why they're working hard to change the way they and their classmates think about food.
Broadcast on 4/17/09.

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21:28

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Intro and Outro music: Alan Silvestri, theme from Back to the Future.

Time Traveler, Physicist, and Storyteller: a Conversation with Dr. Ronald Mallett

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 14:56:00 +0000

Ronald Mallett was 10 years old when his father died unexpectedly of a heart attack. Devastated by the loss, he set out to build a time machine; Ron was determined to travel back in time to see his father again.

Now, more than 50 years later, Ronald Mallett is a tenured professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Connecticut. He has presented his theory of time travel around the world and his time machine, known as the STL or Space-time Twisting by Light project, is in progress in a laboratory in Connecticut.

Dr. Mallet published his memoir, Time Traveler, in 2006, and has been featured in numerous television, radio, and print media including the BBC, Chicago Public Radio’s This American Life, Rolling Stone, and The Wall Street Journal. Spike Lee is currently co-writing and will be directing a feature film based on his memoir.

Hear Dr. Mallett explain the physics and the journey behind his life's work.

Broadcast on 4/3/09.

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30:00

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Intro and Outro music: Alan Silvestri, theme from Back to the Future.

What do you get when you use feminist values to conquer climate change and end the exploitation of the Third World?

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 17:19:00 +0000

Transnational Ecofeminism, perhaps?

Listen in on a conversation with two University of Connecticut Sociologists. Dr. Phoebe Godfrey is a professor and performance artist whose work and art addresses issues concerning race, gender, and class. Dr. Manisha Desai specializes in Transnational Feminism, Globalization, Human Rights, and South Asian American Issues. She is also the Director of the Women's Studies program at the University of Connecticut. Both participated in the University of Connecticut Women's Studies Conference, Ecofeminism in a Transnational World, which took place the weekend following this broadcast.

Broadcast on 3/20/09.

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29:34

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Intro and Outro music by Matthew Shipp.

College Freshmen Found Investment Company and Publish Guide to Stock Market

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:39:00 +0000

University of Connecticut Freshman Nishang Gupta, Author of "Investing for the Fair Weather Fan," and Yale University Freshman, Alex Milvae cofounded Nishex Investments, LLC last summer. Seeking to introduce high school and college age students to the stock market, Nishex Chief Operating and Chief Investment Officers discuss how they got started, and what basketball has to do with the stock market. Broadcast live 3/13/09.

Audio pending. Please check back.

UConn Sophomore Stars in UCTV Reality TV Show

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 14:32:00 +0000

University Sophomore Joey Homza talks about what it's like to have your own reality TV show; winning 4th place in CBS's My Grammy Moment lip-sync video contest; producing and recording his own pop music, and his plan to get famous. Listen to clips of his music and TV show, and find out what he really thinks of Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl" hit song.

This interview was broadcast live on 2/27/09.

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33:11

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Intro music by Matthew Shipp.

Crucial Hawaiian Land Case Hits the US Supreme Court: Dr. Kehaulani Kauanui and Defendant Dr. Jonathan Osorio Discuss.

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sat, 21 Feb 2009 18:55:00 +0000

On Thursday, February 25th the US Supreme Court will hear the case of Hawaii v. Office of Hawaiian Affairs, et al. The state of Hawaii has asked the Court to rule on whether or not the state has the authority to sell, exchange, or transfer 1.2 million acres of land formerly held by the Hawaiian monarchy as Crown and Government Lands. First The Thought Spot host, Emily Corwin, interviews Wesleyan University Professor Kehaulani Kauanui about the subject; then Dr. Kauanui's interview with defendant Dr. Jonathan Kamakawiwo Ole Osorio (associate professor at the Kamakakuokalani Center for Hawaiian Studies, University of Hawaii at Manoa) is played; then a follow up with more thoughts from Dr. Kauanui.

Broadcast on 2/21/09.

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45:38

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Kehaulani Kauanui's interview with Jonathan Osorio is taken from an episode of Kauanui's own show, Indigenous Politics: From Native New England and Beyond aired 2/17/09 on WESU in Middletown.

Intro and Outro music by Matthew Shipp.

Thanks to Dori Smith of Talk Nation for suggesting and coordinating this interview.

Taxes Are Us

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 03:04:00 +0000

Economics professor Dr. Dhammika Dharmapala talks taxation. Edmund Burke wrote over 200 years ago that "the Revenue of the state is the state." If the payment of taxes and the spending of that revenue determines the nature of our nation, why do people (even President Obama) squirm at the subject? Are taxes really squirm-worthy? Dr. Dharmapala talks about who pays when we cut taxes but spend on public services, and why tax evasion is bad, but tax avoidance might not be. Broadcast on 2/06/09.

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29:56

Framing the Debate: Is Saving the Environment a Matter of Human Rights?

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 21:31:00 +0000

Editor of The Human Rights Journal and University of Connecticut Senior Political Theorist Dr. Richard Hiskes discusses environmentalism through the lens of justice and human rights. His new book, The Human Right to a Green Future: Environmental Rights and Intergenerational Justice is available on Amazon.com. This interview aired on 1/23/08.

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29:04

Queer Forecast: Life After Proposition 8

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:04:00 +0000

University of Connecticut's Director of Student Health Services, Dr. Barry Schrier, and English Professor from the School of Nursing, Dr. Thomas Long, conversed in a live panel-style interview about the implications of gay marriage and the passage of California's Proposition 8––a state ballot measure to amend the CA constitution to ban gay marriage. Broadcast 12/12/08. No audio is available.

Puppets and Plays: UConn Puppet Arts Program in Skin Of Our Teeth.

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 22:24:00 +0000

Connecticut Repertory Theatre's production of Skin Of Our Teeth is at the Harriet S. Jorgenson Theatre at the University of Connecticut from November 21st - 23rd and December 3rd - 6th. This rendering of Thornton Wilder's brilliantly absurd, extremely intelligent comedy features puppets: both human-size puppets on the stage as well as card-paper cutout puppets in a film projection. The interview brings together Director of the University Puppet Arts Program Bart Roccoberton, as well as the play's Assistant Director Fergus Walsh (MA Candidate, Puppet Arts Program) and Puppet Designer Becky Eyre (MFA Candidate, Puppet Arts Program.) Find out more about the production and the Connecticut Repertory Theatre at www.crt.uconn.edu. This interview aired on 11/21/08.

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32:00

Dr. Kent Holsinger on Evolution in the Classroom, and Science and Public Policy.

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 01:12:00 +0000

Past president of the American Institute for Biological Sciences, University of Connecticut Evolutionary Biologist, and science-blogger Kent Holsinger discusses how creationism is making its way into public school classrooms, and why that's dangerous for the nation. He's also got some advice for Barack Obama as he gears up to take office this January. Aired 11/14/08. Follow this link to his blog, Uncommon Ground.

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29:44

Dr. Margaret Rubega on Chimney Swifts, Starlings, and the Public Face of Science

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 22:58:00 +0000

Connecticut State Ornithologist and Evolutionary Biologist Dr. Margaret Rubega discusses the relationship between invasive bird and plant species, why Chimney Swifts may need new homes, and whether Scientists need a new PR campaign. Aired 11/7/08.

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38:52

Dr. Belinha De Abreu on Media Literacy Education

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 23:13:00 +0000

Dr. Belinha De Abreu is a Teaching Professor at the Information Science and Technology School at Drexel Universityis the author of Media Literacy, A How-To-Manual. In this interview we discuss the sales pitch behind the advertisement, critical viewing, and how to raise media-savvy youth. Aired 10/17/08.

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34:07

Dr. Merrill Singer on Capitalism, Public Health, and Global Warming

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:06:00 +0000

Dr. Merrill Singer is a Senior Research Scientist at the Center for Health, Intervention and Prevention, and a Medical Anthropologist at the University of Connecticut. In this interview we discuss his newly released book, Global Warming and the Political Ecology of Health, available on Amazon.com. Aired 10/10/08.

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49:38

Katharine Hawkins on Human Rights in Post-War Croatia

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 04:23:00 +0000

Katharine Hawkins is a Social Anthropologist pursuing her PhD at the University of Connecticut. We discuss whether international criminal justice systems are effective, and how communities recover from atrocity. Aired 10/03/08.

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29:49

Anna Corwin on the Language, Gender, and the Genderqueer Community

noreply@blogger.com (Emily Corwin) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:59:00 +0000

In addition to being The Thought Spot Host Emily Corwin's sister, Anna Corwin is a Linguistic Anthropologist and PhD candidate at UCLA. In this interview we discuss how we gender identity is created and communicated through language, particularly within the genderqueer community. Aired 9/26/2008.

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27:25