[Swprograms] Podding Along - Issue 270

[John Figliozzi <jfiglio1@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Most radio listening takes place in the car or while doing other things that allow freedom for the ear, but not the eyes and hands.  Podcasts permit a shift of listening time from a set appointment to virtually any convenient occasion.  I do it while “power walking” (most) every morning in what sometimes seems like a vain attempt to diminish the results of sitting behind a desk for 35 years.  The act of putting one foot in front of the other can be pretty monotonous and by “podding along” while plodding along the mind also gets something useful to do.  So it is with the time spent commuting to work day after day.

Podcasting has expanded almost exponentially so very quickly that it can justly be considered a medium all its own.  Therefore, the attempt here has to be to highlight only a small portion of it, just one corner where excellence reigns.

Some of the best radio comes from the public networks of the UK, Australia, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand and the U.S.  Apart from the originating program’s web site, most programs are made available through any number of other amalgamation sources such as iTunes and TuneIn. 

Admittedly, these are thoroughly subjective recommendations, but my interests and tolerance for incompatible views are pretty wide-ranging. Here’s another in a continuing series of small samplings, offered in a 90 minute scope (more of less):

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CAPSULE REVIEW:  SEASCAPES - RTE RADIO 1
	As an island maritime nation, it is hardly surprising that its public broadcaster would produce a program that focuses on the sea and that sea’s importance to the culture and economy of the country.  What is surprising is how truly unique is this program.  About the only other show like this that this listener can recall is the long defunct “Merchant Navy Programme” on the BBC World Service some decades ago.  “Seascapes” has a very pleasantly informative way of describing and showcasing how important the sea is to the Irish on a range of levels, from recreation to commerce.  If one key reason for radio — international radio at that — is to impart to outsiders the essence of a community, “Seascapes” does a yeoman job at it.  Highly recommended. 


— —

“Seascapes 30th Anniversary Program”
SEASCAPES - RTE Radio One
Seascapes very first programme was in the summer of 1989 & this year we are celebrating our 30th year on air. Tonight we take the opportunity to look back into the archives to remember some of the events and contributors to the programme over the years. Highlights include Hugh Oram, on 30 years of Seascapes, master boat builder Joe Murphy from 1991 on his boatyard in Ringsend & Dublin's diving bell, lighthouse keeper, Gerald Butler & meeting sqummer Mark Spitz on the Skelligs in 1972 & on the Fastnet disaster, when he was on duty on the rock that night. Plus Daphne Pochin Mould, pilot & adventurer on her trip to the island of St Columcille.  (26”)
https://www.rte.ie/radio1/seascapes/podcasts/ (scroll to “Friday, 20 December 2019)

“Adapting California; What is Empathy" 
THE SCIENCE HOUR - BBC World Service
Roland Pease is joined by California based science Journalist Molly Bentley as we examine the impact of earthquakes and fires. California has experienced both in the last year - What’s it like to live with a constant threat from these extreme events? We also take a look at NASA’s plans for a new mission to Mars – to look for signs on life. 
What is empathy? This week’s question comes from Maria in Amsterdam who has noticed that when one of her friends is in pain, she feels their pain too, literally. Maria wants to know - is she experiencing a type of ‘super’ empathy? 
To help find the answer, Marnie Chesterton visits the Netherlands Institute for Neuroscience and gets into an MRI scanner to discover what is happening in her brain when she empathises. She talks with a pro-social psychopath to find out how psychopaths experience empathy differently and how they navigate social situations.  And Marnie meets with a mediator specialising in The Israeli–Palestinian conflict, to learn the value of empathy when the stakes are at their highest.  (61”)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3csytnd

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A monthly (well, mostly monthly) compendium of these newsletters, plus on occasion additional pertinent material, is now published in The CIDX Messenger, the monthly e-newsletter of the Canadian International DX Club (CIDX).  For further information, go to www.cidx.ca

John Figliozzi
Editor, "The Worldwide Listening Guide”
NEW! 184 page 9th EDITION available NOW from Universal Radio [universal-radio.com], Amazon [amazon.com], Ham Radio Outlet [hamradio.com]

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