We remember Studs Terkel, who recently died at the age of 96. The legendary interviewer chronicled decades of ordinary life and tumultuous change in U.S. culture. We visited him in his Chicago home in 2004 and drew out his wisdom and warmth on large existential themes of life and death. A lifelong agnostic, Studs Terkel shared his thoughts on religion as he'd observed it in his conversation partners, in culture, and in his own encounters with loss and mortality. Less

Venezuela has the longest Caribbean coastline of any nation, and yet the vibrant African musical heritage thriving along that coast has been largely ignored by the nation's media and music industry, and remains under-recognized internationally. That is now changing rapidly. Long sidelined as a realm of quaint relics and exotic folklore, Afro-Venezuelan culture is becoming a larger part of the national life of this petroleum-rich nation. The controversial Hugo Ch�vez Fr�as is Venezuela's first president with acknowledged African heritage. His rise has triggered intense self-examination of Venezuela's stark social and ethnic divisions, and a cultural renaissance as well. In this Hip Deep program, ethnomusicologist T.M. Scruggs guides us through the history and music behind the present upsurge in Afro-Venezuelan consciousness. Less

One Arizona man's policing tactics may be paving the way for future U.S. immigration policy. DONATE at radioproject.org Less

Professor of psychology Michael McCullough describes science that helps us comprehend how revenge came to have a purpose in human life. At the same time, he stresses, science is also revealing that human beings are more instinctively equipped for forgiveness than we've perhaps given ourselves credit for. Knowing this suggests ways to calm the revenge instinct in ourselves and others and embolden the forgiveness intuition. Less

In this edition of SOF Unheard Cuts, Krista interviewed Steve Waldman, journalist and founder of Beliefnet, for "Liberating the Founders." Listen to their complete, unedited conversation. Here's your chance to observe the editorial process and let us know what you think. Less

Amazingly, some of the most creative and interesting African music acts springing onto the scene are not based in Africa. For years, Afropop Worldwide has spotlighted the work of Africans making bands in the United States, and talented American musicians creating African music. The crop keeps getting better. This music-rich edition samples the techno roots fusion of Burkina Electric, the Kenyan benga meets rock 'n' roll fusion of Extra Golden, desert blues innovations from Markus James, new music from Toubab Krewe, US based afrobeat bands, new work from the country's burgeoning Shona music community, and more. Less

La Llorona (the weeping woman), a story that's been told since the time of the Spanish conquest. DONATE at radioproject.org Less

In this edition of SOF Unheard Cuts, Krista interviewed Vashti McKenzie, first female bishop of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, for "African American. Woman. Leader." Listen to their complete, unedited conversation. Here's your chance to observe the editorial process and let us know what you think. Less

With the presidential election approaching, we return to an evocative, relevant conversation from earlier this year with journalist Steven Waldman. He's done an unusual study investigating how the culture wars have skewed contemporary Americans' sense of how we came to have religious liberty in the first place. He understands why 21st-century struggles over religion in the public square spur passionate disagreement and entanglement with politics at its most impure. Less

In our continuing celebration of Afropop Worldwide's 20th anniversary, we return to one of our favorite cities--Dakar, Senegal--to hear an extraordinary all-night concert in front of 70,000 fans at the national stadium. Featured are Senegal's artistic royalty--Youssou N'Dour, Baaba Maal, Thione Seck--as well as lesser-known artists. We also visit the home of the one and only Baaba Maal. Less

An all-women panel examines how national security impacts our daily lives, and asks how to build a better future. DONATE at radioproject.org Less

In this edition of SOF Unheard Cuts, Krista interviewed Paul Collins and Jennifer Elder for "Being Autistic, Being Human." They talk about how life with their child who is autistic has deepened their understanding of human nature -- of disability, and of creativity, intelligence, and accomplishment. Here's your chance to observe the editorial process and let us know what you think. Less

The 2008 U.S. presidential election has illustrated how gender, race, and religion can become lightning rods, and seen as potential stumbling blocks to leadership. Vashti McKenzie is a pioneering figure on all these fronts; when she became the first woman bishop of the oldest historic black church in America, she declared: "The stained glass ceiling has been pierced and broken." We offer her story, her wisdom, and her good humor as an edifying lens on the American past, present, and future. Less

The 2008 U.S. presidential election has illustrated how gender, race, and religion can become lightning rods, and seen as potential stumbling blocks to leadership. Vashti McKenzie is a pioneering figure on all these fronts; when she became the first woman bishop of the oldest historic black church in America, she declared: "The stained glass ceiling has been pierced and broken." We offer her story, her wisdom, and her good humor as an edifying lens on the American past, present, and future. Less

Islam's complex relationship with arts and culture across Africa, the Middle East, and Asia presents special paradoxes and intrigue in the realm of music. Islam has been used both to nurture and curtail musical expression. This program delves into the historic roots of this debate, all the way back to Baghdad in the early centuries of Islam. Case studies highlight sublime and ecstatic music from Iraq, Iran, Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Pakistan and more. Author and Middle East specialist Joseph Braude discusses the history and issues with two Islamic scholars. Less

Pushing Democrats to prioritize healthcare, and how regular citizens won universal health care in San Francisco. DONATE at radioproject.org Less

In this edition of SOF Unheard Cuts, Krista interviewed Rod Dreher for the second part of our series "The Faith Life of the Party." A conservative columnist, Rod Dreher is an outspoken critic of mainstream Republican economic and environmental ideas and the conduct of the Iraq war, but he voted for George W. Bush twice. We explore the little-known story of religiously influenced impulses within the conservative movement that diverge from the Religious Right. Here's your chance to observe the editorial process and let us know what you think. Less

One of every 150 children is now diagnosed to be somewhere on the mysterious spectrum of autism. We step back from the controversies about the causes and cures of autism and explore one family's experience with an autistic child. Jennifer Elder, an artist, and Paul Collins, a literary historian, have unearthed a vivid history of people grappling with autism, before it had a name. And they share what all of this is teaching them about what it means to be human. Less

It is almost exactly 20 years ago that the very first Afropop program, "Music from South Africa", hit the air on public radio stations all across the country. In celebration, we've put together some of our favorite moments from over the past 20 years, including special appearances by artists who have gone on to internationally acclaimed careers! Less

Ohio was the scene of 2004 election day chaos. Will your voting experience be better or worse in 2008? DONATE at radioproject.org Less