Episode Archives

Filter episodes by the year they originally aired.
To The Best Of Our Knowledge

Future Perfect: Dreamers, Schemers & Visionaries

Part One

 

Imagine a poor child in Uruguay. Now imagine giving that young girl a hundred-dollar laptop computer. Imagine the educational opportunities that this laptop will provide...Read more

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

What's the best piece of reporting you read or saw or heard this year?  Today, we share stories that made us see the world in a new way.  National Book Award winner Katherine Boo reports from the slums of Mumbai. Photojournalist Brendan Bannon documents the tenacity and vitality of Africa. ...Read more

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

From Soup to Nuts

Part Five

Whether black from a bottomless cup or as a Frappuccino mocha skim latte, it's our culture's elixir: coffee.  In this hour of To the Best of Our Knowledge, Java, Joe or a cup of mud . . . Most of us drink it...Read more

I shall never be content until the beneficent influence of the University reaches every family of the state. UW President Charles Van Hise in 1905

If you live in Wisconsin, chances are you've heard of the Wisconsin Idea. It's the century-old dream of sharing the best of higher education with the entire state -- bringing the values of the liberal arts, scientific knowledge and search for truth to everyone. It's a cherished tradition,...Read more

a muse

How does creative work get done? When the answer finally comes to a question that's dogged you for weeks or years, where is it coming from?

 

In this special hour, Nathan Englander - acclaimed novelist, short story writer, playwright - is our guest...Read more

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

America's gone craft crazy. Everyone's knitting, or keeping scrapbooks; throwing pots or wood-working. And naturally, there are new chains of stores that carry all the supplies these crafters need, or think they do. To the Best of Our Knowledge considers what we mean by the word "craft." Does it...Read more

To The Best Of Our Knowledge

A poster at Starbucks asks customers to focus on the world water crisis. A congregation asks the faithful to go on a carbon diet. The local grocery now charges for a plastic bag. We've got green cars, green clothing, green investments, and even green weddings. In this hour of To the Best of Our...Read more

self help books

Every new year brings a fresh start, another chance to remake yourself. We all aspire to be better people, but following through on our goals can often be difficult.Read more

Pages