We re-examine the myth of Robert Johnson. The most famous blues singer of them all died at the age of 27 after recording only 29 songs. Today he's idolized, but Elijah Wald says that may be for the wrong reasons.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Dr. Ted Kaptchuk tells Steve Paulson about the work of some Danish researchers who have concluded that “the Placebo effect” is a myth.
Azby Brown is an American architect who lives in Tokyo. He tells Jim Fleming how a Japanese family of four can live comfortably in a house under 1000 square feet in size.
Ernie Cline talks to Anne Strainchamps about his novel, "Ready Player One," which revolves around a massively multi-player online game and '80s pop culture.
BookMark: Vikram Chandra reviews “The King Must Die” by Mary Renault.
David Edmonds talks with Steve Paulson about an incident in the life of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein and explains why Wittgenstein’s views have been supplanted.
This is Charles. This interview was recorded near the end of the presidential race when everyone and their brother was trying to figure out what was happening in the minds of poor, white voters. I grew up in poverty under the shadows of Northeast Ohio steel mills. And it struck me that many of the insight everyone was looking for was right there in the music of where I grew up. In my opinion, the best example of that voice in 2016 was country music singer-songwriter Brandy Clark. Her album, "Big Day in a Small Town," had the answers, if anyone dared to listen.
What makes Cuban music so distinctive? Radio host Jonathan Overby describes its history, which blends African rhythms with Spanish elegance.
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