We needed a working definition of the word “scoundrel”. For that, we headed to lexicographer Erin McKean. She’s the founder and CEO of the online dictionary Wordnik. She was also the Principal Editor of The New Oxford American Dictionary. Steve Paulson sat down with her.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
Carolyn Wyman talks about the history of Wonder Bread. It really does seem to be the greatest thing since sliced bread.
Legal scholar Cass Sunstein believes humans are innately irrational.
Cheng-Sim Lim knows her kung—fu movies. She’s the curator of “Heroic Grace: The Chinese Martial Arts Film” at UCLA’S Film and Television archive
Barack Obama talks with Steve Paulson about his self-image and success.
Steve here. 2016 marked the 100th anniversary of America’s beloved National Park system. I could think of no one better to reflect on the importance of national parks than one of my favorite writers, Terry Tempest Williams.
David Thorpe is a filmmaker who went in search of his voice. Specifically, he wanted to know why he and many other gay men ended up markers of a "gay voice"—one with precise enunciation and sibilant "s" sounds. He spoke with his family and several speech therapists to better understand, control, and inhabit his voice.
Frank Rich tells Jim Fleming that the Broadway musicals of his childhood were all about dysfunctional families and helped him cope with his own difficult family situation.
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