The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project.

Over the decades, U.S. policies towards Latin America have lurched between intervention and apparent indifference, demonstrating its dominance while leaving a residue of resentment. Now, on both sides of the border, new hope emerges for an era of warmer relations. What have been the impacts of U.S. policy, and how are they likely to change in an era of renewed hope but severe economic distress?

Guests:
Tom Barry, Director, TransBorder Project; Americas Policy Program Fellow, Center for International Policy
Oscar Chacon, Executive Director, National Alliance of Latin American and Caribbean Communities
Luis Fernando Arias Arias, Secretary General, National Indigenous Organization of Colombia
Joy Olson, Executive Director, Washington Office on Latin America

We also interviewed Gaston Chillier, Executive Director of the Center for Legal and Social Studies located in Buenos Aires, Argentina, but did not include him in the program.

(Click on a guest’s name to listen to their full unedited interview.)

Credits:
Host: Mark Sommer
Senior Producer: Gregg McVicar
Associate Producers: Naihma Deady, Matt Fidler
Translator: Naihma Deady
Credits Narrator: Gabriela Castelan
Production Engineer: Michael Schwartz
Field Engineers: Jennifer Brandel, Paul Castro

Music in this program: Open – “Wave” by Alejandro Escovedo – Bloodshot Ltd.; “A United Earth I” by Alan Stivell and Youssou N’Dour – Putumayo World Music; “La Linea” by Lila Downs – Narada World; “Oye Manita” by Toto la Momposina – Putumayo World Music; “Soy Como Soy” by Fruko y sus Tesos – Putumayo World Music.

Funding: the Ford Foundation.

Duration: 55:00 minutes

Click here to listen to this podcast.

Left, Right and Center is a weekly half-hour radio broadcast and podcast produced by KCRW in Santa Monica. 

The three panelists begin the show by talking about the Democratic National Convention.  They talk about former President Clinton’s impassioned speech, the Clintons’ endoresement of Senator Obama, and Senator Obama’s economic policies as outlined in his acceptance speech in front of 75,000 people in Denver.

Then the panelists talk about the surprising pick of Governor Sarah Palin as Senator McCain’s running mate.  They talk about her lack of national experience and about her accomplishments as Alaska’s governor.

The three participants on the show are Robert Scheer who represents the left, Tony Blankley who represents the right, and Matt Miller who represents the center.  Arianna Huffington who represents the progressive blogosphere is away on assignment.

At the end of this entertaining show the participants each have a 30 second rant to summarize the issue that each sees as most significant.

Click here to be taken to the Left, Right and Center home page where you can download or listen to the podcast.

Click here to read the ABC News article about Governor Sarah Palin.

This week on American Radio Journal: Lowman Henry talks with Steven Baldwin about his new book: From Crayons to Condoms, The Truth about America’s Public Schools. Ryan Shafik gets the “Real Story” from Pat Toomey of the Club for Growth about the politics of energy; Colin Hanna has an American Radio Journal commentary on how Barack Obama and Ronald Reagan have one thing in common….and that is about it.

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American Radio Journal is produced and distributed by the Lincoln Institute of Public Opinion Research, Inc. The Lincoln Institute is a 501c3 non-profit educational foundation based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Founded in 1993, the mission of the Lincoln Institute is: “To promote the ideals of free market economics, individual liberty, and limited government through the conduct of public opinion research and related educational programs.”

The Lincoln Institute accepts no government money and is completely funded by philanthropic grant making foundations, corporations, and individuals.

To listen to the broadcast click here.

Left, Right and Center is a weekly half-hour radio broadcast and podcast produced by KCRW in Santa Monica. 

The panel spends the main part of today’s red, white, and blue show discussing patriotism.  They remind listeners of George Washington’s famous and powerful Farewell Adress when he warns us to “guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism.”

After a short break the panel discusses Senator Obama’s recent move to the center and Senator McCain’s recent campaign shakeup.

The four participants on the show are Robert Scheer who represents the left, Tony Blandley who represents the right, Matt Miller who represents the center, and Arianna Huffington who represents the progressive blogosphere. 

At the end of this entertaining show the participants each have a 30 second rant to summarize the issue that each sees as most significant.

Click here to be taken to the Left, Right and Center home page where you can download or listen to the podcast.

Click here to read George Washington’s Farewell Address.

Click here to read the recent Time Magazine article, “The War Over Patriotism.”

President Bush, in his weekly radio address to the nation, called on Congress to complete numerous important tasks on their agenda when they return from a brief  recess next week.

“Good morning. Next week Congress will return to Washington after its Memorial Day recess. I hope Members of Congress return rested, because they have a lot of work left on important issues and limited time to get it done.

Congress needs to pass a responsible war funding bill that puts the needs of our troops first, without loading it up with unrelated domestic spending. Our troops in Afghanistan are performing with courage and honor, delivering blows to the Taliban and al Qaida. Our troops in Iraq have driven al Qaida and other extremists from sanctuaries they once held across the country and are chasing them from their last remaining strongholds. Our men and women in uniform are risking their lives every day, and they deserve the resources and flexibility they need to complete their mission.

Congress needs to support our military families by passing an expansion of the GI Bill that makes it easier for our troops to transfer unused education benefits to their spouses and children. It is critical for this legislation to support the all-volunteer force and help us recruit and retain the best military in the world.

Congress needs to ensure that our intelligence professionals have the tools to monitor terrorist communications quickly and effectively. Last year, Congress passed temporary legislation that provided these tools. Unfortunately, the law expired more than three months ago. Congress needs to pass long-term legislation that will help our intelligence professionals learn our enemies’ plans before they can attack and put an end to abusive lawsuits filed against companies believed to have assisted the government after the attacks of September the 11th. And Congress needs to act soon so we can maintain a vital flow of intelligence.

Congress needs to approve the Colombia free trade agreement so we can open a growing market for American goods, services, and crops. Unfortunately, the House of Representatives is blocking a vote on this vital agreement. Unless this agreement is brought up for a vote, it will die. This will hurt American workers, farmers, and business owners. And it will hurt our Nation’s strategic interests in a vital region of the world.

Congress needs to confirm the good men and women who have been nominated to important government positions. There are now more than 350 nominations pending before the Senate. These include highly qualified people I have nominated to fill vacancies on the Federal bench. And they include talented nominees who are needed to help guide our economy during a time of uncertainty. For example, three nominees to the Federal Reserve have been waiting for confirmation for more than a year. And because of Senate inaction, the Council of Economic Advisers is now down to a single member. This confirmation backlog makes it harder for government to meet its responsibilities – and the United States Senate needs to give every nominee an up-or-down vote as soon as possible.

One nominee who needs to be confirmed right away is Steve Preston. A month has passed since I nominated Steve to be the next Secretary of Housing and Urban Development. Unfortunately, Senators have stalled this nomination over an issue that has nothing to do with Steve or his qualifications for the job. With all the turbulence in the housing market, this is no time to play politics with such a critical appointment. So I call on the Senate to give Steve Preston a prompt vote and confirm this good man without further delay.

At a time when many Americans are concerned about keeping their homes, Congress needs to pass legislation to modernize the Federal Housing Administration, reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to ensure they focus on their housing mission, and allow State housing agencies to issue tax-free bonds to refinance subprime loans. And at a time when Americans are concerned about rising gas prices, Congress needs to pass legislation to expand domestic energy production.

In all these areas, Congress has failed to act. The American people deserve better from their elected leaders. Congress needs to show the American people that Republicans and Democrats can compete for votes and cooperate for results at the same time. You sent your representatives to Washington to do the people’s business, and you have a right to expect them to do it – even in an election year.

Thank you for listening.”

To listen to this broadcast click here.

The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project. 

Despite his best efforts, like the very establishments he excoriates, Studs has become an American institution. A man of the people, he is also an unapologetic liberal and intellectual in a country that respects neither. In this program, drawn from a nonstop three-hour conversation, Studs reflects on a life spent listening to the battered but unbowed spirit of ordinary and extraordinary Americans.

By the way, Studs Terkel turns 96 on May 16 this year.

Guests:
Studs Terkel pt.1, prize-winning author and radio broadcast personality
Studs Terkel pt. 2
Studs Terkel pt. 3

(Please click on a guest’s name to listen to their full unedited interview.)

Credits:
Host: Mark Sommer
Senior Producer: Gregg McVicar
Associate Producers: Matt Fidler, Naihma Deady
Production Engineer: Michael Schwartz
WFMT Recording Engineer: Eric Arunas
Music in this program: Open – “Laura” by Charlie Parker – Polygram Records; “A United Earth I” by Alan Stivell and Yousou N’Dour – Putamayo World Music; “My Kind of Town” by Frank Sinatra – Folkway Records; “City of New Orleans” by Arlo Guthrie – Red Pajama Records; “Careless Love” by Odetta – Sony Music; “Move On Up a Little Higher” by Mahalia Jackson – Vanguard Records;
Funding: Listeners Like You

Duration: 55:00 minutes

To listen to this podcast click here.

Want to listen to additional recordings of Studs Terkel?  The Chicago Historical Society has a wonderful collection of broadcasts from WFMT-FM, Chicago, that were aired between 1952 and 1997.  There are about 255 recordings in the current collection with more to come.  Click here.

Short Biography of Studs Terkel.

I ran across an interesting website called Librivox, which has a large number of audio readings of public domain documents and books.  One of the documents that caught my attention was the Bill of Rights from our Constitution.

The Bill of Rights are the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. They were introduced as a series of amendments in 1789 in the First United States Congress by James Madison. Ten of the amendments were ratified and became the Bill of Rights in 1791. These amendments limit the powers of the federal government, protecting the rights of all citizens, residents and visitors on United States territory. (Summary courtesy of Wikipedia)

You can read the Bill of Rights and other Amendments at the Good Politics Radio US Constitution Amendments page.

You can listen to and download the audio reading of the Bill of Rights here.  By the way, the reader has a very pleasant English accent, which you will enjoy.

The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project. 

 In this special edition of A World of Possibilities, two lives spent breaking the mold of both traditional and feminist perspectives are recounted in candid conversation, each with a focused sense of purpose – to use their unique sensibilities and life experiences to help heal a species and planet grievously wounded by fear, greed and ignorance of its own positive potential.

Guests:
Frances Moore Lappe, social activist, author of sixteen books, including the landmark Diet for a Small Planet (1971)
Wangari Maathai , Winner, 2004 Nobel Peace Prize; founder, Greenbelt Movement, Kenya
(Please click on a guest’s name to listen to their full unedited interview.)
Credits:
Host: Mark Sommer
Senior Producer: Gregg McVicar
Associate Producers: Naihma Deady, Matt Fidler
Production Engineer: Michael Schwartz
Music in this program: open- “Bida Mariadu” by Lura – Putamayo World Music; “Surfin” by William Orbit – Sanctuary Records; “A United Earth I” by Alan Stivell and Yousou N’Dour – Putamayo World Music; “M’envoyer Des Fleurs” by Sandrine Kiberlain – Putamayo World Music; “Nao Se Apavare” by Luca Mundaca – Putamayo World Music; “Pata Pata” by Miriam Makeba – Putamayo World Music;

Funding: Listeners Like You

Duration: 55:00 minutes

Click here to listen to this podcast.

Everyone knows Montel Williams is a very popular prime time TV show host. His fans also know he was diagnosed 9 years ago with Multiple Sclerosis. In this interview, Montel tells our listeners how they can join with him in a dazzling glamour gala where proceeds will go to fight MS and find a cure for this deadly disease.

We know how difficult it may be to find ways to make a difference in the world. We are all busy and maybe a little worn out listening to all of the woes of the world. Montel has a simple, convenient way for our listeners to help shut down this terrible disease that literally eats a person’s neural net, degenerating every function and system of the body in a long slow, painful spiral. No imaginary monster is as cruel.

So take a listen as we interview the master interviewer about joining his Poker Party Gala to beat MS. Yes…you can join in the glitzy, glamorous NYC Gala. After you listen, go to www.yaktivate.com/montelms to find out more.

The following podcast is brought to you courtesy of A World of Possibilities and The Mainstream Media Project.  

One of the most difficult challenges facing governments, communities and families in the aftermath of civil or international conflict is re-integrating soldiers into civilian life. This program highlights the most successful of these re-integration initiatives as identified by leading practitioners in the field and will examine what has made them successful when so many have failed.

Guests:
Larry Attree, Senior Program Officer, Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations; US Institute of Peace
Vanessa Farr, United Nations Development Programme: Crisis Prevention and Recovery
Beth Cole, Senior Program Officer, Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations; US Institute of Peace
Klubosumo Johnson Borh, National Program Coordinator for National Ex-Combatant Peacebuilding Initiative of Liberia
(Click on a guest’s name to listen to their full unedited interview.)

Credits: Music in this program: open- “Bass Is the Place” by Dub Gabriel; “A United Earth I” by Alan Stivell and Yousou N’Dour – Putamayo Wolrd Music; “Dub Rise” by Groundation; “Water is Life” by Tinariwen; “Babylon World” by Casper; “Please Open Your Heart and Let Me in” by Souleman Rowgie – Songs and Creations; “Dubstorted Planet” by Audio Pharmacy – Spare Change; Host: Mark Sommer Producer: Gregg McVicar Engineers: Michael Schwartz Matt Fidler

Funding: Compton Foundation

Duration: 55:00 minutes

Click here to listen to this podcast.