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Talk of the Nation (News)

  • Next available on WSQX-FM 91.5
  • in 4 hours 56 minutes
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  • Host: Neal Conan
  • Journalist Neal Conan leads a productive exchange of ideas and opinions on the issues that dominate the news landscape. From politics and public service to education, religion, music and healthcare, Neal Conan offers call-in listeners the opportunity to join enlightening discussions with decision-makers, authors, academicians and artists from around the world.
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  • Genres: News
  • Location: Washington, DC
  • Language: English
  • Networks: NPR
Last updated 286 days ago Update show info

'Obamanos!': One Year Into Obama's Presidency

Wed, Nov 4 Listen
Hendrik Hertzberg, author of Obamanos!, assesses the year since President Obama's election. And former Ark. Gov. Mike Huckabee and NPR political editor Ken Rudin talk about gains Republicans made in the 2009 elections.

Should Fashion Reflect Fantasy Or Reality?

Wed, Nov 4 Listen
The September issue of Glamour magazine features a model who is considered plus-sized. Cindi Lieve, the editor-in-chief of the magazine, and Washington Post fashion editor Robin Givhan examine whether or not the fashion industry is "sizing up."

100 Dos And Don'ts For Waiting Tables

Wed, Nov 4 Listen
Bruce Buschel is opening his own restaurant and has compiled a list of dos and don'ts for his wait staff. Buschel shares the little nuances waiters can adopt that could mean the difference between a great tip and no tip at all.

H1N1 At Work: If You're Sick, Stay Home?

Tue, Nov 3 Listen
The threat of the H1N1 flu virus has many employers taking precautions to prevent its spread in the workplace. And while it may be an easy decision to allow one member of staff to stay home with the flu, decision-making gets tougher when half of the work force falls ill.

Debbie Allen Loved Jackson's 'This Is It'

Tue, Nov 3 Listen
The movie about Michael Jackson's preparation for a series of concerts in London, This Is It, mixes rehearsal footage with production elements from the planned shows. Dancer and choreographer Debbie Allen loved the film.

Rocky Mountain Activist Carole King

Tue, Nov 3 Listen
Carole King's Tapestry has become one of the biggest selling albums of all time. Now, the singer-songwriter is focused on environmental activism, and is working to push Congress to pass a bill to help the Northern Rockies.

Drug Policy Changes Under New Director

Tue, Nov 3 Listen
The Department of Justice will no longer prosecute medical marijuana users who comply with state laws. Some reform advocates hope the move means decriminalization of pot may be in the works. Drug czar Gil Kerlikowske talks about the direction of U.S. drug policy.

'Genesis': R. Crumb Illustrates The Bible

Mon, Nov 2 Listen
Underground comic legend R. Crumb has put the entire text of the best known book of the Bible into a graphic work. In The Book of Genesis Illustrated, he depicts it all, from the creation of the world to the death of Joseph.

Op-Ed: 'I'm A Doctor. So Sue Me. No, Really.'

Mon, Nov 2 Listen
As the debate over health care continues, members of congress and the American Medical Association argue that tort reform is key to reigning in costs. Dr. Rahul K. Parikh explains why he believes capping malpractice suits won't fix rising health care costs.

Scozzafava Out In NY, NJ Too Close To Call

Mon, Nov 2 Listen
Voters in New York, New Jersey and Virginia head to polling stations Tuesday. Those voting in the Empire State won't find republican Dede Scozzafava on the ballot. She withdrew from the race in New York's 23rd congressional district on Sunday.

The Obamas, Mixing Politics And Romance

Mon, Nov 2
New York Times Washington correspondent Jodi Kantor sat down with President Obama and the First Lady in the Oval Office, and asked them about their marriage. She shares what the Obamas revealed about how their relationship has changed since they moved to the White House.

Why Runners Like To Feel The Burn

Fri, Oct 30 Listen
What compels hundreds of thousands of runners to compete in marathons every year? Ira Flatow and guests discuss running research from how humans are adapted specifically for long-distance running to why working up a sweat might be good for the brain, as well as the body.

Happy Birthday, Internet

Fri, Oct 30 Listen
On Oct. 29, 1969, around 10:30 P.M., a message from one computer was sent over a modified phone line to another computer hundreds of miles away. Some say the Internet was born that day. UCLA computer scientist Leonard Kleinrock, who was there, gives his account.

Examining Gene Therapy As Treatment For Blindness

Fri, Oct 30 Listen
Reporting in The Lancet, doctors found success in treating Leber's congenital amaurosis, a rare type of blindness, with gene therapy. Study author Katherine High explains how injecting a gene-carrying virus into the eye has improved vision in a handful of patients.

A Head-Shrinker Studies The Zombie Brain

Fri, Oct 30 Listen
Psychiatrist Steven Schlozman recently expanded his practice from humans to the inhuman. Poring over his library of classic zombie films, he came up with neurobiological explanations for the behavior of the undead, such as lack of a frontal lobe and an overactive amygdala.

Halloween: A Holiday For Gadgets

Fri, Oct 30 Listen
For gadget lovers, Halloween is more geeky than spooky. Mark Frauenfelder, editor-in-chief of Make Magazine, talks about the geekiest do-it-yourself Halloween costumes and decorations, from spray foam guts and singing pumpkins to a fortune-teller costume built on a Segway.

People ... People Who Eat People

Fri, Oct 30 Listen
In her book Dinner With a Cannibal, writer Carole Travis-Henikoff documents the long and often hidden history of cannibalism in humans. Travis-Henikoff notes that cannibalism wasn't always taboo, whether it be eating loved ones out of respect or eating enemies out of disdain.

Nominate Your Favorite Monster Movies

Thu, Oct 29 Listen
Halloween is around the corner, and our much-loved movie buff Murray Horwitz screams about his favorite monster movies. Which movies from Frankenstein through Zombieland make up your horror film fest must-see list?

Cornel West, 'Living And Loving Out Loud'

Thu, Oct 29 Listen
Philosopher, civil rights activist and professor Cornel West has described himself as a "bluesman in the life of the mind, and a jazzman in the world of ideas." He talks with Neal Conan about his memoir, Living And Loving Out Loud.

What Bystanders Do When They Witness Violence

Thu, Oct 29 Listen
In Richmond, Calif. a 15-year-old girl was gang raped in a schoolyard during a homecoming dance. As many as 20 people witnessed the assault. Guests talk about what happened in the case, and examine what causes bystander behavior when they witness acts of violence.

Carly Simon's 'Never Been Gone'

Thu, Oct 29 Listen
Simon has recorded some of America's most beloved songs. Her new album, Never Been Gone, finds her revisiting some of her classic tunes. Simon and her friend, producer John Forte, talk about their relationship and her long career.

President Karzai's Brother On CIA's Payroll

Wed, Oct 28 Listen
The New York Times reports that Ahmed Wali Karzai, brother of the Afghan president, has been on the CIA payroll for eight years. Reporters Mark Mazzetti and Dexter Filkins talk about breaking the story, and Karzai's suspected involvement in the illegal opium drug trade.

Can You Make Your Baby Smarter, Sooner?

Wed, Oct 28 Listen
Disney's offering refunds to millions of parents who purchased Baby Einstein videos, hoping to give their infants an educational jump-start. Videos have been discredited, redirecting emphasis on the importance of interaction between parents and babies for proper development.

Off-Year Elections In NY, NJ And VA

Wed, Oct 28 Listen
In New York, candidates face off in the 23rd congressional district in a special election for the seat once held by John McHugh. And in New Jersey and Virginia, governorships are up for grabs. Also, cities across the country, notably New York City, will elect new mayors.

Tell Us About The Time You Caught A Foul Ball

Tue, Oct 27 Listen
Baseball aficionado Zachary Hample, author of How To Snag Major League Baseballs, knows better than anyone the thrill of catching a foul ball. He's caught more than 4,000, and offers tips to help you snag fouls from the stands.

Distracted Drivers Helm Planes, Trains And Buses

Tue, Oct 27 Listen
The pilots of Northwest Flight 188, who flew past their destination last week, say they were browsing their laptop computers and didn't notice that it was time to land. Bus drivers, train operators and other commercial pilots often multi-task as part of their jobs.

Malalai Joya: 'A Woman Among Warlords'

Tue, Oct 27 Listen
Three days after Malalai Joya was born in Afghanistan, the government was overthrown. In A Woman Among Warlords, Joya tells the story of her family's struggle against Islamic fundamentalists, warlords and foreign occupation.

Concern About Climate Change Waning

Tue, Oct 27 Listen
It's been three years since An Inconvenient Truth put climate change on the agenda. But a Pew survey of what Americans believe about climate change shows that concern about global warming is waning. Guests examine what could be behind the change in attitude.

Letters: More 'Balloon Boy' Headlines

Tue, Oct 27 Listen
Talk of the Nation challenged listeners to come up with headlines for the so-called "balloon boy" story for specific media outlets. Also, listeners took issue with Cynthia Tucker's take on President Obama's plan to send Social Security recipients $250.

Insurgent Group Jundallah Worries Iranians

Mon, Oct 26
Authorities in Iran have blamed outsiders for recent bombings there. But Jundallah, an ethnic Baluch group living in southeast Iran, has claimed responsibility. Robert Baer, intelligence columnist for Time, explains the possibility of ethnic and sectarian conflict in Iran.

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