John McNally is the author of “The Book of Ralph: A Fiction.” McNally tells Steve Paulson about the real life kids who served as the models for his character Ralph, a trouble-maker.
John McNally is the author of “The Book of Ralph: A Fiction.” McNally tells Steve Paulson about the real life kids who served as the models for his character Ralph, a trouble-maker.
Afghan-American author Nadia Hashimi talks about her book, “The Pearl That Broke Its Shell,” as well as the Afghan custom of Bacha Posh – in which a girl is allowed to dress as a boy.
There's a nagging question at major sporting events: Are the athletes cheating? Steroids, human growth hormones and blood doping techniques are extending the outer limits of performance, and athletes can use them if they want -- unless they're professionals or Olympic athletes. But is doping really a problem? Australian philosopher and bioethicist Julian Savulescu has a simple litmus test: What contribution is coming from the technology and what is coming from the athlete?
Musician and author Rae Spoon grew up as a girl. About ten years ago Rae came out as a transman. Then, a couple of years ago, they decided to retire... from gender.
You can also check out "Gender Failure" by Rae and Ivan E. Coyote.
Kate La Riviere-Gagner's Dangerous Idea? There should be a reality show to give people a better idea of what a day in the life of a teacher is like.
Mitch Horowitz tells Anne Strainchamps that belief in the occult is as old as the colonies and that spiritualism was America's first great religious export.
Mark Dunn's book, “Ella Minnow Pea,” explores what happens when individual letters begin to be expunged from the language. It’s a technical tour de force since the author labors under the same restrictions as his characters.
Academics are no longer just ivory tower analysts. The Defense Department has recently hired civilian anthropologists and social scientists as on-the-ground advisers to soldiers.