One type tends to be evergreen. There’s no particular news peg or political issue we’re dissecting. Instead, we’re exploring a cultural trend or taking a deep dive into a scientific or philosophical idea. At a recent public radio conference, I heard Terry Gross describe some of her favorite interviews as “ensouling.” To me, that’s a perfect description of why we do a lot of TTBOOK shows. We think our listeners are inherently curious, with a craving for more wonder in their lives. We want to tell stories that touch that deeper part of ourselves. Last week’s show “Magical Thinking” — with its blend of magic, religion and fiction — was a good example.
There’s another kind of show we do that’s more timely and political, often with sharper edges. Consider this week’s show “Facing Hate.” We examine the unexpected resurgence of fascism — or at least a fascist mindset — in many countries, including the U.S. Frankly, what we found surprised and disturbed us. It’s not just the xenophobic and anti-democratic rhetoric. Some political leaders are playing on the same fascist tropes that Mussolini and Hitler used 80 years ago. One of our guests, Dutch philosopher Rob Rieman, says we should stop using the label “populist” to describe these leaders; he believes we need to call them “fascists.” That’s a provocative claim, which I’m still mulling over myself.
Sometimes, an honest reckoning with history can shed new light on our present moment.
—Steve