Celtic historian John Matthews tells Steve Paulson that Merlin probably was a real person and that wizards are related to our ancient shamans.
Intelligent. Optimistic. Curious.
Audio
As a child, Michael Ondaatje took a long ocean voyage from Sri Lanka to England. This is the seed of his novel "The Cat's Table." He talks with Jim Fleming about the fine line between fiction and memoir.
Robert Gordon talks with Steve Paulson about Muddy Waters and his music, placing him at the crux of the blues and rock.
Marvin Minsky tells Steve Paulson he believes machine intelligence is very like human intelligence and that one day people may choose to back themselves up into computers.
MiRi Park is the defending 2004 U.S. and World air guitar champion. She performs for us and tells Steve Paulson what made her the champ.
Karen Russell talks about her debut novel, "Swamplandia!," which focuses on a family-operated gator wrestling theme park in the Florida Everglades.
Karen Russell's "Swamplandia!" page on Random House's website
Novelist Peter Carey talks about the trip he describes in his book “Wrong about Japan: A Father’s Journey with His Son.” Carey took his then 12 year old son Charley to meet directors of Japanese anime films and creators of manga comics
Merritt Ierley talks with Anne Strainchamps about the domestic technology (central heating, indoor plumbing, vacuum cleaners, dishwashers) that makes American homes the most comfortable in the world.
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