Word of Mouth Past Shows

Today on Word of Mouth, the death of Sen. Edward Kennedy just weeks after his sister Eunice closes the door on the Camelot era. Today, we remember some of the Kennedy magic with a story from one who witnessed it. And, what’s inside a bottle of FIJI Water? America’s most popular imported bottled water broadcasts its humanitarian and green efforts, but a reporter went to Fiji where locals don’t have clean water and a military regime protects company interests. Plus, is technology killing slang? Words and phrases once exclusively shared are now quickly spread – and made uncool – on the web.

(Photo by strfireblue via Flickr/Creative Commons)

Today on Word of Mouth, can we measure the national mood by blog entries, song lyrics and Twitter? A pair of Vermont statisticians has developed a "hedonometer" to read national happiness in real time. We’ll hear from them and from a New York artist whose record of musical screams has become an underground hit. Plus, drugs, food, gambling, sex, shopping - addicts say they are powerless against the physical compulsions to use substances and behaviors. A Harvard psychologist is making big waves with his controversial argument that addiction is not a disease, but a choice. Plus, a teenager confronts her father about his heroin addiction.

(Photo by kriechstrom via Flickr/Creative Commons)

Today on Word of Mouth, the future of farming. The world’s farmers will have to grow twice as much food by 2050 to feed nine billion people. We’ll hear some innovative ideas for producing more by using less. Plus, a voyeur’s holiday. Exchanging homes for the summer is a popular – and cheap – way to travel, but it’s not for prudes. We’ll hear one writer’s experience. And, teaching Indian women self defense - in secret. Plus, the mysterious silence of poetry. New Hampshire poet Alice Fogel says poems are invisible bridges to the holy. She’s taking part in an innovative forum in Nelson, NH this week on creativity and spirituality. We’ll also rock out with rising upstarts These United States before their show at The Red Door in Portsmouth.

(Photo by JF Sebastian via Flickr/Creative Commons)

Today on Word of Mouth, stem-cell tourism is on the rise. We’ll get a professional’s warning against clinics around the world offering dubious therapies to patients with ALS, Parkinson’s and spinal cord injuries. We’ll also hear profiles of “unconventional” farmers taking on big agribusiness. And our own Avishay Artsy meets up with a group of Italian students as they learn about New England food and tourism, and sample local wine made from apples and cranberries. We’ll also hear about plans to build an algae bio-refinery in Cape Cod that some critics fear will threaten food and water supplies.

(Photo by Avishay Artsy)

Today on Word of Mouth, is the Terminator about to knock at your door? Scientists and ethicists gather to address and ease public concerns about artificial intelligence projects run amok. And, the changing environment may be driving a new era of mass extinction, but we’ll hear about hundreds of recently discovered new species. Plus, the truth about lemmings. Despite what you saw in old Disney documentaries, they don’t commit mass suicide by leaping off of cliffs. Plus, is globalization a force for democracy? We’ll hear new ideas on developing democracies in the global age. And, a book club author, coming to a living room near you.

(Photo by frog DNA via Flickr/Creative Commons)

Today on Word of Mouth, industrial ecology? It may sound like an oxymoron, but it’s an emerging field of study. We’ll look into systems in Denmark and Hawaii that reuse each other’s waste and turn it into energy. And, scientists get beyond the disarming adorableness of babies to understand how their brains work. Inside they find remarkably philosophical creatures with boundless imagination and an uncanny sense of morality. We’ll also find out why kids make the best chess players. Plus, ask anyone who’s been through a divorce, and they’ll tell you it’s an emotionally wrenching experience. New research reveals that it also takes a physical toll that the body never bounces back from.

(Photo by JWhipkey via Flickr/Creative Commons)