Emily post said "never talk about politics or religion"... But with candidates so divisive, and voters so impassioned, it's a tough rule to follow. Today, a polite guide to political conversation. First tip? Know what you're trying to accomplish.
Then, there are a lot of adjectives used to describe great white sharks: giant, fearsome, deadly. But author and animal lover Sy Montgomery has seen sharks up close and might choose another word - like sublime.
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How to Talk About Politics
Navigating political conversations can be like steering the Titanic through the Arctic Circle. But fear not: Rob Baedeker is here to help. He's co-author of What to Talk About: On a Plane, At a Cocktail Party, in a Tiny Elevator with Your Boss's Boss.
Florence Chadwick: Open Water Swimming Pioneer
With the 2016 Olympics just around the corner, we're going to be spending the next few weeks hearing the stories of world-class athletes as they strive to make history, and we'll hear about the athletes who came before; who broke barriers never thought possible in sports. This story, about swimmer Florence Chadwick, comes to us from Nate Dimeo, and the podcast The Memory Palace.
You can listen to this story again here: "Local Channels"
Great White Sharks with Sy Montgomery
We've all seen it before...the threatening image of a slate gray fin slowly rising above the surface of the ocean...and then, inevitably, the gaping mouth, long white belly, and rows of serrated teeth. Whether you're watching a certain Spielbergian horror film, or Discovery Channel's “Shark Week,” few living predators loom larger than the great white shark. Sy Montgomery is a naturalist and an author. Her most recent book is called The Great White Shark Scientist and it’s a look into the mysterious, and very often, misunderstood, world of great white sharks.
Last Night a Superhero Saved My Life
America got dark in the 1930s. The stock market crash and Great Depression which followed plunged millions into unemployment. Gang violence and crime surged, stretching the limits of law enforcement. But out of the darkness, came a light: a new genre of fictional characters burst onto the scene. The comic book superhero gave fans goodness to cling to when everyday life felt impossible to bear. And that dependability has continued since the first costumed crime fighter knocked out evil with a kapow!
Liesa Mignogna is Vice President and Editorial Director of Simon Pulse, an imprint of Simon and Schuster children's books. She edited and contributed to an anthology of essays exploring the love between authors and their chosen fictional heroes called Last Night a Superhero Saved My Life.