listen | Chris Aldrich

🎧 Episode 097 Applied Mathematics & the Evolution of Music: An Interview With Natalia Komarova | HumanCurrent

Listened to Episode 097 Applied Mathematics & the Evolution of Music: An Interview With Natalia Komarova by

Haley Campbell-Gross from HumanCurrent

In this episode, Haley interviews Natalia Komarova, Chancellor's Professor of the School of Physical Sciences at the University of California, Irvine. Komarova talks with Haley at the Ninth International Conference on Complex Systems about her presentation, which explored using applied mathematics to study the spread of mutants, as well as the evolution of popular music.

There’s some interesting sounding research being described here. Be sure to circle back around to some of her papers.

🎧 “The Daily”: What the West Got Wrong About China, Part 2 | New York Times

Listened to "The Daily": What the West Got Wrong About China, Part 2 by Michael Barbaro from New York Times

The U.S. misunderstood not only how China would respond to economic growth, but how the U.S. would respond to China.

🎧 “The Daily”: What the West Got Wrong About China, Part 1 | New York Times

Listened to "The Daily": What the West Got Wrong About China, Part 1 by Michael Barbaro from New York Times

Many in the United States believed that capitalism would never work without political freedom. Then China began to rise.

I listen to this and it reminds me of the wealth and growth in America in the early 1900’s in part because of the fact that the U.S. had a mixed-economy. Sadly it seems like we’ve moved away from that towards a more capitalistic economy. Perhaps it’s time to swing back?

Sadly, China may be taking advantage of their mixed economy, but they don’t seem to have the level of freedom we’ve got.

🎧 “The Daily”: Lost in the Storm, Part 2 | New York Times

Listened to "The Daily": Lost in the Storm, Part 2 by Michael Barbaro from New York Times

As a family struggled to get help during Hurricane Harvey, gaps in the rescue system began to show.

We need to be better advocates for ourselves. Good communication can be a life or death situation.

🎧 “The Daily”: Lost in the Storm, Part 1 | New York Times

Listened to "The Daily": Lost in the Storm, Part 1 by Michael Barbaro from New York Times

Houston’s emergency response systems, crippled by Hurricane Harvey, failed to reach people who needed help the most.

This is going to be a classic implementation of painful miscommunication.

🎧 “The Daily”: The Spy Who Provoked Putin | New York Times

Listened to "The Daily": The Spy Who Provoked Putin by Michael Barbaro from New York Times

Two intelligence officers were men of the same age and training. After the Soviet Union collapsed, one rose — and one fell.

🎧 “The Daily”: Bob Woodward on Trump, Nixon and Anonymity | New York Times

Listened to "The Daily": Bob Woodward on Trump, Nixon and Anonymity by Michael Barbaro from New York Times

The reporter sat down with “The Daily” to talk about what it took to get access to the White House and why he called his new book “Fear.”

l love that this is more about process and history with Nixon as well as covering “anonymous” sources (aka deep background) and what they really mean. There isn’t nearly the level of book promotion here that I might have otherwise suspected.

🎧 “The Daily”: Why Michael Cohen Lied to Congress | New York Times

Listened to "The Daily": Why Michael Cohen Lied to Congress by Michael Barbaro from New York Times

An admission by President Trump’s former lawyer about a proposed business deal in Russia sheds new light on where the special counsel investigation is headed.

How does this happen so late in the game?

🎧 “The Daily”: The Business of Selling Your Location | New York Times

Listened to "The Daily": The Business of Selling Your Location by Michael Barbaro from New York Times

Smartphone apps track a staggering amount of data about our whereabouts every day. That data has become a hot commodity.

Just the national security implications for this alone should require regulations of these tech companies.

🎧 Rachael Ray on Communicating Through the Medium of Food | Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda (ART19)

Listened to Rachael Ray on Communicating Through the Medium of Food from Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda (ART19)

Rachael Ray knows how to relate over food. When she cooks, she's always thinking about her audience and how to communicate a message through the medium of food. Her energy and talent have led her to create a billion dollar lifestyle empire, built around the concept of fun, healthy, and joyous experiences with food. In this episode of Clear+Vivid, Rachael Ray and Alan Alda cook up some pasta together and enjoy a lively conversation around the dinner table!

This interview gives me a lot more respect for Rachel Ray and what she’s doing. On the surface she might appear to be too bright and too bubbly, but underneath she’s doing what all of the more serious-seeming foodies on television are doing (albeit perhaps even more successfully)–she’s just targeting a far different audience. But also now that I know this, I’m secretly wishing she would be doing some programming targeted directly at me.

I’ve been aware of Alan Alda’s work in the areas of science communication for a while, but his podcast and the subtle questions he’s asking are giving me greater respect for what he’s doing as well. We need several thousand more of him. We also need better curricula to improve these issues among scientists themselves. I remember needing to take at least three credits of writing intensive courses in college (far too few, but at least it was something), but it would be nice if all scientists and engineers were forced to have more basic training in communication at the lower levels.

🎧 W. Kamau Bell on How He Communicates with Racists by Alan AldaAlan Alda from Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda (ART19)

Listened to W. Kamau Bell on How He Communicates with Racists by

Alan Alda from Clear+Vivid with Alan Alda (ART19)

W. Kamau Bell, the host of CNN's "United Shades of America,” describes his show as giving people a “microphone” and “public square to tell their version of the story.” Putting it plainly, he's said his greatest gift as a communicator is in knowing, “... how to shut the f*ck up and let people talk.” Kamau is a gifted stand up comedian who delivers his comedy through a socio-political lens. In this episode of Clear+Vivid, Alan Alda asks W. Kamau Bell about his approach to comedy and how it's possible to talk with someone who you genuinely disagree with, like a member of the KKK — and still find relatable qualities, even humor. Before they finish, Kamau surprises Alan with a guest of his own!

How can you not love W. Kamau Bell? This reminds me that I still ought to get back to watching his show more regularly instead of letting it fester on my DVR. This is my first episode of Alda’s podcast, but he has an excellent interview style and he’s obviously got some interesting guests. The broader topic of communication and conversation is also an intriguing one to me. I’ve added it to my podcast list to catch up on past and future episodes.

Hat tip: @sciphi