Donate

Amanda McGowan

Producer

The World

Amanda McGowan was a radio producer for The World. Previously, she worked at GBH News in Boston, where she worked on the daily live news show Boston Public Radio and reported features for WGBHNewsorg. She has been the recipient of journalism fellowships from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and Fellowships at Auschwitz for the Study of Professional EthicsAmanda studied history at Harvard and wrote her senior thesis on the cultural significance of nylon stockings. Outside of work, she enjoys oil painting and would be happy to paint your picture.

Team USA Hawaiian surfer Carissa Moore practices for a World Surf League competition at Surf Ranch on Tuesday in Lemoore, California, on  June 15, 2021.

Hawaiians highlight surfing’s cultural roots as it makes its Olympic debut

Tokyo Olympics

“Surfing to us is just one more thing in the list of things that has been separated from our cultural heritage, our people and our sovereignty,” Kalani Ka‘anā‘anā, with the Hawaii Tourism Authority, told The World.

A plate of pasta with green sauces

This artist wants you to take a bite out of art history

Food
President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin, arrive to meet at the Villa la Grange, Wednesday, June 16, 2021, in Geneva, Switzerland. 

Biden and Putin both place a ‘high priority’ on cybersecurity, says presidential adviser after Geneva summit

Global Politics
Person with blue gloves presents a large medal in a yellow and red box

Papers and relics testifying to Stephen Hawking’s life’s work will be displayed in UK archive

Science & Technology
Muslims pray in a mosque during celebrations of Eid al-Fitr holiday, a feast celebrated by Muslims worldwide, in Grozny, Russia, on Thursday, May 13, 2021.

The world celebrates Eid — including some of The World’s listeners

Religion
A man is shown in blurred focus walking past a digital sign that says, 'open 7' and glass beneth it with the sign for Gold Spa in the reflection.

Atlanta shootings come in wake of rise in anti-Asian hate crimes

Conflict & Justice

Shootings at three Atlanta-area spas last night left 8 people dead; six of the victims were Asian women. Police believe all shootings were committed by the same person who is in custody. The attacks come as violence against Asian Americans is on the rise nationwide. Dr. Michelle Au is a state senator in Georgia, who stepped off the floor of the chamber floor to speak with us.

Several young people are show from their neck down and wearing sweatshirts and jeans and many with pink tennis shoes.

An increase in migration: A view from Juárez, Mexico

Migration

Along the US-Mexico border, the number of migrants trying to enter the United States is increasing dramatically. Most are being turned away by the US in the name of COVID-19 health precautions. At the same time, the Biden administration is allowing unaccompanied children to enter the United States. Host Marco Werman speaks with Enrique Valenzuela, who works for the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, near the Texas border.

Hands fold a sheet of paper

Researchers ‘virtually unlock’ a sealed 17th-century letter

History

Before password protection or message encryption — or even envelopes — there was something known as “letterlocking” to secure letters from prying eyes.

A man holds a sign that says "zero COVID" wearing a winter jacket and hat outside in front of chancellery in Berlin.

Vaccine envy? There’s a German word for that.

Language

In Germany, the pandemic has ushered in a new crop of vocabulary words like impfneid, the feeling of resentment that other people are getting vaccinated before you.

This Feb. 18, 2021, photo provided by NASA shows the Perseverance rover lowered toward the surface of Mars during its powered descent.

NASA’s first-ever Spanish language broadcast for a planetary landing

Host Carol Hills speaks to NASA aerospace engineer Diana Trujillo, who worked both on the robotic arm of the Perseverance rover and hosted the broadcast.