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We Almost Fixed Climate Change. Why Couldn't We?

2018 has been a hot, wet, fiery summer around the world. From record temperatures in China, to wildfires across the western United States, Sweden and Greece, and devastating floods in India and Japan. Today, we take a look back at the decade between 1979 and 1989 that was the key window for the U.S. to address climate change; a discussion on how the fight is playing out over blueprints for 3-D printed guns; we continue our look at AIDS with a closer inspection of the epidemic among black gay, bisexual and trans individuals; and we end with our look at the intersection between race, place and health.

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We Almost Fixed Climate Change. Why Couldn't We?

The Future of FEMA After a Year of Disasters

Dec. 26, 2017: After Hurricanes Harvey, Irma, and Maria, and massive wildfires out west, we look at the future of Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) following one of its most challenging years ever in this special podcast episode. 

The Future of FEMA After a Year of Disasters

Sideshow Podcast: Teach Me How to Summah (feat. Howard Kremer)

Most comedians have just a few memorable bits; Howard Kremer has just one. Good thing he managed to build a comedy empire on it. A few years ago, Kremer had an epiphany while on the beach in Los Angeles: there was nothing more important in life than making the most of the summer — which Kremer calls “summah” in honor of his native New Jersey. “There it is! That’s the crux of the debate!” he said. If you have to choose between work and adult responsibilities and enjoying a summer day, “I’m going to choose summah, and I’m going to tell people about it!” But how does a joke turn into a brand? Kremer spun his revelation into a few funny minutes of comedy (being bitten by a shark in the ocean is better than not having been to the ocean, he thinks). That turned into merchandise, summer songs (three albums worth), and Summahfest, a party in Los Angeles with water slides, food trucks, and live music. "You always want to do something that catches the public’s imagination. It’s hard with stand-up to convey raw emotion and still be funny, but with ‘Have a Summah’ it’s a meaningful thing.” If the mileage Kremer has taken out of the bit doesn’t make it clear, he’s serious about summer. “It goes so fast, and people don’t start it on time,” he laments. “The government has moved in and chopped it up — school starts now on August 15th. You have to remind yourself” to enjoy life while you have it.  Actually, Kremer’s taken it upon himself to remind you. He was recently at the beach with a friend who had forgotten the pleasures of summer. “This is great,” the friend reflected, “I should have been doing this all summer.” Incredulous, Kremer responded, “If only there was a guy that reminded everybody to have a summah!”
Sideshow Podcast: Teach Me How to Summah (feat. Howard Kremer)