logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2020
53m 22s

Like Water in the Desert

Cynthia Graber and Nicola Twilley
About this episode
Over the past century, we've transformed the arid lands of the American west into year-round, well-irrigated agricultural powerhouses. Today, fruits, nuts, and nearly all of our leafy greens are grown in the desert, using water diverted, stored, and supplied at taxpayer expense. This intense irrigation is having an impact: Reservoir levels are dropping, rive ... Show More
Up next
Jul 7
America's Forbidden Fruit and Forgotten First Soda: Ask Gastropod
Fan favorite Ask Gastropod is back, and we’re celebrating the season by solving a pair of trans-Atlantic mysteries! First up: if you have a purple candy in Europe, it’s nearly guaranteed to be flavored with a tart little berry called blackcurrant—while the same color candy in the ... Show More
50m 12s
Jun 23
Bringing Home the Bacon: From Shakespeare to the Baconator
For many Americans, bacon is an essential element of the perfect breakfast—not to mention a welcome addition to everything from cheeseburgers to doughnuts. But bacon hasn't always been beloved. Ancient Egyptians elites looked down on pork, Judaism and Islam banned it entirely, an ... Show More
48m 10s
Jun 9
What the Shell? Cracking the Lobster's Mysteries
Consider the lobster roll: tender chunks of lobster bathed in butter or mayo, sandwiched between two slices of a squishy bread roll… Have we caught your attention yet? Lobster is a summertime staple in New England, a fixture on casino and cruise ship buffets, and a steady partner ... Show More
44m 2s
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2021
Oops! We Killed the Earth - America's Megadrought
A historic drought plagues the American Southwest, threatening energy supplies and farms, and causing cities to take drastic water conservation measures. Learn more about your ad-choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information ... Show More
9m 26s
Nov 2023
Groundwater Wars
Kingman, Arizona, a small farming town in the desert, is a cautionary tale in the West’s water crisis. About a decade ago, large corporate farms started moving into the desert of Mohave County, growing thirsty crops like alfalfa and nuts. At the time, there were practically no ru ... Show More
33m 38s
Apr 2023
Saudi Arabia’s Thirst for Arizona’s Water
As Arizona grapples with looming cuts to its allocation of Colorado River water, the arid state is taking a hard look at how its groundwater is used and who has access to it. Dr. Natailie Koch, author of “Arid Empire: The Entangled Fates of Arizona and Arabia,” joins Ray Suarez t ... Show More
26 m
Jul 2023
Understanding the Real Fight Over Water in Arizona
Arizona recently announced new constraints on housing development in the areas around Phoenix. At issue is water rights and scarcity, which have been a challenge for the US Southwest for as long as people have been living there. That being said, the region is currently in the mid ... Show More
47m 27s
Jun 2024
Saving water at a time of scarcity
Just over a quarter of people on the planet live in water stressed countries. And our increasing demands for water as well as climate change is putting even more pressure on this finite resource.We take a look at how Indian farmers are growing crops with a device that stores rain ... Show More
22m 59s
Jun 2021
Climate Change Is Threatening The U.S. West's Water Supply
The past year has been the driest or second driest in most Southwestern U.S. states since record-keeping began in 1895. Climate Correspondent Lauren Sommer reports that farms and cities have begun imposing water restrictions, but the water supply will shrink no matter what the we ... Show More
12m 10s
Jul 2022
Dry Hot American Summer
As the world heats up, the American West is drier than at any period in the past 1,200 years. But don’t expect people to stop watering their lawns. This episode was produced by Avishay Artsy, edited by Matt Collette, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Paul Mounsey, and ... Show More
26m 6s
Sep 2024
Saving water in the driest place on Earth
How can farmers water their crops when they live in the driest place on Earth? Neil and Beth teach you some useful vocabulary. TRANSCRIPT Find a full transcript for this episode and more programmes to help you with your English at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish/english/fe ... Show More
6m 42s
Sep 2023
Arizona’s Pipe Dream
<p>A Times investigation revealed that in much of the United States, communities and farms are pumping out groundwater at alarming rates. Aquifers are shrinking nationwide, threatening supplies of drinking water and the country’s status as a food superpower.</p><p>Christopher Fla ... Show More
39m 3s