In Irish Anthropocene, Malcolm Sen traces the ways in which contemporary Irish literature responds to climate breakdown. Drawing upon concepts of sovereignty, precarity, and disaster, Sen examines Irish literary works to reveal how they engage with the entangled relations between ecology, economy, and politics. Irish writers not only critique the association ... Show More
Yesterday
Peter S. Soppelsa, "Paris After Haussmann: Living with Infrastructure in the City of Light, 1870–1914" (U Pittsburgh Press, 2026)
Modern Paris is often hailed as a capital of urban infrastructure. Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann’s rebuilding of Paris in 1853–1870, branded “Haussmannization,” helped define urban modernity for cities worldwide. But even as infrastructures expanded and modernized, some Parisian ... Show More
51m 34s
May 7
What Waltham Does When the Water Rises: Rachel McKane and Danielle Jacques (JP)
Permafrost melts, desert cities boil, inland lakes dry up; but Waltham too in its own way has become one of the dark places of the earth. Adverse manmade climate change is seeping into basements everywhere, and a wonderful new research project, “Building Collective Resilience via ... Show More
37m 59s
May 7
Lucy Stewart, "The Japanese Garden: Ella Christie and Cowden" (Birlinn, 2026)
As detailed in The Japanese Garden: Ella Christie and Cowden (Birlinn, 2026) by Lucy Stewart, at the turn of the twentieth century, Scottish adventurer Ella Christie returned home from a trip to Japan inspired to build her own Japanese garden. As might be expected from a woman wh ... Show More
53 m
May 2021
81. The End of Coffee!!: How can we save the world’s coffee industry? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
Coffee is in jeopardy. As the world’s temperatures increase and the climate changes, it is becoming more and more difficult to grow coffee. For farmers, cafes, and coffee drinkers this is terrible news. In this episode of Thinking in English, let’s talk about the issue and discus ... Show More
19m 5s
Oct 2025
The Future of Coffee Depends on Science - World Coffee Research | HANNA NEUSCHWANDER!
As climate change, disease, and shifting generations reshape coffee production, Hanna Neuschwander from World Coffee Research (WCR) joins us to unpack how genetics, collaboration, and innovation are securing the future of coffee. From varietal trials across 18 countries to the ra ... Show More
1h 24m
Sep 2025
Yemen as the Global Home of Coffee | Nancy Um
<p>We challenge contemporary perceptions of Yemen as a "backwater" by revealing the pivotal role of its port city, Mocha, in the making of our modern world. Historian Nancy Um delves into the fascinating history of coffee, from its origins in 15th-century Yemen to its global spre ... Show More
55m 37s
Nov 2022
Ethiopia's Gift to the World
In Ethiopia, the birthplace of Arabica coffee, Ethiopians spend hours roasting and brewing coffee in their living rooms. But, have you ever heard of the Ethiopian coffee ceremony? If not, you are not alone. Get ready, dear listeners, because James is going to take you, Scott, and ... Show More
38m 20s
Jul 2025
Flat White Origins, Freshness Wars & The $6 Coffee | COFFEE BREAK!
We’re discussing home-brewed coffee vs cafe coffee; What do hospo venues have to do in order to compete with the rising army of home baristas? Plus, we talk coffee freshness, Japanese coffee culture, and supermarket beans. Also, what should you look for when hiring cafe staff in ... Show More
27m 33s