Los Angeles and smog have been synonymous for decades. From the 1940s
through the 1980s, children breathed air so heavy with lead that their
blood was poisoned with it. In 1970, officials declared smog alerts on
235 days. But the last smog alert happened in 2003, and lead has
virtually disappeared from the air. This is the story of how Los Angeles
clean ... Show More
Today
Javier Arbona-Homar, "Explosivity: Following What Remains" (U Minnesota Press, 2025)
Offering a novel approach to contemporary landscape studies, Explosivity: Following What Remains (U Minnesota Press, 2025) unearths the hidden legacies of violence that have shaped the physical and cultural environment of the San Francisco Bay area. As he sifts through the histor ... Show More
1h 6m
Yesterday
Robert B. Marks, "Deep Time in the Mono Lake Basin: Nature and History Over the Last 10,000 Years" (U California Press, 2026)
"Deep Time," a way of understanding the distant past popularized in the late 20th century by the writer John McPhee, changes our perspective on history. When looked at in the context of tectonic movements long-term climate shifts, human affairs can seem small, even insignificant. ... Show More
55m 15s
Jun 6
Ashok Malhotra, "Imperial Science, the Organic Movement and the Path to Shangri La, 1900-1969" (UCL Press, 2026)
Imperial Science, the Organic Movement and the Path to Shangri La, 1900-1969 (UCL Press, 2026) is a global history project that examines the diffusion of scientific and environmental discourses from India to Britain and the US. Ashok Malhotra examines how imperial agendas and col ... Show More
35m 47s
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