On Being with Krista Tippett: religion, meaning, ethics, and ideas -- on public radio and online [OnBeing.org]

February 9, 2012
New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof, says that journalism can make us care — or it can numb us to human suffering. He draws on neuroscience to reveal the limits of human empathy — why it shuts down and how to open it up again. And the Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist shows us how he uses this new science to inform his reporting on atrocities and possibilities by wrapping hard news inside human stories. » Learn more + listen to the show.

About the Image

Nick Kristof interviews a Rwandan prisoner held captive by General Nkunda, a Congolese warlord, and his soldiers.

(photo: Will Okun)

In the Know:

» Greenland's First Dawn
"No matter what the weather is, we always have a will to live." ~Kaaleeraq Mathaeussen

A great way to start your Friday morning with this four-minute film showing the spirit of a Greenlandic Inuit community remaining rooted in kindness and possibility.

Upcoming Shows:

Meredith Monk in Songs of Ascension Meredith Monk's Voice
(Feb 16, 2012)

Singer and composer Meredith Monk calls the human voice the messenger of the soul. For decades, she's pushed the boundaries of what it can express beyond words. A longtime Buddhist, she says curiosity is the greatest antidote to fear — and that making art is about asking dangerous questions.

Recent Shows:

Toward Living Memory
Public historian Tiya Miles unearths an especially painful chapter of the American experience — the little-known narratives that Cherokee landowners held black slaves. Even with history this difficult, she shows us that the canvas of the past can stretch wide enough to hold both hard truths and healing.

The Inner Landscape of Beauty
The late Irish poet and philosopher John O'Donohue insisted on beauty as a human calling. He believed that people can live through the toughest times if they manage to keep something beautiful in their mind.

Becoming Detroit
Detroit is a place where neighbors are reimagining work, food, and the very meaning of humanity. We speak with civil rights legend and 96-year-old philosopher Grace Lee Boggs. She's at the center of a community of passionate people who are recreating their corners of the world.

The Art of Peace
"Peace" is a strangely generic and divisive word. We infuse it with unpredictable images from a wise and adventurous life in conflict transformation around the world. Learn the difference between conflict resolution and enduring change.

Rosanne Cash, Time Traveler
The legacy of Johnny Cash weaves throughout our conversation with singer-songwriter Rosanne Cash. Hear about her life "circumscribed by music" and where art intersects with her religious desire.

Pursuing Happiness with the Dalai Lama
An invigorating and unpredictable public conversation on happiness, exploring the themes of suffering, beauty, and the nature of the body. Krista moderates a discussion between the Dalai Lama and three other world religious leaders.

Sponsors:

In the Room with Kevin Kling ~ Feb 9, 2012 (1pm CT/2pm ET)

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On Beingon

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1»
Greenland's First Dawn
In an Inuit village of 4,000 people, the sun rises for the first time after 40 days of total darkness. This short film shows how a people's spirit remains rooted in kindness and possibility.

2»
The Power of Theater
This children's theater performance report noting the response of a child with autism will make you smile — and testify to the power of art.

3»
How a Freed Slave's Response to His Master Can Open History for Us
This letter to a slave's master has been making the rounds, and it shows us how personal entry points into difficult stories can open history for all of us.