Addictions

I have discovered podcasts. I am behind the times. I can freely admit this- living in a tent in remote parts of nevada makes it difficult to stay on top of things like new technologies, films, and celebrity gossip. We work in areas of radio silence sometimes- or the only station we can find is such bad popcountry that silence would be preferable.

But, since this device called an ipod (have you heard of them?) entered my life, this had all changed. I can just play it through the my Dodge SuperDuty's stereo (his name is Sir Galahad, fyi, the white knight) and we are saved from inspirational lyrics like "Baby, I want to check you for ticks," and "He had one hand on the steering wheel and one hand on my.....heart." But, better music is just not enough- i missed NPR- news, this american life, car talk, i even miss the misery of marketplace.

Then, I discovered that you can download all of these amazing radio programs, and many more, straight from itunes to my computer for free. I catch up on my weekly news with Wait, Wait, Don't tell me, a pop news quiz in which I never know any of the answers any more. We listen to This American Life and Science Friday on our way to work for the week. On my personal time, I drool over the Splendid Table and laugh at Savage Love.

And I've discovered new podcasts I never knew i was missing- like WYNC's Radiolab- a science meets culture show that is brilliant, and The Moth- a live, storytelling series performing in NYC. PRI's Life on Earth is fantastic. Scientific American has these 60-second clips on new discoveries and research. Slate.com's book club podcasts has expanded my reading list. I'm devouring the back episodes of Radiolab, thinking about how exciting science is and how many fascinating ways there are to turn science into stories. Maybe they need an intern?

I never thought i would become so addicted to an ipod- but it's enabled me to get back in touch with the world outside of the Ely BLM district- excited about what good reporting and good storytelling can do to an audience. Addict them. See me, example A.