The Syria Situation, A Spicy Cure, America's First Ladies

Guests: John Macfarlane, M.Phil., Professor of Political Science, Utah Valley University; Steven Lobell, PhD, Professor of Political Science, University of Utah; Scott Cooper, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science, BYU

Guest: Ashok Shetty, PhD, Professor in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Associate Director, Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Research Career Scientist, Olin E. Teague Veterans’ Affairs Medical Center of the Central Texas Veterans Healthcare System, Texas A&M University More than 200-thousand veterans came home from The First Gulf War with some strange symptoms. Their memory loss, moodiness, and trouble sleeping are known collectively as “Gulf War illness.” Researchers in Texas might have found a treatment for this disease in a common Indian spice. Turmeric, which gives curry its reddish color, has an ingredient called curcumin which can restore impaired brain function.

Guest: Cheri Earl, PhD, Adjunct Professor of American Literature and Creative Writing, Brigham Young University The Little Women sisters, Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy, are coming back to the screen just in time for the book’s 150th anniversary. The story is about to be re-introduced on screen in a major way. Next month, PBS is airing an adaptation of Louisa May Alcott’s classic nove. This is by no means the first screen adaptation of the Civil War era story. Since it was published in 1869, Little Women has resonated widely with audiences in its original form and in many adapted versions. BYU Special Collections has two original copies of the novel Little Women, as well as a series of novels with covers based on the various film adaptations.

(Originally aired April 29, 2016) Guest: Kate Anderson Brower, Former White House reporter, Bloomberg, Author, “First Women” Barbara Bush passed away this week. As former first lady, she had been part of an exclusive sorority who’ve experienced things only THEY can truly relate to.  Mamie, Jackie, Lady Bird, Pat, Betty, Rosalynn, Nancy, Barbara, Hillary, Laura Michelle and Melania, America’s modern first ladies, faced challenges and opportunities inconceivable to most Americans--living in the White House, being married to the Commander-in-Chief.  But their shared experiences do not necessarily make them sisters. There are deep rivalries and long-standing animosities between some of them and surprising alliances between others. Michelle Obama felt more warmly toward Laura Bush on the other side of the political spectrum than she did toward fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton