On a foggy Christmas Eve in 2024, I slipped out of our cosy Airbnb in the tranquil village of L’Haumondière, nestled near Le Boupère in France. The world felt hushed under the weight of the misty, humid air, as though holding its breath in anticipation.

Approaching the swollen Lay River, I found a small concrete bridge, a sentinel over the water’s restless journey. Beneath its arch, I carefully positioned my microphones, letting them listen to the symphony nature had composed. The river surged with purpose, its current twisting and tumbling over the gnarled remains of a recently fallen tree. The interplay of water and wood produced a melody of flowing rushes and gentle, rhythmic echoes, bouncing off the bridge’s cold, stony underside. It was as if the river itself was telling a story, weaving threads of sound into a serene, unbroken narrative of motion and stillness.river

The Lay River’s Midnight Song

This essay contains an important story for the ages. Given current events, and the absolute truth that history does repeat, the lesson is plain, and chilling. 1492 and the years leading up to it in Medieval Spain, were times that should not be repeated. And yet…

Episode 292-The Lessons of History

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist David Cay Johnston has spent his career exposing corruption in business and government. A relentless muckraker, he’s written The Making of Donald Trump and It’s Even Worse Than You Think, offering a searing look at the Trump administration’s impact on America. This archival episode with David Cay Johnston first aired in 2018, during Donald Trump’s first term. The conversation remains just as urgent and relevant today.

Best of Design Matters: David Cay Johnston

Tim Ferriss is a five-time New York Times bestselling author, a legendary podcaster with over a billion downloads, a prolific angel investor, and a relentless experimenter. During his fourth visit to Design Matters, he shares the story behind Coyote, a new card game he’s quietly been crafting—and the mindset that brought it to life.

Tim Ferriss

Betty Buckley—Tony-winning Broadway legend, Olivier nominee, and beloved “Voice of Broadway”—has spent nearly six decades in theater, film, television, and music. Best known for Cats and Sunset Boulevard, she is an American Theater Hall of Fame inductee and recipient of the American Songbook Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award. She joins to discuss her remarkable career, enduring artistry, and the stories behind her most memorable roles.

Betty Buckley

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20th Anniversary celebration with design legends Massimo Vignelli, Michael Bierut, Paula Scher, Chip Kidd and Louise Fili

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20th Anniversary celebration with graphic novelists Chris Ware, Alison Bechdel, Roz Chast, Seth and Lynda Barry

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AMB91 Redwoods: Active Nature

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20th Anniversary celebration with non-fiction writers Lisa Taddeo, Malcolm Gladwell, Anne Lamott, Maria Konnikova, and Alain de Botton

Acclaimed singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega reflects on her pioneering career, the artistry behind her storytelling, and the lasting cultural impact of songs like “Luka” and “Tom’s Diner.” She joins to discuss her new album, Flying with Angels, which poignantly captures the struggles and resilience of our time.

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Stephen J. Dubner is an award-winning journalist, bestselling author, and co-creator of Freakonomics—the cultural phenomenon that, over the past 20 years, has grown into a global franchise, changing how millions think, revealing the hidden side of everything, and challenging us to question what we know.

The Lay River’s Midnight Song

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