Hearing Voices - Radio Stories / All

Language Removal of the California Recall Race 2:37 Larry Massett

Earlier this year we introduced listeners to Douglas Fleishut, one of the founders of Language Removal Services. That’s an outfit that takes recordings of human speech and eliminates the words, leaving breathing and umms and ahhs. Recently, the Language Removal folks have turned their attention to the candidates in the California recall election. [transcript]

Broadcast: Oct 1 2003 on NPR All Things ConsideredSeries: Language Removal Subjects: Politics, Spoken Word

Housekeepers’s POV 5:18 Jake Warga

Fran Peters, Director of Housekeeping, Paramount Hotel- Seattle: "I mean it takes a lot of labor to pick up a sofa, take it through a sliding glass door, and throw it over a balcony into a swimming pool." Rock star’s rooms, toilet-seat sanity seals, and that hotel sheet smell.

Broadcast: Sep 26 2003 on PRI/MPR Savvy Traveler Subjects: Labor, Business, Travel

Surfing instructors Miles Apuakehau and Daylne Vickery

Surf School 14:49 Scott Carrier

An uneasy transition from liking surf music to taking surf lessons, with no board, no place to stay, except a tent on the beach and a big, bad Hawaiian teacher -- part of a native culture that doesn’t trust white men as far as they can throw ’em. Begging the question: How far will the producer get thrown? [transcript]

Broadcast: Sep 26 2003 on PRI/MPR Savvy Traveler Subjects: Sports, Travel, Native

Gnat Dance 2:29 Jeff Rice

Entomologist Ian Robertson makes male gnats "dance" by mimicking the mating sounds of female gnats. [transcript]

Broadcast: Sep 25 2003 on NPR Day to DaySeries: Western Soundscape Subjects: Science, Environment

Seattle Weather 1:50 Jake Warga

Two Seattle residents, sitting on a park bench, discuss the effects of weather on their Northwestern town. [transcript]

Broadcast: Sep 16 2003 on NPR Day to Day Subjects: Environment

Young Palestinians on the New Prime Minister 4:42 Nancy Updike

Palestine’s new PM is Abu Mazen. Four Palestinian youth in Jerusalem consider the recent change in Palestinian leadership and the effect -- if any -- it will have on their lives. [transcript]

Broadcast: Sep 11 2003 on NPR Day to Day Subjects: Politics, International, Public Affairs

Lewis & Clark: Nez Perce Bones- Horace Axtell 3:30 Barrett Golding

Nez Perce elder and spiritual leader Horace Axtell, from Lewiston, Idaho, talks about water, a way of life, weddings, re-burials and language. [transcript]

Broadcast: Sep 5 2003 on NPR Living on EarthSeries: Lewis & Clark Trail: 200 Years Later Subjects: Environment, Spoken Word, Historical, Native

Wu Man, Master of the Pipa 5:14 Dmae Roberts

Musician Wu Man plays an instrument that is 2000 years old and is often compared to the lute. She is credited for bringing the sound of the pipa to American audiences, but often, she doesn’t play traditional music. On her current nationwide tour, she performs works by contemporary composers like Philip Glass and Tan Dun. [transcript]

Broadcast: Sep 4 2003 on KQED Pacific Time Subjects: International, Classical, Music

South African street sign, intersetcion of Princess Magogo Steeet and King Dinuzulu Highway

Speaking in Clicks 3:25 Larry Massett

How to use the Zulu click language in embarrassing social situations. [transcript]

Broadcast: Aug 29 2003 on PRI/MPR Savvy Traveler Subjects: Spoken Word, Travel, International

The Kiss and the Dying 7:45 Ceil Muller

His mouth might have been the most antiseptic place in that hospital. Certainly it was the most welcoming. Greedily reaching out for every possible life giving experience he could get. Death was not without pride, it just was greedy." An etiquette list for those who may be dying soon, and for the soon-to-be survivors. (Photo by Man Ray.) [transcript]

Broadcast: Aug 23 2003 on NPR All Things Considered Subjects: Health, Family