PodcastDirectory.com's listings of the Mad About Town Podcasts

Review: 'Stitches' Offers a Unique Take on a Troubled Childhood

Tom Nissley holds a Ph.D. in American Literature from the University of Washington. He's now the Senior Editor for Amazon Books, and he hosts a book discussion podcast called Omnivoracious. Tom knows all the books that make the bestseller's lists, but he notices that some of his favorites often get overlooked. Today, he reviews a book that didn't top the charts, but it's worth seeking out. Tom says it changed the way he thinks about his childhood and the way his own kids see the world. Tom ...

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Susan Scott manages and buys for the bookstore The Secret Garden in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood. The store specializes in children's books, so Susan's heard a lot about children's movies as well. And she watched all kinds of movies with her two kids while they grew up. But few of them come from the category of 'children's movies.' She told KUOW's Jeannie Yandel about three of her family's favorite films.

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A dance outing in Seattle can range from full length story ballets to modern performances with little or no narrative. But the role of storytelling in dance can spark debates among dance lovers. Seattle dance critic Alice Kaderlan was reminded of that when she had an encounter with a listener at a local performance. And Alice thinks the most important thing for a dance audience is to experience the performance without worrying about being "right." She told KUOW's Dave Beck about i ...

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Doughnuts are usually a guilty pleasure. But in the week before Ash Wednesday, they're part of the preparation for Lent. Luckily, you don't have to be religious to take part in the tradition. Tracy Schneider looked into Seattle's world of doughnuts for City Arts magazine. She told KUOW's Megan Sukys how Lent is connected to the arrival of doughnuts in America.

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"Smart Appliances" used to mean refrigerators that could surf the Internet. But soon, smart appliances will use technology to conserve energy. Glenn Fleishman is a freelance technology reporter. He joins KUOW's Megan Sukys with a look at the next generation of home appliances that are currently in development.

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Sometimes, the world is so overwhelming that we can't contain it with simple descriptions. That's when we turn to fiction to evoke experiences bigger than ourselves. Today, Seattle–based writer and librarian Nancy Pearl shares two books that employ fiction to tackle serious issues — one steeped in a troubled local history, and one with a lighter tone that conjures a whole new universe. Nancy Pearl talks with KUOW's Jeremy Richards.

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Smart phones let everyday people use the kind of technology that once only belonged to James Bond. But, if you want to have really private conversations, you'd be better off channeling The Jetsons. Glenn Fleishman is a freelance technology reporter. He tells KUOW's Megan Sukys when the online computer to computer communication of Skype could serve you better than a Blackberry.

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The Internet gives you the illusion that all information is at your fingertips. In fact, accessing information that is freely available from the government can get pretty expensive. Glenn Fleishman, a freelance technology reporter, talks about the fight going on behind the scenes to make free information truly free.

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There are online services that can shorten hyperlinks you shares with other people. It's convenient, until that service goes out of business and the miniature URLs are rendered useless. Glenn Fleishman is a freelance technology reporter. He joins Megan Sukys with a look at the shortcomings of URL shorteners.

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To imagine a place you've never been, you have to rely on the witness of other travelers. They might describe a place and time in history, or reveal an entire continent in a new light. Today, local author and librarian Nancy Pearl joins us with two books that offer a fresh perspective of popular topics — NASA's space training and traveling in Africa. Nancy Pearl talks with KUOW's Jeremy Richards.

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Most any technology service you buy has a contract. And, most likely, you didn't read it all that closely. Glenn Fleishman is a freelance technology reporter. And, he didn't read his contract for Comcast broadband phone. He talks with Megan Sukys about what he learned to do when it comes to technology contracts.

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Textbooks are one of the largest costs facing college students. But, they have not kept up with technology. While much of education has moved to digital form, textbooks are still mainly available in expensive, large print form. Glenn Fleishman talks about new ventures that may finally bring textbooks into the 21st century.

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Some people look at the moon and think about their dreams. Some people look at the moon and calculate how to land on its surface. Today, local author and librarian Nancy Pearl brings us two books about people following their passions, both domestic and celestial. Nancy Pearl talks with KUOW's Jeremy Richards.

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Every time you drive down Yesler Way or take a turn on Denny, you get a brief reminder of Seattle's founders. But you won't come across a "Suquardle Way" or a "Patkanim Avenue"; and yet, those are names of people who were also vital to Seattle's history. Dr. Lorraine McConaghy came across many forgotten people in her research for a new book called "Warship Under Sail: The USS Decatur in the Pacific West." Lorraine McConaghy talked with KUOW's Jeremy Richards. ...

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Walk into a bar, and you'll see rows of shelves displaying alcohol. Those shelves are called "the back bar". And, whether they are made from polished oak or steel cable, Dwayne Edwards hopes you'll notice them. He's a bar owner in Seattle. Dwayne co–founded the Balmar and runs Tini Bigs and Hula Hula. He believes the back bar can tell you a lot about the place you choose to drink. KUOW's Sarah Waller met with Dwayne at the Balmar in Ballard.

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Among classical music lovers, there are debates over the relative merits of period and modern instruments. Some say that Mozart must be played with the instruments he used two centuries ago. Others believe that modern instruments sound better. On the occasion of Mozart's 254th birthday today (January 27), KUOW's Dave Beck spoke with Seattle composer and music critic Gavin Borchert. Gavin says that in the hands of expert and sensitive Seattle performers, two new recordings prove that Mozart' ...

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What happens to our loved ones after death will always be a mystery. But Tacoma–based author Ann Putnam believes we can catch a glimpse of the afterlife by holding on to important memories. She reflects on the death of her parents in her memoir, "Full Moon at Noontide: A Daughter's Last Goodbye." Ann Putnam tells KUOW's Jeremy Richards that a priest introduced her to the idea of liminal space — the threshold between life and death.

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The Cascades are not as famous for skiing as Olympic venues around Vancouver, BC. But, the nearby slopes do offer a chance for people to experience unique snow challenges and get closer to the mountains that dominate our skyline. Travel writer Crai Bower recommends trying out some of the smaller ski resorts this winter. He told KUOW's Dave Beck that one current Olympian started at one particularly quaint ski resort.

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Hot and sour soup is a Chinese restaurant staple. It often features wood ear mushrooms and tofu in a broth with spices and vinegar. Seattle food writer Jess Thomson used to think it looked like a cup of dirty dishwater. Then, she tried it for the first time a little over a year ago and now makes it frequently at home. She has both a traditional and a vegetarian approach. KUOW's Megan Sukys joined Jess at Pike Place Chinese Cuisine to find out what made her change her mind.

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Adam Eisenberg is a commissioner of Seattle Municipal Court. Part of his job is to talk with police officers and review their criminal reports. And he's never differentiated between male and female officers, but a conversation with a female officer got him thinking about women's experiences in the Seattle Police Department. That led him to talk with 50 women about being Seattle Police Department officers for his book, "A Different Shade Of Blue: How Women Changed The Face Of Police Wor ...

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