Best Letters From The Atlantic Podcasts (2024)

1
Chocolate, Avocado Eggs and the Canary Islands 5:19

11d ago5:19

5:19

The Spanish love their chocolate. Pastries are dipped into it, biscuits are coated with it, churros are drowned in it and anything else is sprinkled with it. Chocolate is everywhere in Spain, which is not surprising, because it was the Spanish who discovered and gave birth to modern chocolate. © Barrie Mahoney 2024 To find out more about Barrie, hi…

1
In Conversation: Understanding Biodiversity as a Political Project" 1:03

13h ago1:03

1:03

Dr. Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Dr. Annette LaRocco, an associate professor in FAU’s Department of Political Science. In this upcoming episode, Dr. LaRocco discusses several topics, including conservation politics, how studying abroad helped shape her career, and her new book, The Nature of Politics: State Building and the Conserv…

1
In Conversation: "Rhapsody in Code: Rhapsody in Blue at 100 30:55

13d ago30:55

30:55

Dr. Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Dr. Kyle Prescott, a Professor of Music and a Conductor at Florida Atlantic University. In this upcoming episode, Dr. Prescott talks about his recent experience conducting the iconic Rhapsody in Blue, a 100-Year Tribute to Gershwin's American classic at the Festival of Arts Boca. Dr. Kyle Prescott h…

1
Chickpeas or Coco Pops for Breakfast? 5:01

2M ago5:01

5:01

I was interested to see that the thorny issue of chickpeas has featured quite heavily in the press recently. An article by a Spanish food blogger featured a picture of her son, alongside the claim that her son doesn’t know what a biscuit is, which led to an interesting spat. Apparently, the boy starts his day with a bowl of chickpeas rather than co…

1
Pursuing Racial Justice in 19th Century America: The Story of John Albion Andrew 33:26

3M ago33:26

33:26

Dr. Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Dr. Stephen Engle, an award-winning history professor with over 32 years of experience in teaching and writing about nineteenth-century America. This episode of In Conversation delves into Dr. Engle's new book, In Pursuit of Justice: The Life of John Albion Andrew. Stephen and Dr. Horswell discuss J…

1
Pursuing Racial Justice in 19th Century America: The Story of John Albion Andrew 0:56

3M ago0:56

0:56

Dr. Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Dr. Stephen Engle, an award-winning history professor with over 32 years of experience in teaching and writing about nineteenth-century America. This episode of In Conversation delves into Dr. Engle's new book, In Pursuit of Justice: The Life of John Albion Andrew. Stephen and Dr. Horswell discuss J…

1
Calima; Gone With the Wind 5:16

4M ago5:16

5:16

The Canary Islands are often regarded as having the “best climate in the world”, but we are not immune from the devastating effects of calimas. The intensity of heat on the islands increases respiratory problems and allergies, as well as general oral health. The tiny particles of dust generated irritates the mucous membranes, which can have serious…

1
Bed and Breakfast, but No Roof 5:32

4M ago5:32

5:32

I was intrigued to hear about one innovative offering from Airbnb on the deliciously unconventional Spanish island of Ibiza. Since accommodation on the island is in short supply, and prices have increased to unrealistic levels, some locals are offering a bunk bed on their balconies for just 50 euros a night. One such ‘hostel’ offers up to nine bunk…

1
Between Bronze and Oblivion: Heroism and Afro-descendants in Colombia, Brazil and Cuba Share Episode Stats 31:17

4M ago31:17

31:17

Dr. Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Dr. María Alejandra Aguilar Dornelles, an associate professor of Spanish at Florida Atlantic University. In this episode of In Conversation, Alejandra and Dean Horswell discuss her book, Between Bronze and Oblivion: Heroism and African descent in Colombia, Brazil and Cuba. They explore the unsung he…

1
Anyone for a Timple? 5:13

4M ago5:13

5:13

“How about a timple?” I was asked by an earnest assistant in one of the traditional music shops in Las Palmas. I had just called in for a replacement violin string, and was looking at the range of Canarian traditional stringed instruments for sale. I quickly realised that I was not being offered an early morning alcoholic drink, and that the young …

1
Between Bronze and Oblivion: Heroism and Afro-descendants in Colombia, Brazil and Cuba 1:14

4M ago1:14

1:14

Dr. Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Dr. María Alejandra Aguilar Dornelles, an associate professor of Spanish at Florida Atlantic University. In this episode of In Conversation, Alejandra and Dean Horswell discuss her book, Between Bronze and Oblivion: Heroism and African descent in Colombia, Brazil and Cuba. They explore the unsung he…

1
A Little More Than Amnesia 5:04

5M ago5:04

5:04

I guess most people have heard of Indonesia and maybe Polynesia, but what about Macaronesia and, indeed, Micronesia? How about visiting Macaronesia one day? No, this is not a new name for France invented by the ambitious President Macron, but a cluster of four archipelagos in the North Atlantic Ocean, just off the continents of Africa and Europe, w…

1
What Languages Do the Subalterns Speak? Comparing Coloniality’s Unexpected Sites and Sights 44:16

5M ago44:16

44:16

Dr. Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Dr. Bogdan Ștefănescu, a professor of English, a literary translator, a journalist, and a cultural diplomat. He has taught at the University of Bucharest since the fall of communism in Romania, in 1990. Ștefănescu is a professor of English, which for him has always meant a language of freedom, as op…

1
What Are the British Well Known For? 5:44

5M ago5:44

5:44

The British used to be well known across the world for Shakespeare, Princess Diana and cricket. We like to be known for our infamous ‘stiff upper lips’, sense of fair play, tolerance and justice. Many, mostly older people, still like to revel in the days of Empire and the ‘enlightenment’ that it brought to the world, whilst conveniently forgetting …

1
Wells are for Life and Not to Hide Corpses 5:12

5M ago5:12

5:12

Many people do not realise that the Spanish Civil War of 1936 actually began in the Canary Islands. Francisco Franco was General Commandant of the Canary Islands, who was based in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. It was here that Franco plotted his strategy, well away from the rest of Spain, before he headed to the Spanish Peninsular. It was under his w…

1
The Cold and Cruel Sea 5:27

7M ago5:27

5:27

It is true that less tourists return home alive than have set off for their holiday in the Canary Islands. This disturbing fact is not one that the tourist industry will thank me for highlighting, but it is time that the stark facts are raised once again and that holidaymakers are alerted to the potential risks of a holiday in the Canary Islands, a…

1
Chemistry and the Emergence of Life, with Marina Banchetti, Ph.D. 29:13

7M ago29:13

29:13

Dr. Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Marina Banchetti, Ph.D., a professor of philosophy in FAU’s Department of Philosophy. They discuss Dr. Banchetti's expertise in the philosophy of science and how humans' perception of nature and the universe has evolved over time. We invite you to join us as we take an in-depth look at the science a…

1
Chemistry and the Emergence of Life, with Marina Banchetti, Ph.D. 0:54

7M ago0:54

0:54

Dr. Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Marina Banchetti, Ph.D., a professor of philosophy in FAU’s Department of Philosophy. They discuss Dr. Banchetti's expertise in the philosophy of science and how humans' perception of nature and the universe has evolved over time. We invite you to join us as we take an in-depth look at the science a…

1
The Work-Life Balance 6:33

8M ago6:33

6:33

Getting the work-life balance right is not easy for many people, and for many juggling with earning enough to pay the rent or mortgage, food and other bills, there is often very little choice in the amount of free time available. Time to spend with families and friends is important, and I often admire the Spanish tradition of putting family life fi…

1
Travel Journalism's Aspirational Practices and Products with Ivy Ashe, Ph.D 23:04

8M ago23:04

23:04

Dean Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Ivy Ashe, Ph.D., an assistant professor of multimedia journalism at FAU’s School of Communication and Multimedia Studies. They discuss the mystique of an often overlooked yet fascinating discipline of journalism: travel journalism. We invite you to join us as we journey to exotic destinations and e…

1
Upcoming: Travel Journalism's Aspirational Practices and Products with Ivy Ashe, Ph.D 1:09

8M ago1:09

1:09

Dean Michael Horswell engages in conversation with Ivy Ashe, Ph.D., an assistant professor of multimedia journalism at FAU’s School of Communication and Multimedia Studies. They discuss the mystique of an often overlooked yet fascinating discipline of journalism: travel journalism. We invite you to join us as we journey to exotic destinations and e…

1
Superstition 8:16

8M ago8:16

8:16

Here we go again, another Friday 13th. I really am fed up with reading what all the doom mongers have to say about the likelihood of disaster on this ‘unlucky’ day. It reminds me of an event a few weeks ago when a weird religious sect that takes the Book of Revelations literally, busily promoted the idea that the world was about to end on 21 Septem…

1
The Stinky Tree 4:37

9M ago4:37

4:37

It is often fascinating to discover some of the remedies and answers to problems that can be found by looking at the past. If we look carefully, we often find answers to many present-day problems, and how our ancestors dealt with the inconveniences of life. I discovered this recently when looking at a tree on the small island of El Hierro... © Barr…

1
Living in Caves 5:55

9M ago5:55

5:55

“Top 20 Caves to Rent in the Canary Islands” screams one advertisement, followed by “Hundreds of Cave Homes to Buy in the Canary Islands” shouts another. Well, I guess it all makes good copy, but is living in a cave just another symptom of ‘reverse one-upmanship’, and something to brag about to colleagues at work? “Oh, I’m just off to the cave for …

1
Life Is Too Short To Stuff a Mushroom 5:35

10M ago5:35

5:35

I often think of that throwaway and impatient comment by the author, Shirley Conran, that “life’s too short to stuff a mushroom”. It is a quote that often occurs to me when I am confused, bewildered or reach a dead end in an argument that I am having with myself. I had one of these ‘mushroom moments’ a few days ago. © Barrie Mahoney 2023 Join me on…

1
I’m Just Having a Tertulia 4:42

10M ago4:42

4:42

One of my favourite cafe bars is called ‘La Tertulia’. It is not a particularly grand establishment and is completely unlike any of those overpriced and often pretentious coffee shops that are springing up in city centres all over the UK. Our ‘Tertulia’ is a friendly and welcoming safe space where good coffee and delicious snacks are served at a fa…

1
El Hierro, Sailors and the Virgin 5:28

10M ago5:28

5:28

One of my favourite Canary Islands is the Island of El Hierro. Despite being the smallest of the islands in physical size, it is an island crammed with natural wonders, such as sea cliffs, lush forests and volcanic features to admire. Each of the Canary Islands is different, and El Hierro has become particularly special, and famous in environmental…

1
Bhante Saranapala on Kindness 50:36

11M ago50:36

50:36

What does wisdom have to do with kindness? This podcast features words of wisdom form Bhante Saranapala, also known as The Urban Buddhist Monk. An International Monk, Teacher, and Speaker, Bhante is the Founder and President of Canada: A Mindful and Kind Nation, he teaches loving-kindness meditation and offers private consultation and public speaki…

1
Getting Tough on Builders 4:09

11M ago4:09

4:09

Since the World economic recession in 2008, and many would say long before that, builders and developers have been accused of holding onto land that has been agreed for development purposes in the hope that eventually it will increase in value. At that time, and only when the price of land and property shows a significant mark up, will building wor…

1
Britain's Wartime Plan to Invade the Canary Islands 4:58

11M ago4:58

4:58

The British have always loved the Canary Islands, but sometimes for the wrong reasons. A brief wander around Las Palmas will reveal British businessmen honoured in the names of some of its streets, a thriving fruit and vegetable export business originally started by the British, and even a traditional British church for the early businessmen to wor…

1
The Domino Effect 4:05

12M ago4:05

4:05

During the years that we have lived in the Canary Islands and the Costa Blanca, I often see groups of elderly men sitting together on the pavement, outside a cafe bar, playing dominoes. In most cases, this is not a genteel game played in silence, but quite an energetic activity that involves a lot of shouting and waving of arms. There is one partic…

1
The All Inclusive Wristband 5:06

12M ago5:06

5:06

Recent news articles about asylum seekers in Cardiff being forced to wear brightly coloured wristbands in order to claim their meals each day rightly drew both amazement and disgust from many decent people in the UK. This news broke within a few days of the ‘Middlesbrough red door’ controversy, whereby the homes of asylum seekers were targeted beca…

1
The Sands of Time 5:31

1y ago5:31

5:31

Most of us take sand for granted. Many of us hope that when we go on holiday, we will be able to enjoy a clean beach, with lots of golden sand. If we have deeper pockets, maybe we can head to one of those picture postcard Caribbean resorts offering white sand, or possibly somewhere even closer to home. I know of several beautiful, white sandy beach…

1
Shifting Sand 6:07

1y ago6:07

6:07

I’m all for a beautiful white, sandy beach; after all, it is the stuff of postcards, and the kind of image that one dreams about during those cold, wet and rainy days in the UK. I now live in a Gran Canarian village that can only offer black sand on its small, secluded beach. We live on a small volcanic island and the geology of the area dictates t…

1
The World Cradle of Rum 5:04

1y ago5:04

5:04

It is often forgotten that when you speak about rum, you are talking about the Canary Islands; the two are intertwined. Many rum connoisseurs describe the Canary Islands as the ‘World Cradle of Rum’, where this beautiful spirit is made by combining a centuries old tradition with the superb quality of locally produced raw materials. White rum, banan…

1
Getting to Know a Lizard 4:17

1y ago4:17

4:17

I am not an expert on lizards, so I am unsure as to what species Clemmy is, but these islands are home to some of the most impressive lizards on the planet. It is interesting to know that most of the Canary Islands have their own indigenous species and may best be regarded as a lizard paradise. The islands of Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La P…

1
Living in a Hayloft or Pod 7:00

1y ago7:00

7:00

The severe social and economic consequences of failing to provide sufficient housing for increasing populations is at last beginning to dawn upon national and local politicians in many countries although, as usual, UK politicians are slow to respond to the crisis. For far too long, governments of all political shades have ignored the issue of provi…

1
In defence of Red Wine 6:29

1y ago6:29

6:29

I confess to having a bit of a weakness for red wine. At UK prices the temptation was never quite as strong, but for me this has been one of the real benefits of moving to Spain in general and Gran Canaria in particular. A plentiful supply of good wine - almost on tap - most of which are remarkably drinkable and exceptionally good value just warms …

1
Just Nuts About Almonds 4:20

1y ago4:20

4:20

The Canary Islands were the crossroads between Europe and the Americas for many years. As a result, the islands can boast a rich and varied cuisine, offering a unique blend of flavours that is influenced by Africa, Europe and America. Without going into too much detail here, there is accumulating genetic evidence which suggests that much of the mat…

1
How Drawing Sustains Our Humanity with Professor Amy Broderick 19:11

1y ago19:11

19:11

Associate Dean Barclay Barrios fills in for regular host Dean Michael Horswell, and engages In Conversation with Amy Broderick, MFA, Associate Professor of Drawing and Painting in FAU's Department of Visual Arts and Art History. Professor Broderick's creative practice encompasses artmaking, art writing, teaching and mentorship. In her studio work, …

1
A Traitor in Paradise 6:27

1y ago6:27

6:27

Some time ago, I visited a memorial sculpture to ten sincere and brave men, which was a very moving experience. These were ten Canarian men who were tortured and put to death for their beliefs during the Spanish Civil War. These ten men defied Franco’s fascist government and were put to death by being tied in sacks filled with heavy rocks and tosse…

1
Single, Married or Divorced? 4:36

1y ago4:36

4:36

Divorce is the most stressful experience that most people will ever encounter. Over the years, studies have shown that the stress of divorce, together with resulting implications for any children from the marriage, property and finance, compromises the immune system and puts anyone dissolving a marriage at risk of illness and disease. © Barrie Maho…

1
Termite Teror in Tenerife 4:14

1y ago4:14

4:14

These invaders from the USA (Reticulitermes Flavipipes) were first reported in Tenerife in 2010. Commonly described as “an efficient and economic wood destroying insect” in the United States. These pests feed on all kinds of cellulose material, such as the wood used in buildings, paper, books and cotton. There can be as many as 20,000 to 5 million …

1
Whistle While We Work 4:24

1+ y ago4:24

4:24

I am often asked which of the eight inhabited Canary Islands I like best of all. I can never answer the question, because each island is different and beautiful in its own unique way. I make a point of visiting each of the islands over the year. I love them all; each have their own unique character, culture and traditions. Let me give just one exam…

1
It Began With A Dream 5:08

1+ y ago5:08

5:08

“It began with a dream…” was the opening sentence in the first chapter of my first book, which told the story of how my partner, David, and I found ourselves living and working in the Costa Blanca and the Canary Islands after careers as teachers in the UK. Like so many before us, we needed a change of pace and lifestyle and some sunshine; Spain was…

1
A Cat and Dog Story 5:35

1+ y ago5:35

5:35

I have always been of the opinion that we are born as either golfers or dog walkers. Sorry, I can already hear some of you complaining, “But I play golf and I have a dog!” Well, maybe, but perhaps one takes clear precedence over the other? Personally, I am a dog walker and not a golfer. Maybe this is in much the same way that most people tend to pr…

1
Have You Checked Your DNA? 4:36

1+ y ago4:36

4:36

New DNA technology has enabled anthropologists to further investigate the origins of the original inhabitants of the Canary Islands. This archipelago, which is made up of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, Lanzarote, La Palma, La Gomera, El Hierro and La Graciosa, is located off the north western coast of Africa, midway between Morocco and West…

1
A Playground for the Wrinklies 5:26

1+ y ago5:26

5:26

Since arriving in Gran Canaria, I have been fascinated and impressed by the politics of the small municipality of Aguimes, of which Arinaga is part. Locals tell me that, in the time of General Franco, Aguimes was one of the few municipalities in the islands to put two fingers up to the fascist dictatorship in Madrid and continued with their fiestas…

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