Best Martha Burk Center For Advancement Of Public Policy Podcasts (2024)

1
A New Year's Trip Around the World 3:01

5h ago3:01

3:01

This week rings in a brand new year. Will you whoop it up with a wee bit too much champagne, or be a good kid and celebrate at church? Chances are you won’t stray far from U.S. tradition – fireworks, the countdown, popping bubbly, or lighting a candle for good luck. Take a tour around the globe to see how other countries mark the changing of the ca…

1
Christmas Around the World: A Variety of Old and New Traditions 3:00

3h ago3:00

3:00

December is a time for celebrations, including the eight days of Hanukkah, the Jewish festival of lights, and Kwanzaa. While Americans usually shop till they drop and exchange gifts , traditions around the world, old and new, bring a different twist to the season.

1
Holiday Rules for Getting Rich 2:31

22h ago2:31

2:31

The last of the turkey has gone to hash, and Black Friday's behind us. Consumers are snapping up the latest gee-whiz gadgets, cheesy clothing, and mountains of plastic soon-to-be-junk from toy stores. Call a halt -- and start a new tradition.

1
Holiday Help: Here's One You Definitely Don't Want to Miss 2:30

21d ago2:30

2:30

Times are tough all over, but some people are more deserving than others. Here's one that's really in a bind -- and it's someone you may know about, but if not a big surprise. Open your heart and pocketbook.

1
Goodbye Joe - You've Got One Chance to Go Out a Hero 3:00

28d ago3:00

3:00

In less than two months Joe Biden leaves the presidential stage for good. He could go out a hero for the majority of the population with a stroke of the pen and make history in the bargain. Will he do it?By Martha Burk, KSFR Public Radio

1
Turkeys, Taxes, Elon, George, and Jeff 3:01

1M ago3:01

3:01

Thanksgiving is here, and once again food banks will be helping the poor with the meagerist of meals. Some of our tax money also helps out with food stamps. But there's a surprise hidden in the rules.

1
Beware the Ides of November 3:00

1M ago3:00

3:00

November has been the month for politics in the US since 1845, when Congress passed a federal law designating the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November as Election Day. But maybe there’s something mystic (or sinister) about the politics of November, judging from notable political events going WAY before 1845.…

1
Veterans Day -- Some Soldiers You Don't Know About 3:00

2M ago3:00

3:00

The Civil War was hard fought on both sides. But some of the combatants were special -- in a way you wouldn't guess.

1
It's Crunch Time -- Candidates in Their Own Words 2:30

2M ago2:30

2:30

We've been inundated with words, words, and more words for months from Trump and Harris. Whose the most convincing? You decide -- your future depends on it.

1
Halloween History: From Creepy Crawlers to Trick or Treaters 3:01

2M ago3:01

3:01

It’s almost Halloween, when the creepy crawlers come out, along with ghosts, goblins, candy, tricks and treats. Did it really start as a pagan ritual? Yes and No.

1
Project 2025 -- What's in it for YOU? 3:01

2M ago3:01

3:01

Unless you live in a cave or under a rock, you’ve no doubt heard of Project 2025, a conservative manifesto from the Heritage Foundation outlining an ambitious agenda for a second Trump administration. Trump claims he never heard of it, even though many of its authors came straight out of his administration when he was Prez. It’s got something for e…

1
It's Columbus Day -- But 'Ol Chris Didn't "Discover America" 2:45

3M ago2:45

2:45

The U.S. has been celebrating Columbus Day since 1792, after the explorer who sailed from Spain in 1492 and supposedly "discovered America." But he never actually touched land in what is now the United States, landing in Cuba and Hispaniola, mistaking them for China and Japan.

1
Hispanic Heritage in the U.S. -- Stuff You Didn't Know 3:00

3M ago3:00

3:00

Hispanics are being demonized and terrorized by grandstanding candidates looking to stir up trouble. But their contribution to U.S. history is robust . (And by the way, we stole Texas from Mexico).

1
Relax Girls -- The Great Protector is With You 3:00

3M ago3:00

3:00

Women no longer have to worry about reproductive freedom -- or anything else. The problems have been solved and females are now protected.

1
School's In -- With Some (Really ?) Important Topics for Kids 3:01

3M ago3:01

3:01

It’s September, and school’s in in most of the U.S. Readin’, writin’ and ‘rithmetic as usual, but in some places a new topic will be added to the curriculum: the Bible, with all its gore and mayhem. Parents -- even some Christian ones -- are pushing back.

1
A New Wave of Abortion Supporters: Men in Red States 3:01

4M ago3:01

3:01

Abortion access has always been viewed as a woman’s problem. Men rarely talked about it, and it didn’t seem high on their political priorities. Not any more – since Trump proudly took credit for overturning Roe v. Wade with his anti-woman, anti-choice Supreme Court picks, men are paying attention – particularly in red states with the most restricti…

1
Debate or Debacle? 2:45

4M ago2:45

2:45

The first (and probably only) Prez candidate debate is this week. Will both parties go by the rules? More importantly, will we learn anything we don't already know?

1
Labor Day: So-called Good Guy Companies Quietly Union Busting 3:01

4M ago3:01

3:01

Labor Day became a national holiday in 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed a law making the first Monday in September a day off for workers. Labor unions had campaigned for years to gain recognition of both the contributions and the mistreatment of workers. History is littered dirty tricks to keep unions out with bullets and billy clubs. N…

1
Women's Equality Day? Not Yet 2:30

4M ago2:30

2:30

Women have made steady gains in many areas since they got the right to vote in August of 1920, but there is still work to do. When elected officials refuse to back pro-woman policies, today's females should borrow a page from the suffragists and use their votes to hold them accountable.

1
Equal Time with Martha Burk Women Paying a Well Hidden Tax 2:31

4M ago2:31

2:31

We all know about taxes – income taxes, property taxes, sales taxes, use taxes, entertainment taxes – it seems like the list is endless. But there’s one tax that’s a new one on me, even though I’ve been paying it for most of my life. If you’re a female, chances are you’ve been paying it too.

1
Kids Are Back in School: The Good, Bad and Illegal 3:00

4M ago3:00

3:00

School varies by state and even towns and districts. Some kids get what they need, others get less or nothing -- what gives?

1
Choose Carefully -- You Could Be Voting for the Next Two Prezes 3:00

5M ago3:00

3:00

Most people think Vice Presidents don't matter -- just window dressing for low level events. But history shows they could become number one at any minute: Let's look at the best & the worst.

1
A New Kind of Sports Bra -- For You Too Guys 3:01

5M ago3:01

3:01

Sports on TV has long been guy heavy. But a new kind of sports bra for both genders may just be the uplift the fans need.

1
Prosecutor vs. Perp -- You Decide 3:01

5M ago3:01

3:01

Presidential history was made when President Biden gracefully ended his candidacy for a second term. He put country over self and very possibly saved our democracy. The crowds are loving his prosecutor replacement. His convicted felon opponent is less than thrilled.

1
July marks a milestone you’ve may never have thought about, and it ain’t pretty. 3:01

5M ago3:01

3:01

Besides record heat and fireworks on the 4th, July is known for something else: Black Women’s Equal Pay Day. The day in 2024 when Black women’s wages caught up to what white men made by the end 2023: one hundred and ninety one extra days work, to be exact.By Martha Burk, PH.D.

1
Equal Time with Martha Burk It Shoulda Been a Giant Step for Womankind Too 2:31

6M ago2:31

2:31

When the U.S. space program was launched, women were tested for astronaut duty -- and passed. But male astronauts candidates and NASA big-wigs objected, and the women's program was shut down. So we literally put a man on the moon. That giant step should have been for womankind too.

1
The Republican Convention: Women in the Platform Crosshairs 3:00

6M ago3:00

3:00

Political conventions always lay out a party's vision for the future if their folks get in power. This year's Republican plan is a doozy for the majority of voters: women.By Martha Burk, Ph.D.

1
A Perfect Solution to Biden's Dropout Dilemma 3:01

6M ago3:01

3:01

After President Biden's recent meltdown during a debate with Donald Trump, various factions are calling for him to drop out of the presidential race. He says no -- here's a great solution.

1
July 4, 1776: A Surprise Signer Lost to History 3:01

6M ago3:01

3:01

If you remember your junior high history lessons, you know that the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776, famously declaring that “all men are created equal.” All of the signers were male. Nevertheless, a woman’s name appeared on the official document.

1
An Anniversary You Don't Want to Celebrate 3:01

6M ago3:01

3:01

June 24th marks the anniversary of the infamous Dobbs Supreme Court decision, trashing women’s right to abortion guaranteed since Roe v. Wade in 1973. Let's inventory the damage to women’s rights, emboldening states to jump on the anti-woman, anti-abortion, anti-choice bandwagon.

1
Are You a Kid at Heart of Ever Been One? Pick Your Prez. 3:01

7M ago3:01

3:01

The New York Times Kid Section recently showcased the candidates' answers to kid friendly questions. Listen to their direct quotes and pick your leader for the next four years.

1
Father's Day Ain't What it Used to Be 3:00

7M ago3:00

3:00

Back in the day Mom stayed home with kids, housework, and runny noses. Dad went to work, plopped down in the evening with the newspaper or TV and did little else. No more -- it's a new world out there for fathers.

1
The D-Day Stowaway: 150,000 Sailors and One Surprise 2:31

7M ago2:31

2:31

June 6 marks the anniversary of D-Day, the day in 1944 when Allied forces in World War II invaded France from offshore. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history. Thousands never made it out of the water, making the landing on Normandy one of the deadliest days of the war. In an all-out push, 150,000 sailors – and one stowaway -- hit the beac…

1
Memorial Day: Not What You Were Taught in School 3:01

7M ago3:01

3:01

Official history says the first Memorial Day celebration was held in Arlington National Cemetery on May 30, 1868, where Union and Confederate soldiers from the Civil war are buried. Nope. The earliest ceremony was years earlier, and the participants not the people you learned about in school.

1
Learn Something New: It's Asian American Pacific Islander Month 3:01

7M ago3:01

3:01

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Month, was designated in 1992 by President George H. W. Bush to pay tribute to immigrants who enriched America's progress -- but only after a century of persecution.

1
A New Corporate Dirty Trick to Pick Your Pocketbook 3:00

8M ago3:00

3:00

We all have to buy groceries, household goods, and a fair amount of fast food. But are we getting what we pay for, or a hidden swindle?

1
Who Invented Mother's Day? Not Hallmark or the Florist Society 3:01

8M ago3:01

3:01

Most people think Mother's Day is just a day for mom to get gifts and thanks. But it has a far more serious and important origin and history.

1
Live Anywhere You Want? A Black/White Duo Made it Happen 3:01

8M ago3:01

3:01

If you were born before 1968, it was legal and normal to deny folks housing based on skin color or heritage. Enter two guys – one white, one black – who changed all that.

1
A New Lifeline for Students -- Maybe 3:00

8M ago3:00

3:00

College is now ridiculously expensive and students are in hock up to their eyebrows. President Biden wants to help -- but the Supremes have stopped him once. Rerun or success?By Martha Burk

1
Tax Day: Who Gets the Gold Mine, Who Gets the Shaft? 3:00

9M ago3:00

3:00

Taxes are necessary for a civilized society, and most ordinary people pay their fair share. But there's one group that pays nothing at all, while rewarding their benefactors handsomely.

1
Solar Eclipse - Good Luck or Bad Omen? It depends. 2:31

9M ago2:31

2:31

Wake up and view the solar eclipse, last one 'til 2044. If you think really has no significance except crazy superstition, think again. Ancient voices from the past tell us it was a battle of the sexes.

1
April Fools Day -- Who Takes the Grand Prize? 3:00

9M ago3:00

3:00

Okaay, April Fools Day is upon us, so let's have a little fun and nominate some of your national leaders for the biggest fool prize, and of course pick a winner. And the nominees are . . .

1
From Paper Bags to Circular Saws -- Who Thunk 'Em Up? 3:01

9M ago3:01

3:01

The old saying "necessity is the mother of invention" may be true, but it leaves out an important component -- the real "mothers" and "aunts" and "sisters" and even "wives" of invention.

1
Women’s History Month: Let's Ditch This Bit of Unfair History 3:01

10M ago3:01

3:01

It’s Women’s History month, and the feds are banning government agencies from using salary history to set the pay of new hires. We need it for the private sector too.

1
Rematch: Will the Biggest Loser Win Again? 3:00

10M ago3:00

3:00

Trump was President from 2016 To 2020, but he’s never won an election. He lost the nationwide popular vote in 2016, but still made it to the White House, due to a ridiculous voting system that ought to be abolished – the electoral college.

1
The Oscars and Upon Us: Who Are the Bigtime Losers? 2:31

10M ago2:31

2:31

Females are without question the stars of Hollywood costume design, raking in Oscars in numbers that far outstrip the men. They get lots of well deserved recognition for what they do. Except in one very important category . . .

1
Without This Brave Woman, We May Never Have Heard of MLK Jr. 3:01

10M ago3:01

3:01

It started with one thin dime, and a bus ride in Montgomery, Alabama in 1955. City busses were segregated back then – whites in the front, Blacks in the back. On that fateful day, an African American woman named Rosa Parks paid her 10c fare, and took a seat in the Black section.

1
President's Day -- Guess Who's Never Been Honored 3:01

11M ago3:01

3:01

In 1971, Congress created President's Day, to fall yearly between the birthdays of Washington and Lincoln on the 3rd Monday in February. Many have aspired to the office, but a significant group has never made it.

1
Want to Know the Truth About Valentine's Day? Me Too. 3:00

11M ago3:00

3:00

I thought it would be simple. Just google Valentine’s Day and learn all about it – when and where it started and modern ways it’s celebrated around the world. Well, it worked – sort of. Seems there’s disagreement, disinformation, fantasy and frolic when it comes to researching the day of sweethearts.…

1
February became Black History Month in 1976. It was about time. 3:00

11M ago3:00

3:00

February is Black History Month, officially recognized by President Gerald Ford in 1976. It was about time. The 1960s had seen crucial economic gains for African Americans, even as the Black Freedom struggle faced assassinations and government suppression.

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