Each week host Nancy Wiegman talks to local, regional and national writers about their latest projects. Nancy's Bookshelf airs on NSPR Fridays at 10 a.m.
Hosted by Tess Vigeland, veteran journalist and former anchor for American Public Media’s “Marketplace,” “After Paradise” is dedicated to post-Camp Fire recovery information. Each weekday, Tess and the NSPR News Team will bring you the latest from government officials, rescue organizations, financial planners, trauma experts and local reporters.
On Shasta Serenade, host Barry Hazle mixes up an eclectic brew of Americana, blues, rockabilly, folk, bluegrass and timeless standards from his perch in Oak Run.
Blue Dot, named after Carl Sagan's famous speech about our place in the universe, features interviews with guests from all over the regional, national and worldwide scientific communities. Host Dave Schlom leads discussions about the issues science is helping us address with experts who shed light on climate change, space exploration, astronomy, technology and much more. Dave asks us to remember: from deep space, we all live on a pale, blue dot.
Natural disasters are increasing across the nation. In the West, these disasters often come in the form of wildfire, and perhaps no state understands the true cost of wildfire like California. The Golden State has always had forest fires, but they're progressively becoming harder to control and more deadly. At the same time, the state's population has surpassed 40 million, pushing people further into wild spaces that have been adapted to fire. California Burning takes a critical look at how ...
B
Blue Dot


1
Blue Dot 205: Climate Extremes: Texas Freeze And Urban Heat
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave investigates two very different but interrelated topics: the deep freeze that sent the power grid in Texas into near collapse and how our cities are disproportionately hot in summer due to the urban heat island effect. Both stories involve how the most vulnerable populations tend to take the brunt of climate change extremes. In Texas, dozens d…
From Kurt Koontz : Author Kurt Koontz freely admits that he is not wholly guided by his spirit when he first begins to dabble in yoga. An outdoor adventurer, he enjoys the challenging physicality of the exercise, which leads him to try several different types of yoga, seeking both fitness and female company.…
B
Blue Dot

1
Best Of Blue Dot: UNFOLD: A Conversation With Science Podcaster Amy Quinton
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave visits with fellow science communicator Amy Quinton. Amy and co-host Kat Kerlin are the creators of Unfold a science podcast featuring research from the University of California at Davis. The podcasts are thematic series on topics like food scarcity and climate change. Amy talks about her path from being a broadcast journalist to a science spe…
Cathy Parker wears many different hats: mother, author, wife and football benefactor. She penned 2019’s “Northern Lights: One Woman, Two Teams, and the Football Field That Changed Their Lives” to remind us about the importance of community during impossibe odds. Northern Lights is the true story of a football mom in Florida whose call to help a hig…
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 204: The Last Stargazers: A Conversation With Astronomer Emily Levesque
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Life long amateur astronomer Dave Schlom is joined by professional astronomer Emily Levesque to talk about her recently published book: The Last Stargazers: True Tales of The Colorful and Vanishing World of Observational Astronomy . A kind love letter to her fellow professionals, Emily takes us on a tour of some of the world's greatest observatorie…
N
Nancy's Bookshelf


1
Best Of Nancy's Bookshelf: Stories Of Love
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
In celebration of Valentine's Day, Nancy's Bookshelf digs into the archives and relives an episode filled with various community members stories about love. This week, join Nancy for these stories, plus humorist Eric Miller drops by to tell us how he needs help with Valentine's Day.By angelhuracha@gmail.com (ahuracha)
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 203: Apollo 14 Pt. 2 -- Commander Al Shepard And Mission Control
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
We continue our Apollo@50 special with part two of our look back at Apollo 14. In this episode we focus on the Commander and America's first astronaut in space, Alan B. Shepard. While he is no longer with us, we did get the perspective of one of his daughter's Julie Jenkins. Once again, "Apollo Kids" Amy Bean and Gwen Griffin reprise their guest ho…
N
Nancy's Bookshelf


1
Nancy's Bookshelf: Scott Huber, Gail D’Arcy, Richard Parker & Anthony Peyton Porter
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Chico City Councilman Scott Huber chats with Nancy's Bookshelf about the process of his first novel, a post-apocalyptic tale of a mutated virus sweeping the globe. After the Virus - A Surviralist's Journal details the grueling journey of survival expert Will Scott maneuvering his way outside of the quarantine zone.…
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 202: The Flight Of Apollo 14 Part 1
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
In the latest of Blue Dot's Apollo@50 series we look back at the third successful lunar landing mission, Apollo 14, which took place during early February of 1971 in the first of a two-part special. After the near disaster of Apollo 13, Apollo 14 was targeted for the same landing site -- the Fra Mauro Highlands as NASA began its shift toward the sc…
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 201: What's Killing Killer Whales?
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave talks to wildlife veterinarian Joe Gaydos from the Sea Doc Society (a research center on Orcas Island in the Salish Sea off the Washington Coast) and UC Davis along with NOAA marine wildlife biologist Dawn Noren as they examine the lives and deaths of one of the Earth's apex predators: Killer Whales. Both were part of a multi year study invest…
N
Nancy's Bookshelf


1
Best Of Nancy's Bookshelf: NPR's Eric Deggans
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Eric Deggans is NPR's first full-time TV critic. His work, "Race-Baiter: How the Media Wields Dangerous Words to Divide a Nation," explores how prejudice, racism, and sexism fuels some elements of modern media, was published in October 2012 by Palgrave Macmillan. A journalist for over two decades, Deggans spent time at the Tampa Bay Times in variou…
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 200: THE NEW CLIMATE WAR: A Conversation With Michael Mann
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave visits with one of the world's leading climate scientists, Dr. Michael Mann. The professor of atmospheric sciences at Penn State's just published book, The New Climate War documents how the fossil fuel industry political forces aligned with them have used a systematic program of disinformation and deflection to keep large scale policy changes …
Joan Ryan is an award-winning journalist and author. She was one of the very first female sports columnists in the country and has covered every major sporting event. Her accolades include thirteen Associated Press Sports Editors Awards, the National Headliner Award, and the Women's Sports Foundation's Journalism Award by the San Francisco chapter …
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 199: POETS In THE PARKS: A Conversation With Karla K. Morton And Alan Birkelbach
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave visits with two dear friends, both Poets Laureate of Texas: Karla K. Morton and Alan Birkelbach. When we last visited with the pair of traveling poets in 2018, they were about half way through their quest to visit every U.S. National Park. Beginning with Yellowstone and ending with their 62nd park, White Sands in New Mexico, karla and Alan doc…
N
Nancy's Bookshelf


1
Nancy's Bookshelf: Bonnie Pipkin & Larry M. Levin
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Author Bonnie Pipkin is celebrating the possibility of her novel Aftercare Instructions , heading to television. Originally from California, she has an MFA from Vermont College of Fine Arts, was a teacher of literature courses at Kean University, and officiates weddings. Aftercare Instructions is Bonnie’s first novel. Her novel takes place over the…
N
Nancy's Bookshelf


1
Nancy's Bookshelf: Best Of 2020 With Dan Barnett
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
This year has been a difficult one for many of us. The COVID-19 pandemic has upended our way of life. However, some things remain the same. Getting lost in another world, thanks to a book is one of them. As the year 2020 comes to a close, Nancy Wiegman and Chico Enterprise-Record Columnist Dan Barnett review this year’s selection of great books.…
Dr. Kim Bloomer is a certified animal naturopath consulting on canine and feline nutrition and wellness. She is the author of three books including Animals Taught Me That: Memoirs of My Life from Cradle to Present on the Life Lessons Learned Through the Animals Who've Graced It.By angelhuracha@gmail.com (ahuracha)
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 198: Dot Meets Oyster Cult! An Interview With Blue Oyster Cult Guitarist Richie Castellano
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Blue Oyster Cult guitarist, vocalist and co-producer Richie Castellano makes his second appearance on our show to talk about rock guitar effects and what it's like to use technology for live streaming concerts during a time of pandemic. Richie is joined by his father John, who is also an outstanding musician and it's no wonder -- New York City has …
Environmental historian Ann Vileisis is an award-winning author with three books that explore our human relationship with nature, food, and the environment through history. The author of Kitchen Literacy: How We Lost Knowledge of Where Food Comes From and Why We Need to Get It Back and Discovering the Unknown Landscape: A History of America's Wetla…
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 197: LUNAR OUTFITTERS: A Conversation With Space Suit Historian Bill Ayrey
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave once again delves into the Apollo Program 50 years ago with this in depth look at the iconic space suits that Neil Armstrong and his 11 fellow moonwalkers wore on the lunar surface. Bill Ayrey is tge author of the new book, Lunar Outfitters: Making The Apollo Spacesuit. Bill worked for decades as a test engineer during the Space Shuttle era fo…
Dr. Kathleen Gabriel is a native Chicoan and graduate of Chico State. She is currently an Associates Professor at the university and has authored various books and articles on underrepresented students. Gabriel carries a passion for history, her new book, Chico History: 1905-1971 Featuring the Bartlett Drug Company is her second publication on Chic…
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 196: Wildlife Veterinary Heroes: Drs. Jamie Peyton And Marcela Uhart
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave talks to two heroic veterinarians associated with UC Davis. First, Dr. Jamie Peyton shares her pioneering work on treating wildlife suffering from burns and other injuries associated with catastrophic wildfires. Peyton uses amazing techniques involving the use of fish skins to act as bandages for severely burned animals like bears and mountain…
Author Echo Heron is an award-winning, New York Times bestselling author. Born in Troy, New York, her work tackles many genres, including fiction, mysteries, and historical fiction. The author chats with Nancy's Bookshelf about her latest book, NOON AT TIFFANY'S an historical, biographical novel.By mafidler@csuchico.edu (Matt Fidler)
B
Blue Dot

1
Best Of Blue Dot: Possible Worlds -- An Interview With Ann Druyan
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave talks to one of his favorite people on the planet, Ann Druyan. As the wife of the late Carl Sagan, Ann has worked tirelessly since his passing in 1996 to foster and carry on his legacy. In 2014, Druyan teamed with Seth McFarlane to produce the sequel to Sagan's classic Cosmos: a Personal Voyage. Cosmos: a Spacetime Odyssey, received critical a…
N
Nancy's Bookshelf


1
Nancy's Bookshelf: Michelle Ott & Anthony Peyton Porter
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Artist Michelle Ott grew up in Minnesota and holds a Master of Fine Arts for UC Berkely. A team member at The Bookstore in Chico, Calif., she is also the artist and resident at the Gateway Science Museum . Ott creates Illustrations and handcut photographs that focus on the observations of our physical and social world. Her work has been shown natio…
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 195: UNRAVELING THE MYSTERIES OF THE MOON: Planetary Geologist Clive Neal
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave is joined by planetary geologist Clive Neal from the University of Notre Dame for a spirited conversation on the past, present and future exploration of The Moon. Clive is an expert on the geologic explorations of the Apollo program and a leading proponent for using the moon as an enabling resource for the long term exploration of the solar sy…
Flying Free is an exhilarating memoir about fear and the trials and tribulations that come with it. The story explores how Author Cecilia Aragon used math to overcome her fears to become a celebrated aerobatic champion. Today, she visits Nancy’s Bookshelf to share details on how she became the first Latina Pilot on the US Aerobatic Team. About Ceci…
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 194: UNFOLD: A Conversation With Science Podcaster Amy Quinton
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave visits with fellow science communicator Amy Quinton. Amy and co-host Kat Kerlin are the creators of Unfold a science podcast featuring research from the University of California at Davis. The podcasts are thematic series on topics like food scarcity and climate change. Amy talks about her path from being a broadcast journalist to a science spe…
N
Nancy's Bookshelf


1
Best Of Nancy's Bookshelf: Marianne Aleck
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
On a special Veterans' Day edition of Nancy's Bookshelf, Oroville native Marianne Aleck traces the history of her French mother and Greek father in her memoir, The Liberty Club.By angelhuracha@gmail.com (ahuracha)
It's been two years since the catastrophic Camp Fire ripped through Paradise, Magalia, Concow, and surrounding communities. In this special report, we look back at lessons learned from that tragedy... from fire management to affordable housing. Also have a conversation with the Butte County sheriff about how his office has used what happened in the…
B
Blue Dot

1
Blue Dot 193: WEATHER IN THE WEST: Climate Scientist Daniel Swain
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave is joined by climate and weather expert Daniel Swain from UCLA's School of the Environment and Sustainability. His weather blog, Weather West has been keeping west coast weather watchers and professional meteorologists engaged for nearly two decades. Daniel tells us all about this summer's nearly non stop fire weather and the climate condition…
N
Nancy's Bookshelf


1
Best Of Nancy's Bookshelf: Alastair Gee And Dani Anguiano
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Two years ago, on Nov. 8, 2018, the Camp Fire set blaze when a faulty electric transmission line sparked just outside Paradise. More than 13,000 homes were destroyed, 85 lives were lost, and 27,000 people struggled to escape with their lives. Alastair Gee And Dani Anguiano, journalists for The Guardian, investigated the most destructive American wi…
B
Blue Dot


1
Blue Dot 192: Mr. Wizard for Generation Z: A Conversation With Jeff Vinokur
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Dave talks to the founder and CEO of Generation Genius, Jeff Vinokur. "Dr. Jeff" aka "The Dancing Scientist" has been wowing audiences for the past decade with his signature dance moves coupled with dramatic scientific demonstrations. Vinokur's start up, Generation Genius, produces educational video modules along with support materials for K-8 clas…
N
Nancy's Bookshelf


1
Nancy's Bookshelf: Robert Deen & Pam Houston
52:55
52:55
Play later
Play later
Lists
Like
Liked
52:55
Are you curious about boiled peanuts? Who isn't? Author Robert Deen visits Nancy’s Bookshelf to discuss everything you wanted to know about boiled peanuts from his latest, The Boiled Peanut Book: Everything you always wanted to know about boiled peanuts . Also, in honor of this week’s Day of the Dead, award-winning Author Pam Houston discusses her …