Episode 22: Unidentified Flying Observations – In this episode we speak with Ralph Blumenthal, contributing reporter to the New York Times December 16, 2017 front-page story “Glowing Auras and ‘Black Money’: The Pentagon’s Mysterious UFO Program”. We also talk to Jan Harzan the Executive Director of the Mutual Unidentified Flying Object Network ...…

Episode 21: Thanks and Giving. In this episode, Ron Charles, book critic for the Washington Post talks about the Best Books of 2018 and provides insight into what to look forward to in last minute gift giving possibilities for book lovers. Rita Hamlet, Howard County Library System (HCLS) Development Specialist shares how giving supports HCLS an ...…

Episode 20: Witness to Innocence. In this episode we speak to Tim Junkin author of the book Bloodsworth: The True Story of the First Death Row Inmate Exonerated by DNA Evidence. We also talk to the subject of that book, Kirk Bloodsworth, about his experience and his current work as Deputy Director of the Witness to Innocence project. Finally, w ...…

Episode 19: Seeing Red. In this episode, we speak with Richard Rothstein about his book, The Color of Law, a forgotten history of how our government segregated America. Also, we'll talk to Braden Crooks, co-founder, and partner of Designing the We a company that created Undesign the Redline, an exhibit that explores the history of structural ra ...…

Episode 18: Libraries ROCK! Summer Reading is in full swing and in this episode we take that theme literally with biographer Peter Ames Carlin as we discuss his biographies of Paul Simon, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney and Brian Wilson. Plus Professor Karl Alexander, co-editor of “The Summer Slide: What We Know and Can Do About Summer Learni ...…

Episode 17: Coast to Coast. In this episode, we speak with Howard County Library System's new President and CEO, Tonya Kennon. Tonya was previously Director of Riverside Public Library (RPL) in Riverside, California. A 25-year veteran of California libraries, Kennon led a dedicated team of professionals serving a community of 314,000 through ei ...…

Episode 16: If You Build It… In this episode we discuss the new HCLS Elkridge Branch + DIY Education Center. We speak to Antonio Rebelo who brings two decades of award winning design experience to his leadership role at Grimm + Parker—a sustainable architectural firm that aspires to make communities wonderful places to live, learn and play. We ...…

Episode 15: My Back Pages. In this episode, we talk to Harvard University's George Martin Lane Professor of the classics, Richard Thomas. He will be discussing his book Why Bob Dylan Matters. Cited by the New York Times as having the "coolest class on campus", his Dylan seminar is introducing a new generation of fans to the revered Bard's work. ...…

Episode 14: Teen Seen. In this episode, we talk to New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds. Jason is a National Book Award Honoree, a Kirkus Award winner, a Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award winner, and the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors. Jason will talk about his books, his experience as an author o ...…

Episode 13: Turning the Page. In this episode we talk with Ron Charles, Editor of Washington Post’s Book World and star of his hilarious video blog “Totally Hip Video Book Reviews”. He'll discuss the best of 2017, books for the book lovers on your holiday shopping list and what we can look forward to in 2018. We also speak with Erin Matthews, o ...…

Episode 12: Roots, Tales, and Rails. An important chapter in the story of America took place in Maryland's Patapsco Valley. In this episode we discuss the role that the Valley played in the Industrial Revolution with architectural historian Dr. Henry Sharp, author of America's First Factory Town. In addition Jim Robey one of Howard County's lon ...…

Episode 11: A STEM State of Mind. In this episode, we speak to best-selling author Laurie Frankel about her book, Goodbye For Now. Goodbye For Now is this year's selection for the Howard County Book Connection. We also talk to HCLS HiTech Instructor, Peter Hyun.

Episode 10: On the Road Again. In this episode, we get travel advice from Pauline Frommer, a nationally syndicated radio talk show host of The Travel Show, which she co-hosts with her father, travel legend Arthur Frommer. The National Tourism Program Manager for the National Park Service, Donald Leadbetter and Tony Cordo the Executive Director ...…

Episode 9: Into the Woods. In this episode, we speak to David Ebershoff, author of The Danish Girl. We also talk to Alli Jessing HCLS Events and Seminars Manger as we prepare to kick off Summer @ Your Library at BOOKS IN BLOOM the inaugural book festival. Finally, Ian Kennedy, Executive Director of the Downtown Columbia Arts and Culture Commiss ...…

Episode 8: The Beat Goes On Part 2: As our celebration of Columbia, Maryland's 50th Birthday continues, we talk to three of Columbia's true originals. Toby Orenstein, Owner and Artistic Director of Toby's Dinner Theater, Landscape Architect and Park Planner, John Slater and Artist Gail Holliday.Toby's Dinner Theaterhttp://tobysdinnertheatre.com ...…

Episode 8: The Beat Goes On, Part 1. Columbia, Maryland begins a year-long celebration to mark its 50th birthday. Because we have so many people we want to talk to about the celebration, we have split Episode 8 into two parts to make sure we cover it all. We kick-off Part 1 with Grammy Award-winning entertainer, Judy Collins. She discusses her ...…

Episode 7: Spell Bound. This month we celebrate the Howard County Library System Spelling Bee, a countywide bee for students in grades four through eight. The champion advances to the National Spelling Bee in Washington, DC. Spelling bees improve students’ spelling, increase their vocabularies, and develop correct English usage. The HCLS Spelli ...…

Episode 6: I’m Only Human “We may have all come on different ships, but we are all in the same boat” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In this episode we discuss, celebrate and appreciate the many diverse perspectives, cultures and values of our fellow human beings. We will speak with Nadia Hashimi international best-selling author and advocate for w ...…

Episode 5: Waiting in the Wings. As one year ends another begins. In this episode, we’ll take a look at what’s to come in literature and at HCLS. We talk with Ron Charles, Editor of Washington Post’s Book World and star of his hilarious video blog “Totally Hip Video Book Reviews”. We'll discuss the best of 2016 and what’s coming in 2017. We als ...…

Episode 4: Wrap It Up. In honor of the gift giving season our episode this month is, Wrap It Up, but ironically we talk about gifts that need no wrapping. We discuss giving, not in the material sense, but about giving of ourselves and giving in a way that helps others. We will talk with Carla Hall Cohost of ABC’s smash daytime talk show The Che ...…

Episode 3: Thanks for the Memories. The holidays are just around the corner, the perfect opportunity to talk to Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts and Uncles about your family history. You can also get the story behind the keepsakes that surround your family's narrative. To help you start the conversation with family and information on finding the story o ...…

Episode 2: The Karma of Kindness. This month Howard County's Choose Civility consortium will declare that KINDNESS CREATES COMMUNITY. It's a simple, yet powerful message and one we should all find easy to embrace. Our guests this episode are Daniel Buccino, Assistant Professor, Clinical Director of the Mood Disorders Clinic at Johns Hopkins Bay ...…

Episode 1: Farm to Table – Can you dig it? September in Howard County means the Annual Farm City Celebration. HCLS is proud to be a Farm City partner and help bring to the forefront the important role our agricultural heritage continues to play in our life. Hosts Dennis Wood and Victoria Goodman talk to Organic Farmer, and New York Times best-s ...…