Talk of the Nation

Talk of the Nation®

with Neal Conan

About the Program

Talk of the Nation with host Neal Conan is known for intelligent and thought-provoking discussion. Guests, contributors, and listeners explore today's most compelling issues — from breaking news, science, and education to religion and the arts.

Starting June 30th, 2006, both hours of Science Friday, broadcast during Talk of the Nation, will be broadcast on MPR News stations.

Official program Web site

Latest Show
Document Brushing Up On Tropical Diseases
 Dengue fever, malaria and other tropical diseases took center stage at the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene conference. Nathan Seppa of <em>Science News</em> offers details, including a strange story of palm trees, fruit bats and human infection. (11/20/2009)
Document Rethinking The Human Future In Space
 With NASA reporting a "significant amount" of water on the lunar surface, is it time to re-examine our priorities regarding living and working in space? Mark Sykes, director of the Planetary Science Institute, talks about why and how people should venture beyond Earth. (11/20/2009)
Document Book Recounts Challenges Of Eradicating Smallpox
 In <em>Smallpox: The Death of a Disease</em>, Dr. D.A. Henderson recounts the history of the deadly virus, from the development of the first vaccine in the late 18th century to his involvement in the successful global eradication campaign in the 1960s and 70s. (11/20/2009)
Document Personalizing Solar Power
 Researchers are hoping to improve solar energy installations by coupling a solar panel to an efficient hydrolysis unit that splits water into oxygen and hydrogen. Daniel Nocera of MIT says the approach could lead to personal solar power units that could get many houses off the grid. (11/20/2009)
Document Debating Benefits, Risks Of Routine Mammograms
 New guidelines from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommend women start getting routine mammograms at age 50, not 40. Ira Flatow and guests take a closer look at the guidelines and what they mean for women's health. (11/20/2009)
Document Talking Turkey About Holiday Stress
 The holiday season is here and for many that can mean a surge in stress. But what is stress exactly? <em>Science Friday</em> hit the streets of New York City to gauge stress levels and consulted with experts on the effects of stress and strategies for how to cope. (11/20/2009)
Document Real-Life Physics Problems Star On TV
 The stars of <em>The Big Bang Theory</em> are two fictional Caltech physicists, but the physics problems they study are real. Bill Prady, the program's co-creator and executive producer, talks about including real-world science in the script, from dark matter to magnetic monopoles. (11/20/2009)
Document New Yorkers Disagree Over Plans For Sept. 11 Trial
 Attorney General Eric Holder announced that Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the self-proclaimed mastermind behind the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, will be tried in a civilian court in New York City. Some argue it will open old wounds, while others insist it will provide closure. (11/19/2009)
Document Indentured Servitude Persists In Florida's Fields
 Slavery was abolished in the U.S. in 1865, but the specter of slavery persists today for the tomato and citrus pickers working in Florida's fields. Reporter Amy Bennett Williams joins Neal Conan in Fort Myers, Fla. to discuss indentured servitude, human trafficking, and how prosecutors are fighting it. (11/19/2009)
Document Books That Will Help You Understand Afghanistan
 The conflict in Afghanistan dominates headlines, but many people seek a deeper understanding of the country and the war the U.S. is fighting there. In the first of a series of suggestions for an Afghanistan "reading list," <em>Washington Post</em> special military correspondent Tom Ricks shares his recommendations, ranging from a collection of Afghan proverbs, to a history of the CIA's involvement in the country. (11/19/2009)
Document 'Googled': From Brainchild To Behemoth
 How much do you know about the company that knows so much about you? In <em>Googled: The End of the World as We Know It,</em> Ken Auletta chronicles the growth of Google, from the brainchild of two computer science graduate students, toiling in a California garage, to the multi-billion dollar, multi-nation corporation it is today. (11/19/2009)
Document USDA Study Show Hunger On The Rise In U.S.
 A new report on hunger in America from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that nearly 15 percent of all American households struggled to get enough to eat in 2008. That's the largest percentage since the agency began measuring hunger in 1995. Alfred Lubrano, reporter at the <em>Philadelphia Inquirer</em> explains the study’s findings. (11/18/2009)
Document Matthew Continetti On The 'Persecution' Of Palin
 It's been all Palin all the time ever since the former Alaska governor unveiled her memoir on <em>Oprah</em> on Monday. Matthew Continetti of the <em>Weekly Standard</em> comes to Palin's defense in his new book, <em>The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star</em>. (11/18/2009)
Document Doc Ford Gets To The Bottom Of Florida Mysteries
 Crime writer Randy Wayne White spent 13 years as a tackle fishing guide before he began to probe the mysteries of southwest Florida. White is best known for his series of crime novels featuring Doc Ford, an NSA agent turned marine biologist living on Florida's Gulf Coast. (11/18/2009)
Document Understanding The New Mammogram Guidelines
 For years, women were encouraged to get breast cancer screenings at 40. Now, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has issued new guidelines saying that the average woman can wait until 50. The guidelines also discourage the teaching of self breast examinations. Experts explain how the study was conducted, and how to interpret the new recommendations. (11/18/2009)
Program Schedule
DATE TIME SERVICE STATION
MON1:00 pmNewsFind a station
TUE1:00 pmNewsFind a station
WED1:00 pmNewsFind a station
THU1:00 pmNewsFind a station
FRI1–3 pmNewsFind a station

MPR News
Radio

Listen Now

On Air

Midmorning

Schedule

Shortcuts
Hourly Newscast
Hosts
Station Map

Other Radio Streams from MPR

Classical MPR
Radio Heartland

Services

Become a Sponsor

In The Spotlight

  • Sound Learning

    Looking for ways to ensure your students are doing quality research from credible sources? Sound Learning is a launching point to Minnesota Public Radio's content on the Web.

  • The Current Music Blog

    Your daily note for good music, news and pop culture. With attempted jokes.