WFHB FireHouse Broadcasting

Host Helen Harrell interviews Bloomington resident, IU graduate student, local attorney, WFHB host of Indigenous Indiana and Native American activist Rebecca Riall. Their conversation covers topics such as the recent establishment of the local Native American Community Center, discrimination against and acceptance of native Americans on campus and in the community as well as issues related to reservation life and historical events.

Host Dave Stewart welcomes Eric MacPhail, Professor of French in the Department of French and Italian at Indiana University. Stewart and MacPhail talk about Book Three of Herodotus’s “Histories” and attempt to see if there are lessons to be learned from a text written in the 5th Century B.C. Herodotus wrote in a round-about style, inventing History in the process, and the interview is in a similar style. They discuss how Camyses, a Persian ruler, invades and conquers Egypt. They follow Book Three as it describes Cambyses overreaches, defeat, and madness. Also, they follow threads of Herodotus’s narrative, concluding with Darius taking power and invading Babylon. Throughout the interview, Professor MacPhail explains the significance and adds insight to this marvelous tale of Herodotus, ending with a surprising wrap-up which has relevance to today’s politics.

Hear the amazing story of Kent Johnson, a local musician who came to Bloomington to be with his family and soon after found himself homeless. With the help of the Shalom Community Center, Johnson got back on his feet with a modest apartment and a warehouse job, then recorded an album of his original music with all proceeds from its sale going to the agency that helped turn his life around. Johnson spends an hour with Chad Carrothers to talk about his journey, his love for music, his experiences being homeless, and how the local community rallied around him to put together an all-star cast backing Johnson on "Playin' For Change", songs about life, love, and the people you meet on the streets.

Host William Morris talks with Sage Christenson and Jon Macy of the Monroe County Tobacco and Smoking Cessation Program about their work to reduce and prevent the use of tobacco products in Monroe County. We discuss the policies, issues and challenges of smoking prevention, including why young people get started, how to stop, and where to get help. In the first segment, Jon discusses the overall charter of the local Smoke Free Bloomington Coalition, including the three principal dimensions of smoking prevention: cessation education, youth prevention and state policy. The second segment looks at the coalition's collaboration with local organizations to reach smokers and those who are at-risk for smoking, and the third segment examines the local smoking cessation education program "Quit Now" - how it works and some emotional success stories, including one man who stopped smoking after 56 years.

Host Dave Stewart welcomes IU Professor of Folklore Henry Glassie to Interchange.  Henry Glassie's most recent book, entitled Prince Twins Seven-Seven:  His Art, His Life in Nigeria.  His Exile in America, has recently been published by IU Press.  In the first segment, Professor Glassie discusses Prince Twins Seven-Seven; his name, his origins as an Abiku child, and how Prince is a dancer, a muscian, as well as a painter of Yoruba art.  In the second segment, Henry Glassie describes the working process of Prince Twins Seven-Seven and explains the significance of Prince's art as well as the difference between syndetic and synthetic thought.  In the 3rd segment, Professor Glassie continues the disussion of art and its significance, with a fascinating exploration into religion and spirituality.  Please listen for a fascinating insight into folklore, and art, through the words of Henry Glassie.

Host Echaka Agba interviews Clarke Miller of Compassion and Choices.  Compassion and Choices is a not-for-profit organization which strives for improving care and expansion of "choice at the end of life."  Agba and Miller discuss the organization, legal and patient issues, and the movement surrounding the right to die.

Host Helen Harrell interviews Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan. Their conversation focuses on Mark the citizen, the early years; Mark the legislator; and Mark the Mayor.  Highlights
include some personal glimpses into Kruzan’s school days as well as an
overview of both previous and current political issues on both national and
local fronts as seen from the unique perspective of Kruzan’s extensive
political experience. 

Host Dave Stewart welcomes Cherry Williams, Curator of Manuscripts of the Lilly Library at Indiana University. The Lilly Library is world-famous for its collection of books and manuscripts and celebrates its 50th anniversary in 2010. Cherry Williams talks about the upcoming exhibit, "Treasures of the Lilly Library", and mentions some of the extraordinary literary history which will be on display for scholars as well as the general public. We also talk about the upcoming summer exhibit, "Unexpected Treasures of the Lilly Library", and the fall showcase of Medieval exhibits. Cherry Williams describes the teamwork and skill of the staff of the Lilly Library as they collect, safeguard, and exhibit rare books and special collections.

Host Andy Mahler leads our annual year-in-review session with Steve Higgs, editor and publisher of the Bloomington Alternative, and Tom Healy, publisher of Branches Magazine. Tom Healy talks about budget cuts by the Daniels administration resulting in reduced monitoring by the Indiana Department of Environmental Management. Steve Higgs discusses research he has been conducting regarding significant increases in autism cases nationally and in the Hoosier state. Other topics covered include CAFOs, energy, transportation (with an update on the proposed I-69 highway) and healthcare. The program concludes with a report card on the Obama Administration and a look ahead to the year 2010.

Join host Tom Healy for an audio celebration of the many facets of the winter holidays in words, music and song. Healy also speaks with a reporter from sister station XOXO in the North Pole about allegations of a plot by red nose Democrats to nationalize the Christmas holiday. Featured readings include The Christmas Revels and Rachel Peden, and musical selections run the gamut from Bing Crosby to South Park.