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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.

How funny is Jared Thompson? Meet the owner of Bloomington's only full-time comedy club, The Funny Bone. Host Echaka Agba laughs until it hurts as she and Thompson discuss his childhood and how comedy became a major role in his life, how he and wife Dana Thompson came into owning The Funny Bone, and a few of his Top 100 movies of the decade. Thompson covers the process of booking talent, both local and national, and offers a little insight for aspiring comedians. Thompson also critiques the current state of stand-up comedy and what makes The Funny Bone unique.

Host Deb Kent talks with local videographer Maryellen May and writer-composer-producer Paul Messing about their new project, "Thinking Out Loud" (formerly known as "Bloomington Talks About..."), a 30-minute video in which local residents reflect on a variety of topics. Clips from the pilot episode, on the arts, are played throughout this week's Interchange, and include comments from a wide range of Bloomingtonians, from a graffiti artist to an art historian. May and Messing share their views on video in the Age of YouTube, describe the evolution of their careers, and describe negotiations with WTIU to put their new show on the air. There's also a bonus clip from Paul Messing's other project about our relationships with animals and nature; in this segment about the Elephant Sanctuary in Hohenwald, Tennessee, and a story about the way we keep and treat captive elephants.

Host Dave Stewart welcomes Bloomington author Elsa Marston back to Interchange after her visit to the West Bank in the Middle East. Marston, whose real name is Elsa Harik, relates her experiences there with an eyewitness account of the new settlements being built there by Israel. In the first segment, Elsa talks about how she flew to Tel Aviv and traveled to Bethelehem and what she saw. In segment two, Elsa talks about joining with a Palestinian family in the gathering of olives, as well as other observances of life in the West Bank, including a theater group for teenagers in Jenin. In the third segment, Elsa talks about seeing the "separation wall" and provides other insights into her experience of visiting the West Bank, including her visit with an Israeli settler.

On this edition of Interchange, we welcome new host William Morris to the table as he talks with Nola Hartman and Dana Burton, long-time reference librarians at the Monroe County Public Library (MCPL), about the history, current role and future of the library.  Hartman and Burton discuss the library's rich history, its move from the Carnegie Building (now the Monroe County Historical Society), and how the library has expanded over time.  They talk about the role of a public library and offer a broad overview of all the services and outreach programs that helped make MCPL the nation's #2 ranked public library (in cities of 100,000-249,999), including CATS community access television; the VITAL adult education program; delivery of library materials through the Homebound Service; tax consulting; computer training; young adult tutoring; children's services and more.