Press Play with Madeleine Brand
Cooking, Football, and the Oldest Living Things
A critical look at two Thanksgiving traditions. Also, football with a writer who loves the sport but hates what it can do to the people who play it; giving thanks for some of the world’s oldest living things; and free-diving… one of the most dangerous competitive sports.
By Madeleine Brand • • 52m ListenWe start the show with a critical look at two Thanksgiving traditions. We ask “Is cooking stupid?” Anyone with a sink full of pots and pans might think so. We’ll also tackle football with a writer who loves the sport but hates what it can do to the people who play it. Then, we’ll give thanks for some of the world’s oldest living things - and talk about how they can give us some perspective on our short little lives. And finally, we take a deep dive into free-diving… one of the most dangerous competitive sports.
Banner Image: Unwashed dishes in a sink; an authentic situation, by Mysid
In this episode
4 storiesThe Great Cooking Debate of 2014
Sixty years after frozen foods came around to liberate kitchen-bound housewives, domesticity is making a comeback. Celebrities like Gwyneth Paltrow are writing lifestyle blogs and cookbooks. But is home cooking worth the effort? Author and journalist Sarah Miller says no, and goes toe-to-toe with New York Times food editor Sam Sifton.
Read the story14 minBreaking Up with Football
Former sportswriter Steve Almond was a huge football fan for 40 years. But ethical and moral issues led him to boycott the game at all levels. He writes about his about-face in his latest book, Against Football: One Fan's Reluctant Manifesto .
Read the story10 minOldest Living Things
The oldest living thing in the world is a six-hundred-thousand-year-old bacterium, discovered in the permafrost of Siberia. From that bacteria to California’s Giant Sequoias to ancient eucalyptus trees in Australia, Rachel Sussman has spent the better part of the last decade seeking out the oldest living things in the world.
Read the story12 minDeep Dive
Some 70 percent of the earth’s surface is covered by water. Most of us have never spent much time below the ocean’s glittering surface. Those who do, usually go down with oxygen tanks and weight belts and all kinds of equipment. But it’s possible to see a lot -- perhaps more -- by just taking a breath and diving in… no scuba gear.
Read the story15 min
