Latest Audio Salon Podcasts From The Exploratorium

Astrophysicist Paul Coleman and expert ocean navigator Kalepa Baybayan visited the Exploratorium as advisors to our Polynesian Navigation project—a large-scale Web resource (launching April 2010) that will feature the astounding navigation practices of the Pacific Islanders, who were expertly navigating the Pacific thousands of years before the arrival of Europeans. Paul Coleman works at the University of Hawaii Institute for Astronomy, where he concentrates on the large-scale structure of the universe. Kalepa Baybayan is an expert navigator who mentors Hawaiian youth in native navigation practices. Both men are native Hawaiians. We spoke with them about traditional navigation practices, the balance between science and spirituality from a native perspective, and the benefits of being grounded in one’s culture.

NPR, or Neighborhood Public Radio is an artists collective and community radio project founded in 2004 by multimedia artists and educators Lee Montgomery, Jon Brumit and Michael Trigilio. Acting as a traveling band of guerilla broadcasters, NPR personnel have hosted thematic broadcasts from San Francisco to Serbia, including a stint at the 2008 Whitney Biennial. What is Neighborhood Public Radio? Imagine a storefront community radio station open to you. You get access to the airwaves regardless of your qualifications or message. We caught up with the founders of the now-decentralized NPR team, in Oakland, Chicago and San Diego to talk about the technical, social and political aspects of broadcasting, and about their tattoos. As a special treat for our listeners we thought it would be fun to ask Lee, Jon and Michael to create a new Audio-Art piece for our Podcast series. The idea was simple. They would each create a composition that was no more than 5 minutes long, and we would layer all three parts tog

Paul Stepahin is an Exploratorium exhibit developer who has a background in physics. He's worked on exhibits such as Elephant Turntable and Additor. Paul's knowledge and love of computer science and complex math has made him a resource for Exploratorium staff. In this program, Paul discusses the theoretical math P versus NP problem.

Terje Isungset is one of Europe's most accomplished and innovative percussionists. With over two decades experience in jazz and Scandinavian music his work travels far beyond traditional boundaries. He's become more like a cross between a sound artist and a shaman. Isungset crafts his own instruments from natural elements found in Norway such as arctic birch, granite, slate, and even ice.

A casual chat with ultra-inspirational artists and 'Future Farmers' Michael Swaine and Amy Franceschini.

A short visit with the inspiring Jane Wolff. She is an artist, landscape architect, educator, and author of 'Delta Primer: a field guide to the California Delta.'

Walter Kitundu, 2008 MacArthur Fellow and longtime Exploratorium friend, is an accomplished instrument builder, musician and artist. He is also a dedicated bird watcher and photographer. In this program we accompany Walter on a birdwalk, then have a chat about birds, art, and the perils and rewards of being an urban naturalist.

Dr. Christine Carter is a sociologist who studies the childhood roots of happiness. She is the executive director of the Greater Good Science Center at UC Berkeley, an interdisciplinary research center that promotes the study of happiness, compassion, and altruism. In this program, Dr. Carter speaks about happiness, altruism, and the inspiring intersection of her personal and professional worlds.