The Colin McEnroe Show

Why do we dance? The answer is more complicated than you might think. Dancing has served a multitude of functions for various cultures throughout history, and there is even evidence to suggest that we, as a species, are biologically hard-wired to dance. Whether it’s for social, spiritual, or even psychological reasons (yes, dance therapy is a thing), humans have been dancing since the very beginning. This hour, a look at all things dance — from ancient history to modern, Hollywood dance movies. GUESTS: Henry Alford:And Then We Danced: A Voyage Into the GrooveChristina Devereaux:dance/movement therapistDavid Edelstein:Jonathan McNicol:The Colin McEnroe Show The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe, Xandra Ellin, and Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired July 5, 2018. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Revenge is as old as humanity itself. And new research shows that revenge functions in our brains like a type of addiction. This hour a look at revenge in politics, literature, and everyday life — and what it would mean if we treated revenge differently. GUESTS: James Kimmel Jr.:The Science of Revenge: Understanding the World's Deadliest Addiction--and How to Overcome ItEmily King: Civil Vengeance: Literature, Culture, and Early Modern Revenge MUSIC FEATURED (in order): Il Trovatore: Anvil ChorusThe PaybackThe Mariner’s Revenge SongThese Boots Are Made for Walkin’Smileno body, no crimeSupport the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Food is an important part of the campaign trail, from tamales to McDonald's. This hour is all about how food is used in politics, including in the White House. Plus, the delicious return of the election cake. GUESTS: Alex Prud'homme: Journalist and author of several books, including Dinner with the President: Food, Politics, and a History of Breaking Bread at the White House. He also co-wrote My Life In France with Julia Child Linda Civitello: Food historian and author of books including Baking Powder Wars and Cuisine and Culture Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Colin McEnroe, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Frankie Devevo, and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on October 29, 2024. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been doing these shows where we don’t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls. And your calls have been interesting and surprising and amusing. This hour, the conversation winds around to daylight saving time ending, Weapons and horror movies in general, the first Millennial saint, A House of Dynamite, our towels episode … Anything. (Seemingly) everything. These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we did another one. MUSIC FEATURED (in order): I Could Write A BookI Didn’t Know What Time It WasThere’s a Small HotelI Wish I Were In Love AgainWith A Song in My HeartSing for Your SupperThis Can’t Be LoveSupport the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A House of Dynamite is an apocalyptic political thriller directed by Kathryn Bigelow. It is Bigelow’s first movie in eight years, since Detroit in 2017. It stars an ensemble cast led by Idris Elba, Rebecca Ferguson, Gabriel Basso, Jared Harris, Tracy Letts, Anthony Ramos, and many more. And: Task is a seven-part HBO limited series created by Brad Ingelsby. It is the second TV series created by Ingelsby, after Mare of Easttown. It stars Mark Ruffalo, Tom Pelphrey, Martha Plimpton, and more. GUESTS: Jim Chapdelaine:Irene Papoulis:The Essays Only You Can WriteBrian Slattery:Bill Yousman: MUSIC FEATURED (in order): Detachable Penis – King Missile Atom Bomb Baby – The Five Stars The Wake-Up Bomb – R.E.M. On the Radio – Robert Homes, James Homes Chloe Dancer/Crown of Thrones – Mother Love Bone See You On The Radio – Grayson Hugh Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

There are few monsters more iconic or enduring than Frankenstein’s. From Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel to the 1931 Universal monster movie to Guillermo del Toro’s current adaptation to next year’s Bride of Frankenstein remake, Frankenstein continues to resonate with fans around the world. This hour, a look at what exactly it is that makes Frankenstein such a lasting, terrifying work of fiction. Plus: a look at the so-called “re-animator of Bridgeport.” GUESTS: Michael Bielawa:Wicked New HavenWicked BridgeportSidney Perkowitz:Frankenstein: How a Monster Became an Icon — The Science and Enduring Allure of Mary Shelley’s CreationEddy Von Mueller:Frankenstein: How a Monster Became an Icon — The Science and Enduring Allure of Mary Shelley’s Creation The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe, Greg Hill, Jonathan McNicol, and Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired October 31, 2017. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most mysterious texts in the world lives here in Connecticut. The Medieval Voynich Manuscript is at the Beinecke Library at Yale University. Scholars have been trying for over a century to decipher it. This hour, we look at the Voynich and at other examples of mysterious manuscripts from around the world. GUESTS: Lisa Fagin Davis:Garry J. Shaw:Cryptic: From Voynich to the Angel Diaries, the Story of the World's Mysterious ManuscriptsDavid Weinberg:an episode about "Louie Louie" for the podcast Lost Notes MUSIC FEATURED (in order): Lost in TranslationColumba aspexit, BN 54Secret MessagesThe Book of LoveThe Philosopher’s StoneLouie, LouieLouie, LouieSupport the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour, a look at the path to sainthood and how it’s changed over time. Plus: the local example of the Rev. Michael McGivney. GUESTS: Teresa Berger: Professor of Liturgical Studies and Catholic Theology at Yale Divinity School Joseph Laycock: Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Texas State University and author of The Seer of Bayside: Veronica Lueken and the Struggle to Define Catholicism Rachel McCleary: Lecturer in the Economics Department at Harvard University and a nonresident Senior Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute James Sullivan: Rector of the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Waterbury Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Colin McEnroe, Sara Gasparotto, Jonathan McNicol, and Cat Pastor contributed to this show, which originally aired March 31, 2022. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been doing these shows where we don’t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls, calls about anything, everything. These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we’re doing another one. In other words: Give us a call during the 1 p.m. EDT hour about whatever you want to talk about. 888-720-9677. Plus, now you can watch our calls shows YouTube! Come say (nice) things to us in the comments! Just search for Connecticut Public. MUSIC FEATURED (in order): Lester Leaps InDepressed Um BrindeWhen The Lights Go OutCrutchOn Your Side (Starman)American TuneSupport the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guest host comedian Shawn Murray returns! This week’s Nose looks at: Mr. Scorsese is a five-part, more-than-four-hour documentary series about the life and work of the director of Goodfellas and Taxi Driver and The Departed (and many more). It’s directed by Rebecca Miller and streaming on Apple TV. And: No Other Land won this year’s Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. It covers the destruction of a Palestinian community in the West Bank, and it’s directed by a collective of four Palestinian-Israeli activists. No Other Land premiered at the 2024 Berlin International Film Festival, more than 20 months ago, and it has just become widely available to see in this part of the world basically for the first time this week. GUESTS: James Hanley:Lindsay Lee Wallace:Bill Yousman: The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Eugene Amatruda contributed to this show. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

B. F. Skinner thought pigeons were so smart they could be used to guide missiles during World War II. He proposed a system in which pigeons would essentially pilot a missile. Skinner said pigeons could be trained to peck at a screen to adjust the trajectory of the missile toward its target. Project Pigeon was funded but never used. In 2013, New York conceptual artist Duke Reilly trained half his flock of pigeons to carry contraband cigars from Cuba to Florida and the other half to carry tiny video cameras documenting the smuggling flight of their comrades. Another group of researchers trained pigeons to reliably distinguish between the paintings of Picasso and Monet, even if they had never seen a particular painting before. This hour, everything you ever wanted to know about pigeons but were afraid to ask. GUESTS: Yoni Applebaum:Andrew Blechman:Pigeons: The Fascinating Saga of the World’s Most Revered and Reviled BirdWanda Corn:Patrick Skahill: The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Colin McEnroe, Tess Aaronson, Jonathan McNicol, and Chion Wolf contributed to this show, which originally aired November 12, 2013. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Greek writer Herodotus "invented" history by turning away from myth to a new kind of writing. And although he wrote his Histories nearly 2,500 years ago, local author and classicist Emily Katz Anhalt argues that his example and prose are more relevant than ever. This hour, we look at what we can learn from Herodotus and the ancient Greek myths. GUEST: Emily Katz Anhalt: Enraged: Why Violent Times Need Ancient Greek MythsEmbattled: How Ancient Greek Myths Empower Us to Resist TyrannyAncient Wisdom for Polarized Times: Why Humanity Needs Herodotus, the Man Who Invented History MUSIC FEATURED (in order): Thracian GaiaRoad to Hell (live)Dance of the SatyrsGreek to MeHymn to BacchusHistory Has Its Eyes On YouSupport the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The microphone makes everything we do on the radio possible. This hour we celebrate the invention and look at the role of microphones in music. Plus hot mics, mic drops, and more. GUESTS: Susan Rogers: Multi-platinum record producer, cognitive neuroscientist, professor at Berklee College of Music and co-author of the book This is What It Sounds Like: What the Music You Love Says About You Azi Paybarah: Politics Reporter for The Washington Post Forrest Wickman: Slate's culture editor Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Colin McEnroe, Angelica Gajewski, and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on March 25, 2025. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been doing these shows where we don’t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls. And your calls have been interesting and surprising and amusing. This hour, the conversation winds around to the “No Kings” protests, Star Wars merchandise, the labor market, The Gilmore Girls, yacht rock … Anything. (Seemingly) everything. These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we did another one. MUSIC FEATURED (in order): DazzlingAnd Love Goes OnREAL THINGSoftly, as in a Morning SunriseGoing Out Of My HeadLivingConcerto in E Minor, Op. 11 (Chopin)Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rope is an interesting movie in Alfred Hitchcock’s œuvre. It’s his first color picture. It’s one of 13 movies he made based on plays, and it’s one of four movies he made that are set basically entirely in single locations (along with Lifeboat, Dial M for Murder, and Rear Window). But of the four single-location pictures, Rope is the only one that Hitchcock made to really seem like a filmed play. It unfolds in real-time, in one room, in long, continuous shots that are edited together in ways that are meant to hide most of the cuts. As Hartford Stage’s new adaptation of the play Rope is based on opens, we present a conversation taped on their stage, in front of an audience, about Alfred Hitchcock, his movies in general, and Rope, the movie and the play, in particular. Note: This podcast version of the show is more than eight minutes longer than the episode as it’s airing on the radio. GUESTS: Illeana Douglas:The Colin McEnroe ShowConnecticut in the Movies: From Dream Houses to Dark SuburbiaSidney Gottlieb:The Hitchcock AnnualJeffrey Hatcher:Rope The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Thanks to Lucas Clopton and Jennifer Levine at Hartford Stage. Colin McEnroe, Robyn Doyon-Aitken, Dylan Reyes, and Lily Tyson contributed to this show. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Women scientists and inventors have been making ground-breaking discoveries since Agnodice pretended to be a man in order to become the first female anatomist in ancient Greece. Yet, women's scientific contributions have historically been hidden in the footnotes of the work men claimed as their own. Women scientists are banding together to call out bias and give credit where it’s due— one Wikipedia page at a time. This hour, we talk to four of them. GUESTS: Ainissa RamirezThe Alchemy of Us: How Humans and Matter Transformed One AnotherKathryn Clancy:Emily Temple-WoodJessica Wade: Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate. Colin McEnroe and Chion Wolf contributed to the show, which originally aired April 9, 2019. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rope has been foundational to so much of human civilization. It's made sailing, hunting, building, and so much more, possible. This hour, we look at the history and utility and future of rope. GUESTS: Tim Queeney:Rope: How a Bundle of Twisted Fibers Became the Backbone of CivilizationManuel Medrano:who studies quipusTahira Reid Smith:Automatic Double Dutch MachineJump Dreams, Inc. MUSIC FEATURED (in order): FlamingoThe Last ShantyRopeTightropeRope A DopeDouble DutchSupport the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This hour is all about notebooks. We'll talk about the history and evolution of notebooks, favorite examples, and celebrate the joy of writing things down. Plus, a look at the Notes App. GUESTS: Roland Allen: Book publisher and author of The Notebook: A History of Thinking on Paper Charley Locke: Journalist, and contributing writer to The New York Times Magazine, who wrote “Keep Your Notes App Under Lock and Key” for The Atlantic Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter. Subscribe to The Noseletter, an email compendium of merriment, secrets, and ancient wisdom brought to you by The Colin McEnroe Show. The Colin McEnroe Show is available as a podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, TuneIn, Listen Notes, or wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe and never miss an episode! Our programming is made possible thanks to listeners like you. Please consider supporting this show and Connecticut Public with a donation today by visiting ctpublic.org/donate. Colin McEnroe and Dylan Reyes contributed to this show, which originally aired on October 10, 2024. Support the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We’ve been doing these shows where we don’t book any guests, where we fill the hour with your calls. And your calls have been interesting and surprising and amusing. This hour, the conversation — with our old friend Chion Wolf at the helm this time! — winds around to family shorthand, tech bros, bunkers, bodies, adventures… Anything. (Seemingly) everything. These shows are fun for us, and they seem to be fun for you, too. So we did another one. MUSIC FEATURED (in order): La PuertaYou Only Get What You GiveGo GinaDon’t Break Down On MeBless the TelephoneThe Telephone CallSupport the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This year is the 50th anniversary of A Chorus Line and Chicago and the 10th anniversary of Hamilton. Meanwhile, new Broadway shows are struggling to make their money back. This hour, we take stock of stage musicals today, learn how they’re developed, and ask about their status in our culture. GUESTS: Alexander Gemignani:Elysa Gardner: The New York SunThe New York TimesMagic To Do: Pippin's Fantastic, Fraught Journey to Broadway and BeyondPaul Hodge:The Great EmuWarSupport the show: http://www.wnpr.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.