Archive for September, 2008

David Cay Johnston, FREE LUNCH

September 26th, 2008

Francesca interviews reporter David Cay Johnston about his investigation into how government policy is rigged to enrich the super wealthy. And Francine Prose talks about GOLDENGROVE, her new coming-of-age novel.

T.J. English, HAVANA NOCTURNE and Marisa Silver, GOD OF WAR

September 23rd, 2008

Francesca talks with journalist T. J. English about the Mafia’s Cuba experiment, the parallels between the Mob and legal capitalism, and the role Mob activities played in spurring the Cuban Revolution into being. His bestselling book is HAVANA NOCTURNE: How the Mob owned Cuba…and Then Lost It to the Revolution. Also, Marisa Silver tells us [...]

Toxic Cosmetics

September 15th, 2008

Francesca talks first with Stacy Malkan about NOT JUST A PRETTY FACE: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry. She’s communications director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics and admitted former teenage make-up diva.

Toxic Legacies

September 15th, 2008

Francesca talks with  journalist Nancy Nichols connects her wrenching personal story to the larger story of toxic pollution. Nichols grew up in Waukegan, on Lake Michigan. The lake has been massively contaminated by PCB and other toxic chemicals. She survived cancer but her sister did not. Her memoir is LAKE EFFECT: Two Sisters and a [...]