A Beautiful World

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"A Beautiful World" is a news program that focuses on inspirational stories from around the world, featuring good news about science, technology, ecology, art, music and medicine. The program is hosted by author and journalist Heather McElhatton, who li

Heather McElhatton


    • Mar 21, 2020 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 7m AVG DURATION
    • 110 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from A Beautiful World

    Inspirational Self Isolation

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2020 5:59


    Psychotherapist Ann Scott Dumas talks about ways to self-isolate with inspiration. Listen to more stories at www.abeautiful.world

    How Time Is On Your Side

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 23, 2020 4:27


    Author and artist Bridget Watson Payne tells us how time can be on our side. more at www.abeautiful.world

    Calming Animals with Music

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 10, 2020 4:30


    more at www.abeautiful.world

    Fifth Sun - A New Story of the Aztecs

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2020 10:41


    More at www.abeautiful.world

    The Beauty of Unplugging from Social Media

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 29, 2019 4:26


    Donna Freitas on her book; The Happiness Effect. Social media has become the dominant force in young people's lives, and each day seems to bring another shocking tale of private pictures getting into the wrong hands, or a lament that young people feel compelled to share their each and every thought with the entire world. Have smartphones and social media created a generation of self obsessed egomaniacs? More at www.abeautiful.world

    Moms Clean Air Force

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 13, 2019 4:22


    More at www.abeautiful.world

    Your voice needed to protect Roadless Wilderness

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2019 14:47


    Your voice is needed to help protect roadless wilderness. Leave your public comment on the forest service website at: https://cara.ecosystem-management.org/Public//CommentInput?Project=54511 More on the story at www.abeautiful.world

    Beautiful World of Molecules

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2019 4:08


    Theodore Gray talks about his book, "Molecules, The Elements and Architecture of Everything." More at www.abeautiful.world

    How To Treat People

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2019 6:12


    Nurse and Poet Molly Case recounts her life as a nurse. More at www.abeautiful.world

    The Last Butterflies

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 7, 2019 4:15


    Biologist Nick Haddad explores ways to save the rarest butterflies on earth. More at www.abeautiful.world

    How Your Story Sets You Free

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2019 4:21


    How Your Story Sets You Free. more at www.abeautiful.world

    Project Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2019 4:03


    A non-profit program that helps students achieve their dreams after high school. More at www.abeautiful.world

    The Good Acre

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2019 4:24


    Food Hubs like the Good Acre provide a critical link in a sustainable farming network, by allowing small farmers to pool resources and reach multiple markets. more at www.abeautiful.world

    Our Symphony with Animals

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 15, 2019 4:25


    Dr. Aysha Akhtar says the health of animals directly affects our own. Her new book is called "Our symphony with Animals; on Health, Empathy, and Our Shared Destinies. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Space Archaeology - EXTENDED INTERVIEW

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 2, 2019 43:52


    Space Archeologist Sarah Parcak talks about the cutting edge technology that is saving ancient sites around the globe, and how YOU can help map the entire earth in ten years! More at www.abeautiful.world

    Space Archeology - Help find ancient sites!

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2019 4:25


    Sarah Parcak uses modern technology to discover ancient sites. you can help too! More at www.abeautiful.world

    Gita - How an Ancient Manuscript Can Help You Today

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2019 4:22


    A conversation with Dr. Isaac Bentwich about his translation of the Gita more at www.abeautiful.world

    How Music Can Make You Better

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2019 4:16


    A conversation with Indre Viskontas about her book, How Music Can Make You Better. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Woman Crosses Country Looking for Acts of Kindness

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2019 4:18


    Woman Crosses Country Looking for Acts of Kindness by Heather McElhatton

    How to Keep Going in Good Times and Bad - Austin Kleon

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 5, 2019 4:15


    more on the story at www.abeautiful.world

    FoodWorks- Saving food and lives

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2019 3:57


    by Heather McElhatton The Maryland Food Bank is one of the biggest, and oldest, food banks in America. It distributes 48 million pounds of food every year, and deliver over a hundred thousand meals every single day. But the Maryland Food Bank believes the way to end hunger is NOT just with food. Ania Pettigrew: I love pasta. It's a big problem, (laughs) but I love it. HM: As a litle girl Ania (Ah-nee-ah) Pettigrew loved watching her great grandmother cook, She made big meals for the family and baked for their local church. But growing up, Ania's family also knew hard times, and what is was like to be hungry . AP: I've been in that situation, so I know that it's really hard. Food. No t being able to give that to yourself or to your children. It's heartbreaking. think about how much you personally waste. How much we take for granted. we see so much on a plate that gets wasted, me personally thats a big pet peeve for me when I see people scrape their plates into the trash. HM: Now, Ania is dedicated to making a better life for her family. She's enrolled in Food Works, a cooking program at the Maryland Food bank. They teach low-income students how to prepare food professionally and then helps them get jobs. what makes Food Works even more compelling, is students learn to cook with 95% donated food. and Executive Director Tim regan says they get A LOT of donated food coming through their doors. TR: We get 25 to 30 thousand pounds of chicken a week. From one source. HM: Normally a food bank would struggle to distribute that much raw chicken, and a lot of it would need to be thrown away, but Foodworks takes that chicken and teaches low-income students how to prepare it, cook it and get it to people who need it - taking pressure off food banks, waste management systems, and landfills. Jamal Braxton has been in the Food Works program for over a month JB: I can eat breakfast all day anyday and says his class is already like family. JB: I definitely think I've grown a little, because I've learned about helping different people in their walks of life, homeless people, elderly people, young kids. I've just grown a little. It's a great program and I think everyone can come and just get something from it because honestly it's like really life changing program. HM: Graduates recieve culinary certification from the Community College of Baltimore County, and manager-level food safety certification, which allows them to start jobs at a higher wage. TR: We've got students all over the culinary industry in central Maryland. We've got them at very high end restaurants and in public schools. We really try to place our graduates based on their strength and based on their interests. we had one employer recently who wanted to hire a whole class (laughs) you know 20 people. we've been really blessed by how well we've been able to place students to date. HM: rather than just providing meals, Foodworks believes by training students and getting them jobs, they're taking control of all their meals of come. case in point - After graduation, Ania Pettigrew hopes to open her soul food restaurant. AP: Soul food is traditionally very fattening, very high and cholesterol, a lot of bad things for your body. So when I do what I'm going to do, I want to make sure that it's more healthy. to be able to do that is something major and a huge blessing. HM: find out more about the Food Works Program at the Maryland Food Bank online at the Water Main website. I'm Heather McElhatton....MPR News This story was produced with help from the Water Main at MPR, helping Americans understand the value of water in our everyday lives. more at: www.abeautiful.world

    Irene O'Garden

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2019 4:07


    Risking the Rapids opens with the shocking death of O'Garden's older brother, which prompts her and other relatives to seek closure on a journey through the remotest spot in Montana. Described genially as a river “float”, a harrowing journey unfolds. This wilderness trip is contrasted with O'Garden's account of growing up with her six siblings in a clashing Catholic family. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Europe Bans Single-Use Plastic!

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2019 4:10


    In a historic enviornmental win - EU parliment bans single-use plastics. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Rescuing Animals in Winter

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2019 4:08


    How to help animals and wildlife in winter. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Legacy Letters Let Your Great Grandchildren Remember You

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 5, 2018 4:10


    Legacy Letters offer a way to never be forgotten. Leave your thoughts, dreams and memories for your future family to find them. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Witness - the Teachings of Elie Wiesel

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 3, 2018 5:40


    "WITNESS: Lessons from Elie Wiesel's Classroom," art, lectures, teaching, workshops, and consulting. In the vein of Tuesdays with Morrie, A devoted protégé and friend of one of the world's great thinkers takes us into the sacred space of the classroom. more at www.abeautiful.world

    Mozarts Starling

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 18, 2018 4:14


    Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart met a flirtatious little starling in a Viennese shop who sang an improvised version of the theme from his Piano Concerto no. 17 in G major. Sensing a kindred spirit in the plucky young bird, Mozart bought him and took him home to be a family pet. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Girl Rising

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 5, 2018 4:11


    more at www.abeautiful.world

    Mark Nepo - More Together Than Alone

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2018 4:02


    Mark Nepo is a poet, philosopher, teacher and cancer survivor. He lives in southwest Michigan and he's just published his twentieth book, titled: "More together Than Alone, discovering the power and spirit of community in our lives and in the world." More at www.abeautiful,world

    Dispatches from Planet 3

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2018 4:07


    The galaxy, the multiverse, and the history of astronomy are explored in this engaging compilation of cosmological “tales” by multiple award‑winning science writer Marcia Bartusiak. In thirty‑two concise and engrossing essays, the author provides a deeper understanding of the nature of the universe and those who strive to uncover its mysteries. More at www.abeautiful.world

    School of Broken Hearts

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 9, 2018 4:08


    Haemin Sunim is one of the most influential Zen Buddhist teachers and writers in South Korea. He's started a "School for Broken Hearts" in downtown Seoul, where people dealing with depression, cancer, divorce and a wide horizon of other challenges can get free counseling, meditation and community. Read more at www.abeautiful.world

    The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 27, 2018 5:42


    Natural Navigator, Tristan Gooley teaches people how to navigate through the world using only clues found in nature. For more on the story visit: https://www.abeautiful.world/stories/the-lost-art-of-reading-natures-signs/

    Will Steger on Pulling Through the Tough Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 12, 2018 4:31


    For more on the story visit: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2018/08/13/learning-a-life-lesson-from-arctic- For more on the Program visit: www.abeautiful.world

    Ancient Rope Knots

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2018 4:09


    Mark Cook lives in the Orkney Islands, just north of Scotland. A Taxi driver by day, he's discovered the ancient art of tying knots and turns recycled garbage form the sea into beautiful museum-quality thump mats. (He finds plenty of rope to recycle while walking remote Orkney beaches with his dog.) Mark may live on an isolated island, but he's joined the global movement to up-cycle ocean debris and help rid our seas of pollution. More at: www.abeautiful.world

    Darwin's Dictionary of Color

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 29, 2018 4:10


    Used by Charles Darwin to describe colors in the field, "Werners Nomenclature of Colours" is one of the first color charts ever created. It's a treasure to see the foundation on which our current chaotic color world was built. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Galactic Tick

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2018 4:10


    The best holiday you've never heard of! Galactic Tick Day happens every 1.7 years and celebrates the motion of the planets journey around the Milky Way. Not just Earth, but the solar system is ticking its way around the galaxy. Mark your calendars and hold on: The next official tick is June 26.

    Eye Of The Shoal

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 3, 2018 4:04


    The vast variety of creatures living underwater makes us wonder – is there really such a thing as a fish – or just thousands of animals that are excellent at swimming? Helen Scales, 41, Marine Biologist, investigates the citizens of the sea in her newest book, EYE of the SHOAL: The fishwatcher's guide to life, the ocean and everything. More at: https://www.abeautiful.world/stories/theres-no-such-thing-as-a-fish/

    Microbia - The Ten-Second Rule Wins!

    Play Episode Listen Later May 18, 2018 4:28


    Eugenia Bone became fascinated with microbes--those life forms that are too small to see without a microscope. Specifically, she wanted to understand the microbes that lived inside other organisms like plants and people. This popular science book takes the layman on a broad survey of the role of microbes in nature and illustrates their importance to the existence of everything: atmosphere, soil, plants, and us. More on the story at www.abeautiful.world

    Goodbye to Daphne Sheldrick, Empress of Orphan Elephants

    Play Episode Listen Later May 7, 2018 4:11


    Dame Daphne Sheldrick, Empress of Orphaned Elephants passed away last month in Kenya. She was surrounded by friends and family, including her beloved elephants. After Daphne died, the elephants in the nursery did the did the most amazing thing. Listed to Daphne's daughter, Angela describe what happened. More on the story at www.abeautiful.world

    Noah the Bird Nerd

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 22, 2018 4:30


    Noah Strycker saw half the birds on earth in one calendar year, hear more about his epic journey and get details about his latest book "Birds of the Photo Ark" at https://www.abeautiful.world/stories/noah-the-bird-nerd/

    Jane the Death Doula

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 6, 2018 4:33


    Jane Whitlock is a Death Doula, a coach for people facing end-of-life decisions. More on the story at https://www.abeautiful.world/stories/1335/

    Ocean Sanctuaries Can Save the Seas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 26, 2018 4:19


    Enrique Sala and his organization "Pristine Seas" create ocean sanctuaries all around the world. Dr. Enric Sala speaks about his new book, 'Pristine Seas: The Oceans Last Wild Places,' which reveals the remaining untouched corners of the ocean and what we can do to save them. "A Beautiful World" is a news program produced by American Public Media that focuses on inspirational stories from around the world, featuring good news about science, technology, ecology, art, music and medicine. The program is hosted by Heather McElhatton. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Pristine Seas

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 25, 2018 4:19


    Dr. Enric Sala speaks about his new book, 'Pristine Seas: The Oceans Last Wild Places,' which reveals the remaining untouched corners of the ocean and what we can do to save them. "A Beautiful World" is a news program produced by American Public Media that focuses on inspirational stories from around the world, featuring good news about science, technology, ecology, art, music and medicine. The program is hosted by best-selling author Heather McElhatton. Visit www.mpr.org/abeautifulworld for more stories and audio collections. A Beautiful World Podcast: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/a-bea…id986469943?mt=2

    Grandmas Funeral Didn't Go As Planned

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2018 3:38


    Grandmas Funeral Didn't Go As Planned by Heather McElhatton

    Jane Goodall on Following Your Heart

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2018 4:32


    Jane Goodall on Following Your Heart by Heather McElhatton

    Rebels Renegades and Wild Women of History

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2018 50:34


    We celebrate Women's History Month 2018 by looking at Rebels, Renegades and Wild women in History - Featuring Susan B. Anthony, Dr. Jane Goodall, Annie Griffiths, Geena Davis and Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls. More at www.abeautiful.world

    Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2018 4:28


    Authors Elena Favilli and Francesca Cavallo have assembled a series of unusual fairy tales for children, featuring all true stories about amazing women around the world. Read more at: http://www.abeautiful.world/stories/goodnight-stories-for-rebel-girls/

    Ripple Effect Images - Womens History Month

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 9, 2018 5:00


    Heather McElhatton speaks with Annie Griffiths, one of the first female photographers at National Geographic and now the Executive Director of "Ripple Effect Images," a collaboration of professional photographers and filmmakers, who collaborate with aid organizations in attempt to help women in the developing world. See and read more at http://www.abeautiful.world/stories/ripple-effect-images/

    The Water Guardians

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2017 4:06


    More at www.abeautiful.world

    Nile Water Musicians

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2017 4:13


    The Nile Project was created by Mina Girgis and other musicians along the Nile River, who all come from different cultures and countries. Many of the performers cannot speak to each other because of language barriers, but they perform onstage seamlessly in order to bring awareness to the Nile River and solve trans-boundary water conflicts. More on the story at www.abeautiful.world

    Viral Dalal

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 24, 2017 4:28


    Viral Dalal by Heather McElhatton

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