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The Brian Lehrer Show

Tuesday, March 11, 2003
  • Automated Sincerity

    "We want them to sound like your best friend," says voice designer Blade Kotelly. His company created the buttery "woman" answering Amtrak's phone and "Tom" who "works" for United Airlines. Taking service-with-a-smile to a new level, virtual service representatives are quickly becoming as ubiquitous as cell phones. Also on the show, Some anti-war protesters have suggested a war on Iraq would be meant to satisfy the wishes of American Jews; but what do American Jews really think? Plus, City Council Speaker Gifford Miller, the latest from Cameroon, and the BBC's Robin Lustig.

Das ist Lustig

Robin Lustig, host of BBC World Service's Newshour , on Blair's approval ratings and the British amendment to 1441

Cameroon Conundrum

Kate Connolly, foreign correspondent for the Daily Telegraph, on the mouse that may roar

The Art of Faking Sincerity

Blade Kotelly, creative director of interface design at Speechworks www.speechworks.com , the maker of Julie from Amtrak and author of The Art and Business of Speech Recognition: Creating the Noble Voice (Addison Wesley, 2003) and Julie Seitter, "the Amtrak lady," on virtual customer service representatives

Gifford Differed

Gifford Miller, City Council Speaker (D-5th district), on the anti-war resolution and other items from the City Council

What Jew Think?

David Harris, executive director of the American Jewish Committee, analyzes American Jewish opinion on Iraq

Open Phones

Listeners call on Bush's motivation in going to war

Your Fab Cab

The Brian Lehrer Show

Who is in your fantasy Obama cabinet? Pick anyone!

Word from Abroad

The Brian Lehrer Show

John Burns, London bureau chief for the New York Times, reflects on his work in China, Afghanistan, Yugoslavia, and Iraq.

Chief of Technology

The Brian Lehrer Show

Andrew Rasiej, founder of Personal Democracy Forum, talks about the potential presidential cabinet position of Chief Technology Officer. Who's in your fantasy cabinet? Visit our Fab Cab page and let us know.

Digesting Politics

A weekly podcast with Brian Lehrer and Andrea Bernstein

New Episode Posted November 13
Eavesdrop on Andrea Bernstein and Brian Lehrer, two of the most political savvy minds around, as they eat lunch and break down the week’s political activities.

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