The Next Big Thing

Temporary Retreat

Show #330

Friday, March 21, 2003

We sidestep the big picture and dwell in the more intimate realm of dreams and nightmares – the dream of a mother’s return, the nightmare no one else has. Also, radio milestones – from early wire recordings to the voices of Chinese women on a revolutionary talk show. And finally, the breathtakingly beautiful voice of Ethiopian pop star Gigi.

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History on a Wire

In 1946, the United States began nuclear testing on the Bikini Atoll in the Pacific. Few people were witness to those tests. One of them was broadcaster Don Mozley, who came into possession of the only live radio broadcast from that day. Archival wire recording restored by Art Shifrin.

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Old Sounds

Audio restorer Art Shifrin has a passion. He takes old, crackling wire recordings and creates from them clear audio sound, providing glimpses into the earliest days of recording. Here he shares some of his radio gems, straight from the wire. Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.

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Mom Talks Back

Next Big Thing contributor Jesse Green used to talk to his mother every day. She died over a year ago, but he is determined to call her up for one more conversation – about life, death, and… basket weaving. Produced by Emily Botein.

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Voices of China

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a new voice was heard on Chinese radio. In fact, there many new voices – of women, calling and writing daily talk show host Xinran with stories and questions, on topics ranging from forced marriage to how to get pregnant. Xinran speaks with host Dean Olsher about what she learned from her listeners at Radio Nanjing. Xinran’s book, The Good Women of China: Hidden Voices, was published in October. Produced by Michael Kavanagh.

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The Nightmares of Meg Wolitzer

Writer Meg Wolitzer has nightmares, and they’re like no one else’s. Or, at least, they didn’t used to be. But now that’s changed, and she’s finding there’s a strange comfort in having the same nightmare as everyone else. Meg wrote this radio play, which features her, Jonathan Freeman, Mary Testa and Robert Stanton. Produced by Curtis Fox.

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Pop Music Ethiopian Style

Ethiopian pop star Gigi has taken her continent by storm. She visits our studio with a stack of CD’s in hand, to walk host Dean Olsher through her musical influences, from Christian Orthodox church music to American jazz. Playlist: “Sew Argen” (Gigi, Palm Pictures, 2001); “Chant Liturgique en Ezel” (Ethiopia¸ Air Mail Music); “Abatatchen Hoy (Pater Noster)” (Ethiopiques 11: Alèmu Aga, Buda Musique, 2002); and "Tezeta - Mahmoud Ahmed" (Ethiopiques 10: Tezeta, Buda Musique, 2002). Produced by Amanda Aronczyk.