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An aerial view of Greenwich Plains, MA with Quabbin Lake in the background (Quabbin by Michael Tougias)The Devil Incarnate
Host Dean Olsher bakes with Cake Bible author and consummate perfectionist Rose Levy Beranbaum. Former residents of the Swift River Valley in Massachusetts describe life before and after their home towns were replaced by drinking water. Philip and Elena Lister recall the conviction with which their daughter Liza lived and died. Also, music this week from Icelandic singer-songwriter Emiliana Torrini.
This Week in History
A review of important moments in history with the help of vocal acrobat Zero Boy, who renders them in sound.
» More on Zero Boy
Stories from Below the Quabbin
In the early 20th century, the city of Boston found itself headed toward a water shortage. To the west, the Swift River Valley seemed to offer an ideal solution – an elevated valley that could be turned into a reservoir. The only problem? The 2500 people settled there. Sean Cole, of WBUR’s documentary unit "Inside Out," collected these stories from former residents of the valley for his documentary, "Haunting the Quabbin."
» To listen to the rest of Sean Cole's "Haunting the Quabbin," visit WBUR’s Inside Out website
Quiet Music, Part 1
Icelandic singer-songwriter Emiliana Torrini is best known for having written a number one hit for Australian pop star Kylie Minogue, and for singing "Gollum’s Song" for "The Lord of the Rings." Today Emiliana performs songs accompanied only by guitarist Dan Carey. Produced by Matt Lieber.
Listen to two more songs recorded that day:
» "Heartstopper"
» "Today Has Been OK"
» For more on Emiliana Torrini, visit her website
The Science of Louis Armstrong
Violinist and professor Matt Glaser explores an infinite amount of information in a finite amount of space.
A Short Good Life
When Liza Lister was first diagnosed with leukemia at age four, her parents hoped she would still have a chance to grow up. She never did. And yet the way that she guided them through her death suggests that she held an understanding of life many adults never attain. Produced by Emily Botein.
Zen and the Art of Baking a Cake
When Rose Levy Beranbaum was writing her award-winning cookbook, The Cake Bible, she tested every recipe over and over until it finally, consistently, led to the results she was looking for. And now she’s testing again – on this particular day, trying to determine which type of cocoa works best for her "Perfect All-American Chocolate Butter Cake." Rose talks to Dean about the pleasures and pains of pursuing perfection. Produced by Emily Botein.
» Feel like baking one of Rose’s cakes? Visit her website
