The Next Big Thing

On and On

Show #550

Friday, August 12, 2005

Some things are seemingly endless - the minutiae of tax law, the training that goes into becoming a professional body builder, or that now-famous vocal interlude that launched Donna Summer to the top of the charts. And then there are things that ARE endless. Like infinity. This week, we dissect all that goes on and on, with the help of astrophysicist Janna Levin, writer Sven Lindqvist, and voice coach Betsy Parrish.

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Mini Revolutions

Heard at the Living Room on Manhattan's Lower East Side: a collection of 78s, spun by DJ slash record archivist Matt Barton. Recorded by Laura Starecheski.

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The Fact of Infinity

The idea of infinity can make you crazy if you really stop to think about it. That's where Dr. Janna Levin comes in. She's an astrophysicist who specializes in chaos theory and cosmology, and she tries to assuage Dean's fears about living in a universe that never ends.

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As the World Turns

Scenes from a 1940's radio drama that illuminates Copernicus's humbling discovery about our place in the universe.

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Bench Press

Every once in a while, a writer comes along who perfectly captures the sporting world. Baseball has Roger Angell. Boxing has Norman Mailer. And now body building has Swedish writer Sven Lindqvist. Excerpts read by Pejk Malinovski. Produced by Michael Kavanagh.

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Memories of Tax

Josh Kornbluth, Photograph by Mark Leialoha Few people look forward to tax season. Even fewer look back to tax seasons past. But then most people have not met tax attorneys like Bob Shelby and Mo Glass – characters from Josh Kornbluth's one-man show, "Love and Taxes." Kornbluth performs adapted excerpts of his show for The Next Big Thing. Produced by Julie Subrin.

Picture right Josh Kornbluth, photograph by Mark Leialoha

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Remembering Joe

Joe Brainard, who died of AIDS complications in 1994, was one of those artists whose talents span nearly every medium. He wrote poems, drew cartoons, sculpted, painted, and made collages. One of his favorite collaborators was the poet Ron Padgett, who wrote a book about his lifelong friend. Padgett shares some of his recollections with Dean Olsher. Produced by Pejk Malinovski.

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Henry Sings

Henry Alford is a writer and actor. Now he'd like to add singing to his skill set. And so he goes to cabaret singer and voice coach Betsy Parrish for help in mastering one of his favorite tunes. Produced by Julie Subrin.

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Performance Anxieties

Donna Summer, a devout Christian, came to regret the 16 minutes and 48 seconds of moaning and groaning that launched her musical career in the U.S. But as Dean observes, "Love to Love You, Baby" fits into (while expanding) a fine tradition of musical climaxes.