The Not Old - Better Show

The Not Old Better Show Interview series, Author Mike Massimino, "Spaceman," (full length version) As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living series, our guest today on The Not Old Better Show is Astronaut Mike Massimino. Mike's new book, "Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey To Unlock The Secrets of the Universe" is wonderful, and in this, extended interview, Mike talks a lot about the book, but about himself as astronaut, survivor, and teacher, as well as his sense of awe about Planet Earth. This interview is a companion to our previous book review of Mike's book, with all new material, discussion and comments. Massimino talks about preparing for life in space, and some of his interesting moments on this planet and far above it. The nerdy science of TV's Big Bang Theory (where Mike played himself on several episodes) is worlds away from breathtaking adventures in outer space, where the immensity of the universe alters perceptions of reality. He tells a compelling story about following a dream and what having the "right stuff" really means—at NASA, in space, and in life. Give a listen to today's show, featuring a very interesting subject, and told by a very interesting person with great science, passion and experience! Enjoy. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Not Old Better Show Interview series, Rob Kapilow, What Makes It Great, Smithsonian Associates As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living series, our guest today on the Not Old Better Show is composer, performer, podcaster, radio show host, and music expert, Rob Kapilow. Rob is well known for so many things, but his "What Makes It Great" series is perhaps a "go to" resource on music. There's "FamilyMusick," for kids, and Rob is well known for his "Polar Express," "Green Eggs & Hamadeus," and his vocal score companion, "Dr Suess' Gertrude McFuzz," Kapilow's "Citypieces," with communities, and places in history, including his work with the Blackfeet tribe titled, "Summer Sun, Winter Moon" are stunning. Just a lot of brilliant work. Rob's new ebook, "What Makes It Great, Enhanced Edition," is out now, too, and can be found HERE. Rob, along with a group accompanying him, will share music from Harold Arlen, who wrote over 500 songs, many, many well known, but Arlen himself isn't so well known. None other than George Gershwin called him "the most original of all of us," he won an Oscar, and had many hits, and yet he's largely unfamiliar to many of us. Any fan of the Great American Songbook could hum a few bars of "Over the Rainbow," "Stormy Weather" or "That Old Black Magic" without having to think too hard. And yet, the composer of those songs remains little known. His songs are so alive that many major singers, including Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and even George Harrison, here singing "Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea." All that changes Sunday night, October 30, when Rob Kapilow will be presenting "What Makes It Great," (I think I counted 21 seasons of "What Makes It Great,") in Washington DC, at the Baird Auditorium, and the program begins at 6 PM, sharp. I'll be there. Those who know Rob, know of his work, and know of his 21 seasons of "What Makes In Great" on NPR, agree that Rob is a born teacher, a motivational speaker, and game show host, all rolled into one," according to the Boston Globe. Audiences agree. Join Rob and guests on Oct. 30, 2016, for Smithsonian Associates series, co-presented by Washington Performing Arts, and tickets are HERE. Enjoy. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Not Old Better Show Interview series, Kathryn Johnson, Write a Novel in a Month, Smithsonian Associates As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living series, our guest today on the Not Old Better Show is writer, educator, blogger, and mentor, Kathryn Johnson. Kathryn is well known for so many things, but her own writing, which we'll touch on today on the Not Old Better Show. Kathryn is teaching the day long course, from Smithsonian Associates, "Write a Novel in a Month," October 29, 2016, Ripley Center, Washington DC. You can find out more HERE, at smithsonianassociates.org Kathryn teaches as The Writer's Center in Bethesda, Maryland, and is the author of more than 40 published novels. You can learn more about Kathryn at her web site HERE. Bring your pad, and pen, or a fully charged laptop, and get ready to write your novel, during Write a Novel a Month. My math tells me, based on the average size of a novel at 50,000 words, that is about 1600 words each day! Enjoy. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Not Old Better Show Interview series, Dr Sarah Shomstein, Brain Scientist, Smithsonian Associates As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living series, our guest today on the Not Old Better Show is Dr. Sarah Shomstein. Dr Shomstein will appear at the Ripley Center, Oct. 19, 2016, and will be speaking on the subject of "The Brain in a Digital Age." Born in the Kiev, Russia, now the Ukraine, Sarah Shomstein is an Associate Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, and Director of the Cognitive Neuroscience Program, at the George Washington University. Her research interests are focused on investigating the neural mechanisms of attentional selection by combining both behavioral and neuroimaging techniques in normals as well as brain damaged populations. In her spare time she plays squash, skis, scuba dives, travels, attends art exhibits, and perfects her photography skills. According to Shomstein, because the brain isn't able to process the amount of information coming at us all at once, it has developed a way to select a subset of information for further processing. The critical question, she says, is how the brain chooses what to process first and what to process next. She addresses the science behind that question and suggests ways we might enhance the brain's ability to keep us focused. So pay attention! Give a listen to today's show, featuring a very interesting subject, and told by a very interesting person with great science, passion and research by her side! Enjoy. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Not Old Better Show Interview series, Author Mike Massimino, "Spaceman," at Smithsonian As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living series, our guest today on the Not Old Better Show is Astronaut Mike Massimino. Mike Massimino has authored the recent book, "Spaceman: An Astronaut's Unlikely Journey to Unlock the Secrets of the Universe." Massimino, a 6-foot-3, blue-collar kid from Long Island with poor eyesight and a fear of heights is not what you'd call a surefire bet for the space program. But Mike Massimino is no ordinary guy. He was an astronaut with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and is the veteran of two NASA space flights: STS-109, aboard space shuttle Columbia in March 2002, and STS-125, aboard space shuttle Atlantis in May 2009. His final mission was to repair the Hubble Space Telescope in 2009. Massimino talks about preparing for life in space, and some of his interesting moments on this planet and far above it. The nerdy science of TV's Big Bang Theory (where Mike played himself on several episodes) is worlds away from breathtaking adventures in outer space, where the immensity of the universe alters perceptions of reality. He tells a compelling story about following a dream and what having the "right stuff" really means—at NASA, in space, and in life. Give a listen to today's show, featuring a very interesting subject, and told by a very interesting person with great science, passion and experience! Enjoy. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Smithsonian's Grand Opening of National Museum of African American History & Culture... Renowned Ballet Dance, Lauren Anderson's Toe Shoes Enshrined... The Not Old Better Show celebrates the Grand Opening of the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Renowned ballet dancer, Lauren Anderson, has her ballet toe shoes enshrined and featured in our video. Enjoy. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Not Old - Better Show Interview series, Author Jodi Picoult at Smithsonian As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living series, our guest today on the Not Old Better Show is Jodi Picoult. Jodi Picoult, the best-selling author of 26 novels, is one of the most popular fiction writers today, but that doesn't mean her books are easy reads. Picoult has addressed some tough topics in her novels, including the death penalty, stem-cell research, and child abuse, among others. She prepares for each book with extensive research, sometimes investigating medical, scientific, and ethical issues. Her newest novel,Small Great Things follows an African American nurse who clashes with the white supremacist parents of a critically ill newborn—a confrontation that moves from the delivery room into the courtroom. (the title refers to MLK quote: "If I cannot do great things, I can do small things that are great." ) Jodi will be at the Baird Auditorium, Washington, DC, Oct. 26, and tickets, including Jodi's new book, Small, Great, Things, are available at the Smithsonian Associates ticket web site: HERE. Enjoy. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Not Old - Better Show Interview series: Chef Kwame Onwuachi, Top Chef, & Guest Lecturer, Smithsonian Associates. As part of our Smithsonian Associates, Art of Living series, our guest today on the Not Old Better Show is chef Kwame Onwuachi. Born in the Bronx and trained in classical French cuisine at the Culinary Institute of America, Kwame Onwuachi works as the Executive Chef of The Shaw Bijou in Washington, D.C. His interest in food was sparked by his mother who operated a catering company while he was growing up. Kwame started his own catering company at the age of 20 before working in some highly regarded restaurants including New York's Eleven Madison Park and Per Se. He has traveled the world learning different types of cuisines and cultures and worked on oil rigs, specifically "Deepwater Horizon," which is a very interesting story! His philosophy on cooking can best be defined as telling a story through food. Kwame was also a contestant on Top Chef. Give a listen to today's show, featuring a very interesting man, with a great story and a great future. Please note: Chef Kwame Onwuachi will be appearing at the Ripley Auditorium, Washington DC, Oct. 24, 2016. However, the event is currently SOLD OUT. If you are interested in being placed on the "waiting list," please call Smithsonian Associates: 202 633 3030 Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

The Not Old Better Show Interview Series: Weird Al Yankovic Concert. Weird Al Yankovic has outlasted, and in some cases outsold, the artists whose songs he's parodied. Weird Al has been the king of parody for 30 years. He's won three Grammys and he's released his 14th album. It's called "Mandatory Fun." Weird Al Yankovic joins me from his 2016 summer tour. Join me for our concert review and interview with Weird Al. Enjoy. Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

THE NOT OLD BETTER SHOW MOVIE REVIEW & INTERVIEW: "EIGHT DAYS A WEEK, THE TOURING YEARS," FROM RON HOWARD... Just when you thought you knew everything there was to know about the Beatles, Ron Howard has uncovered new things about the Fab Four for the upcoming documentary, The Beatles: Eight Days a Week -- The Touring Years. Welcome to The Not Old Better Show Movie Review and Interview: Ron Howard, and his new film, The Beatles: Eight Days a Week – The Touring Years. The film traces John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr from 1962-1966 during the years that they became a phenomenon. Ron Howard was a kid at the time, playing Opie on The Andy Griffith Show, and he (like everyone else in our Not Old Better audience) found himself swept up in Beatlemania. Howard watched as the Beatles debuted on Ed Sullivan, toured the US, and eventually decided touring wasn't the band wanted to do. The Beatles, whether performing live, or on their recordings, never held anything back. They had no reason to. But, The Beatles, due to increasing pressure of touring, had many reasons to cease live concert performances. While we can still see "The Cute One" who's out touring now, and of course Ringo is still with us, but for those of us not able to ever see them together live, this film in its audio brilliance, along with mesmerizing video footage recreates that magic, and it's guaranteed to raise a big smile on your face and well worth the price of admission. Enjoy! Talk About Better™ The Not Old Better Show on Radio & Podcast! Hosted by Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.