In the climactic scene of Tom Robbins’ novel Skinny Legs and All, the lead character performs the dance of the seven veils. With each veil removed, a truth about life is revealed.
One of them states, “the reason we are here is to enlighten the mind, enlarge the soul and liberate the spirit.”
I’ve grown to appreciate public radio more than ever before this past year, possibly because its mission is to provide programming that does all of the above. As I started graduate school I realized just how important public radio is to me. I found myself citing programs and interviews I’d heard or found on their site, such as StoryCorps, Fresh Air, and This American Life. (Free podcasts have made the shows even more accessible.) Frequently these shows help bring together my artistic and academic goals. For example, I’m considering an audio doc based on StoryCorps for my thesis.
So set aside some free time if you can and check out the National Public Radio year in review.