Tell Me More on WRVO-1: NPR News

Tattoos Still Taboo?

editor — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:40:00 +0000

America has a love/hate relationship with tattoos, but body ink is becoming more and more mainstream. Host Michel Martin speaks with Fatty, the owner of Fatty's Custom Tattooz in Washington, D.C, about America's fascination with tattoos, and the fading cultural taboos.

The Argument For Stop-And-Frisk

editor — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:35:00 +0000

Arguments in a court challenge against New York's stop-and-frisk policy wrapped up earlier this week. Critics say the policy promotes racial profiling. But host Michel Martin speaks with Heidi Grossman, New York City's lead attorney in the trial, to hear the Police Department's side of the story.

Styling The NBA

editor — Wed, 22 May 2013 16:35:00 +0000

Basketball star Carmelo Anthony is known off the court for his signature fashion flare. Host Michel Martin speaks with his stylist, Khalilah Williams-Webb, about what goes into dressing Anthony and other high-profile clients.

Getting Rid Of My Breasts, A Lot Of People Didn't Understand

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 17:02:00 +0000

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

I'm Michel Martin and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. They say it takes a village to raise a child, but maybe you just need a few moms in your corner. Every week, we check in with a diverse group of parents for their common sense and savvy advice.

Today, though, we are talking about a difficult decision that both mothers and daughters face, sometimes together.

The Difficulties Of Proving Racial Profiling

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:05:00 +0000

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

I'm Michel Martin, and this is TELL ME MORE, from NPR News. We'd like to start today by mentioning that, as you would imagine, NPR is continuing to follow developments concerning that deadly tornado that struck Oklahoma yesterday. We hope you will stay tuned to your public radio station or check our website, npr.org, for the latest updates.

Now, though, we are going to turn to the debate about balancing safety and civil liberties in New York City.

Market At Record Highs, Why Is Investment At Record Lows?

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:05:00 +0000

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

We're going to switch gears now and take another look at the stock market. Last week about the same time, we talked about how the Dow has been hitting record highs, but did you know that stock ownership in this country is at record lows? According to a recent Gallup poll, only about half of Americans, 52 percent, now own stocks. That's the lowest level since Gallup started tracking that number back in 1998.

We wondered what, if anything, that means, so we've called, once again, upon one of our money coaches, Roben Farzad.

My Social Security Number Is Posted Where?

editor — Tue, 21 May 2013 16:05:00 +0000

Sensitive personal information belonging to thousands of applicants to a government phone program was exposed to the public on the Internet, according to a new investigative report from Scripps Howard News Service.

The federal program is called Lifeline, and it reimburses phone companies for providing service to low-income Americans.

Scripps reporter Isaac Wolf says he was able to access more than 100,000 records from one of those private

Decades Of History Behind IRS Flap

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:21:00 +0000

Host Michel Martin looks into why some non-profits are tax exempt, and how something like the recent IRS flap could happen. She speaks with David Cay Johnston, a columnist for Tax Analysts and reporter Brentin Mock of Colorlines.com.

Christine Ha: From MasterChef To Home Kitchen

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:21:00 +0000

When Christine Ha won MasterChef in 2012, she blew the reality TV show judges away with her Vietnamese influenced cooking. But what really impressed viewers was that she had total control in the kitchen, even though she's blind. Host Michel Martin speaks to Christine Ha about her new cookbook Recipes from my Home Kitchen.

'Scandal' Creates Twitter Frenzy

editor — Mon, 20 May 2013 16:21:00 +0000

Social media was ablaze during the season finale of ABC's hit political thriller Scandal. Host Michel Martin asks Gene Demby, blogger for NPR's Code Switch team, what it is about the show that makes it ripe for Twitter chatter — especially among African Americans.

How Best To Encourage Black 'Teenpreneurs'

editor — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:31:00 +0000

Transcript

CELESTE HEADLEE, HOST:

This is TELL ME MORE, from NPR News. Michel Martin is away. I'm Celeste Headlee. Coming up, it's National Bike to Work Day, but many millennials prefer two wheels to four. Why more 20-somethings are driving less. That's just ahead.

But first, African-American entrepreneurs from all over the country gathered in Columbus, Ohio this week to talk about spurring investment in black-owned businesses. The Black Enterprise Entrepreneur's Conference attracted big names, like basketball-star-turned-businessman Magic Johnson.

Nearly Half The Country Doesn't Know Health Law Exists

editor — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:31:00 +0000

Transcript

CELESTE HEADLEE, HOST:

I'm Celeste Headlee and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Michel Martin is away. Coming up, we go to Ohio where black business owners are meeting to swap some new ideas. Basketball legend Magic Johnson even got a lead on an investment there. We'll tell you more about that in just a few minutes. But first, House Republicans voted yesterday to repeal President Obama's signature healthcare law - again.

That is the 37th time that they have voted to either repeal or de-fund all or part of that law.

Could The President's Week Get Any Worse?

editor — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:31:00 +0000

Transcript

CELESTE HEADLEE, HOST:

I'm Celeste Headlee. This is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Michel Martin is away and it is time yet again for a visit to the Barbershop. That's where the guys talk about what's in the news, what's on their minds.

And sitting in the chairs for a shape-up this week, writer and culture critic Jimi Izrael. He joins us from Chicago. Here in Washington, civil rights attorney Arsalan Iftikhar. Also in D.C. with me, Corey Dade. He's a contributing editor for The Root. And, in New York City, Kevin Williamson joins us.

Gosnell Verdict Raises Questions About Access To Abortions

editor — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:32:00 +0000

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

I'm Michel Martin and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Later in the program family members of both the suspects in the Cleveland kidnappings and the Boston Marathon bombings have denounced them. And that made us wonder about the family members of other people who have been accused of horrible acts.

From Fame's Leroy To Jay-Z

NPR Staff — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:32:00 +0000

Looking for Leroy is a new book by Mark Anthony Neal that takes a look at how high profile black men like Jay-Z, Denzel Washington and Barack Obama shape our perceptions of black masculinity in America. He sat down with Tell Me More's Michel Martin.

Inspired by Fame

The "Leroy" in the title refers to the character played by actor Gene Anthony Ray in the 80s movie and television show Fame. Neal says he was "fascinated by this character.

When Your Dad Is A Killer, How Do You Cope?

editor — Thu, 16 May 2013 16:32:00 +0000

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

I'm Michel Martin and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Later in the program we will speak with writer and scholar Mark Anthony Neal about his new book, "Looking For Leroy." It's about how black men on stage, screen and on the radio shape and reshape how we think about black men in everyday life. That's in just a few minutes.

But first, we want to touch on one of the stories that's both fascinated and appalled this country recently.

Play Ball: Little Leaguers Get Assist From 'Pitch In' Charity

Bill Chappell — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:26:00 +0000

This year's Little League baseball and softball season is under way — and in the Northeast, some teams and players have taken the field again, despite losing vital equipment to Hurricane Sandy. Many donations were handled by Pitch In For Baseball, which gathered used and new gloves and helmets for the players.

In February, the organization announced it would provide equipment worth $150,000 to baseball and softball players in the New York region.

DOJ Seized Records Because 'Lives Were At Stake.' Really?

editor — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:03:00 +0000

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

This is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. I'm Michel Martin. Later in the program we'll talk about a story that another U.S. service member is being investigated for sexually abusing subordinates. This after a survey showed that service members reported tens of thousands of sexual assaults last year alone.

Actress Regina King On Why She Loves 'The Sandlot'

editor — Wed, 15 May 2013 16:03:00 +0000

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

Next, our colleagues at the NPR program WEEKENDS on ALL THINGS CONSIDERED have been asking some of their guests - particularly people in the film business - about the movies that they never get tired of watching.

Today, we hear from actress Regina King.

American Doctors Reach Out To Syria

editor — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:54:00 +0000

The civil war in Syria feels far away for many Americans. But it hits close to home for one Chicago doctor and has pulled him, and many of his colleagues, to the front lines.

Tell Me More host Michel Martin spoke with Dr.

Why Should We Care About The Stock Market?

editor — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:26:00 +0000

The Dow Jones Industrial Average recently shot beyond 15,000 points for the first time ever. But to ordinary Americans, it might not seem relevant — given unemployment rates and stagnant wages. Host Michel Martin speaks with personal finance guru Alvin Hall about why the stock market matters.

Are 'Tiger Babies' Breaking The Cycle?

editor — Tue, 14 May 2013 16:26:00 +0000

Chinese-American mom Amy Chua sparked a firestorm in the parenting world with her book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother. She credited her strict Asian-American parenting style with her kids' success. But what are the downsides? Host Michel Martin is joined by Asian-American parents to talk about how they're now bringing up their own kids.

Is The Housing Recovery Just A Mirage?

editor — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:57:00 +0000

Experts say the housing market is recovering, but the percentage of Americans who own homes is lower than it was a decade ago. Host Michel Martin speaks to Time's Rana Foroohar who looks at this and other paradoxes in the housing market, and asks if the recovery is really just a mirage.

Should Food Stamps Pay To Indulge A Sweet Tooth?

editor — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:57:00 +0000

Millions of Americans rely on food stamps to keep from going hungry. They can also use them to buy sugary drinks. Some groups, including the National Center for Public Policy Research, say that's not right. Host Michel Martin discusses this with the Center's Justin Danhof, and University of Illinois Professor Craig Gundersen.

Is GOP Overtime Bill Family Friendly?

editor — Mon, 13 May 2013 15:57:00 +0000

House Republicans just passed a bill they say will help people juggle work and family. Supporters say the bill gives workers more flexibility by letting them trade for time off. But critics, including Senate Democrats, say it's just a ploy to pay workers less money. Host Michel Martin learns more from NPR's Senior Business Editor, Marilyn Geewax.

Like 'Lazarus,' Mark Sanford Returns To Office

editor — Fri, 10 May 2013 16:09:00 +0000

Former South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford can soon add the title 'United States Representative' to his name. And an announcement that New Jersey Governor Chris Christie made regarding his weight has people talking. Host Michel Martin catches up on the some of this week's political news with commentators Keli Goff and Mary Kate Cary.

Does It Matter 'Hero' Charles Ramsey Has A Criminal Past?

editor — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:25:00 +0000

It's been a riveting week as the nation watched the story of three missing women reuniting with family members in Cleveland. The women were kidnapped during separate incidents several years ago and were imprisoned in the same house. Host Michel Martin talks to the barbershop guys about the many threads of this story.

Making Peace With The Bible By Writing It Out Word For Word

editor — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:25:00 +0000

Reading the Bible from cover to cover might seem like a heavy task. But what about writing it? Host Michel Martin speaks with Phillip Patterson, who is just two verses away from writing out the whole King James Bible. He talks about how he kept the faith in spite of loss and illness.

Immigration Comments Touch Nerve With 'Diverse' Canadians

editor — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:25:00 +0000

Host Michel Martin and editor Ammad Omar dip into Tell Me More listeners' letters to get their take on the week's top stories. This week, Canadian listeners take exception to a comment made on Thursday's show.

Cleveland Hostage's Mom 'Died Of A Broken Heart'

editor — Thu, 09 May 2013 16:17:00 +0000

Transcript

MICHEL MARTIN, HOST:

I'm Michel Martin and this is TELL ME MORE from NPR News. Coming up, kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart spoke out earlier this week about lessons she hopes others will learn from her ordeal, including how to talk to young women about sex. We'll speak with a writer and blogger who shares Smart's Mormon faith about this in just a few minutes.

But first, more on that harrowing story out of Cleveland. Three women are returning to their families after allegedly being held captive for years. Amanda Berry is one of them.