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Inside PBS Blog

Insights into PBS programming and personalities

Dr. Oliver Sacks Answers Your Questions

NOVA asked: What can music tell us about our minds? And what can our minds tell us about music? Acclaimed neurologist and author Dr. Oliver Sacks answered in an episode called “Musical Minds.”

Here on Inside PBS, you had a chance to ask Dr. Sacks your own questions… and here are his answers. If you still want to know more, check out NOVA’s Q&A with Dr. Sacks.more

FRONTLINE/World Producer Charlotte Buchen Answers Your Questions

Last week we invited FRONTLINE/World Producer Charlotte Buchen to answer your questions about her story on social entrepreneurship in the Middle East.  Her report,“Egypt: Middle East, Inc.,” followed three students competing in a contest to identify innovative business thinkers in the region. 
Ahmed Youssry is one of the three students viewers got to know through Buchen’s lens. Buchen turned to Youssry for help answering the questions you submitted. Take a look at her answers below.
And don’t forget if you missed the show when it aired on television, you can still watch it online.

Can you please update us on any of the INJAZ contestants and/or any of their competition projects? I just watched the video on the Frontline website and would love to know. Lauramore

Where Are They Now?: The Cast of “I, Claudius”

Several weeks ago, we asked you which of your favorite PBS personalities you’d like to see featured in a “Where Are They Now?” series.  This week, at the request of Twitter user Gerard Donahue, we bring you the cast of “I, Claudius,” the legendary series that ran on Masterpiece Theatre in 1977.

Said to be historically accurate, and one of Masterpiece’s most popular dramas ever, “I, Claudius” follows the story of the Roman Empire from Emperor Augustus to Caligula, including Claudius’ own reign.  Produced by the BBC and based on novels by Robert Graves, the series introduced the world to several actors who went on to have memorable careers in theater and film. 

So where are they now?more

Ask MotorWeek’s John Davis

PBS is home to television’s longest-running automotive series, MotorWeek. Each week host John Davis (who is also the show’s creator and executive producer) offers the latest news about the automotive industry and reviews the newest cars and trucks on the market. The show’s goal is to give car buyers the best information they need to make a smart choice, especially since cars are one of the biggest purchases Americans make.

Davis is widely recognized as an authority among automotive journalists and a trusted voice for consumers. He is often featured in newspapers and on television, including articles in The Washington Post and appearances on CNN. Davis is one of the founders of the North American Car and Truck of The Year Awards, an independent journalistic award. He has also received two Emmy Awards and numerous other honors for his work in automotive journalism.more

The Hot Sheet: July 5-12

As human civilization has evolved, so have its weapons - from arrowheads carved from stone, to nuclear missiles and biowarfare. This week PBS provides insight into the art, history, and effects of weaponry throughout the ages.

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Local PBS Video Goes National

PBS station WHYY caught up with Tom Hanks on the red carpet at the Philadelphia premiere of “Angels and Demons.” Unless you live in the Philly area, you probably missed the interview, which aired on the station’s local film show, Flicks.  Soon, though, you’ll be able to see high quality local productions like this one from across the nation, thanks to the local/national aggregation power of the PBS Video portal.more

Ask Acclaimed Neurologist and Author Oliver Sacks

Music has a profound effect on the human brain. Dr. Oliver Sacks, an acclaimed neurologist and author, has witnessed the therapeutic effects of music first-hand in his treatment of patients with a range of debilitating medical conditions. His findings are featured in tonight’s episode of NOVA, called “Musical Minds,” which asks: What can music tell us about our minds? And what can our minds tell us about music?more

The Hot Sheet: June 29 - July 6

Freedom is a common concept, but the application of freedom is anything but simple. PBS explores the nuances of freedom this week with stories of song, success and struggle.more

The Mosque in Morgantown’s Asra Nomani Answers Your Questions

The final film in the America at a Crossroads series was a documentary called “The Mosque in Morgantown.” In the series finale, viewers followed Asra Nomani as she took her skills as a seasoned journalist and applied them to a personal advocacy campaign for gender equality in her local mosque. The campaign begins in Morgantown, West Virginia, but expands across the country as Nomani’s activism gains momentum.

We invited Nomani to take your questions last week as the film aired on PBS stations across the country. In some cases I have edited or condensed questions for clarity. Here are her responses:more

P.O.V.: Independent Documentaries Deliver Personal Stories from Across the Globe

I’ve never been lucky enough to hit the film festival circuit, so I’ve always been grateful to  P.O.V., now in its 22nd year, for showcasing some of the best documentaries being made today. 

The series’ new season, which begins Tuesday, June 23 (check local listings), explores everything from the power of beliefs - both spiritual and political - to the life-changing force of music, in films that are gripping, timely and inspirational. And the recently redesigned P.O.V. website caters to the film lover, with hours of video, intimate filmmaker interviews and features from all 22 seasons of the documentary series.more