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On this week’s 51%, we speak with feminist icons Gloria Steinem and Leymah Gbowee about their new children's book, "Rise, Girl, Rise: Our Sister-Friend Journey. Together for All." Describing their unique paths as feminists fighting for gender equality and peace, "Rise, Girl, Rise," reminds readers young and old of the power of collective action and global sisterhood. We also meet a fashion designer in New York's Capital Region who crafted the inauguration suit for the city of Albany's first Black mayor.

(Airs 02/12/26 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with Lola Brabham, President of The Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities (CICU), about their 2026 legislative agenda and how they hope to make up financial cuts to New York’s higher education institutions in the Big Beautiful Bill.

Matthew Pearl, the bestselling author of "The Dante Club" returns to fiction with a sharp, darkly comic novel, "The Award," that peels back the layers of literary ambition. It is about an earnest young writer trying to find his footing in a world teeming with literary aspiration, one where ambition can warp judgment, and where a single moment of recognition can tip a life off its axis.

The use of energy by artificial intelligence technology is rapidly increasing. Massive data centers performing the intense computation needed for training large models are consuming huge amounts of energy. Last year, AI consumed over 4% of U.S. electricity, putting a real strain on electric grids. Projections are that AI energy demand will more than double by 2040.

(Airs 01/29/26 @ 3 p.m.) WAMC’s David Guistina in conversation with New York State Inspector General Lucy Lang, and a special guest, about the 40th birthday of the office, as well as the history of the role in American history.

On this week's 51%, we chat about The New Rules of Women's Health with veteran health journalist Meghan Rabbitt. For too long, Rabbitt says the broader medical field has limited conversations around women's health to "bikini medicine" — reproductive concerns and breast health — while otherwise assuming women have the same bodies as men. But women have their own unique health needs, and often experience diseases in different ways. Rabbitt's new guide compiles the knowledge of more than 130 medical experts to help women address all aspects of their health at any age.

Climate disasters have become increasingly commonplace and increasingly destructive. The worst year was 2017 where a combination of devastating hurricane and wildfires resulted in $300 billion in damages. But 2025 has been one of the costliest years as well with economic losses of $120 billion spanning four continents.

The United States took many backward steps with respect to the environment over the past year. Elsewhere, there was some progress by governments and other organizations in efforts to protect the natural world, preserve ecosystems, and establish policies to benefit the environment.

(Airs 01/30/26 @ 3 p.m. & 02/01/26 @ 6 p.m.) The Media Project is an inside look at media coverage of current events with former Times Union Editor, current Upstate American, Substack columnist Rex Smith, Judy Patrick, former Editor of The Daily Gazette and former Vice President for Editorial Development for the New York Press Association, and Barbara Lombardo, Adjunct Professor at the University at Albany and former Editor of The Saratogian. On this week’s Media Project, Rex, Judy, and Barbara talk about the future of CBS news, tips for journalists covering ICE action and protests in Minnesota, a new newspaper in California called The California Post, and much more.

(Airs 01/30/26 @ 10 p.m.) The Legislative Gazette is a weekly program about New York State Government and politics. On this week’s Gazette: A New York Congressman calls for ICE to be abolished, advocates are hoping that recent policy changes will make a difference in the state’s child poverty rate, and we’ll talk with the state Inspector General about the agency’s 40th birthday.