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On the latest 51%, we speak with sociologist Gretchen Sisson about her book Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood. Sisson studies the relationship between abortion and adoption in the U.S., and is part of a team of researchers for "The Turnaway Study" at the University of California, San Francisco. In Relinquished, Sisson compiles a decade's worth of interviews with women who gave their newborns up for adoption through a private adoption agency. In unpacking how some agencies pressure (and rely on) struggling moms to relinquish their children, Sisson pushes back on the idea that adoption is an ethical alternative to abortion, and questions whether it's really a choice at all.Encore Episode.

On the latest 51%, we speak with sociologist Gretchen Sisson about her book Relinquished: The Politics of Adoption and the Privilege of American Motherhood. Sisson studies the relationship between abortion and adoption in the U.S., and is part of a team of researchers for "The Turnaway Study" at the University of California, San Francisco. In Relinquished, Sisson compiles a decade's worth of interviews with women who gave their newborns up for adoption through a private adoption agency. In unpacking how some agencies pressure (and rely on) struggling moms to relinquish their children, Sisson pushes back on the idea that adoption is an ethical alternative to abortion, and questions whether it's really a choice at all.Encore Episode.

In the new book ‘Won’t Back Down: Heartland Rock and the Fight for America,’ music journalist Erin Osmon takes a closer look at the genre often seen as quintessentially American. Popularized by artists like Bruce Springsteen and Ton Petty, Heartland Rock has long told stories of labor, longing, and life on the margins. But Osmon argues that beneath those familiar themes lies a more complicated history one in which these songs had been used to express both solidarity and division.

'Diamond Fever!' is a bit of a departure from Steve Sheinkin's other books and is perfect for emerging readers. Both shorter and faster paced, it also features an engaging mixture of prose and comics from renowned illustrator Jon Chad. With these additions, readers will fully immerse themselves in the Great Diamond Hoax of 1872, a time full of deception, fortune, and greed.Steve Sheinkin and Jon Chad will be at Northshire Bookstore in Saratoga for a talk and signing about 'Diamond Fever' on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 6:00pm. northshire.com. You’re listening to the RT on WAMC.

So, what can we do to feel better about our relationship with money? Financial expert and strategist Lev Mandel has a new book and a workbook out called ‘Money is Weird.’ It offers a place to unpack your history, explore habits, and experiment with new ones; maybe even feel ok about it all. To actually feel confident and safe about your relationship with money.

The book, ‘Drawn by the River,’ explores the rich relationship between comics and the Hudson River Valley. In it, Moira Fitzgibbons connects comics, cartoons, and animation to the region’s artistic legacy - from Hudson River School landscapes to its industrial past - revealing a layered creative ecosystem.She traces the influence of the Western Printing facility, the success of local creators behind ‘ElfQuest,’ and the ways landscape itself shapes visual storytelling.

Historian Victoria Johnson has a gift for uncovering the human stories behind American culture. In her new book, ‘Glorious Country: How the Artist Frederic Church Brought the World to America’ and America to the World, she turns to Frederic Church, the Hudson River School painter whose sweeping landscapes helped define a young nation’s sense of itself.Johnson traces Church’s global travels - from the Arctic to South America - and shows how his art connected American audiences to a wider world.

When the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson, the landmark case overturning Roe v. Wade, it marked a turning point in the lives of millions of Americans. It was also the culmination of a decades-long movement whose grievances were embodied by the man who wrote the court’s opinion: Samuel Anthony Alito Jr.Prize-winning journalist Peter Canellos will tell us about his new book:‘Revenge for the Sixties: Sam Alito and the Triumph of the Conservative Legal Movement.’ It is the first-ever biography of the most pivotal Justice on the Supreme Court whose decisions, like the overturning of Roe, will drive the reshaping of America.

On this week’s 51%, we speak with Meg Stone, violence prevention expert and executive director of IMPACT Boston, about her upcoming book “Don’t Fight Back” And 10 Other Myths About Crime, Personal Safety, and Gender-Based Violence. Stone says a lot of common “safety tips” aimed at protecting women from violence aren’t actually based on quality research and reinforce the power structures that enable abusers in the first place. “Don’t Fight Back” addresses some of the most common myths and equips women with personal safety advice that doesn’t encourage them to make their lives small or accept the status quo.

On this week’s 51%, we speak with Meg Stone, violence prevention expert and executive director of IMPACT Boston, about her upcoming book “Don’t Fight Back” And 10 Other Myths About Crime, Personal Safety, and Gender-Based Violence. Stone says a lot of common “safety tips” aimed at protecting women from violence aren’t actually based on quality research and reinforce the power structures that enable abusers in the first place. “Don’t Fight Back” addresses some of the most common myths and equips women with personal safety advice that doesn’t encourage them to make their lives small or accept the status quo.