How to Hide an Empire, Raptor Patrol, Owney the Railway Dog

World's First Recorded Sounds Guest: Patrick Feaster, Co-Founder, First Sounds Initiative; Media Preservation Specialist, Media Digitization and Preservation Initiative, Indiana University Until 2008, Thomas Edison was considered the father of recorded sound. That year, an incredible discovery in the vaults of Paris returned credit to Edouard-Leon Scott de Martinville, a 19th-century Frenchman who had dedicated his life to this very pursuit. How sound recording change our view of the world.  A History of the Greater United States Guest: Daniel Immerwahr, Associate Professor, History, Northwestern University, and author, "How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States" Generally when Americans think of their borders, a familiar shape comes to mind—the one beginning with California and ending with Florida. But what about Guam and Puerto Rico? How about the Philippines during WWII? US influence reaches far beyond the borders of its 50 states. Daniel Immerwahr of Northwestern University explains why we might want to this of ourselves as "the greater United States." Helicopter Parenting Is Not All Bad Guest: Laura Padilla-Walker, Professor, Family Life, Brigham Young University Laura Padilla-Walker has found that all parents helicopter a bit. Instead of worrying about whether or not they are helicopter parents, parents should think about what kind of helicoptering they are doing. Raptors Keep Jersey Gulls in Line Guest: Erik Swanson, Master Falconer, East Coast Falcons; Animal Control Officer and Nuisance Wildlife Control Operator Patrolling raptors may be the solution to the Jersey shore’s seagull problem. Owney, Mascot of the US Railway Mail Service Guest: Lynn Heidelbaugh, curator, Smithsonian's National Postal Museum Jingling with dozens of tags strapped to his harness, Owney was the beloved mascot of the 19th-century US Postal Service. He was famous for hopping aboard postal trains, planting himself atop the mail bags, and guarding them until they reached their final destination. He was taxidermied over a hundred years ago, but he's been spruced up and is ready for visitors at the Smithsonian.