Program 739: Travel Like a Diplomat; Making a Difference; German Pop

Get some travel advice from the former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria, who recommends his favorite vacation getaways in the Balkans. Then listen in as a climate scientist describes the efforts that have worked — and some that haven't — in combatting the pollution that causes climate change…and what you can do now to make a difference. And hear how Germany's pop music has evolved to reflect a half century of intense cultural transformation.

• Eric Rubin, former president of AFSA and former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria
• Dr. Heidi Roop, author of "The Climate Action Handbook" (Sasquatch Books)
• Maisie Hitchcock

• Rick first met Eric Rubin when he was the U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria. He was the elected president of the American Foreign Service Association from 2019 to 2023, representing the interests of nearly 17,000 active duty and retired foreign service workers.
• Eric Rubin's final blog post as AFSA president is a "cautionary farewell" about morale concerns, due to underfunding American foreign service.
• Dr. Heidi Roop is the director of the University of Minnesota Climate Adaptation Partnership, and an assistant professor of climate science and extension specialist there. She's the author of  "The Climate Action Handbook."
• The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change assesses the science related to climate change.
• Maisie Hitchcock co-hosted English-language news podcasts about Berlin called "Radio Spaetkauf."
• Maisie's father, British singer-songwriter Robyn Hitchcock, posted this announcement of Maisie's passing on Facebook and Instagram.