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

Find out where the former U.S. ambassador to Bulgaria recommends going on vacation for a getaway in the Balkans.

Look at what works, and what doesn't, in combating the pollution that causes climate change. And some of the things you can do now, to make a difference.

And hear how the evolution of pop music over the decades reflects changes in society. We'll get examples from Germany, on the next Travel with Rick Steves.

• 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.

• SPARKLE_SPARKLE_0031_01401_Wandering_a_APM
• SOHO_SOHO_0132_01901_Cafe_Perdu_APM
• Cincinnati Pops Orchestra, Erich Kunzel, cond., "The Music Box (Liadov)," Russian Nights / Telarc
• Muziko Monda (world music ensemble at The Boston Conservatory), "Bulgaria Tantz (A Dance)," MuzikoMonda / (self-released)
• Transformation, "Iane," EBU World Music Workshop, vol. 2 (2003) (collection) / Radio Netherlands Music
• * Azymuth, "Last Summer in Rio," Telecommunication / Milestone
• Mark Isham, "Men Before the Mirror," Vapor Drawings / Windham Hill
• Samite, "Yangu Ni Yako," Tunula Eno / Artemis Records-Triloka
• CHALK_CHALK_0024_01001_Waking_Up_a_APM
• Penguin Café Orchestra, "Perpetuum Mobile (2008 digital remaster)," Signs of Life / Virgin
• Karine Polwart, "Heartwood," The Lost Words: Spell Songs (lyrics by Robert Macfarlane) / Quercus Records
• The Glasgow Tiki Shakers, "Auld Lang Syne," Beyond the Sea / Cordelia Records
• * Max Giesinger, "80 Millionen (instrumental version)," (single) / BMG
• Monique Haas, piano, "Miroirs-V: La vallee des cloches (Ravel)," The French Experience, disc 1 (collection) / Warner Classics
• Mo' Horizons, "Superworld," Berlin Lounge-Berlin By Night (collection) / Wagram
• Kastelruther Spatzen, "Die Sonne scheint für alle," Die Sonne Scheint Fuer Alle / (self-released)
• Can, "Vitamin C," Ege Bamyasi / United Artists
• Der Plan, "Alte Pizza," Japlan / Bureau B
• Timewriter, "Sunset Walkin'," Berlin Lounge-Berlin By Day (collection) / Wagram
• Kraftwerk, "Autobahn," Autobahn / Philips-Vertigo
• Kraftwerk, "Autobahn (remix)," The Mix / Elektra
• Wolf Bierman, "Warte nicht auf bessere Zeiten (Do Not Wait for Better Times)," Live Recording from the Cologne Sports Hall 1976
• Dean Reed, "Our Summer Romance," Teen Idol 1959–1961 / Master Classics Records
• The Pearlfishers, "Berlin," Sky Meadows / Marina Records
• Coup (Haftbefehl & Xatar), "Kanack," Der Holland Job / Four Music
• Nena, "99 Luftballons," 99 Luftballons / Epic
• Rammstein, "Du Hast," Sehnsucht / Motor Mash-Slash
• Paul van Dyk, "Touched By Heaven," From Then On / Vandit
• Trio, "Da Da Da," Trio / Mercury

* Indicates filler music used during breaks between segments

• At 10:49, Rick says his son has been living in Colombia for a number of years, where there is an issue with refugees from Venezuela. Rick and Eric also discuss refugee issues in northern Thailand.
• Rick notes that Eric Rubin was president of AFSA "until recently" at 13:03.
• Rick says at 31:55 that he just talked to someone in Sweden who's developing electric aircraft, "flying Teslas."
• At 33:00, Rick quotes from Heidi's book that "just 100 companies are responsible for 71% of industrial emissions." Heidi adds that "just .1% of our elected leaders work at the federal level" to emphasize the local imperative in tackling climate change.
• Rick promotes the "New Year's Eve in Edinburgh" topic of this week's "web extra" at 38:06.
• Rick notes that the segment C guest, Maisie Hitchcock, passed away, in the segment C open. He starts by describing how last summer he had a difficult conversation with Maisie before she died, and notes that the interview from the show archives was recorded "nearly seven years ago."
• Rick restates that the segment C interview is a tribute to Maisie Hitchcock, in the resets at 44:53 and 51:45.
• At 56:30, Maisie mentioned a "gigantic" late-night club for electronica music in Berlin that's "been in the press a lot lately."