Thanksgiving is a time when we pretty much know what's going to be on the dinner table. It's almost religion that we have turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce. But here's some hard truth: almost NONE of that was on the table at the first thanksgiving in 1621. CultureCast food editor Sasa Woodruff is here to blow our collective minds!

In 1995, presidential advisor John Eger predicted a digital "hell," in which the internet fueled social divisions and spread misinformation. We talk with Eger about how he could predict our current problems with such accuracy, his proposed solutions, and predictions for the next 20 years.  Also, we look at some of what has been on our collective minds since our last episode: the feud between Taylor Swift and Kim Kardashian-West, #WhyIDidn'tReport, and the video game Fortnite.

The human toll of migrant family separations, undertaken by the Trump administration, is beginning to emerge in testimonies submitted to federal court. We hear excerpts. We are also looking at new summer food trends from the croissushi to freak shakes. (Photo Courtesy: Nina Robinson / BBC World Service)

The forced family separations at the US-Mexico border have evoked comparisons to dark periods of recent human history in the US and elsewhere. A London-based human rights expert tells us about whether the comparisons are fair, and the danger signs around the world.  Also, Michelle Obama offers words of inspiration to counter the dark events causing consternation.  (Photo courtesy: Romel Jacinto  / Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/37degrees/ )

Baroness Janet Fookes of Britain's parliament appears in her first interview about an unlikely viral video from a BBC appearance in 1970, in which her interviewers were widely viewed as being sexist.

On this episode: mass shootings and the media.  After the high school shooting in Parkland, Florida, one idea for change has gained ground: restricting children's access to violent video games and movies. We explore the history of that idea and how it's different this time. We also look at how the news media is debating whether its coverage of mass shootings has been too sanitized.

CultureCast book editor Loretta Williams focuses on novels "Ready Player One" and "Warcross," which are getting a lot of comparisons to one another.  "Ready Player One" was adapted by Steven Spielberg into a movie. The sci-fi story tells of a future dystopia with virtual reality at its center.  "Warcross" is a similar story with a heroine as its protagonist. Are these novels a lot a like? Is one better than the other? Listen to this week's episode to find out!

The myths of candy canes origins... Figgy pudding... Wassail... and the dreaded fruit cake and how to make it actually good!  We discuss all of these in our latest episode looking at Christmas foods in Christmas songs.

At a time when we're asking women to 'speak up,' Michelle Obama talks about how we can cultivate women's voices at a young age. We also meet women voices, LITERALLY -- the all-female a cappella group La Caccina and their director Carling FitzSimmons.

How a scholar impacted the Russia - Trump investigation