What causes a bank to fail? The most basic explanation is simply that it runs out of money. But there are a lot of ways for banks to lose money, and understanding what causes these institutional failures can help you get a clearer picture of economic perils in our current moment.

Humpback whales are among the most intelligent animals on Earth. Some scientists believe they might even surpass humans in self-awareness, empathy, and communication skills. In this episode, we swim with a whale as he teams up with other humpbacks to use bubbles to catch fish, rescues a sea lion, and puts his own spin on melodies sung by whales across the Pacific Ocean. This is the world in its natural state, defined by seasons, routines, and cycles. By the time this whale is ready to close one eye and go to sleep, you will be too.

Annie has always had high hopes for her future. But the reality of her life just isn’t measuring up. She loves her fiancé, Greg–doesn’t she? She’s going to get her degree and open her own business–won’t she? Then, a strange old woman shows up outside her house, and she seems to know a lot about Annie. An awful lot. Annie could tell the old woman to get lost. Yet there’s something about her Annie just can’t shake. And what she learns could change her life forever–but is it the life she envisioned?

Award-winning Japanese author and poet Mieko Kawakami brings Ashes of Spring, a collection of short stories set in everyday life in Japan just before the pandemic lockdown.

You can’t truly understand the last decade of the 20th century without a look at the muddy, electrifying rock music that would come to define it: grunge. For such a short-lived genre—at least in the mainstream—grunge had a lasting impact on American music and culture. It also provides a unique lens through which to examine the post-Reagan, pre-internet America of the 1990s. In the six lectures of The Story of Grunge, you’ll explore the rise and evolution of the genre, tracing it from Seattle subculture to MTV and the Billboard charts, all the way to its decline and evolution into new forms.

Your career is one of the most important investments you’ll ever make. But how can you communicate your value and make it stand out in an increasingly fast-paced, competitive, and media-driven business world? According to career coach and author Octavia Goredema, the key to accomplishing your professional goals is to create a consistent and compelling personal brand that highlights your skills, accomplishments, and personality. And that is just what she will teach you to do in the five lessons of Brand Yourself for Success.

Whether you’d like to give up alcohol or just drink less—or you’re just thinking about drinking less—this guide is for you. Each day for 30 days, New York Times best-selling author and recovery expert Holly Whitaker brings you a 5- to 10-minute reflection aimed at helping you change your relationship with alcohol, drawing on her personal experience and grounded in the latest research. 30 Days to a New Relationship with Alcohol is crafted to help you gently but powerfully change your brain and your life. All you have to do is listen.

Press play and gently drift off to the dulcet tones of rapper Yung Gravy reading Thomas Mayne Reid’s classic 1847 short story "The Last Adventure of a Coquette".

Yasmin’s career is finally taking off. After years of fighting for visibility in the theater, the British-Pakistani actress lands the eponymous role of Mrs. Bibi—the ultimate aunty-ji—in a hit primetime sitcom. Her newfound success means a steady paycheck, the possibility of owning her own home, and a carefree fling with a charming young assistant director. But when her estranged sister arrives with news of their mother, Yasmin's hard-won stability is shaken to its core.

Ever thought about all the incredible stories hiding in your favorite tracks? Chasing the Sound is the new Audible series from writer, actor and prolific question-asker Kirk Flash, who’s taking listeners all around the globe on a mission to uncover the secrets, misconceptions, and debates buried in some of the world's most iconic music genres.

In the six lectures of The Great Gatsby at 100, you will join Sheila Liming of Champlain College to revisit the context and culture of the Roaring ‘20s, which inspired the story of the mysterious Jay Gatsby and his disastrous pursuit of Daisy Buchanan. As you’ll discover, while Gatsby is framed as a love story, it’s also a story of the American experience, revealing the unspoken rules of wealth and class and the false promises of self-made success in a world of Old Money privilege.

Samantha Bee wants to talk about menopause. Okay, she actually doesn’t want to, but she must. Half of the world’s population will spend one third of their lives in it, yet it’s been completely shrouded in secrecy—until now. The Emmy Award-winning host of Full Frontal with Samantha Bee shares everything she has learned in her new one-woman show, How to Survive Menopause. Because everyone needs that one best friend who will keep it real for them—like, really real.

Tune out the world with pink noise. Pink noise can promote relaxation and improve sleep quality and focus by blocking external noise, and this 12-hour track is designed to support long-term focus and sleep quality overnight.

This meditation harnesses the healing properties of 285.5 Hertz, a frequency that promotes emotional stability. Known for its grounding effects, this tone helps to restore emotional balance and reduce feelings of anxiety or instability. By immersing yourself in these vibrations, you can find a sense of calm and resilience in your emotional journey.

When our story begins, Julia Child is an eager but inexperienced codebreaker longing to prove herself in the male-dominated world of intelligence, and Josephine Baker is, well, Josephine Baker—a world-famous entertainer who is now leading a double life as a spy for the French Resistance. When a golden opportunity arises to infiltrate a high-stakes Nazi gala in Vichy France, Julia must put aside her by-the-book mentality to assist her unorthodox new partner.