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Seg. 1: Bridging The Divide | Seg. 2: Houdini's Life & Legacy

Segment 1: One professor's move from New York City to rural North Carolina taught him lessons in bridging America's partisan divide.

When it comes to most hot-button issues, the foundational values Americans stand for are often more similiar than not, says one New York professor who moved to Appalachian State University to teach ethics. He wrote about it for Politico magazine, and says, instead of looking for disagreement, people should start by finding common ground.

Segment 2, beginning at 22:47: Long after his death, one of the most famous magicians still inspires a sense of wonder.

On a tour through Kansas City in 1915, Harry Houdini dangled stories above the ground in a straight jack. His stunt amazed thousands, and is just one example of a successful escape that remains a mystery to this day. We explore the life and legacy of the magician, and how his work continues to inspire. 

When I host Up To Date each morning at 9, my aim is to engage the community in conversations about the Kansas City area’s challenges, hopes and opportunities. I try to ask the questions that listeners want answered about the day’s most pressing issues and provide a place for residents to engage directly with newsmakers. Reach me at steve@kcur.org or on Twitter @stevekraske.