A look at the “mommy wars?, and how—and why-- we look at working mothers the way we do today. My guest is Fordham historian Kirsten Swinth.

Christmas time is toy time...but what are we playing at when we talk about toys? An look at the emergence of the modern toy industry with Fordham historian David Hamlin. Also, we'll look at why it is that jingles are so memorable.

We take a look at--and pay a visit to-- the Hasidic neighborhood of Boro Park, Brooklyn. Our tour guide is Fordham anthropologist Ayala Fader--she's working on a book about Yiddish among Hasidic girls and women.

Did you ask for an X-Files box set for christmas this year? Spending Hanukah with your giant Darth Vader cutout? Mapping out your holiday drive so that you never lose NPR reception? Then you might be...a fan. We explore fandom with Fordham professor Jonathan Gray. He’s one of the editors of the book “Fandom: Identities and Communities in a Mediated World.?

This week on Fordham Conversations...Birdsong. We speak with Fordham Biologist Alan Clark about the songs that penguins sing to each other--and we visit a canary singing competition in Michigan.