A Deep Dive Into Rudy Giuliani; The Best Music And TV Of 2019; Curbing Anxiety At Holiday Parties

Plus, the booming business of DNA tests for dogs.

Stories And Podcasts You May Have Missed Catie Dull/NPR When he was a kid in a Sudan refugee camp, Lual Mayen thought video games fell from heaven. Now the game developer and CEO is winning international acclaim for creating Salaam, a mobile phone game in which players take on the roles of refugees by finding food and running from violence.  Members of the nonprofit Parents For Peace came to Washington to show the human toll of violent extremism. They want Americans to see hate as a public health crisis that cuts across religion and politics. A police officer who tracked down the killer of a 13-year-old girl. A female civil servant who defies the conservative attitudes in her province. An education officer who rooted out squatters. These are a few of Pakistan’s “Integrity Icon” winners this year. Do holiday parties make you squirm? The gut-wrenching fears and harsh self-criticism of social anxiety disorder stops some of the estimated 15 million Americans from applying for jobs, initiating friendships and, during this time of year, attending holiday parties.  Newsletter continues after sponsor message Critics' Take: The Best TV Of 2019 Mark Hill/HBO, Netflix, HBO, Sophie Mutevelian/Netflix, Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix, Rhys Thomas/IFC NPR's TV critic and Pop Culture Happy Hour hosts break down their picks for favorite television and streaming series of the year, including series such as Fleabag, Watchmen, Chernobyl and Succession.  This Week's Listens Mhari Shaw/NPR When she was 2, Parker Curry became a viral sensation when a museumgoer took a picture of her standing spellbound before Michelle Obama’s official portrait at the National Portrait Gallery. Parker, now 4, and her mom have written a book based on the experience, Parker Looks Up. (Listening time, 4:17) The reverse freedom rides. Many people have heard of the Freedom Rides of 1961. This week’s episode of Code Switch takes a look at what happened the next summer when Southern segregationists struck back. (Listening time, 43:18) The lawyer at the center of the Ukraine affair. John Taggart/Bloomberg via Getty Images Rudy Giuliani was once known affectionately as “America’s mayor,” but his work as President Trump’s personal attorney and chief defender has made him a polarizing figure. Yet, many former colleagues say Giuliani has hardly changed since his early lawyer days in the 1970s. (Listening time, 11:14) The word of the year is “they.” NPR’s David Greene speaks with journalist Molly Woodstock about Merriam-Webster selecting the singular, nonbinary pronoun “they” as the word of the year. (Listening time, 5:27) Unrepressing your emotions in the workplace. Anger. Excitement. Frustration. Pride. Hurt. Emotions are everywhere in an office, so why do we pretend they don’t exist? In their new book, No Hard Feelings: The Secret Power Of Embracing Emotions At Work, co-authors Liz Fosslien and Mollie West Duffy argue that effectively embracing emotions is essential for a better workplace. ( Listening time, 17:00) Music Notes NPR’s music team decided to do something a bit different for their year-end Best of 2019 package. They still have lists for the top 25 albums and songs — but there are 21 other lists that look at the year in music from a variety of other angles. There’s a survey of new classics and cutting-edge breakouts in a variety of genres, including the political climate’s impact on music and what to listen to when you want to stay in on a Friday night. Animal House The booming business of DNA tests for dogs.  Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images Are you curious about your pup’s heritage? Lots of pet owners are buying DNA testing kits to try to figure out their dog’s ancestry and to give them insights into how to handle their dog’s quirks. But some geneticists and animal researchers say the promise of these kits may be getting ahead of the science. --By Jill Hudson What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: bestofnpr@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Politics, Health and more! You received this message because you're subscribed to Best of NPR emails. This email was sent by National Public Radio, Inc., 1111 North Capitol Street NE, Washington, DC 20002 Unsubscribe  |  Privacy Policy