The simplistic way to look at grilling is its no more than throwing a slab of meat on a grill that's powered by propane with a little help from heat-radiating artificial briquettes.  That's not the way we cook on Great Taste, though.  Of course, you know that. 

It's the week when Indian Hills Culinary culinary students corral Great Taste, and we are looking forward to a crash course on outdoor grilling from Mr. Curtis "Q" Goudy.  If you are cruising by the KRUU studio Wednesday before our 7 pm CDT show, give him a shout out.  Curt will have a real grill fired up and smoking right on the driveway.  Beer can chicken and a little asparagus are going to provide the sustenance for an hour filled with suggestions and techniques to enhance your Memorial Day picnic and carry you right through the summer.  

DJ UndergroundMan has returned from two weeks of rest and relaxation and will be "going long" with live shows to welcome the summer season. New Zealand's afro-dub soul band, The Black Seeds, lead off the first set followed by Reid Genauer's NY jam band, Assembly of Dust, that DJ Andy Bargerstock heard play at Merle Fest recently.  More good tracks from Gotye's collaboration with Australian band, The Basics, from 2009.  Seattle's neo-psychedelic band, The Green Pajamas, return to share tracks from their 2009 CD, Poison in the Russian Room.

In the second-hour Chill Electronica session, prepare to be taken into another realm with beautiful other-worldy tracks from Germany's Alphwezen, Irish songwriter James Vincent McMorrow, UK's downtempo Funki Porcini, California desert music from Gram Rabbit, and Austalian electronic composer Alex Salter (a.k.a., Grey Area), Wah! music from "Greatest Yoga Music Ever" CD, and obscure 1970s Germany electronic band Führs & Fröhling (photo).  Inform your friends on social networks to join the fun to hear "the best music you never hear."  Click here for play list. Listen live at www.kruufm.com every Wednesday from 8-10pm Central US time.

Read DJ Andy's latest music column in the Iowa Source.  Click here.

Speaking Freely's series on Religion and Spirituality continues this Week with:

Dr. Don Ingwerson was appointed to the Christian Science Committee on Publication for Southern California in August 2006. In this capacity, Dr. Ingwerson oversees all media and legislative relations on behalf of the Christian Science Church.

Brian Finnerty is the U.S. communications director for Opus Dei, and international Catholic organization. Mr. Finnerty has been quoted in numerous print and broadcast outlets, including The New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, CNN, and Fox.

Spring is here and the time is right for...pulling weeds in the yard and nailing that loose board on the back fence.

And it's time to make the very best of it. Appreciate the friends that you have and the stuff that you already own. Enjoy your job because working is good for a person. Do what you have to do and find the fun in the smallest of things.

I love love love the fact that I get to be a small part of KRUU and the great city of Fairfield(and the world). It makes me no extra money. There is the occasional pat on the back from friends and family. And that's really quite enough at the end of the day.

America, we ain't out of the woods yet. But we're trying. Keep your shoulder to the wheel and a song in your heart. And think good thoughts about a pussycat.

Marking the passage of time this week with a birthday celebration for my dear friend Cheri. We first met in Fairfield in about 1975. She is a writer, a poet, an avid runner, and a grand mom. So here we go with some music that sounds good for any age. Bob Dylan and The Beatles are passing through, as well as Jack White and Richard Hawley, both of whom have new albums out. I have some new blues music by the legendary Dion, and some old folk by The 13th Floor Elevators. Plus some songs she, and perhaps you, have never heard by Hearts & Flowers, The Electric Banana, The Greenehornes, The End, The Slickee Boys, and The Host Country. You may get to hear some original poems somewhere in the mix. And did I mention that we both love strong coffee? Yasss... The G Man

dreamgreen  Iowans making a greener tomorrow... today.

Thursday at 7pm | Tuesday at 7am

The Dream Green focus this week is on the remarkable sustainability efforts at the University of Iowa in Iowa City. Co-hosts Stuart Tanner & James Moore speak with UI's Office of Sustainability director Liz Christiansen, energy director Glen Mowrey, power plant manager Ben Fish, environmental specialist Darice Baxter and take walking tours of UI's energy control center, power plant, energy district, and student gardens.

Follow the journey of discovery across the state at greeniowa.org.

The year 1968 saw rock musicians everywhere playing blues and jazz. The wasn't necessarily a good thing, as every skinny kid from Hoboken was suddenly in a blues band.

But it did result in a diverse explosion of playing styles and creative moments, as bands like (the pre-weenie) Fleetwood Mac's tasteful guitarist Peter Green, Canned Heat's creative bassist Larry Taylor, and Cream's interchange between bassist Jack Bruce and guitarist Eric Clapton, opened musical doors for the world.

I'll close out the show with extended performances by Frank Zappa [left] & his Mothers of Invention and Miles Davis, that helped extend our attention spans beyond the 2 1/2 minutes of most pop records.

Click this link to what you'll be hearing.

Cheryl Fusco Johnson sits down for a conversation with Iowa native, Beth Howard. Beth, a journalist for more than 25 years, has recently written "Making Piece: A Memoir of Love, Loss and Pie". Her book recounts the sudden loss of her husband and her healing journey across the country that culminates in her return to Iowa, where she currently resides in the world famous American Gothic House and runs the Pitchfork Pie Stand.

Beth has recently appeared in The Los Angeles Times, Real Simple, Midwest Living and much more. Her previous writing has appeared in such publications as Shape, Elle, Fitness, Travel & Leisure. She has worked as senior editor for Sports Travler, web publisher, PR manager, and more.

Don't miss this delightful conversation!

Exactly 150 years ago, on May 15, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed the bill which created the United States Bureau (later Department) of Agriculture.

Seems like as good an excuse as any to haul out some songs about farming to open this week's Whizbang.

Tuesday 5/15/12, 8-10 PM.  

Rebroadcast Friday midnight after Popular Demand.