Weekend America

How to Make People Like You

A truism of American politics might read: It's better to be liked than... well, than pretty much anything else. So while people in polls say they'd vote for Hillary Clinton, fewer say they'd have her over to dinner. Pundits will tell you, whether the politician is smart, funny or agrees with a voter 100 percent, nothing is more important than whether that voter might invite that politician to hang out, say, over a couple of brewskis. Weekend America's John Moe asked Tim Sanders, the author of "The Likeability Factor," to give Clinton some tips. And while he was at it, John got a few for himself.

Harry Potter Arrives

The seventh and final book in the Harry Potter series comes out on Saturday. Children and adults all over the world have been counting down to this day, and Weekend America checks in live on Saturday morning with 10-year-old Martin Weissberger in Boston as he reads the very last book in this series.

Millner Tries to Lift Every Voice

Independent Producer Lyn Millner is gutsy. She'll try anything for a good Weekend America story. A couple months ago, Lyn Millner she tried out for the Miami Dolphins cheerleading team, and in May she went wild turkey hunting. Now she tries her hand and directing a gospel choir. Join Millner as she helps other raise their voice to praise.

Weekend Soundtrack

Weekend Soundtrack: Marriage of Figaro

We've been asking listeners what song reminds them of the weekend. And you've been answering our call. Guest Host John Moe speaks with Lee Lipton of Sacramento, Calif., who thinks of the weekend when she hears Mozart's Marriage of Figaro.

What Happens in the Middle of the Night

Here at Weekend America, we asked listeners what they do in the middle of the night when they're not sleeping. And lots of people took a break from their nocturnal activities to write us. One was an artist/telephone technician who got his best work - both musical and telephonic - done in the wee hours. Another was an emergency room doctor who described the late-night hours in the ER.

Zappa Plays Zappa

The tour is called Zappa Plays Zappa. But it could also be called Zappa on Zappa, Next to a Projection of Zappa. Dweezil Zappa, famed son of Frank Zappa, is on tour this summer playing his dad's best songs, with a video projection of Frank Zappa right next to him. That's a lot of Zappa. We talk to Dweezil about his music, his dad and how he and his siblings all turned out so normal when everyone said they wouldn't.

Hexing a Hurricane

Sallie Ann Glassman is the most well-known modern practitioner of Voodoo in New Orleans. She's been ordained in Haiti, lectures around the world about Haitian healing arts, runs the Island of Salvation Botanica, and holds public ceremonies for St. Joseph's Day and All Saints Day. She also performs a Hurricane Hex. The hex is held in Glassman's neighborhood, on a back street called Rosalie Alley. About 100 people from the neighborhood make offerings of prayer, music, dance, candles, herbs, and objects before an altar to both the Catholic Our Lady of Prompt Succor and Ezili Danto, the Haitian spirit of passion and storms.Weekend America's Eve Troeh follows Glassman as she prepares for this year's Hurricane Hex.

Gambling and Loss on the Gulf Coast

The casinos off the Mississippi Gulf Coast are profiting even though one would think the cards are stacked against them. Weekend America speaks with Denise von Herrmann who is the dean of the college of Arts and Letters at the University of Southern Mississippi at Hattiesburg and editor of the book Resorting to Casinos: The Mississippi Gambling Industry to find out how the house is winning.

Good News, Bad News, No News

Good News, Bad News, No News

Our panel of non-experts review the week's events in a parlor game to gauge what kind of week America had. This week we have Hollywood writer Dana Gould; Gustavo Arellano, the author of the "Ask a Mexican" column in the OC Weekly; and Yale literature professor Amy Hungerford.

Hemingway Days

A lot goes on at the Hemingway Days festival in Key West, Fla. There's the Ernest Hemingway look-alike contest, a running of the bulls, a marlin tournament, a fish off. Most of Hemingway's favorite activities are represented, even writing. Lorian Hemingway, the writer's granddaughter, hosts a short story competition to accompany the tribute. Weekend America Guest Host John Moe speaks with Lorian about the legacy her grandfather left and the meaning of the short story for her.

The Bad Plus

A lot of times, acoustic jazz means something like easy listening. But acoustic jazz trio the Bad Plus makes it their business to challenge the jazz establishment. They put their own stamp on contemporary music by groups such as Black Sabbath, Blondie, and Nirvana. Weekend America's Bill Radke caught up with the Bad Plus on tour and hears their twist on today's music and talks with the band.

A Weekend of Esperanto (Yes, Esperanto)

In the late 1800s, a Polish eye doctor had the idea to revolutionize the world by inventing a universal language. This language was supposed to promote world peace. He called it Esperanto. Although it didn't catch on as planned, it's still alive and well at the North American Summer Esperanto Institute in San Diego. Weekend America's Krissy Clark went to find what all the talk was about.